"Of course I don't have it." Then she added, with a dismissive wave of her hand, "That retarded child probably stole it."
Edith Shipton looked up in shock, mouth agape. She started to say something but just bit her lip and began to cry. Dean was furious.
He stood over Claire Quincy, much too closely. "Donnie Ryland is a very intelligent young boy, with a disability. It was most unkind of you to cruelly diagnose him otherwise and accuse him of being a thief. There is no indication whatsoever he cares a flip about that picture. I think you owe his mother an apology."
"I'm sure Claire didn't mean that!" Effie said with a trembling voice.
"Well, he acts retarded," Claire grumbled disgustedly as she started to rise. But Dean stood too close to the back of her chair for her to move. "Sorry," she mumbled, not even looking at Edith. She looked up at Dean. "I just know I don't have the damned picture!" Dean stepped back and she hurriedly left the room, Effie close on her heels. Edith sniffed once, lowered her head, and continued to eat, as if ignoring what had happened might make the pain disappear.
"Way to go," Fred muttered sotto voce. Cynthia just shook her head, but never the less smiled. It was her way of saying that while he might have been somewhat more reserved in his response to Claire Quincy, she was admitting the guest isn't always right. And, by Dean's interpretation, agreeing the old bitch got what she deserved.
Fred began eating his cereal, with a serving spoon, a sure sign he wanted to accelerate the process and get on with the day's activities. Donald Ryland returned with his son. Donnie's entrance seemed to brighten Edith's morning as she clucked over him, cautioning him about the perils of his undertaking in a dozen different ways, all the while ignoring father Donald who'd fled from her bed the night before. Fred finished his breakfast in a rush and hauled out the pair of his garage-sale skis. While the equipment didn't match what was displayed on the cover of current ski magazines, they looked surprisingly good for the twenty bucks Fred said he'd paid for them, with boots and poles part of the package. With Ryland's help, the skis were attached to his vehicle. All four would ride in the same car for the fifty-mile trip to Telluride.
In the confusion of the group's departure, a carload of ice climbers arrived to register. Behind them, Sheriff Jake Weller pulled up in his official vehicle. Dean started to get out of the car but Weller waved him on and Ryland pulled away from Bird Song. Dean spent much of the trip speculating on the reason for the law man's visit.