Good, lord what did they have to feed the two? He’d have to add water, what few vegetables they had left, and the last of the potatoes to yesterday’s venison stew. He grimaced. Tomorrow he’d be heading into Garretsville for supplies. Perhaps Miss MacCarthy might agree to join him. If so, he’d take her to Klein’s Diner and treat her to a proper meal. His mouth watered in agreement with the idea. Prudence Klein and her children were very fine cooks indeed.
Grinning, he stomped the grit from his boots and stepped inside. Meredith stood by the window, she turned and smiled. His stomach flipped, and his blood once again hummed. Time seemed to stop as their gazes met and held. “How do I know you?”
Oliver rose from the chair by the stove. “Well, you see—”
“Oliver, this is not your story to tell,” Meredith glared daggers at her half-brother. “You’ve never laid eyes on Daniel until today.”
“No, but I knew he was there. You know I felt his presence.”
What the hell did that mean? Daniel’s gaze went from Meredith to the gangly youth. Clearly the two did not get along. “I’ll be right back.” He hurried up to his loft and gazed around his space, making sure it was tidy. He wished he had more than one set of sheets for the bed, so he could change them for her. He’d give his room to Meredith for however long she stayed, which he hoped might be for a long while indeed. As he came back downstairs, he found the two in the middle of an exchange.
“Please go outside and get my duffle bag and your backpack, Oliver,” she said, her tone schoolmarm stern.
“Are you going to order me around like I’m your servant the whole time we’re here?” Oliver grumbled.
“Well, let’s see,” she quipped, placing her hands on her hips. “Your debit card is useless here, kiddo. Do you have any currency of your own that can be used in this era?”
Debit card? Daniel frowned in confusion. This era?
Oliver’s face turned a blotchy red. “Nope.”
“I did not invite you to join me on this venture. Don’t forget that for a moment.” Her brow arched, she nodded toward the door, and Oliver stomped out.
Sighing, she turned to face to him. “He’s not my half-brother or any relation to me at all. He followed me here uninvited.”
Daniel’s brow shot up, and a trace of unease edged its way into his mind. “I don’t understand.”
“I know, and I’m sorry.” She bit her lip and her eyes took on a sheen of moisture. “As soon as your friend returns, I’ll explain everything.”
“All right. In the meantime, I’ll get supper started.” Miss MacCarthy didn’t present a I have great news for you demeanor, and everything took on different feel, this one more foreboding.
Now he worried. Had something happened to his family? If so, how had it fallen to Miss MacCarthy to bring him the news? Though he wrote regularly to his mother and siblings, he hadn’t received word in months. He’d also sent money, and perhaps that had been foolhardy. Mail coaches were often robbed.
He cast a curious glance at Miss MacCarthy’s bag. Why must he wait until Charles returned to read the letter? She’d said she was here to deliver it to him, not them. He took the covered pot from inside the cookstove and set it on the counter.
“May I help?” Meredith came to stand beside him.
“Certainly. He handed her a bowl. “Fill this with water if you please.”
She smelled sweet, like wild flowers with a hint of fresh ocean breeze. Her scent was exactly as he’d imagined it would be, floral and fresh. His frown returned. When exactly had he imagined how Miss MacCarthy smelled?
He leaned down and rummaged through their supplies, coming up with his hands full of an onion, wild garlic and a few wilted vegetables.
Meredith set the bowl of water on the counter and took the paring knife he handed her. She picked up the last wedge of cabbage he’d kept wrapped in linen. “With your farming background, I’m surprised you don’t at least keep chickens out here.”
He froze, his knife poised over the peeled onion. “How do we know each other, Miss MacCarthy? How do you know anything about me?”
The cabin door opened, and Charles walked in, followed by Oliver. The young man dropped Meredith’s bag by the door, and he placed his backpack on the floor by one of the two chairs. He sank into the chair as if he’d been hard put-upon to do such an onerous task. There he remained, sullen and silent as only an adolescent male could be.
“Let’s see this letter,” Charles said.
“Let me get this stew on the hob first, and then we can read the letter as our supper cooks. Incidentally, Miss MacCarthy informed me that Oliver is no relation to her. He followed her here without permission.” He flashed his partner a pointed look, knowing Charles would understand Daniel now had concerns about their visitors as well. “Light the stove and things will go faster.”
“Aye, and there are biscuits leftover from breakfast we can warm.” Charles gathered tinder and larger sticks of wood for the stove and set to work.
Daniel placed the augmented stew on the stove to heat, set tea to steeping, and brought mugs to the table. “Come, Miss MacCarthy. Have a seat,” he said. “I cannot wait any longer. Let us see this mysterious letter.” He didn’t know what to think or what to expect and steeled himself for the worst.
He kept his eyes on Meredith as she crossed the room and dug around inside her canvas pack, pulling out a flat sort of satchel. Daniel exchanged a glance with Charles, who had joined him at the
