Winning the Gentleman (Hearts on the Heath #2) - Kristi Ann Hunter Page 0,32

with the grooming tools and Rhiannon’s tack.

She had no reason to distrust the staff here, but those she’d met hadn’t cared much for her presence. Quickly she stepped back over to the drawers and tucked her few belongings into the bag as well. She would leave them in Jonas’s care until this was over.

Bag under one arm and tray carefully balanced in the other, Sophia eased down the steps to the kitchen. The rooms had been nearly empty when she’d gone down the night before, but this morning there would be plenty of people about. Any of them could notice that her tray was absent of its dishes. Lady Rebecca’s offer of a place to stay would be rescinded if Sophia caused a ruckus.

Fortunately, the morning seemed busy enough that no one cared what she was doing. It was easy to slip the tray among the others in the scullery and escape out the kitchen door.

She took off at a brisk pace. The trees where she was to meet Jonas were a long walk from Meadowland Park, but, fortunately, they were close to the training yard. She should have enough time.

If Jonas was there.

What if he wasn’t? What if something terrible had happened? What if someone had found him? The horrid possibilities were enough to make Sophia want to give up her room in Lady Rebecca’s home and sleep with Jonas under the stars, because at least then she’d know where he was.

Jonas stepped from the trees as she approached, sending a spiral of relief to her lungs and allowing her to breathe easy once more. Only the bowl and plate digging into her side kept her from running to him. She’d made it this far without spilling his breakfast. She could make it five more steps.

He wrapped his arms around her, and she buried her nose into his shirt. He smelled of dirt and grass and horse. To some it would be off-putting, but to her, it was familiar and comforting.

After a few moments, she pulled back. “Where’s Rhiannon?”

“In the cottage I found a little north of here. It’s been long abandoned. Half of it is fallen down, but I’ve managed to fashion a sort of stall on one side and arranged a few scraps of furniture on the other. The area is overgrown, so I have to be careful coming and going, but there’s a few trees about and it’s not far from water. It will do for a while.”

Sophia nodded and then knelt to lower her knapsack to the ground, biting her lip as she opened it. “I brought food.”

Jonas’s stomach rumbled as she removed the bowl and plate. His gaze lifted from the food and narrowed at Sophia. “This isn’t all you got, was it?”

She shook her head. “I ate. I promise. If I ate any more, I’d be sick.”

He nodded, shoved a piece of ham into his mouth, and rewrapped the bowl. He took her knapsack. “Can you come see the cottage now?”

She shook her head. “I’m not sure what time it is, and I don’t want to be late.”

He nodded. “I’ll be back here this afternoon. If you can’t come, I’ll find a way to bring a map with me tomorrow morning.”

Sophia licked her lips and pressed them together to keep from crying. This had seemed like such a perfect idea yesterday morning, but it wasn’t an exciting adventure. It was terrifying.

“Soph?” Jonas reached out one hand and nudged her chin up.

“What?” she whispered.

“Be strong and courageous.”

It was a quote Jonas used frequently. While she might have their father’s training manuals, Jonas had his Bible. They’d made a great team over the years, Jonas seeing to the siblings’ faith and Sophia to their livelihood. She couldn’t rest on Jonas’s faith now, though. She had to be strong and courageous on her own and had to trust that God was with her and not just with them.

“Be strong and courageous,” she repeated before giving him one final nod and fleeing down the lane.

Ten

I don’t know about this, Whitworth.” Mr. Barley, the horse and jockey trainer Aaron had been working with, ran a finger across his nose and gave Equinox a narrow look.

Theirs was an interesting relationship, with Aaron filling the shoes of the owner while not having the actual status. It often forced Aaron to exude more confidence than he felt to maintain his authority.

Though he couldn’t verbally agree with Barley, Aaron wasn’t sure about it either. Yet it was the decision he’d made, so