Adam, Devils on Horseback: Generations, Book 1

by Beth Williamson

  He gathered kindling and some branches for firewood. When he arrived, he found the woman murmuring to his horse as Farina rested his great head on her shoulder.

  Traitor.

  Adam squatted down and started the fire. As the small blaze began to grow, it dispelled the gloom of the deepening darkness. She hadn’t moved nor had she spoken. The awkwardness grew with each passing moment.

  He had the basket of food his sister Bella had packed for him, including her tasty biscuits. What he should do was share with this woman he barely knew. Adam always had trouble doing what he should do rather than what he wanted to do.

  He pulled the basket close to him and leaned against a rock. The food sat there like a guilty conscience, staring at him with the salty goodness he knew awaited him. His stomach whimpered at the thought.

  The silence stretched on until Adam was reduced to counting his heartbeats as the seconds passed. This woman had cost him enough—she wouldn’t cost him the foodstuffs he had left. He’d convinced himself he was the injured party and she was the villain.

  Then her stomach howled like a starving animal.

  “Damn it.” He held out the basket to her. “Eat something before you faint.”

  She frowned. “I won’t faint. I’ve gone longer than half a day without food.”

  He didn’t want to know why. That would make her someone to feel sorry for and he did not feel sorry for her. “My sister always packs too much. A couple of the biscuits hit the dirt, but I brushed ’em off.”

  She didn’t move to take the food. He sighed and inched closer. “My mama would have my hide if I didn’t make sure you ate.” Adam forcibly pushed aside his childish response to the accident. “I’m sorry I yelled at you.” He picked up a rock from the ground. Nice piece of quartz. He tucked it in his pocket.

  “You have nothing to be sorry for.” She petted the gelding’s neck and Adam would swear the horse smiled. “I always like to think that everything happens for a reason. Perhaps I was supposed to run into you. Literally.”

  Then she smiled and he forgot what he was going to say. In fact, he forgot all the words in his head.

  She looked up at the sky. “Every night when the stars come out, they wink and twinkle at those of us on Earth. As though they were watching the show and we were the performers.”

  “Uh.” Adam wasn’t a scintillating conversationalist, but this was ridiculous.

  “I used to lie on the ground and stare at the stars when I was a girl.” She sighed. “Now here I am, an adult under the same stars. They are the same, but I’m not.” Her tone had turned melancholy.

  So did Adam, foolishly enough. “I’m gonna eat. You should too. We have another eight hours of walking tomorrow.” He handed her a biscuit. “I promise this is the best biscuit you will ever eat.”

  With obvious reluctance she took it from his hand, then broke it in two and handed half to him. “We should make this last.” She smiled at him.

  Adam didn’t want to like her, or respect her, but it was sneaking up on him.

  “Thanks.” He forced the word out of his mouth.

  She nodded. “Interesting coincidence that we are named Adam and Eve. Some would say that it was foretold we would meet.” She took a bite of her biscuit, leaving a hundred questions floating on the air between them.

  Who was this woman?

  Eve’s stomach danced with uncertainty. The darkness had closed around them like a cocoon. She didn’t know this man but inexplicably, she didn’t feel threatened. There were few times in her life she had been in a situation where she couldn’t protect herself. This wasn’t one of them.

  He had a rifle, but she had her knife strapped to her thigh. Sleeping would be a necessity, but she wasn’t sure it was a good idea. There was no one and nothing to keep her safe. She’d gotten used to sleeping beneath the wagon with the Roma. While she was only there as a servant, she’d been under their protection.

  Now she was alone again and she had to keep her armor up. Adam hadn’t shown any signs of aggressiveness towards her, but she was always on her guard.

  As the night creatures settled into their symphony, Adam started a fire, dispelling some of the gloom. As the blaze built, he fed it larger branches until it was a respectable size to keep them warm through the night.

  Her stomach yowled into the quiet and his brows shot up. “Do you have any food in that bag?”

