Hope Everlastin' Book 4 Read Free Page A

me!"
    Roan got to his feet and
unsteadily stood at Lachlan's side.
    "I found them diggin’.
Afore I had a chance to say a word, they turned on me."
    "You just happened to be
here?" Lachlan asked heatedly and tightened his grip.
    "Aye!" the man
gasped.
    "Let him go," said Roan.
"Lannie, the ither two wouldn't have run like they did if they
weren't the culprits."
    "How do I know they didna
merely turn on one o' their own?"
    The young man's eyes
pleaded with Roan to reason on his behalf with Lachlan, but before
Roan could say another word, Lachlan released him and stepped
back.
    Massaging his throat, the
young man nodded in gratitude, his wary gaze on Lachlan.
    "Wha' the hell?" Roan
murmured, using the second flashlight to inspect the disturbed
ground. Two shovels lay on the opposite side of the
grave.
    "Grave robbin’ is a
grievous offense," Lachlan gritted out, his gaze raking over the
stranger.
    The young man straightened.
He was as tall as Lachlan but slender in build and approximately in
his mid-twenties. His long, wavy hair was unkempt and hung a good
three inches past his shoulders. High cheekbones. A prominent
jawline with a deeply cleft chin. Blood trickled from the left
nostril of his straight nose.
    "Sir, I may be wi’ou' a
home or a place to sleep, but a grave robber I be no'. On ma honor,
I was walkin’ the road and saw the lights. I thought maself
fortunate to find anyone ou' so late, and only trespassed to ask if
perhaps they had a place I could sleep for the night. I didna know
wha' was goin’ on till I saw these markers and those men diggin’ up
the ground."
    Lachlan tilted up his chin
and eyed the man with blatant cynicism. "Just walkin’ along the
road, were you?"
    "Aye. Lookin’ for a place
to sleep the night."
    Roan and Lachlan exchanged
dubious glances then both focused on the stranger.
    "Wha's yer name?" asked
Roan.
    "Reith, sir."
    "Where are you from?" asked
Lachlan, coldly.
    "Originally from this area,
sir. I've been away some time and, as ye can see, I be a wee down
on ma luck. For the past two days I've been tryin’ to find a job in
town."
    "Wha' kind o' work do you
do?" asked Roan.
    "I'll put ma hands to
anythin’, sir, but I be best working land. Gardenin’ and prunin’. I
be willin’ to work for room and board."
    "Are you now?" said Lachlan
suspiciously.
    "Aye, sir, on ma honor.
I've really no use for money. A place to lay ma head and food in ma
stomach is all I need."
    Lachlan ran the beam down
the man's length, and grimaced. "Ye're dressed like a ragged
tinker, mon. Have you no pride?"
    "Pride?" A tinge of
indignation tainted Reith's voice. "Sir, I have mair'n ma fair
measure o' pride, but tis never brought me naught but shame and
grief. All I own be on ma back, and I be as glad to have it as ye
in yer fancy shirt."
    Roan grinned despite the
throbbing pain in his head. "Damn me, but I like his
spirit."
    Lachlan continued to scowl
into the young man's face. "Do you know who I am,
laddie?"
    "Lannie," Roan warned,
which Lachlan impatiently flagged off with a hand.
    Reith jerked in surprise at
the question and gave Lachlan a serious looking over. "No, sir.
Should I?"
    "Lachlan Baird."
    Genuine puzzlement masked
the man's face. "Are ye someone o' importance?"
    With a somewhat sardonic
grin, Lachlan pointed to the disturbed ground. "Prior to a few
weeks ago, tha' was ma grave."
    A smile of uncertainty
twitched on Reith's mouth. "Ye're a...ghost, sir?"
    "I'm a born again pain in
the arse."
    Roan rolled his eyes
heavenward and clenched his teeth against a groan.
    "Weel, laddie, wha' have
you to say to tha'?"
    Reith blew out a breath,
glanced at the grave then closed one eye and searched Lachlan's
face with the other. "I've seen ma fair measure o' wonders, so I
guess I say welcome back, Mr. Baird."
    A glint of wry amusement
awakened in Lachlan's eyes. "Are you no' sorry you set foot on ma
land, then?"
    "Only for the beating,"
Reith said in earnest. "I need to work, sir."
    "For yer room and