Delia giggled again and Abby sighed. Even though she’d warned—threatened—her brother not to lead Delia on, there wasn’t much she could do about stopping her friend from sticking close to him whenever she could. Abby had hinted her brother tended to break hearts, but Delia had scoffed at that, saying she liked the attention.
“I thought your brother wanted to pull his weight around here,” Luke said, as he came to stand beside her.
In spite of her own thinking that there was way too much dallying going on, Abby bristled. “He’s unloading the delivery wagon.”
“So far, he’s brought in one thing.”
Before she could answer, John staggered through the doorway, carrying several sacks of flour. Abby had a sudden vision of the man tripping, ripping open a sack, and having half the store look like a white Christmas. She hurried toward him, but Luke got ahead of her, deftly hoisting a couple of the bags to the safety of a shelf.
“I could use a little help out there,” John glared at Ben. “I thought you were coming back out.”
“I am,” Ben replied lackadaisically, “in a minute.”
“How about right now?” Luke asked and walked past him. “We can both help.”
Ben grimaced and then tipped his hat to Delia again. “Excuse me, ma’am. It appears I’m direly needed elsewhere.”
“You just go on then,” Delia answered with a grin and a tone Abby had never heard her use. “We can finish up later.”
“Finish up?” Abby asked when the men had all gone outside. “What were you doing besides talking?”
“Ben was asking all kinds of questions about San Francisco.”
Abby felt herself go on high-alert. “What kinds of questions?”
Delia blinked at her sharp tone and she winced. “I’m just wondering, since my brother can be a little nosy sometimes.”
“I don’t think he’s nosy at all. Curious maybe, but that’s a sign of intelligence.”
Abby couldn’t deny Ben was smart, but usually when he went into questioning mode it was because he’d come up with another way to separate people from their wallets and he wanted to cover all the pitfalls before attempting a new operation. “What was he wanting to know? Maybe I can help.”
“He was asking where were some nice places to take a lady.” Delia smiled. “I think he intends to invite me to go with him to one of them.”
That might be true, but knowing her brother, Abby suspected wanting to know where “nice places” were was simply a ploy to find out where rich people went. People who carried a lot of money.
But Ben was still her brother and she couldn’t come out and say he’d had a career as a pickpocket. He said he’d mended his ways. She wanted to believe him. She certainly didn’t need to besmirch him. Luke was already testy around him and John sent him sullen looks and wouldn’t let him anywhere near the till. Not that that was a bad thing. It was one less problem for Abby to worry about. Ben deserved a chance to redeem himself, just as she had.
She just hoped her brother wasn’t playing Delia false.
♦◊♦
Abby looked up from the desk as the door to the office opened and Luke stepped inside. As always, his presence seemed to fill the small room, maybe more so today because Ben was already there, as well. The tension between the two of them was palpable. Luke was still suspicious about why Ben had come to San Francisco and her brother didn’t think Luke was who he claimed he was. They reminded her of two lobo wolves circling each other. New terminology for her. Maybe she was acclimating to the West after all.
She shoved aside the ledgers she’d been showing to Ben. He’d asked her to trust him to run the till—under John’s supervision—and he’d said he wanted to learn about running a business, so she’d been explaining various procedures. Luke had given her a questioning look when she first mentioned she was going to let her brother look over the accounts, but she had to give Ben a chance. At least, Luke didn’t know about their previous “careers”.
“Did you need something?”
“I was going to talk to you about the expansion.” He glanced at Ben. “I can come back.”
“Don’t let me stop you.” Ben leaned back in his chair, causing the front legs to lift slightly, and crossed his arms. “I want to hear more about it, since it will be part of the store.”
Luke frowned. “Nothing you need to be concerned about since it’s being funded independently and no risk to the store’s profit margin.”
Ben glared back. “Then why bother my sister?”
Abby decided to interrupt before the two of them started sparring for real. She could practically hear both growling. “Luke’s not bothering me, Ben. I want to know about all aspects of what’s going on, even if I’m not directly involved.”
“That’s the problem,” Luke said.
She felt her eyes widen in surprise. “You want me directly involved?”
“No. I do not.”
“Then…” Abby furrowed her brows in confusion. “What is the problem?”
Luke took a deep breath. “We agreed you’d not interfere—”
“I haven’t!”
“You have. You’ve been talking to the ladies about ordering more and different inventory for the expansion once it’s done.”
Abby’s chin jutted out. “I am just being helpful.”
“Do you have a problem with that?” Ben asked.
Luke gave him a cool glance and turned his attention back to Abby. “The plan was—and is—for the expansion investment to be kept totally separate from the operations of the general store. That way, if anything goes wrong—”
“What could go wrong?” Ben’s gaze sharpened on Luke. “There’s nothing shady going on, is there?”
“Ben!” Abby couldn’t believe he’d said that. “There’s no reason—”
“It’s all right,” Luke said, his tone measured. “A brother should be protective of his sister.”
Ben have him a level look. “And I am.”
Luke stared back. “So am I.”
