Uncharted Journey (The Uncharted Series Book 6)

by Keely Brooke Keith

  No matter how pressing her needs to get Revel to come home and to hire another man, her thoughts mostly centered on Solo. He had spent the week bringing in the harvest and managing the stables, always whistling, always moving. He’d become adept at supervising the traders who worked to pay their board. Or maybe he’d already possessed those skills before coming to Falls Creek and she hadn’t known.

  There was much she didn’t know about Solomon Cotter, and they hadn’t spoken about his past, which both scared and intrigued her. Since the day he kissed her in the office, she often took breaks while cleaning upstairs to stop at the windows and look out over the property, hoping to spot him. Often, she did. Zeke was usually with him, one or both of them smiling.

  She put her arm across the back of the iron bench and looked back at the distant horse paddock. Zeke sat atop Solo’s black draft horse named King, and Solo was walking beside them, leading the animal. A twinge of fear at seeing her little boy on such a big horse caught her breath. She shouldn’t worry; Solo wouldn’t let anything happen to Zeke.

  She looked away and her gaze landed on the tombstone. Here she was admiring the man who was teaching her son to ride a horse, and her late husband rested in his grave, having never known his son existed.

  Half of her heart told her eyes not to look back at Solo, but the other half warmed with affection for the man who’d saved the harvest, who’d ridden for hours to get the doctor for Leonard, who’d awakened her soul. He’d come to the inn to write children’s stories yet ended up spending his few spare moments teaching her child life skills. Just like a father.

  Of course, she admired Solo. And he made his attraction clear by kissing her, by helping her, by the way he kept his eyes on her through every meal while she served the guests.

  The wind picked up speed and tossed a wisp of hair across her face. She turned away from the touching scene in the paddock and looked down at Ezekiel’s headstone. Her heart stung with guilt.

  She used to feel grief when she came here and assumed the grief equated her love. She still loved him, but the grief lessened with time. Now, guilt overshadowed the waning grief. With Solo in her life, she was no longer lonely, and the grief had almost vanished. Did that mean her love for Ezekiel had lessened too?

  And so the guilt grew.

  The screen door banged, and Frederick stepped out of the inn. As her father hobbled toward the bench, Eva scooted down to make room for him. He grunted when he sat. “Haven’t seen you sit out here for a while, Peach.”

  “I haven’t had the time. But now that Claudia is back to work, I—”

  “It isn’t Claudia who has made the difference for you.”

  “Pardon?”

  “It’s Solo.”

  She glanced at the paddock where Solo was helping Zeke dismount the horse. Her stomach relaxed, relieved her son was safely standing on the ground. “Yes, Solomon has been a big help around here.”

  Frederick shook his head once. “Not what I meant, and you know it.”

  He didn’t speak again. There was never a comfortable silence between them as there was with her and Sybil… or her and Solo. No matter how old she was, her father knew how to make her talk. He picked at invisible lint on his sleeve while he waited for her to take the bait.

  She blew out a jagged breath. “I promised Ezekiel forever. You were there.”

  “I remember your wedding clearer than yesterday. You said until death do you part.” He raised a crooked finger toward the headstone. “You and Ezekiel have parted, Peach.”

  “I know.” The words slipped out reflexively. She’d spent nearly seven years reciting her promise as if it kept them together. It had given her widowhood a noble quality, but now it seemed empty—like her heart before Solo stirred whatever this was inside her, confusing her, condemning her.

  Zeke’s laughter drifted on the air as he skipped out of the paddock with his puppy running behind him. Her little boy followed Solo while he walked King toward the stable’s archway. Solo held out the rope to Zeke and let him lead the horse. Zeke took it proudly.

  Frederick lifted his chin at them. “He’s right for the job.”

  “Zeke?” She chuckled. “Let’s give him a few years to grow up first.”

  “You know who I’m talking about. He’s got the hay put up, the harvest brought in, and the cows are milked twice a day. He’s even sharpened and oiled half the tools in the barn. He’s the man for the job.”

