Uncharted Hope by Keely Brooke Keith

Author:Keely Brooke Keith [Keith, Keely Brooke]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Edenbrooke Press
Published: 2017-09-12T04:00:00+00:00

* * *

Nicholas ran his fingers through his clean, wet hair as he crossed the road between the Foster farm and Levi and Mandy’s house. The cold bath he’d taken after work washed the dirt from his skin, but the balmy night air already had him sweating again. With only a month left until the autumn equinox, surely this would be the last heat wave in Good Springs for the summer.

A mantle of stars smudged the darkness above, each one’s light blending into the next. The oval moon shone across Levi’s yard, giving Nicholas a clear view as he strode through the freshly mowed grass toward the porch. As the front door opened, the anguished wail of a labor-pained woman flowed from the house.

Connor stepped outside and closed the door, muffling the throaty cry. He shuffled down the porch steps and lifted his chin at Nicholas. “Hey, man. What’s up?”

Unaccustomed to the outsider’s phrasing, Nicholas shrugged. “How is Mandy?”

Another cry bellowed through the walls, seeming to come from the bedroom on the west side of Levi’s house.

Connor gave a half-grimace half-smile. “It sounds like she’s exactly how she’s supposed to be right now.”

“Yes, I suppose so.” Nicholas had witnessed the birth of more sheep and cattle than he could count but never a human. “Who’s helping her?”

“Levi and Roseanna are with her. My wife is delivering the baby.” Connor arched one eyebrow slightly. “And Sophia is assisting Lydia.”

Nicholas looked away, sensing he was being baited. “Well, I came to see if there was any news yet.”

“Nope, not yet. Soon though. Everett and Bethany are in the living room, debating whether the baby is a boy or girl.” Another bellow came from the birthing room. Connor leaned against the porch railing and crossed his legs at the ankle. “We’ll know in a few minutes.”

Crickets chirped rapidly in the heat. Nicholas turned his face toward the sky and rubbed the back of his tired neck. “When do I start training for this security team?”

Connor shot away from the porch railing, his attention fully ignited. “Thursday night—sundown in the Colburns’ barn.”

“I’ll be there.” He hadn’t thought he would enjoy physical confrontation until he felt the primal burn that rose inside him when he thought he’d have to fight for Sophia. Though he longed for more, he would never say it aloud. “We train every week, right?”

Connor nodded. “That’s the plan. Unless I’m not back from Woodland in time next week.”

“Woodland?” He stepped closer. “Why are you going to Woodland? That is, if you don’t mind my asking.”

Connor flashed him a look that mixed regal authority and raw amusement. “No, Nic, I don’t mind. I’m going over weapon prototypes with a craftsman there.”

“Weapons?”

“The security team will need more than fists.”

“Right, well…” He sank his hands into his trouser pockets. “I’ve been meaning to make the trip back to Woodland to… get some things I left at my parents home… for my new house.”

“I see.”

“Might I make the trip with you?”

“Yeah, Nic. No problem. We’ll take the Colburns’ wagon to haul your stuff back.

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