Page 31 of Between a Rock and a Hard Cowboy

“Can I have chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast?”

Ignoring the questions from Ethan, William, Poppy and Darcy, respectively, Eva turned to Linc, and waited for him to bring forth the Army camouflage pack he held that contained the item that would answer at least a couple of their questions.

He moved forward, placed the bag on the kitchen counter with care, unzipped it and pulled out the old box.

It was impressive in its own right, even without considering what it contained. She could appreciate its filigree engraved lid and ornate brass keyhole now she saw it properly lit under the bright lights of the Wilder kitchen.

William stepped up first, moving closer to the box to inspect it. Linc answered his father’s prior question. “This was hidden under the floorboards in the cabin.”

“And what exactly were you two doing on the floor at the cabin last night that you found it?” Ethan asked suggestively.

Eva shot him a look meant to wound if not kill. “One of the ornaments fell off the banister and rolled right over to where this secret compartment was behind the sofa.”

“Mm. Quite the coincidence,” Ethan commented.

“It is, actually,” Linc countered. “Short of redoing the floors in the cabin, we might never have found those loose boards.”

As they talked, Wyatt had wandered closer to see as his father lifted the lid and revealed the contents.

William glanced up. “Did you look through these?”

Linc shook his head. “I thought we should do it together.”

Even Ethan’s curiosity was piqued. He set down his mug and ambled closer. “There’s actually something inside?”

“I’m hungry! So is Bingley,” Darcy whined.

As Wyatt pressed his lips together, no doubt torn between feeding his child and satisfying his curiosity, Poppy held up one hand. “I got this.”

“Thank you,” Wyatt said, looking honestly grateful.

A good friend would have helped Poppy feed the kid and the dog. Eva was not that friend. Not today. Not when they were finally at the moment of the big reveal for the mystery that had haunted her days and nights since she first heard about that damn key.

She’d been the one to discover it and she was sticking around to find out what it was she’d found.

As William reached inside, it seemed those in the kitchen collectively held their breath.

“Wait.” All eyes turned to Wyatt. “Olivia’s going to want to be here for this. She was the one responsible for renewing all of our interest in the key.”

If Eva remembered correctly, Darcy had been part of the initial key scavenger hunt too, but the girl couldn’t care less as she instructed Poppy where the pancake mix was kept.

Eva had waited too many hours already since finding this box to learn what it contained. She was done waiting.

“So let’s bring it upstairs,” Ethan suggested.

Wyatt shook his head. “She just woke up. She’s not going to be happy about visitors.”

Eva already had her cell phone out and was dialing Olivia’s phone via FaceTime.

“Eva? What are you doing up so early?” Olivia asked.

“I’m here in your kitchen right now with all the Wilders and Poppy. I found what the mystery key goes to. It’s a box that was hidden under the floor at Linc’s place. We’re opening it up now to see what’s inside. I’ll aim the phone so you can see too, okay?”

“Um, okay,” as Olivia answered, Eva flipped to the back camera of the cell and aimed it at the box. She nodded to William. “Go ahead.”

“Good plan,” Linc whispered next to her as he smirked.

“We would have been waiting for an hour while they discussed it if I didn’t take over,” she mumbled back.

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