  Those were all farm duties—Leonard’s duties. Just when she thought her father was in his right mind, he seemed to be slipping away again. “No, Father. We’ve already hired Isaac Owens for the farm manager job.”

  “Not for that. For my job.”

  “You want me to hire Solo to be the stable manager?”

  “Like I said, he’s the right man for the job.” He scratched his white beard. “And not just that job. He’s the right man for you too.”

  “Father—”

  “Don’t sass me, Peach.”

  She didn’t respond but let her vision wander as she stared across the property. A man from Stonehill who’d been working with Solo in the stables for several days walked out of the barn and toward the bunkhouse. Eva pointed at him. “Sam is interested in the job. He has good experience and I’ve already talked to him about moving out here. He said he could turn the empty storage room on the south wing of the stable block into a room for himself.”

  “Solo could too. He’s a good man.”

  “Yes, he is a good man. That’s not the point.” The myriad reasons Solo shouldn’t move to Falls Creek rolled off her tongue. “He has lived in Riverside his whole life. He has a job there at the ranch. They’re probably wanting him back by now.”

  “I think a change would do him good.”

  “He’s good at what he does. If he wants to change employers, I’m sure he could make a fine living working for himself. He didn’t plan to stay here permanently. He only came here to write his stories. Since he’s had no time for that, he probably wants to leave as soon he can.” As she said the words, she remembered how he said he wouldn’t leave Falls Creek until she told him to. The look in his eyes had rooted its way into her heart. Even now it stirred her desire… and her guilt. “Solomon Cotter doesn’t belong here.”

  “I say he does, but instead of arguing,” he raised an age-spotted hand, “we will let Revel decide when he gets here.”

  Talking with her father about Revel was worse than arguing over hiring workers. Her shoulders tightened. So much for coming outside to relax. “I’ll ask Sam to stay here for a few weeks on a trial basis.”

  “Wait and ask Revel about it.”

  The hard bench irritated her back, so she stood. “Revel isn’t coming home.”

  “Oh, yes he is. On Wednesday a trader brought the message from Good Springs. Revel and Connor are coming through Falls Creek on their way to Riverside next month. Got some training to do with a security team or something like that.”

  “You got a message from Revel on Wednesday? Why didn’t you tell me about it then? That was two days ago. I deserve to know these things, Father. I am the inn’s manager.”

  He patted her arm. “Calm down, Peach. I didn’t get the message Wednesday. That’s when a trader brought it. He gave it to Solo. I just found out from him when I was in the stables this morning.”

  Eva looked across the dry lawn toward the stable block. A watery sensation gurgled behind her confused heart. “Why would Solo keep Revel’s message from us—from me—for two days? He knows our situation. He knows we need Revel to come home.”

  Frederick shrugged casually. “He probably forgot. Can’t fault him for that.”

  No, she wouldn’t fault Solo for forgetting, not in front of her father, but there was more to it than forgetfulness. The suspicion she’d felt toward Solo when he first arrived flooded back. Was he angling for a job? Is that what this was all about? Was his flirtation with her a part of his plan?

  The man from Stonehill stepped out of the b
unkhouse with his pack over his shoulders. He stomped toward the stable, his unshaven face scrunched in a scowl.

  Eva shielded her eyes with her hand. “Where is Sam going?”

  “Hm?” Frederick turned his upper body to look in that direction. “Who is Sam?”

  Eva didn’t answer as she watched the stable. A moment later, Sam emerged from the stable’s archway, leading his saddled horse. That wasn’t enough time to tack a horse. Solo must have saddled it for Sam while he was in the bunkhouse getting his pack.

  From behind her Frederick said, “Looks like he’s leaving.”

  “Not without an explanation.” Eva raised her skirt and jogged toward the stables. “Sam? Sam, wait! Where are you going?”

  He buckled his pack onto the back of the saddle. “Home.”

  “Now? I thought you were interested in the stable manager position.”

  “I was.”

  “What happened?”

