Demanding Satisfaction [Bride Train 9] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (30 page)

Max waited until the excellent dinner provided by Harrison Baird was finished and cleaned away by hotel staff. Baird gestured to a set of leather club chairs. Max sat on the edge while Baird got comfortable.

“I take it you have news of Smythe?”

“He took the bait,” said Max with a brisk nod. “Willy Wright’s a young man from so far back in the mountains he never saw cash money. He just discovered he inherited a fortune from his mother’s side. He was eager to spend some to prove to his girl’s father that he was a man of business.”

“How much of an act was it?”

Max snorted a laugh at how eager Willy was to help. “The boy has his eye on Trace Elliott’s adopted daughter, Meggie Redmond. He’s learning to read and to use table manners, but he’s got a long way to go before they’ll let him marry the girl. He’s hoping this will help prove he’ll do anything for her.”

“I can’t remember being that young,” mused Baird. “Or so eager for love.”

“A man that eager for a woman will find himself wrapped around her finger before the ring is on her hand,” replied Max. He shook his head. “He’d be better off working hard and proving himself to Trace. He’s the one who’ll decide who his daughters marry.”

Baird raised an eyebrow. “You’re not married, are you?”

“I’ve got no time for a woman. Once I’ve retired I’ll find one to suit me.”

Max didn’t like the amused look Baird gave him.

“Will you be arresting Smythe today?” asked Baird.

Since the older man was still sitting, it would be rude for Max to pace the way he wanted to. He leaned forward, fighting to hold back his excitement. They had Smythe dead to rights. Once they got Isaac, they’d only have to tie up a few ends to do with Nathanial Potts. Once that was done they could haul the Jennets from Tanner’s Ford and be gone.

“I was given a tip that Smythe is Mr. Isaac. He was overheard saying how much he likes to make women scream in pain. It matches the analysis I’ve done.”

“You suspected Smythe?”

“It’s logical. But we’ll close the noose on Isaac tonight and find out for sure.”

“If you get Isaac, the railroad will take care of Smythe,” said Baird. “He’ll claim he has no knowledge the shares were stolen or counterfeit. I’m sure you understand we would not wish to have the theft or the counterfeiting brought to light.”

Max nodded his understanding. It matched the orders Josh had passed on from their superiors. The railroad baron who hired the Pinkertons wanted the high-ranking man who stole the shares. In addition to theft, he was undermining the business. He may not have known the shares were counterfeit as they’d been placed there as bait. Unfortunately, no one could say who had taken them, or when. Whoever it was had to be stopped. Max and his brothers had been hired to find the stolen shares. Now that the papers were in Willy’s hands, their job was done.

“Good,” said Baird. “How can I assist in bringing this monster to justice?”

“By staying away from both Ruby’s Saloon and the Golden Nugget. I don’t want Smythe scared away. We have only one chance, and a woman is putting her life on the line to catch him tonight. We don’t know if Isaac is Smythe, Potts, or someone else entirely.”

“I wouldn’t be caught dead in either establishment,” replied Baird baldly. He drummed his fingers on the curved leather arm of the chair. “How many men do you have? I could tell mine to lean against a wall in the dark near the rear entrances of both places.”

Max counted them off using his fingers. “Trace, Ranger, and Ben Elliott along with Gillis and Ross MacDougal. I guess you can put Willy Wright in there as well. The others are Sin Statham, Jed Adams, Luke Frost, Cole Taylor, and Zach McInnes.” He looked up. “That makes eleven, fourteen with me and my brothers.”

“A veritable army,” quipped Baird. “I will leave it in your capable hands, then.” He stood, allowing Max to do the same. “I would like to meet this woman.”

“Sophie? I mean, Queenie?” Max slammed his lips shut, too late.

“Yes. Strong-willed women intrigue me. Since I’ll be retiring, I could use a wife like that.”

“She’s taken.” Baird’s lip twitched, making Max wonder if the comment was intended to check the waters, or poke at him. “My brother wants her.”

