Wayfaring Stranger

[Emery Peyton]

Her stomach hadn't stopped churning since she saw him, rugged sexiness and all, at her door. When was the last time a good lookin' cowboy stood at her door, just beckoning to be stared at. None the last time she checked her calendar! She knew almost half the peopel that stayed there, most were people who became regulars during certain weekends, some made it a family event to come at least one weekend a month. She loved her job and loved how people found it cozy and homey, it had been what she intended when opening up the business, matter of fact, picking up where her parents had left off so many years ago.

Emery sighed out as she hugged herself, the cool nightly wind still not recovering from the odd winter they had. It wasn't uncommong for nights to get a tad chilly, but this was unusual, and she liked it. She bit her lower lip as she watched her feet as she crunched up the beaten path next to the back porch, it was much easier to walk than having to walk around the house and up a small incline in the hill. Here she just had steps. She had just got done making her nightly rounds at the stables, making sure the horses had water, all doors were latched, the barn door was closed and locked. She wasn't in the mood to have horses stolen, not after the ordeal some places were having with their security, luckily she had already locked the front entrance gate, nobody allowed to come in or out unless they buzz the house.

She sighed out as she sat her flashlight down on the kitchen island, putting her key on the little hook of the decorative holder next to the door. Speaking of keys, or thinking of considering she knew a guest was in the house and didn't think he should hear her talking to herself. She was loving his cherry red truck, she had actually touched it on her way back, always appreciative of nice new trucks. Then again she was in love with her Poppy's old Ford and wasn't wanting to part with the four door rust brown truck just yet.

Emery wondered what he was doing, he had looked tired when they made it to the house, then again long trips always wore her out so she empathized with him. She frowned and realized he hadn't been out of his room since he went up. She was wondering if she should go up there to ask him if he was hungry since she had been in the living room reading a book, waiting for him to come down and pick something from the menu. She actually hadn't eaten anything now that she thought about it. The book had grabbed her attention rather well.

She sighed out and figured she could make something later on in case he just woke up or ate late.

[Laurent Eades]

Laurent rubbed the towel vigorously through his hair, wishing desperately the blodne curls would straighten out. But no, it didn't matter what he did, they would always stay curly. He got them from his mother, who's entire family had curly hair, and the blonde had come from his father, who had had blonde hair for as long as Laurent could remember.

He tossed the towel on the bed, dressing in an undershirt and grey exercise pants, making his way to the vanity. He pushed his hips against the counter to lean over and stare in the mirror. His blue eyes looked tired, even to himself, and he was in desperate need of a shave...

Growwwl...

And food, according to his stomach. He put a hand over his stomach and leaned back, going back over to his bed and sitting down. He unzipped his satchel and dove inside, pulling out the case file on the hit-and-run he was investigating. The victim, a twenty-three year old business major. The vehicle, a truck, older, the style was in the back of the file and he didn't feel like fishing it out. The tip they had recieved had told them that the person responsible for hitting the man and running lived here, or had lived here when it occured.

Hopefully, Laurent would be able to track down which visistor it had been.

Sighing and snapping the file shut, he leaned back on the pillows, looking out the window. It was dark now, probably nearing seven o'clock. He was starved to death, but he rarely ate dinner. Breakfast was his meal, especially if he was going to get up early and ride the next morning...then again, he did want to venture down and look around a little more.

Reaching over, he grabbed the mess of papers the woman had handed him earlier. He looked at the schedule, searching for the time the barn opened. It said the doors were unlcocked at seven in the morning, and closed at eight at night. Considering most people here were hardcore horseback riders, they would most likely be at the barn at ten til seven, and not get get back until two til eight. That's what Laurent planned to do.

He tossed the papers down and reached over, turning off the lamp in his room. He was so tired, he knew he wouldn't be able to sleep, but he didn't have anything better to do with his time.