  He mounted his horse and turned the reins to maneuver the animal around her, but he never looked her in the eye. “You already have a stable manager. Ask him.” He kicked his horse and rode off.

  Zeke dashed out of the stable block, laughing as his puppy chased its tail. Solo walked out after him. He had the lead line draped over his broad shoulder and an easy grin for Zeke that instantly reached his eyes when he spotted Eva. He touched the brim of his hat to greet her, and Zeke did the same, imitating his new mentor.

  Everything in her told her to march up to Solo and demand answers. Why did he hold back the message from Revel for two days? Why had he sent away a potential new employee? Why was he really here?

  But Zeke bound over to her first. “Did you see me riding King, Mama?”

  She smiled at her son and made sure her tone held the joy he deserved to hear rather than the anger she felt toward Solo. “I sure did, sweetie.”

  “Did I look big?”

  “Yes, so big.” She reached out to smooth his hair, and he flung his arms around her waist. Even though he’d been outside all day, playing and sweating and riding, he still smelled like her baby. She pulled him close for a rare mid-day hug and picked a bur out of his hair. “Did you tell Mr. Cotter thank you for letting you ride King?”

  Zeke pulled away. “Thank you, Mr. Cotter.”

  Solo tousled Zeke’s hair, which Eva had just smoothed. “You’re welcome, partner.” He looked at her then. “I told him he can call me Solo.”

  When she didn’t reply, Solo’s expression changed. Concern clouded his hazel eyes. He furrowed his brow as if asking her what was wrong.

  She said nothing. He knew what he had done wrong. He’d held back Revel’s message and sent Sam away without permission. Maybe with a look she could invoke conviction. Maybe he would confess to whatever game he was playing.

  Instead, he turned his attention to Zeke. “We’ll take King out again tomorrow. How does that sound?”

  “Great!” Zeke shouted. He leaned down to his puppy and pulled on a stick the dog was chewing. “Did you hear that, Joshua? I get to ride King again tomorrow.”

  Solo hooked his thumbs in his belt loops and looked up at Eva with a satisfied grin, as if he was rightly taking his place in their lives, in her business, in her family.

  She wasn’t about to upset Zeke by confronting Solo right now, but she wouldn’t leave Solo in his satisfied state for long. She leveled her gaze at him and whispered, “We need to talk.”

  * * *

  A thick cloud passed above Solo as he stood in front of the stable block watching Eva’s expression darken. It was more than the turn in weather that was chilling the air between them. She held her pretty chin higher than usual, and a thin ring of white outlined her dark irises. Whatever she needed to talk about had riled her feathers.

  He squatted beside Zeke, who was playing tug-of-war with the dog. “Hey partner, why don’t you take Joshua over to the big tree and tell your grandpa all about riding King.”

  Zeke obeyed him without question. He was the most well-behaved kid Solo had ever been around. Solo stood as Zeke happily ran to the other side of the yard.

  When the boy was out of earshot, Solo stepped closer to Eva. He opened his mouth to ask her what was wrong, but she beat him to it.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” The force in her words matched the fire in her eyes. “You have a lot of nerve, Solomon Cotter!”

  Well, it took a lot of nerve to stand close to this woman when she was mad. He almost stayed where he was to stake a claim in whatever battle she was starting, but he’d dealt with willful creatures his whole life. Gentleness built trust. He took a half step back and held up his hands. “Whoa, girl! You mind telling me what this is all about?”

  “Don’t whoa girl me.”

  “Take it easy.”

  “I’m not a horse.”

  “You’re not yourself.”

  “You don’t know me well enough to say that.”

  “I know you better than you think I do.”

  Something in her eyes reminded him of his mother—not how she usually behaved, just occasionally… once a month to be exact. Suddenly, it made sense to him. Not that women’s troubles ever made sense to a man, but he remembered how his father handled his mother during her angry-for-no-reason moments. He slid his hands into his pockets and looked her in the eye. “Eva, I care about you. Take a deep breath and tell me what’s wrong. Maybe I can help.”