“Just one brother?” Baird tilted his head to scratch one cheek. “Or do all three Gibsons wish to marry Sophie McLeod? And what does the lady think?”

Max jammed his fists in his pockets before he did something stupid with them like punch the man baiting him. Anything to do with Sophie seemed to make him furious. “None of us will be talking to Sophie until after we’re finished our assignments.” He spoke the words precisely, as if speaking with the head of the Agency. “Mr. Pinkerton insists on high decorum. His agents do not dally with women. Josh is doing a job, protecting Sophie by pretending to hire her. If he didn’t do that, Abby would have sold her to some brute.”

“I heard Josh was so desperate for decent whiskey that he sold her to you for the night. Why would he do that?”

“She needed a reason to get punished.” Max realized Baird wouldn’t stop until he had the whole plan. He might as well use the man’s brain to make sure he’d thought of everything.

“Josh and Sophie are well suited and she can’t hide it well enough. Abby wouldn’t believe Queenie would refuse him, so someone else had to step in. Since Abby’s eager to punish Queenie before Ruby recovers, she took the bait. Josh and I will be downstairs drinking. Sam will be already in her room, waiting. Isaac will come after dark.”

“Is anyone watching for him?”

“Most of the ranchers will be in the Golden Nugget watching to see if Smythe, Potts, or anyone else slips out. Ross will be between the two places, giving updates. When Sophie gets hauled upstairs screaming we’ll know Isaac should be showing up.”

“You have someone watching the back door at Ruby’s?”

Max shook his head. “Can’t have anything that might scare Isaac off. We only have this one chance. If he leaves Bannack City, who knows where he’ll go.”

If that happened, Max would be duty-bound to find him and start over with the man even more wary of being caught. That would destroy his plan to buy a ranch and stay in one place.

The tension that always kept him on edge tightened even more. That ranch was something he’d wanted for a long, long time. Ever since they were forced from their miserable excuse of a home. He wasn’t more than a boy when he’d promised Sam and Josh a place where they could be safe. In the last few years Josh had added that he also wanted love. Having never experienced it, Max couldn’t promise that.

If Isaac escaped tonight, would Josh and Sam wait for him to finish the job, or would they choose to stay with Sophie? Another notch of tension tightened around his head.

Baird set a hip on the corner of his desk. He frowned as he investigated a hangnail.

“What if they drug Sophie?” he asked quietly. “What if they take her somewhere other than where Sam is? What if they find Sam and—”

“I don’t know, dammit!”

Max shoved himself to his feet as his roar echoed around the room. He shivered in rage. He never swore. Never!

“Well, well, Maxwell Gibson finally lost his temper.” The older man smiled as if he’d achieved something. He nodded as if they were the best of friends. “How does it feel to let loose for once?”

Max’s heart pounded so fast he couldn’t breathe. He’d vowed never to swear. Never to lose his temper. Never, ever, to act like his abusive father.

His control was hard won, but it was the only way to protect Sam and Josh. It kept his father’s belt and fists on him rather than having the punishing blows hit on his brothers. He could do nothing about the shameful words that rained down on all three of them. And now he’d broken his vow. His chest heaved as he panted. His fists tightened in the need to slam something.

“You want to hit me? Go ahead. I deserve it for provoking you,” continued Baird. He was as calm as if they were discussing the weather.

“Why?”

“You, young man, are too rigid to see what’s in front of your eyes. Unless you can calm down, you won’t be able to think.”

He walked to the sideboard and set out two glasses. He lifted the stopper off a rectangular cut crystal decanter and poured double splashes. He replaced the stopper, lifted a glass in each hand, and approached.

“I don’t drink unless I’m on the job.”

Crinkles appeared either side of Baird’s eyes. “Now that’s back-assward. Most men say they don’t drink
on
the job.” He held out a glass.

“I’m not most men.” Max ignored the whiskey.

“No, you’re not,” agreed Baird. “You set down all your facts and work out a plan to follow orders. When you have it all polished, you tell your fellow agents what is going to happen. You do your job so well that the three of you have many commendations.”

