M. Donice Byrd - The Warner Saga

by No Unspoken Promises

  Her braid bounced on her back like a heavy rope until the ribbon fell free and her golden-red tresses uncoiled themselves and flowed behind her like savage flames. Her body was one with the stallion as they galloped toward a treeless section of the tree-lined fence that separated the field from the road. The horse’s gait readied for flight and her heart pounded with excitement as they approached the obstacle in their path. Holding the reins tightly, she leaned forward, her knees snugly against his withers.

  Viper leapt the fence narrowly passing in front of a man riding a black horse.

  Her horse shied crabwise on his landing to avoid the spooked and rearing black horse, its rider desperately reining the animal to get control. She drew away to keep from being pummeled by the black horse’s pawing hooves, concentrating all her strength to control her mount and keep him from bolting. In a panic, Meredith reined the stallion harshly but was carried twenty paces beyond the road before she could pull up. She wheeled around in the saddle just as the other rider landed flat on his back.

  “Whoa, baby, whoa,” she cooed the charger, still feeling his nervous prancing. She leaned across his neck, placing her hand on the pulse point there trying to calm him. “Sh-sh, you’re fine.” Meredith tried to gauge if she felt anything amiss in his gait but, realizing the effort useless while he romped so erratically, she bailed out of the saddle. The big gray didn’t like the sudden movement and pulled against the reins.

  “Please, Viper, not now.” When he didn’t stop acting temperamental, her own temper emerged. “If you don’t stop, I’m going to tell everyone you’re stubborn jackass.”

  The horse whinnied and nudged her in the shoulder with his nose hard enough to make her step back but other than that the horse appeared to be calming.

  She looked back at the man and found him exactly where he landed, his eyes closed, his hand on his chest as he attempted to heave air into his lungs.

  “Oh, God, oh, God! Are you all right?” she asked running to his side and falling on her knees in the dirt next to him, Viper’s reins still in her hand. “Are you dead?”

  His eyes opened and met hers. “Can’t…breathe…wind…knocked out…of me,” he rasped as he fought his spasming lungs.

  “Don’t talk,” she ordered placing her free hand on his. “Is anything broken? Is your horse hurt? Please don’t be hurt, the nearest doctor lives hours away. I’m so sorry. You know I’m sorry, don’t you? What can I do to help? Are you from around here? I’ve never seen you before. Are you lost? I am not very good at directions but I’ll try to help. Where are you going? Oh, lord. You’re going to die, aren’t you?”

  Suddenly, he put his hand over hers. Meredith flinched infinitesimally as the slight contact sent shock waves of awareness through her. It didn’t make sense because she did the exact same thing moments earlier and knew the comforting gesture meant nothing. How pathetic that such a small gesture would undoubtedly escalate into a fond memory to take into her spinsterhood.

  “What’s wrong? Why aren’t you saying anything? Do you have a concussion? Have you lost consciousness?”

  He closed his eyes and drew in a long unsteady breath as he finally found his breath.

  “Oh, God!”

  “Shh,” he hissed.

  Meredith clamped her mouth shut realizing her nervous prattle wasn’t helping. The warm hand covering hers patted her hand twice and she felt his body physically relax.

  Suddenly, Viper’s head dipped down sniffing at the air as he honed in on the stranger’s face. Meredith was about to push her horse away, when he lip-nipped the man in the mouth. His eyes flew open as he turned his head away, reflexively pushing Viper with both hands and making a groan of disgust.

  Meredith couldn’t help herself when she began to laugh. No polite titter or a girlish giggle escaped her lips either. Instead, a hearty belly-laugh exploded from her mouth.

  The man pushed himself to a seated position, again thrusting the horse away as it persisted in getting closer.

  “Either he really likes you or he’s saying he’s sorry, too,” she choked out trying unsuccessfully to stop laughing.

  His eyes never left hers as he removed his handkerchief and wiped the horse slobber from his face. Annoyance tinted the bluest eyes she had ever seen and she wondered if his nearly black hair always looked so tousled or if it happened when he fell off the horse. The messy hair looked out of place on someone dressed in a finely tailored black suit but she suspected the unruly mop was impossible to tame.