  She slanted her head a degree and pursed her pink lips. “Your behavior. That is what’s wrong. You had no right to do what you did.”

  Solo glanced around trying to understand the cause of her outburst. His gaze landed on the paddock. “Oh, that. I was teaching Zeke how to ride a horse. He was perfectly safe.”

  “He is not yours to teach.”

  His heartbeat picked up, heating his collar. “Maybe not, but your son is a good kid and eager to learn. He likes me. He follows me around asking questions all day, and I don’t mind. You know why?”

  Eva didn’t answer, but a glaze of surprise briefly weakened her stubborn expression.

  When she only stared, he continued. “Because I like him too.”

  She turned her face toward the bench where Frederick sat with her son. Zeke’s arms gestured wildly as he demonstrated riding King. A faint grin curved Eva’s mouth. Solo wanted to pull her close and kiss her. Maybe that would cure what ailed her. It would either cure her or ruin him. His respect for her outweighed his desire. “Look, I’m sorry I gave Zeke a riding lesson without asking you first. I know King is a big horse, but he’s gentle.”

  She had every right to be concerned with her son. He couldn’t imagine what she’d been through with losing a husband and raising a baby alone, but he was sure it made her worry about losing Zeke too. He’d seen the way she checked on her son all the time—out the windows during the day, peeking into their room every few minutes in the evening when Zeke was falling sleep. Maybe if she knew a man cared about her son too she would let go of some of the worry. He reached for her fingertips. “I will not let anything happen to Zeke, I promise.”

  She snatched her hand away. “That isn’t what this is about.”

  His chest tightened. “Then what is?”

  “I know what you are trying to do here.”

  “I’m trying to help you, that’s all.”

  “Help?” She laughed one sarcastic note. “By trying to undermine my authority? By hiding messages from me and my father.”

  Her vague accusations hit him in the gut. “Wait, what?”

  She propped both white-knuckled fists onto her hips. “You know what you did.”

  No matter how much he loved her lips, the words slithering from them were the same his mother always said when his brother had lied to get him in trouble. It always worked then, and the seething phrase still boiled his blood. He yanked off his hat to let the air cool his scalp. It didn’t help. “I’ve worked my hide off for the past month for you and never once tried to undermine your authority. If you have a bone to pick, yo
u’d better do it.”

  She forcefully stabbed the air with one thin finger as she spoke. “You held back Revel’s message from us. Father said you got it from the trader two days ago but didn’t mention it until today.” She flicked her wrist at the road where a dust cloud still lingered from Sam’s hasty departure. “And Sam told me you sent him away. You knew I wanted to hire him. I need Revel to come home and I need to hire another man. I trusted you and you betrayed me.”

  Her scathing allegations raked down his spine. Time of the month or not, no one had the right to talk to him like that. He wasn’t the put-upon kid who took abuse anymore. He wasn’t this woman’s hired hand, too dependent on the work to stand up for himself. And he wasn’t her husband, so he didn’t have to suffer from her mood swings.

  He had, however, promised her she could count on him and he wouldn’t leave Falls Creek until she told him to. And he’d made that promise because he loved her. Still did. He fanned his face with his hat then put it back on. “Eva, you’re wrong.”

  “I’m not—”

  He held up a palm to silence her and it worked. But before he could tell her why he’d told Sam to leave and that he didn’t know what message from Revel she was talking about, she spun on her heel and stomped away.

  Fine. He would let her cool off. She would probably go into the kitchen and gripe to Sybil. Maybe her sister would talk sense into her. He would burn up his frustration by working until dinner. Then he might be ready when Eva apologized to him.

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Breakfast aromas lingered in the dining hall while Eva listened to her father read from Ephesians. “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

  Rain pattered against the windowpanes as Frederick continued giving the short message he’d prepared for the inn’s weekly Sunday morning service. Eva’s gaze drifted to Solo, who was sitting at the next table. He looked smart in his pressed waistcoat and cravat. Her mind wanted to stay angry with him, but her soul recited the verse she’d just heard. Tenderhearted, forgiving one another…