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

who took you under his wing?”
    “That’s the one. He’s fighting for the
heavyweight championship next week down in Louisiana and he’d be stopping
through Stone Creek on his way to Kennerville, just outside of New Orleans. I’ve
been waiting for an opportunity like this, since I never really got the chance
to…to…”
    “Say thank you,” Raine filled in for him.
    Will nodded.
    “So, you have a dilemma.”
    Will nodded again, more slowly this time, his
hands folded together on top of the table, his head hung low.
    “Is that the only thing that’s on your mind? Your
only reason for denying the job?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I mean, from what I heard from Mama, you are
heading back to England soon and should have many chances to see Mr. Mace. Is missing
the chance to talk to Mr. Mace really the only reason you don’t want to take
the job?”
    Will thought about it for a good long while. Out
of everyone in his family, Raine would be the one to understand.
    “There’s…a ship.”
    “Ahhh,” Raine said, leaning back down onto the
table with his forearms. “I thought it might be something like that.”
    “You know how much I’ve always wanted to have a
ship of my own to sail across the seas. To explore the world. My teaching
position in England comes with a few more incentives than what I let on. I
couldn’t bring myself to tell Mother that exploring on a ship across the ocean
is a part of my position with the university.”
    Raine rested his elbows on the table, his hands
clasped together, and leaned his mouth against his hands as he continued to
listen, but still offered no advice or suggestions.
    “I am supposed to be in Boston in less than three
weeks to finish the transaction. Three weeks, Raine. And then I’ll be gone five
years. Years! I want to spend every moment with the people who mean the most to
me. It’s not like there aren’t any other men qualified to do the job. What
should I do?” Will shifted his head enough that he could meet Raine’s eyes.
    “Well, I can’t answer that, little brother. That
needs to come from you. But trust your gut. You are a Redbourne after all.”
Raine smiled as he leaned forward to take another bite of his meal.
    “My gut doesn’t work the same as yours. Or
Rafe’s. Or even Cole’s for that matter.”
    Raine paused for a moment before speaking.
    “How many fights have you won in the ring?”
    Will shrugged. He’d lost count. “Enough.”
    “How do you think you’ve been able to do that? I
would imagine that any successful pugilist would need to depend on more than mere
strength or technique. You win because of your ability to listen to your gut. I
would venture to say, Oxford, that you are better at it than the rest of us. We
just use it differently.”
    Will considered this information carefully. He
had found a lot of success in the ring, but he’d always attributed it to the
moves he’d learned and the hours of practice he’d put into it. What was his gut
telling him?
    His lungs filled with air, his mind cleared, and
he knew exactly what he needed to do.
    “Thanks, Raine,” he said, pushing himself away
from the table.
    His brother picked up his fork and stuck it into
the remaining food on his plate. “Three ladies and a bankroll, sounds like
there is a joke in there somewhere,” he mused. “Hey, I’ve got some beef jerky
drying in the smokehouse and I think Mama just finished a batch of her fruit
jerky. You should load up. It’s going to be a long ride,” he said with a grin.
    Will shook his head.
    How does he do that?
    Raine always knew what Will was going to do
before he did it. He had a keen sense and a unique perspective on life. That
was one of the many things Will loved and admired most about his oldest brother.
    “What makes you think I’m taking the job?”
    “You’re Will Redbourne. A born fighter and protector.
An adventure like this—was there really ever any question?”
    Will picked up one of the biscuits from