  “I’m glad you’re able to find humor in this situation,” he said.

  “Be glad he couldn’t figure out how to mount you.”

  The man’s shock showed on his face but in spite of himself, he chuckled. “Are you always so…earthy?”

  “Earthy? No. You’re shooting a little high. Most people around here call me the local hellion,” she said sobering. “I’m Meredith.” Her hand shot out in a bold, almost masculine gesture.

  “Blake,” he said reaching out and grasping her hand. He locked eyes on hers as he raised her outstretched hand towards his full lips.

  She jerked her hand back before he could kiss it. “What-what are you doing? I don’t even know you.” A genuine smile twitched at her lips. “I don’t know where your lips have been. If you let my horse kiss you, you might’ve let someone’s dog kiss you and we all know what parts of their bodies they lick.”

  Blake laughed again, his smile lighting up his eyes and Meredith’s smile died away as she stared unabashedly at the most handsome man she had ever seen. Heavens to Betsy. When his eyes lit up like sun shining through stained glass, her mouth went dry. It didn’t hurt that he kept his face clean shaven unlike her neighbors who wore scraggly unkempt beards. What a shame it would be to cover up that perfectly shaped jaw or camouflage those enticing lips with an ugly beard.

  “Whatever you think just spews straight out of your mouth, doesn’t it?”

  She certainly hoped not or she’d really be embarrassing herself if her wayward thoughts did not stray from this attraction she felt.

  Feigning an air of nonchalance to cover up her real feelings, Meredith shrugged. There was nothing more embarrassing than being attracted to someone who didn’t return the feelings. “You really shouldn’t laugh, it only encourages me.”

  “Duly noted.” Blake slowly moved to pick himself up off the dusty road.

  Meredith bolted to her feet and extended a hand to help him. “You never answered my question.”

  “Which one?”

  “Are you hurt?”

  His eyes met hers briefly as he took the proffered hand before him. She braced herself and leaned back and he rose to his feet simultaneously. “I’ll probably be a bit sore tomorrow but other than having the wind knocked out of me, I think I’m fine.”

  “Thank heavens. Holy smokes, you’re tall.”

  It just spewed out.

  Blake shrugged before dusting off the seat of his pants. “I’m just six feet,” he said making note of her diminutive stature. She couldn’t be more than five feet tall. “I’m just wondering how you fit so much hellion into such a small package.”

  She moved behind him and began swiping the dust off his shoulders and back. “It isn’t easy. I suppose being a spoiled only child has given it roots.”

  Meredith’s hands slowed as she noticed the width of his shoulders and the narrowing of his hips. He stopped brushing the seat of his pants and she couldn’t help but notice the way his pants clung to his bottom and draped in all the right ways. Even without touching, she could see the firm shape and knew it was full in all the right places with muscle definition in all the other places.

  Criminy, she was practically staring at his butt!

  When she felt the heat rising in her cheeks, she turned her attention to his horse. The mare was solid black with the kind of lines that denoted her quality lineage.

  “She’s beautiful.” She picked up the mare’s reins and walked her a few feet. “Oh, jeez!” she cursed notic
ing the way the mare favored a front leg.

  Immediately, she began examining the horse’s leg, running her hands along the length, feeling for swelling or anything unusual. Relief washed over her when she realized the horse had only thrown a shoe. She tapped on the horse’s knee and like any well behaved horse, the mare lifted her foot. Brushing off some of the dirt, Meredith closely examined the black’s hoof.

  “I can put that shoe back on for you.”

  Blake eyed her warily. “Do you know what you’re doing?”

  Hurt showed in her eyes. “I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t.” She scanned the area looking for the missing shoe and found it in the weeds a few feet away from a low crowned black hat. She picked up both items, handing him the hat. “I can see you’re uncomfortable with that idea. We have everything you need in the barn if you would rather do it yourself.”