Criminy. If the office were any bigger, they’d be squared off like two gunfighters facing each other on the street. Abby gave each of them a smile which neither returned. She sighed inwardly. “Thank you both for being so protective, but I don’t see what that has to do with the expansion.”
“We’ve discussed this before. If anything were to go wrong…” Luke paused and gave Ben another penetrating stare. “…anything at all, and the expansion fell through, I don’t want there to be any financial obligations on the part of the general store.” Luke turned to Abby. “If you keep talking to the ladies like you’re a partner, it could have ramifications. I’m just trying to ensure nothing happens to your store.”
Ben gave him a wary look. “That makes sense, I suppose.”
“Of course it does.” Luke shook his head. “But sometimes, your sister can be a bit stubborn.”
Ben grinned suddenly. “Sometimes is an understatement. I could tell you stories—”
“That’s quite all right,” Abby said quickly. “And I am not stubborn.”
A corner of Luke’s mouth quirked up. “Maybe I should hear those stories.”
Ben nodded. “Glad to tell them.”
She glared at both of them. Now they were going to co-conspirators? “I don’t think—”
“Sorry to interrupt.” John stood in the doorway. “But there’s a gent out here who claims he was short-changed an hour ago when he bought tobacco.” He looked at Ben. “You waited on him.”
Ben glanced past him to the customer waiting across the room. “I did. He bought the tobacco, then asked for change on a double eagle. After that, he wanted to switch out some silver for a gold eagle, then he bought some ammunition.” Ben shrugged. “I didn’t shortchange him.”
“He says you did.”
“How much does he claim?” Luke asked.
“Ten dollars,” John replied.
“Tell the man he’ll have to wait until we count the till this afterno
on,” Abby said. “If we’re over, we’ll return his money.”
John paused as if he wanted to say more, then gave a curt nod and turned away. After he left, Abby turned to her brother.
“I didn’t do it,” he said.
She wanted to believe her brother, but she knew how easy it was to confuse a customer with change-outs.
It didn’t help that Luke was also giving him a contemplative look.
“I didn’t do it,” Ben said, standing up so suddenly he knocked his chair down. “I didn’t do it.”
Then he stomped out the door, leaving Abby and Luke in an awkward silence.
Chapter Thirteen
The till was short not only by ten dollars, but by twenty. The double eagle was missing.
Luke watched Abby put the tray back in the register. He could see the disappointment in her eyes. A part of him wanted to draw her into his arms and offer comfort, but with John standing there, he stayed where he was.
He should be keeping his emotional distance, as well. He’d reminded himself just last night why he had come to San Francisco. His grandmother and her friends were swindled out of thousands of dollars and he was here to make sure they got it back, even if it meant forcing the sale of the general store. The accomplice who laundered Sayer’s money still had not surfaced. He needed to be concentrating on luring the bastard out, not empathizing with Abby about whether her brother was still a criminal.
Still, he wanted to wipe the look of desolation from her face. “Since the till is not over, the complaint from the customer that he was short-changed is moot.”
“There’s a double eagle missing,” John said before Abby could respond.
Luke resisted the urge to plant his fist in the man’s face. “It could have been used as change for another purchase.”
“A twenty-dollar gold piece? We didn’t have no customers come in that needed that kind of change.” John snorted. “Ben admitted himself he took the piece in.”
“Maybe—”
“He’s right,” Abby said. “Ben did say the customer had a double eagle. It should be here.”
“That doesn’t mean Ben took it.”
John narrowed his eyes. “Are you accusing me of stealin’ it?”
“I’m not accusing anyone. I’m saying maybe we should wait until Ben gets back and ask him about it.” Hell, he didn’t know why he was defending the man. He’d been suspicious of Abby’s brother from the start, knowing what he did about Ben’s past. He’d almost voiced his disapproval of her brother learning the business, but she’d been determined to give him a fresh start—not that anyone was supposed to know that—and Luke hadn’t wanted to squash her aspirations. Even now, the look of hope that flashed across her face caused warmth to course through him, as well.
“That’s a good idea,” she said. “Ben wouldn’t be so stupid to take something that would obviously be spotted missing. We don’t often get that kind of money.”
“I’m sure there will be a rational explanation,” Luke replied, although he didn’t know what that could be. He wasn’t one for gratuitous statements, but her thankful, little smile tempted him to throw caution to the winds and embellish even more.
“So you’re saying he would take something that might not be missed?” John asked.
Luke managed to refrain from bringing his suddenly clenched fist across the man’s jaw. Abby’s expression fell like a pile of wood that had been stacked improperly. He saw desperation in her eyes and realized she was thinking that her brother probably would do just that, in spite of an opportunity to stick to the straight and narrow. Once again, Luke wanted to plant his fist where it would make a satisfying, resounding crack when it loosened a few of John’s teeth.
“My brother has no reason to take anything from the store,” Abby said, but her voice trembled.
“There’s nothing more to be done at the moment.” Luke turned to the shopkeeper. “I suggest you go ahead and close up while I take Mrs. Sayer home since it’s getting late.”