  She had nothing but a few possessions and a change of clothes. The biscuit he’d given her earlier had been the only food she’d eaten since early morning. Eve didn’t answer him because she didn’t want his pity. She knew how to find food, but she wouldn’t finagle anything from this man. He’d been, if not kind, considerate of her well-being.

  “What are you doing out here?” He changed his tactic.

  “Sitting by a fire in the dark with a strange man.” She pointed at the woods beyond them. “Hoping none of the creatures of the night decide I’m a tasty meal.”

  His mouth twisted. “You don’t like to answer questions about yourself, do you?”

  She shrugged. “Will you answer questions about you?”

  “I’ve got nothing to hide. Ask me anything.” He stretched his long legs out in front of him and crossed his ankles and arms.

  “You didn’t see me in the road and blamed the accident on me.”

  “That’s not a question.”

  She had seen him coming, but he was looking away from the road, nearly on the edge of it. “You weren’t looking where you were going.”

  “Not true. You jumped out into the road.” His voice had lost some of its vigor.

  “No, I stopped because I thought you were going to hit me and I didn’t know which way to move.” She captured his gaze and didn’t blink until he did. “Why didn’t you want to be there, driving that wagon of flour?”

  “No reason.” He avoided the question and glanced away with a sigh. “I’m glad I didn’t hit you.”

  “As am I.” She leaned back against the stump behind her. “It would have ruined my day.” Eve had already had her day ruined, but Adam didn’t need to know that.

  He pulled a few rocks from his pocket and lined them up on the ground in size order. Odd for a grown man. “Losing that flour is not going to be good news for the mill.” Adam poked the fire with a branch, sending sparks up toward the sky.

  “But no one was hurt.”

  He glanced up at her. “No. I suppose not.”

  “I told you I’d pay you for the flour.”

  “I expect you don’t have two nickels to rub together, much less fifty dollars.”

  Hearing the number surprised her again. She had no idea the bulk price of wheat flour. Perhaps the near accident had brought her to a place where she could start anew. She didn’t know anything about a mill or flour, but she could learn. It sounded safe enough, other than delivering the product in a wagon.

  “I could work off the cost.” She moved to a more supine position, exhaustion creeping up on her.

  He snorted. “Family works at the mill. We don’t pay anyone.”

  “Maybe I could work somewhere else in town?” She needed to know everything she could about where he came from, before tomorrow.

  “Tanger has a few businesses that might need help. My mother can find out. She knows everybody in town.” Adam yawned. “She tends to speak her mind.”

  “I like her already.” Eve’s eyes began to close. “I have a knife.”

  His blue eyes popped open. “Pardon?”

  “Just in case you’re not who you say you are. I have a knife and I know how to use it. A girl has to protect herself.” Eve waited while he absorbed her confession. She didn’t want to have to use her weapon, but she would. And with accuracy.

  “You’ve got nothing to fear from me. The only thing I want to do is sleep, since we’ve got more miles to walk
tomorrow and my feet are already barking.” He pulled his hat down over his face.

  Well then. When she was left by the Roma, she didn’t know what she would do, but she knew she’d survive. What manner of strangeness had brought her to this red giant, she didn’t know. He struck her as someone she didn’t need to fear. Stupid, but that’s what her gut told her.

  Tomorrow she would find out if she was right about him. And perhaps she would have a new place to live and a new person to be.

  * * * * *

  Eve expected to be looked down upon by the people in Adam’s town, as she had been the last few years she traveled with the Roma. Their manner of dress, their choice of lifestyle and their caravans didn’t conform to what folks considered normal. She had felt a certain freedom with them because no one noticed her. Now everyone in this town did.

  Other people’s opinions never bothered Eve. People stopped and stared as they walked past. She put her shoulders back, unwilling to be shamed because she was dirty and had flour stuck in various places all over her, no doubt stank, and she walked with a stranger in this strange place.