Rolling over, he rested his head on the pillow, his still wet hair cold on his neck, and stared at the wall opposite his bed. He reached over and picked his cell phone up off of his bedside table and flipped it open. In a moment, he had his alarm set for five thirty, and not long after, he had fallen asleep.

[Emery Peyton]

_____________________

Peyton yawened as she stood in the darkened kitchen, the sun slowly starting to burn a bright red in through the window, something she always watched at this time of day while drinking her favorite kind of coffee, Hazlenut. She blew into her favorite navy blue cup, mindlessly noticing that the steam was rolling around in a circle inside, her mind having wandered on many things this morning.

She sighed out and sat down the mug and figured now was a better time than never to put the fresh linens out on the small tables in the dining room. It was almost 6:30 in the morning, her typical routine to get up at 5 and get ready for the day then prepare the breakfast tables at 6:30. Jeez, her and her routines. Even she got annoyed with herself. She heard her stomach growl when she smelled the food that was cooking in the industrial kitchen right out from the dining room, her two chefs always on time and ready to cook for anyone who wandered in.

Complimentaries were already out, bagels, muffins, coffee, juices, fruits, the usuals, but the eggs and omelets and every other breakfast ammenity was being prepared and Emery was more than happy to eat since she had fallen asleep on the leather chair in the library reading another one of her trashy romance novels dealing with the west and horses. If there was one thing she was obsessed with, other than her job and what came along with it, it was food and romance. A sucker for the last due to her inability to even experience it herself. She figured the only person she'd ever marry would be her horses.

Emery hummed a small song, an old regular baptist song she had learned back in her days of choir. She wasn't much of the church goin' type, but she did appreciate Kentucky's appalachian history to at least sing some over putting white table clothes on the tables. Today she was favoring 'I'll Fly Away'.

[Laurent Eades]

By the time six thirty rolled around, Laurent was dressed in boot-cut jeans, and a white NBHA t-shirt, sticking his riding gloves in his back pocket and pulling on his cowboy boots and hat.

He pushed some flyaway curls away from his hat as he grabbed his cigarettes and lighter, hiding them in his other back pocket, and leaving his cell phone on the bedside table. He didn't want any calls today, especially not from Nashville. Any business calls he took had to be done in private.

Glancing once in the mirror, and shaking his head at his unattractiveness, he unlocked the door and headed down the hall, checking the wall clock before he shut and relocked the door. It was six forty-nine, he was right on time.

He could smell food as he descended the stairs as quietly as his boots would allow. He was still hungry, but figured he could grab something and eat it while he tacked up. But the closer he got to the kitchens, he smelled coffee...he couldn't survive in the morning without coffee. Especially not when it smelled that good. Maybe after a cup or two, he could go out and start tacking up Byrd.

When he wandered into the main dining room, he saw the woman from the night before, and he reached up to take his hat off, seeing food set out, but searching for the coffee. When he spotted it, he walked over, laying his hat down next to it so he could use both hands to get it. He glanced over his shoulder once, trying to be polite.

"Mornin', ma'am..."

[Emery Peyton]

Emery didn't even pay any attention to her surroundings on the weekends considering most people left on Friday morning. To hear boots coming made her heart race and to hear his voice made her stomach jump into her throat.. She looked over her shoulder, smiling brightly at the man she saw getting coffee. Something she had learned in this business, cowboys loved their coffee.

"Oh, good morning, Mister Eades!" She sounded extremely chipper, but she always did this early. It was at night when she became boring and monotone. "Did you sleep good last night? I missed you for dinner, I was thinking about comin' up and seein' if you wouldn't want somethin', but I figured you been driving all day you were just wantin' some sleep." Another moment when she spoke too much and barely took a breathe. Nerves already at this time of the morning? He didn't come bother her last night, so he was very respectful, she figured she needed to stop being judgemental and just trust people a little more.

"We got some fresh eggs coming out, would you like me to go get you some breakfast, hun?" She slightly walked towards the middle of the room towards the buffet where things were set out. "I was just about to go get me some before I go ridin'."

