“Are you staying the night, sir?” the groom asked.
“Yes. Please be sure to rub my horse down and give him lots of oats. He’s traveled a long distance today.”
“Of course, sir. I’ll take good care of him.”
Once Miles made sure Vulcan was taken care of, he walked into the busy common room. Every table was filled with chatting customers. He hoped that meant the inn offered a decent meal.
“Sir, may I help you?” the man behind the bar asked.
“ Yes. I need a room for the night and my horse taken care of. We’ve been traveling all day.”
“Well, you’re in luck. I’m Mr. Wright, the owner of this inn. I have one last room available, but it’s in the back of the inn, overlooking the stables. Will that do?”
“Yes. That will be fine,” Miles said, paying the innkeeper.
“Has a groom already taken your horse to the stables?”
“Yes.”
“Would you care for dinner as well? My wife has made some tasty beef pies today.”
“That sounds delicious. I’m famished.”
“Please follow me.” The innkeeper led Miles up the stairs and down a long hallway to the last door on the right. He inserted the key and opened the door. “Here you are, sir. I’ll send the maid up with some hot water to refresh yourself. Would you care for your dinner tray up here?”
“Yes. That would be welcome.”
“Very good. I’ll see to everything,” Mr. Wright said, handing the key to Miles.
The late afternoon sun shone through the window as Miles looked around the room. It was nothing fancy, containing a small bed, a washstand, and a table with two chairs. He didn’t need anything elaborate, just a hot meal and a bed to catch some sleep. He hoped the innkeeper’s wife was a good cook, as his stomach chose that moment to growl loudly. He put his valise on the bed and looked out the window. Not much of a view, as the innkeeper warned, but that was fine with Miles. He wasn’t here for the view.
It didn’t take long before there was a knock on the door.
“Come.”
A maid walked in carrying a pitcher of hot water. “Here you are, sir. Your dinner tray will be up shortly.”
“Thank you.”
The maid poured some of the water into the basin and left him after laying out a fresh drying cloth.
Miles wasted no time washing the dirt of the road from his face and hands. He planned to leave the inn at first light so he could reach Noah early tomorrow. He couldn’t even imagine the torment his friend was going through. He’d not been through anything like that. Both his parents were hale and hearty. He made a mental note to go visit them and his siblings soon. The unexpected deaths of Noah’s family made him realize that he’d been taking the health of his own family for granted, and he didn’t want to have any regrets about not seeing them when he had the chance.
He was about to go downstairs to inquire about his dinner when there was another knock on the door.
“Come.”
The same maid brought in a dinner tray filled with a beef pie in a flaky crust, a hunk of fresh bread, and a glass of ale. “Here you are, sir.”
“Thank you, miss,” he said, reaching into his jacket pocket for a few coins to give her.
“Oh no, sir. That’s not necessary. Mr. Wright pays a fair wage.”
“Then perhaps you’d like some new ribbons.” Miles saw her eyes light up as he put the coins in her hand.
“That’s most generous. My sister and I will be delighted to be able to purchase new ribbons. Thank you,” she said with a curtsey before leaving Miles alone again.
The pleasing aroma from the dinner tray had Miles digging into the pie with gusto. Mr. Wright was correct—his wife was a fabulous cook. Soon, there wasn’t a scrap left, and Miles leaned back with a satisfied sigh.