For once, she didn’t argue that she was perfectly capable of seeing herself home. Instead, she walked to the peg that held her coat, folded it over her arm and then turned around. “I’m ready.”
Luke knew she meant only that she was ready to go, but a lower extremity stirred to life at her words. He gave himself a mental shake. He’s already let his emotions control his feelings toward the woman who would be the innocent victim if he had to force the sale of the store to recoup his grandmother’s losses. And now, his body was reacting to innocuous words like a randy lad still wet behind the ears. Which immediately created another image of Abby, wet and waiting for him. It was a good thing he had Diablo hitched to the cabriolet outside. Driving would keep his hands from wandering.
Abby was giving him a curious look and he wondered if his feelings were actually showing. Damnation. He always controlled his expressions. Gunslingers had to. If Abby somehow could decipher his thoughts, he was in more trouble than he thought. Hellfire. Luke clenched his jaw as he clamped down his Stetson.
“Let’s go.” He wasn’t about to say he was ready, too.
♦◊♦
John watched them leave and then smiled as he fingered the double eagle in his pocket.
♦◊♦
Abby wondered at Luke’s silence as they walked around the side of the building where the carriage was waiting. Did he think her brother had taken the twenty-dollar gold piece? She wanted to defend Ben, to say he would never pilfer something from his own sister—she knew he wouldn’t—but that would just sound like there was a possibility he might do such a thing elsewhere. And that was something she wasn’t altogether sure he wouldn’t do. She hated doubting her brother.
Diablo stamped a hoof impatiently as they came around the corner. Then, he whinnied shrilly.
“Whoa, there,” Luke said, rubbing a hand down the stallion’s neck. “I didn’t make you wait all that long.”
The horse tossed his head and tried to rear, but the hitching post rope was still attached to his harness.
“Easy there,” Luke said softly.
Diablo snorted his disapproval and pawed the ground again.
Luke frowned. “Did something spook you?”
Abby looked past them into the small, cleared area. “I don’t see anything blowing around.”
“Paper or trash wouldn’t rile him.” Luke unsnapped the tether. “Most likely, he needs a good run.”
Kind of like Ben did, Abby thought. She remembered when they were kids, the way Ben would work off his frustration was by running. It was a skill that also came in handy when he had to get away from a mark fast. As upset as he was when he left, he might very well be running along the wharf right now. She worried her lip. In San Francisco, especially the Barbary Coast area, the sight of a running man usually meant he’d committed a crime. With corruption rampantly high, there were any number of vigilantes who took it upon themselves to enforce the law before a constable could arrive.
“Do you suppose we could drive by the docks on the way home?”
He looked at her. “It’s getting dark. An open, two-wheeled buggy isn’t exactly the safest thing to be driving.”
“My brother might have gone down there.”
A brow lifted. “Why would he do that?”
After she explained, Luke nodded. “Let me take you home, then I’ll saddle Diablo and go take a look around.”
Abby shook her head. “That might be too late. I’ve been here long enough to know a lot of men shoot first and ask questions later.”
Luke hesitated, as if having a private argument with himself. “All right,” he finally said. “Just keep your hood over your head. No need to go looking for more trouble.”
“More trouble?”
“There are some things about San Francisco’s Barbary Coast that are the same as the one it’s named after.”
“Such as?”
Luke paused. “The ships that come in from the Orient sometimes take human cargo back with them.
”
“Human cargo?”
“Yes.” A muscle twitched in his jaw. “Female cargo. Women that will be sent to the Middle East and forced to join harems.”
Abby felt her eyes widen. “Surely you jest!”
“No. I’m dead serious.” He looked at her hair. “They especially like blondes.”
She felt herself shiver. “You’re just trying to scare me.”
“Is it working?”
It was, but she wasn’t about to admit it. “No.”
He sighed. “Then think about this. Some sailor who’s spent too much time at sea might get ideas.”
Abby frowned. “But I’m not a…a…one of those kind of ladies.”
“Being down there at this time of night might make a man think differently.”
“But I’ll be safe since I’m with you.”
His eyes darkened and he muttered something that she couldn’t hear clearly. “You’ve got your gun. You can always wave that around to scare anyone off.”
He grimaced. “No one in his right mind waves a gun around.”
She felt somewhat chastened. “You know what I mean. Out here, a six-shooter can be the law.” Luke stared at her for a full moment without speaking and she began to fidget. “I mean—”
“I know what you mean,” he nearly growled. “Just get in the buggy.”
She climbed onto the bench and slid over, giving him room to sit and tucked her in her skirts.
“The hood,” he said.
“I’ll put it up when we get close to the water.”
“Now.”
Abby’s chin jutted out.
“Now. Or I take you home.”
She grudgingly complied, wondering what made him so annoyed. He was probably put out that he was having to look for her brother. They certainly weren’t friends, but she’d hope the bit of camaraderie they shared at her expense—she was not that stubborn—might have ignited a bit of tolerance. Abby glanced sideways at Luke, but seeing the tight set of his jaw, she decided it best to remain silent. At least, for now.
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