  She hummed under her breath as they walked through the sleepy little town. The familiar melody soothed her somewhat. She wasn’t usually this out of sorts when she had to begin anew. The man beside her might have something to do with that.

  “Adam Jacob Sheridan!” The voice echoed across the grassy square in the center of town.

  The red giant muttered, “Shit.”

  Eve turned to see a tall, curvy woman with long brown hair, walking toward them with clipped steps. Her brows were in an angry V shape and her mouth was tight.

  “No wonder four people have come to tell me my son is covered in flour and wandering through town on foot, leading Farina.” The older woman threw her hands up. “Where is the wagon and, more importantly, where is the flour?”

  This was his mother? He was right about her—she spoke her mind.

  He scowled at the older woman. “There was an accident and the wagon was damaged.”

  She took hold of his arms. “Never say! Were you hurt?”

  “No, I’m fine. The back axle broke. I had to walk back.” Adam glanced at Eve. “This young lady was there, and she walked back with me.”

  Mrs. Sheridan turned to Eve, her brown eyes kind. “My name is Gabrielle Sheridan.”

  Eve almost didn’t know what to say. The last thing she expected was a polite greeting from anyone, least of all Adam’s mother. Then again, Eve never expected a friendly greeting unless she turned on her charm and forced one.

  “Pleased to meet you. My name is Eve Tate, ma’am.”

  Mrs. Sheridan took her hand in both of hers. “Welcome to Tanger, Miss Tate. Since there is flour all over you as well, why don’t we go to our home where you can clean up? Then my son can explain what happened.” Her gaze flicked to Adam. “I can’t wait to hear this story.”

  Eve was doubly glad this woman wasn’t angry at her. She had no doubt the older woman was as formidable as she seemed when riled. The most interesting thing about Mrs. Sheridan was her looks. There wasn’t a shred of resemblance to her son.

  “It’s nearly suppertime. If you’ve been walking since yesterday, I’ll bet you’re famished.” The other woman smiled as she took Eve’s arm. “I made a rabbit stew and biscuits. There is always plenty for everyone.”

  Adam walked behind them with the horse, silent as he had been throughout their sojourn to town. His mother chatted on about how her daughter Rose was a crack shot and she’d been the one to get the rabbits. Bella, another daughter, was the baker in the family.

  “Bella makes the most delicious biscuits in the entire state of Texas. Even Cindy’s Restaurant serves them instead of making their own.” Mrs. Sheridan had obvious pride in her voice. “My two older daughters are married. Ann lives on her husband’s cotton farm outside of town. Mary’s husband publishes the newspaper. Adam is my only son.”

  She turned and frowned at the red giant. Eve wondered if she’d wandered into a strange land of strange people. This woman had welcomed her, no matter how Eve looked. No matter that both of them were covered in flour, dirt and sweat.

  The most awful twenty-four hours in her life would at least allow her a tasty dinner and a comfortable place to rest her bones. It would be the second night she wouldn’t sleep beneath the wagon with the Roma in almost two years.

  They arrived at a beautiful two-story home beside a building with an enormous wooden wheel that moved with the power of the river behind it. The sound of the rushing water echoed around them. She couldn’t help but imagine what it was like to stand beside the wheel.

  They passed the other building and up the three steps into the house. A front porch stretched out the length of the house. Six rocking chairs sat at various angles. Each had a uniqueness about it. One had an embroidered pillow and beside it a pipe hung from a pouch on the arm. Another had a sleeping calico cat. It was an inviting picture.

  Adam tied the horse to the hitching rail in front of the house, then moved past them to open the door. His mother nodded regally as she entered, pulling Eve along with her.

  “Mama, I—”

  “I’m not interested in talking to you right now. Your friend looks to expire on her feet.”

  “She’s not my friend.” Adam closed the door behind him, the day’s strain evident in his posture and his tight expression. “I don’t know what she is.”

  “Did you spend the night with her alone?” Mrs. Sheridan asked.