  “I wouldn’t have the slightest inkling what to do. I would appreciate it if you would do it.”

  His answer didn’t surprise her. By the expensive cut of his suit, Meredith could tell the man didn’t hurt for money. He undoubtedly employed others to care for his horse.

  She took the reins of both horses and began leading them to the barn.

  “I suppose we should go around the fence this time.”

  She cast a quick glance at him to make sure he followed. “You didn’t hear me coming?”

  “It never occurred to me the pounding hooves were going to come over that fence.”

  “Oh, good, so you admit the fault lies with you,” she threw over her shoulder then turned her face away in case her mischief danced in her eyes.

  “My fault?” he asked catching up with a few long strides.

  “Of course, you should have alerted me to your presence.”

  “Do you jest?”

  She tamped down the smirk playing on her lips as she turned to face him. “Not at all. You knew I was there and I was unaware of your presence therefore the blame lies with you.”

  “Indeed?”

  “Indeed,” she mimicked. “Jeez, I’m just teasing. I accept fifty percent of the blame.”

  “Only fifty?”

  “Surely, you can’t expect me to accept more than that?” Her tone was serious even if she couldn’t erase the glimmer from her eyes. “After all, I’m just a woman. A true gentleman would accept one hundred percent of the blame – chivalry being what it is.”

  “Few have ever accused me of being a gentleman.” He looked her in the eyes and a flare of roguishness in his grin sent her stomach to her toes.

  She laughed. “You would besmirch your own character to avoid accepting the responsibility? Hmm. That’s very interesting.”

  Blake shook his head. “I feel sorry for your husband. You must keep his head spinning.”

  “My…?”

  She clamped her mouth shut realizing that telling a complete stranger she was home alone on their farm seemed foolish and reckless. Perhaps, it was better to let him believe a make-believe husband could be home any moment. He just said he was no gentleman, was it wrong to let him think it was true?

  “I keep everyone’s head spinning.”

  Meredith spotted the ribbon that fell loose from her hair and snatched it off the lilac bush.

  “I’ve never seen you before,” she said. “Are you visiting someone or just passing through?”

  “I have business in New London tomorrow. Is it nearby?”

  “It’s another three miles down the road.”

  He grinned in a way that both bespoke of his polite upbringing and his travel-weary state. “That’s good news. I didn’t know I was so close.”

  As Meredith led the horses into the barn, the familiar smell of horse manure and hay filled her lungs. As unpleasant as some people found the odor, she found it as welcoming as the aroma of freshly baked bread – not to say she actually liked the smell, she just associated it with things she did like.

  She released Viper’s reins and he walked into his stall without further prompting from her.

  Meredith removed the carpet bag, saddlebags and rifle from the saddle and handed them to him. Then she pulled off the mare’s heavy saddle and set it over a wooden sawhorse so she wouldn’t have to worry about hitting her head on the stirrup or getting her hair caught in the cinch.

  Meredith quickly rebraided her hair and tied it off with the ribbon as she crossed the barn. The braid was loose and messy with strands sticking out at odd angles and pieces that missed getting in the braid all together.

  Blake watched as she cared for the horse, asking her question after question about the task and Meredith answered each question while she worked.

  “I noticed she has a little swelling in her fetlock. You should probably keep an eye on that.”

  “Where?”

  “Come here, let me show you.”

  Meredith lowered herself to one knee at the horse’s front legs and he followed suit. She took his hand and ran it along the fetlock. But it wasn’t the horse she was suddenly aware of but the handsome man and his spice scented clean smell and the warmth of the hand under hers.

  “This is the one that threw the shoe,” she said. “She probably came down on the stone and it knocked it off, or maybe it was loose already and that’s what caused the swelling. But you’d be wise to keep an eye on it and if it gets worse, rest her for a few days and maybe talk to a real hostler. You do feel it, don’t you?”

  Meredith’s heart began to beat fast at the strange intimacy of touching his hand. How could the touch of mere hands feel so sensual? It was all she could do to keep from snatching her hand back.

