Two Rivers Isle and you wonder why we're fallin apart

red wasn't fair, and yet she was. the way she'd condescended to his plans evinced a harder grit to the girl than colt could credit himself for, and he saw the loss of control. both over the gang, and over her.
gun had gone on. the island seemed to hum in quiet. colt stayed away from the littleuns, for he wasn't fit company on the balmiest of days, let along in the reek of summer. he began to entertain jealous thoughts about how red might find someone else, or had, or maybe all this was because she wanted to do just that. well go on then. don't let me stop you.
thinking also of boone, of how to put that mountainboy muscle to better use than drawling around a river all day. colt stole into the still coolness of said water and thumped down to his belly with an aching grunt.