  “Well, yeah, but we didn’t have a choice. You know we can’t ride Farina—”

  “You compromised this young woman, Adam. I’m disappointed. I know as a gentleman you need to make it right, but I hope you didn’t just throw your future away.”

  Holy hell. What just came out of his mother’s mouth? And why didn’t Eve want to run screaming? Her heart ached and she wondered what was wrong with her.

  Mrs. Sheridan turned her gaze on Eve. “That was some wagon accident.”

  To everyone’s surprise, Eve burst into tears.

  * * * * *

  Adam rubbed his clean hair with the towel Rose had brought him. A dip in the shallow part of the river had washed all the flour from his body and he felt moderately better. His gut still churned with tension.

  Eve was in the house with his mother and Bella, setting the table or readying the meal. Rose was outside with him, as she usually was. His youngest sister was only thirteen and she’d rather be outside in the trousers Mama had made for her than anywhere else. She’d taken Farina to the stables for Adam before she joined him.

  Rose, like all of his sisters, had their mother’s dark-brown hair and eyes. Adam was the only one who got his father’s red hair, although darker in tone. His blue eyes also marked him as Jake Sheridan’s son.

  His father wasn’t home yet, but there was no doubt he’d heard about Eve. Rose was a tattletale and she’d probably already told half the town about her. The time he spent waiting for Pa to come home was almost as excruciating as waiting for his mother to lecture him. One day he would live on his own and not have to deal with any of it.

  “You gonna marry that lady?” Rose sat on a rock, her knees up and her arms pillowed on the bony protrusions. Her thick hair had nearly escaped the braid and stuck out in a hundred different directions. She was the one sister whom he could talk to.

  “No, I’m not. I didn’t compromise her and Mama isn’t gonna force us to get married.” He still didn’t quite understand what had happened or why she was out there by herself. “Eve is all alone. I think she’s scared and confused.”

  “That’s awful.” Rose made a face. “I think we should keep her.”

  Adam shook his head. “She’s got a mind of her own. I expect that staying will be up to her.”

  “That’s mighty forward thinking, Adam. Most women don’t have a say.” Rose
was far too wise for her years. He worried about her more than any of his sisters. The world wasn’t kind to people, especially women, who were different. Adam should know that. His red hair was like a beacon for people to stare, point and treat him as an oddity.

  “We should go up to supper. Mama isn’t in a good mood, so it’s best we’re on time.”

  Rose scrambled off the rock and joined him as they walked back into the house. The smell of the meal surrounded them and his stomach growled. He hadn’t eaten since breakfast that morning, when he’d set off on the ill-fated trip to deliver the flour.

  His entire life had been flipped upside down and sideways since then. The accident had cost his family a lot of money. Plus Adam had no idea what would happen with Eve. If she chose to stay, he would help her find a job and a place to live. If she chose to leave, he would make sure she went on her way safely.

  In his heart, he didn’t think he’d ever be able to leave the mill, to follow his dream to start his own business; it would take him years to pay back the money he’d lost.

  As they entered the house, he heard a tinkling sound like bells.

  Or a woman’s laugh.

  Less than an hour after weeping from exhaustion and scaring the hell out of him, she was laughing? He glanced at Rose, whose dark brows were raised. She shook her head. “I don’t believe I’ve ever heard anyone laugh like that.”

  Adam jammed his hands into his pockets and his right hand clunked against the piece of quartz he’d found during the long walk back to Tanger. He’d always been fascinated by them, ever since he was a little boy. His mother used to despair of ever washing a pair of his trousers without rocks in the pockets.

  He had a box upstairs his uncle Gideon had made for him many years ago. It had an inlay with Adam’s initials. He’d made it into his treasure box of the most precious things in his life. In addition to other items, there were a dozen very special rocks he’d collected through his life. Not because they were valuable, but because of the memories associated with them.

  Adam wasn’t sure he’d be able to save the quartz in his pocket. There were going to be memories, which was for certain. But was it the kind of memory he wanted to relive over and over?