The Outrider (Redbourne Series #5 - Will's Story) by Kelli Ann Morgan Page A

wove around Will and he
glanced at the stove where a pot of broth had already been set to warm. He
walked over to the cupboard above the sink and grabbed a tin full of his
mother’s special herbal tea.
    “Querida,” the little Spanish cook said as she
walked into the kitchen. “This sopa will do your friend some good.” Lottie
picked up a ladle, spooned some into a bowl, and passed him on her way out the
door. “I will take to him.”
    “Gracias, Lottie,” he called after her. He pumped
the kettle full of water and set it on the stove to warm, then pulled out a
chair and sat down at the table next to his brother.
    “Where have you been?” Will asked playfully, now
able to relax for the first time this morning.
    “The Hamilton’s well caved in last night. Mrs.
Hamilton has had to cart in all of her water from the river while her husband
and a few of the neighbors have been working to clear the well. And with their
four little ones, they needed someone to help out.”
    “So, Raine Redbourne came to the rescue and
cleared out the well in no time at all, right?”
    “Actually, I helped the oldest two children with
their schoolwork and played with the others until their ma had finished making
dinner and had gotten the youngest to bed.” He took another bite of his eggs.
    Will laughed loudly.
    “And then, of course, I helped them clear the
well.” A grin spread across his face, but he didn’t look up from his food.
    Will watched his oldest brother for a moment. How
could he ever live up to the standard that Raine had set for all of his younger
siblings? He was proud of everything he’d been able to accomplish with his
life—especially amidst the hardships that he’d seen. Losing his wife, Sarah,
had been a real black moment in his life. In all of their lives.
    “Mama said that you had a lead on the Ferguson
fire.”
    “Three of the four suspected culprits are sitting
in the jailhouse sleeping off their drunken stupor.”
    “You caught three already?”
    Raine nodded, then slipped some shredded potatoes
into his mouth and chewed heartily.
    “And the fourth?” Will asked.
    “He got himself caught in one of Old Ferguson’s
tree nets. It seemed only fitting that I leave him there to think on it for a
bit while I got myself something to eat. He’s not going anywhere.”
    They both chuckled.
    “So, it seems Sven’s fever has broken,” Raine
said, finally breaking away from his food long enough that he met Will’s eyes.
    “He’s still weak, but it looks good. I guess.”
Will had no idea how good or bad the prognosis would be, but he figured if Sven
was up and joking around, he was on the mend. The fever had come on so quickly.
It was hard to imagine something unseen could have drained the robust man’s
strength in such a short period of time.
    “I’m sure he’ll be back to his old self in no
time,” Raine assured him.
    “Not soon enough.” Will blew out a heavy breath
and hung his head.
    “What’s on your mind?” Raine asked as he leaned
back against the chair, leaving the remainder of his meal in front of him.
    “Sven is supposed to be the escort for the stage
that leaves this afternoon.”
    “I’m sure Otis’s replacement will get along fine
with just one guard.”
    They had received word that the previous
stagecoach driver was on the mend, but would not be returning to work for some
time.
    “That’s just it, it’s not only accompanying the
three mail-order-brides that has me concerned, but the sizeable bankroll being
transported to Kansas City on the same stage. There should be at least four
guards, let alone the two they already have slated, but there is no way they
will be able to make it safely with just one outrider.”
    Raine nodded his head, but didn’t say anything.
    A few moments passed in silence.
    Raine sipped off his mug.
    “I enjoy riding out with the stage,” Will
continued, “but,” he looked up at his brother, “do you remember Jem Mace?” he
asked.
    “The boxer