[Laurent Eades]

Laurent listened to her. She was a morning person obviously, unlike him. If he didn't put forth a good effort, he could be very grouchy in the morning. But he had gotten a lot of sleep the night previous, so he was feeling rested and polite this morning. He turned around, leaning on the table a little, taking a nice big gulp of coffee.

"Aw, no thank ya," he said quietly. He watched her for a long moment. "I reckon I'll take something with me," he said, waving a hand vaguely to the bread products, or one of the other things that was easily wrapped up and put in a saddle bag. He continued to drink his coffee, refilling after a few moments. He looked down into the cup for a moment as if waiting for it to do a trick. He looked back up.

"Wouldn't care to get some of this to take with me though," he said.

[Emery Peyton]

Emery smiled, watching him talk, his drawl much more noticeable in the morning and the deep morning voice he had was very appealing, then again the more she thought about it there wasn't much about this man that wasn't uappealing.

"If you want, I have some thermos' back in the back I can fill you up on some hot fresh coffee for your mornin'. We are here to serve you, so don't be afraid to boss us around." She smiled and felt that she was doing too much of it already, he didn't seem like the kind of man who loved mornings that much. She used to not be either until she started this little inn, it was part of the job and, at times, she felt like sleeping in on many occassions. However, this morning, she was more excited to get up and see the new guest.

[Laurent Eades]

Laurent nodded, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips. He was a totally humorless man, and this woman actually was funny. He gave a short nod, the tiny smile disappeared as quickly as it appeared.

"I'd like that, thank ya," he muttered, indicating he would like to have a thermo of coffee to take with him. He liked nothing more than hot coffee on the trail. Hot coffee and a cigarette. He leaned off of the table and grabbed his hat, indicating she lead the way to the thermo. He walked to the door and then waiting, looking around. He turned and walked to the front door, pulling it open to peer outside. The sun was peeking over the horizon, it always rose late in the summer.

The sky was grey. Grey, and blue, and pink, and red. Sun rises were gorgeous in the country. Not like the city where the car exhaust and pollution made the sky more of a brown in the morning. He loved it here. It reminded him so strongly of Colorado that he was getting a tad homesick. He couldn't wait to get out and spend some quality time with Byrd.

[Emery Peyton]

Emery was on a mission, perhaps more than she should be considering this was the first time she was actually serving a man she wanted to serve. Most cowboys in these parts had a perverted way about them and it made her very uncomfortable, but she could run with the boys and she gave them a run for their money, yet at the same time praying to god she'd not be caught alone with them anytime soon. Not even if it was passing in the hallway, however, she would want to pass Laurent in the hall anyday, even if she was carrying her skivvies. A blush crossed her cheek, her mind always overactive on the weekends when there wasn't much to do at the inn. Luckily, Laurent was there, but he wasn't her horse and pony show.

Emery was enjoying the thought of being able to sit with him in the library and talk, she did with most her guests, but he seemed like the quite type, the loner. She sat down the hot pot of coffee that she had made for her personal use in the main kitchen, she screwed the silver cap on and smiled, happy with herself. She turned and walked out of the kitchen and smiled.

"Here you are. I hope you enjoy it. I love riding and drinking my favorite kind of coffee. Muffin's too. Then again I need to cut back on the snacking and riding!" She laughed as she patted her stomach. Why did she tell him that? That was stupid. Now he was going to think she found herself fat. She sighed.

"What are your plans for this morning?"

[Laurent Eades]

Laurent nodded when she handed him the thermo, he could feel the heat of the coffee on his hands as he held it. He watched her for a moment, considering what she had said. If she really thought she was fat, she was in need of a mirror check. She was far from it, not even knowing her, it was obvious she rode horses. She had the muscles in all the right places.

"Ah," he sighed, putting his hat back on, but tipping it back so he could see her, and vice versa. "I'm gonna head out on Byrd this mornin'...don't plan on bein' back for a few hours..." he said quietly, nodding a little.