“You say it like doing well is a bad thing.”

“There’s more to life than a job, Max. It took me too long to realize it.”

“I’ve got plans. After this job is done—”

“You’ll follow the plan you’ve already made to find a wife, a ranch, and create the life you think you want. All orderly, all regimented.”

A chill set into Max’s chest. Once more, Baird accused him with what should have been praise. He didn’t like it. Didn’t like the cold feeling that spread out from his lungs. Or was it his heart?

Baird gestured with the whiskey again. This time Max took it. He accepted the toast and took a swallow. The burn fought the chill, and lost.

“Take it from a lonely, old man. All those plans come to nothing without the love of a good woman.” Baird toasted him again. “Or a bad one. They can be even more fun.”

Max shrugged away his words.

“If you were the type of man to talk to a stranger,” continued Baird, “you’d say you don’t believe in love because of what you’ve seen. But then I’d tell you to take a close look at those men from Tanner’s Ford. They’re hard men. They’ve had life knock them sideways more than once. But they not only survived, they let go of the past to choose a better future.”

He drank, giving Max time to think.

Though some of those men had money now, none had had an easy life. Few headed West without a good reason to escape. He and his brothers were sent here to work. But they’d found a place where they could breathe deep. Where they weren’t surrounded by buildings and people. Where a strong man and his neighbors could protect those he lo—cared for.

He was sure their parents had killed the couple who built that cabin and first plowed those fields. They were too lazy to do it themselves. He’d tried to find their families, but no one knew anything. If they’d lived in a place like Tanner’s Ford, bandits and people like his parents would never have come near. The family would have lived out their days working hard in the fields during the day, loving each other at night, raising children to do the same after they were nothing but dust.

It was what Josh and Sam wanted. He would go along with them. Sam said Josh already loved Sophie as if she was his wife. Sam wasn’t far behind. Max wouldn’t be falling into that trap. He could, however, pretend. It would make his brothers happy. That was all he’d ever wanted in life.

As for the men now guarding Smythe at the Golden Nugget Saloon, they could have fun with their wives all they liked. They let their women get away with a lot in public, but Max had a good idea things were different at home. He’d seen Jessie spout off at something and then stop in midsentence when Sin gave her a look. She’d flushed as if he’d told her in detail what he was going to do to her in bed that night. Then she’d given Sin a look that Max had never seen before. One of longing, passion, and something more.

He tossed the rest of the whiskey down his throat to banish the memory. Women were something he’d never understand. He’d let Josh and Sam figure Sophie out. If she wanted them, and didn’t mind him in the bargain, so be it. As long as they didn’t expect him to back down on a decision just because she fluttered her eyes at him.

Max handed his empty glass back. Baird still looked amused. Too bad. He wasn’t going to change his ways for anyone. They’d worked fine all his life. And they’d work tonight, keeping both Sam and Sophie safe.

“Keep your men off the street,” he ordered. “I’ve got a job to do.”

The man known as Mr. Isaac opened his humidor. Only two cigars left. As soon as he finished tonight’s work, he’d order more. They would be expensive, but he knew where Abby hid the gold she kept from Ruby. He knew many things. The gold would be in his pocket before morning. Since Abby wasn’t supposed to have it in the first place, she couldn’t complain, to anyone.

“Should I wait and follow the plan, or do I indulge myself?” he mused.

He should wait. He never smoked before arriving where he would be working. That way he couldn’t be tracked. But tonight was special. Max Gibson thought he was so smart. A Pinkerton agent, was he?

“Ha!”

Isaac selected one of his precious smokes and shut the lid. He stuck it in his mouth, wetting it with his tongue, anticipating the first puff. It was a ritual, one he followed every time. Every time but today, but it had been a long, long time since he last pleasured himself. He had the perfect knife to clip off the end. A luminescent pearl handle, cool to the touch. Small, it was perfect for his vest pocket.