“First of all, this isn’t a public place. It’s private land, and the owners are gracious enough to share it with the public. And second, but most of all, this isn’t some old lady, as you put it. Her name is Auntie Ute, and she’s been giving of her time and energy here for longer than you’ve been alive. What she tells you is for your own good. But you’d better believe that if you are foolish enough to ignore her warnings, she’ll be the first one to administer first aid and keep you stable until the paramedics arrive. She’s saved many stupid people like you over the years.”

The woman, Ute, crossed her arms over her tie-dyed shirt and smiled proudly. “I remember you,” she said to Liam.

Quinn noticed her accent sounded very European.

He nodded. “Yes, ma’am. It’s been a while.”

She gave him a sly grin. “I believe I gave you and your brothers a lecture or two when you were a wee bit wet behind the ears too.”

He smiled slightly. “I believe so. But I don’t think we ever disrespected you like this numbskull just did. Our upbringing was better than that.”

The boy sneered, looking from Liam to the woman. “What is this? A family reunion?”

His friends snorted with laughter.

Liam turned back to the boy, his body rigid, reminding Quinn of a snake ready to strike. He nodded to the trail. “Would you like to take a walk off the path with me for a second? I believe we need a private conversation.”

Suddenly the teen looked more like a child than the man he was trying to be only seconds before.

“Listen, dude . . . ,” he began, his voice wavering.

Liam held a hand up to stop him from talking. “Don’t call me dude. I tried to be nice about it, but now before you go a step farther around here, you’ll apologize to Auntie Ute for being a mouthy little punk. Or if you’d rather, you and I will take my secret trail, where you might soon find yourself taking a long walk off the next short cliff.”

It took another few seconds, but the boy spat out an apology.

“Now, if you can’t behave yourself like the guest you are on this sacred ground, you and your buddies can leave,” Liam said.

Quinn didn’t think it sounded like a suggestion, and obviously neither did the boy, because he took off for the trail. His not-so-brave friends followed.

Ute laughed when one of them tripped over a rock and pounded the one in front of him in the back to catch his fall.

“I could handle that sort all day,” she said to Liam, her tone tough as nails.

“I know you could, but you shouldn’t have to,” he replied.

She patted him on the back before moving toward her ATV.