"And yourself?"

[Emery Peyton]

Emery nodded, smiling softly not wanting to be the woman he recalled as being 'All teeth, all the time.' She figured nobody in their right mind would be that happy. But, she was. Surprisingly.

"Ah," She looked around and out the orange tinted white lace curtains that barely hid the large French windows. "I got to do a few things here, but in about twenty I am getting my baby out and taking her for a ride. It's been two days since she and I have been alone." She smiled referring to her horse as a lover, but she was her baby girl and nobody was as loyal to her as Kicker, her tan Quarter Horse.

"Might see you out there." She sighed and realized she wanted so much to blow off filing a few things and heading out to give her horse a brisk morning run. "We have markers and things around so you will never lose your way, all right? Be careful. Have fun!" Emery felt keeping him there any longer would probably agitate him so allowing him to be on his way. Plus, she'd be able to go ahead and give the maid on hand to clean up his room.

[Laurent Eades]

Laurent nodded. He tipped his hat and turned, striding through the hall and out the door into the brisk morning air. The sun wasn't fully up yet, but the bar nwas unlocked and he could hear the sound of the horses kicking in their stalls.

He made his way down the hill to the barn, going through the unlocked doors and walking down the hall to his horse, who had her nose rested on the small window to the side of her stall. He smiled, patting it before opening the stall and grabbing her halter. She stood obediently while he put it on and lead her out into the hall, crosstying her.

He hung up a bucket of food for her--a scoop of sweet feed to give her energy--and went to the tack room, grabbing his saddle, his bridle, and his saddle pad. He rested his saddle on the floor, tossing the saddle pad on her back as she scarfed down her food, not paying him any mind. He hauled his saddle up on her back.

After she finished, he laced the leather strap through the silver ring...over, under, over, under, through, a loose knot. He carefully anchored his elbow against his hip, stepping under her belly a little and then pulling up on the leathers until it was as tight as it would go. He finished the knot with pulling the excess through and over. After that he loosely buckled the cinch around her lower belly.

When she raised her head from the food, he unlatched her halter from the cross ties, leaving one on, and sliding her bridle over top of her halter, making sure the bit slid smoothly into her mouth. He wrapped the lead around her neck, braiding it before he lowered the stirrups and mounted her on the left side.

He tapped her sides lightly, clucking gently to her. Byrd jumped a little, prancing until she got out of the barn and he was able to see the several entrances to trails along the feilds. Deciding to run her a little, to get her energy out, he entered the back feild, gave her her head, kicked her sides and held on. Byrd flew across the feild, a blur of grey and black as she galloped over the freee fields, something she hadn't been able to do in a little while.

This was where Laurent felt at home the most.

[Emery Peyton]

Emery sighed out at the deafening silence of the house, the loneliness always getting to her from time to time whenever Poppy went away for business or races in other states. She hated it to be quite honest, which was probably why she heavily relied on this business to keep her company since she wasn't one who went out partying with friends, those few she had.

She had refilled her cup and was glancing at the Lexington Herald, reading up on the local and national news, slowly making her way to the funny papers, her favorite. She sipped on the steaming mug and wandered over to the small round glass table where two small brown whicker chairs were staged, right in front of the bay window that overlooked the field. Her mind wandered to racing her horse around to let her work out those kinks she seemed to get while being couped up in the stall. Work was keeping Emery busy these days and unfortunately her horse would not understand at all. So she had making up to do this holiday weekened.

She grinned at thinking of her horse, but her thoughts were kicked to the curb when she saw the lone cowboy riding hard and fast in her large farmland. He was a professional, that was for certain, and he looked wonderful riding a horse. Although he was far away she could tell that he felt at ease on his horse. It made her smile. He was hard to talk to, that was for certain. She wondered if it was going to be like this for a whole week.