  “I feel something,” he said ambiguously, catching her gaze boldly, their faces less than a foot apart. His blue eyes had taken on a sultry quality that she hadn’t noticed before.

  Meredith’s breath caught and she jerked her hand away as she suddenly realized how forward she was being. She rose to her feet and stepped back.

  “It’s not bad, but keep an eye on it.”

  “I had no idea,” he said softly, rising to his full height. “I’m glad you told me. She’s my first horse. I’ve always just rented horses or carriages if I needed one.” He patted the mare’s neck and jumped back when she threw her head back and whinnied. “Sorry, Wunner.”

  “Wunner?”

  His eyes met hers, a crooked grin playing on his lips. “I won her in a card game. Won her. Wunner.”

  “Someone wagered this baby?”

  “With two pairs no less.”

  “I take it that’s not a good hand?”

  The look he gave her only emphasized how different the worlds they came from were. Meredith had no point of reference to know how wealthy someone from back East was. Did they all wear such finery and ride expensive horses or was this man better off than most? Was gambling fine horses on a weak hand normal?

  She continued to groom his horse until its coat shone glossy black then began the task of tending her own horse.

  “So what kind of business has you going to New London?”

  “I’ve come to break bad news to a family here,” he said soberly.

  “How terrible. Who is it?”

  Blake shuffled uncomfortably. “I’d rather not say. It seems the family should be the first to hear.”

  Meredith blushed slightly wondering if he thought she gossiped. She wished her mother were there to bake a dish for the family as her own cooking would only heighten any family’s sorrow.

  “You’re waiting until tomorrow to inform the family?”

  “It’s my understanding your Reverend Michelson is a circuit minister. The lieutenant from Fort Ridgely has gone to fetch him and they are meeting me there in the morning so that we may go together to break the news.”

  “I see,” she said. “So no one is expecting you tonight?”

  “No, trust me; I’m in no hurry to execute the task.”

  Meredith bit her lip trying to decide if she should invite to him eat supper with her. It seemed like the decent th
ing to do considering how her reckless behavior could have seriously injured either his horse or him.

  “Would you like to join me for supper? Before you answer, you should know I’m not much of a cook. I’ve been mostly living off hard sausage, cheese and raw vegetables since I’ve been alone. But I think I can manage scrambled eggs and biscuits.”

  She should offer to kill a hen but one thing stopped her. If one of the chickens gave up their life to provide a meal, she felt she should honor that death by making something edible and she was pretty sure she did not possess the skills.

  “You’re alone out here?” he asked, thinking they already established she had a husband.

  She looked away and worried the inside of her lip. She hadn’t meant to reveal that. It just spewed out without any thought. Dang it.

  Would he think she had not corrected him earlier because she was ashamed of the fact she was not married? Would he assume her cooking was the cause? The truth was worse. She hated to admit there were no young men interested in a hellion wife.

  “All the young men have gone and joined the infantry,” she said vaguely still not willing to admit she was a spinster.

  “Leaving you alone to tend the farm?”

  A sad smile played on her lips as she shrugged. “Mr. Broberg checks up on me every couple of days but his English is so rough, I can hardly understand him. I’ve missed having anyone to talk to.”

  “Assuming I’m not taking food out of anyone’s mouth, I’d love to eat with you.”

  “The eggs will go to waste if you don’t help me eat them.”

  3

  Meredith put his horse in an empty stall. “Would you mind taking that bucket and fetching some water while I give the horses some oats?”

  “Sure.”

  When he returned, she took the bucket and divided it between the horses. “I need to take care of my evening chores before supper. There’s a rocker on the porch where you can rest if you’re tired.”

  The man looked out the barn door toward the rocker on the porch. “I could start a fire for you if that would help.”

  “Actually, it would.”

  Meredith told him where he could find what he needed then proceeded to muck the stalls, throwing fresh hay down from the loft. She hauled water to the garden and plucked a few weeds she saw. She fed the chickens, and milked the goat before washing her hands and returning to the house with a pail of fresh water.