[Laurent Eades]

______

Laurent wasn't out on the trails for as long as he had thought he would be. His horse was wonderful, but she wasn't a jumper, or a cross country horse. She wasn't good at endurance riding. So somewhere around five thirty he was a mile or two away from the barn, and by six he was riding into the empty barn, with few horse left inside.

He dismounted and untacked her, listening to his stomach growl, and pulling off his working gloves, shoving them into his back pocket as he put out feed in her stall, and refilled her water bucket. She was sweaty from the riding, and if he left her that way, she'd get to cold, and might colic. He left her in the stall to eat while he retrieved her blanket from the tack room.

He latched the blue blanket on her, brushing her mane and clearing it of burs before he closed the door and headed back up to the house. He was starved to death, and was actually thinking of eating something this evening. He was dusty, and a little sunburnt, but he felt better than he had in ages. He hoped Emery was up at the house. Now that he had his bearings he wouldn't mind talking to her about the history of this place.

Getting down to the business he had come here for.

[Emery Peyton]

"Well, thank you for calling to tell me that you had the best night of your life, Poppy." Emery laughed lightly as she bent over the front counter, chatting lively on the phone, her godfather telling her all about how well his date went with the newly divorced woman living in Lexington. How funny he was. She heard footsteps coming up the driveway and she looked over her shoulder.

"Hey, my guest is coming on in. Why don't you come by tomorrow and ride with me?" She smiled and laughed at his response and quickly hung up after a breif 'I love you'. She sighed out and turned to walk to the front door, pulling it open to step out onto the porch, crossing her arms as a cool breeze blew by.

[Laurent Eades]

Laurent looked up as he hopped up the stairs. He nodded, tipping his hat.

"Evenin'," he said. "You got some trails out through there," he commented breifly, rolling up his sleeves and wiping his brow of the fine sheen of sweat and dust that had settled here. He waved his hand vaguely around. "Where'd ya get all this? In the family?"

[Emery Peyton]

Emery watched him and smiled, why should she feel so enthusiastic to see him wandering up her yard and towards her house. Although he wasn't much of a talker, he said a lot in the way he looked and the way he walked, he spoke volumes.

"Evenin', cowboy." She smiled. He looked good at any time of the day and it was incredibly ridiculous. She tilted her head in response to his sudden interest in talking. "Family? No, no." She laughed, glancing down at her feet and scuffing them before looking back up at him walking closer to her home.

"I used to live a few miles away when I was little. I graduated from college and saw it was needing to be bought. So, I bought it." She shrugged. How often was it that a woman fresh out of college went and bought 320 acres of farm land to start a business. "Kinda nuts, huh? Still hadn't paid off my college loans and I already bought this place."

[Laurent Eades]

Laurent's eyebrows popped a little. He turned to face the open field, crossing his arms over his chest. He shook his head a little. He didn't really have enough money to rent the apartment he owned, how did she get that kind of money fresh out of school?

"So you run it on your own, then?" he asked quietly, glancing over shoulder at her.

[Emery Peyton]

"Sorta." She said drawing in a breath, her eyes dancing over the vast amount of land to her right. She smiled and looked back at the man.

"My Godfather and I run it. He usually runs the Inn during the week while I run the barn." She nodded adn looked around again before finding the tall man. "You know I didn't ask you, what do you do?"

[Laurent Eades]

Laurent nodded at the information about her godfather. Hm. He hadn't heard anything about a godfather. He'd have to go snooping around a little if he could. He'd also needed to check in on his file to make sure he was asking all the right questions.

At her words he looked over. He nodded.

"Aw, I'm a rancher up in Tennessee," he said slowly and quietly. "I ain't been up here in a few years...figured I'd spend my holiday up here with my horse..." he expounded quietly. He turned a little more towards her. He wasn't a cold person, so he didn't want her to think that he was trying to blow her off with his short answers. He paused a moment as his stomach growled a little.

"I reckon I oughta go get myself something to eat."