![Ana Leigh - [The Frasers 4 - Jed] - One Night with a Sweet Talking Man](/res/dh/book4.jpg)
indicated he’d located the attorney, and the gray-headed man seated behind a massive oak desk glanced up when he entered.
“Good day, sir, I’m looking for Vincent Calhoun,” Jed said.
“You’ve found him.” The man rested his lit cigar in an ashtray and rose to his feet. Portly and short, Calhoun appeared to be in his sixties. He reached across the desk and offered his hand. “What can I do for you, stranger?”
“Mr. Calhoun, my name is Jed Fraser,”
They shook hands, and the attorney indicated for Jed to sit down.
“Fraser. Sounds familiar. Where are you from, Mr. Fraser?”
“Virginia.”
“Hmmm, there’s a passel of Virginian Frasers up at the end of the valley. Wine growers, I’m told. You related to them, Mr. Fraser?”
“I’m proud to say that I am, Mr. Calhoun.”
“Seems a lot of you Virginians have come West. We’ve got a couple more right here. If we get many more of you, we’ll soon have to change the name of the state to West Virginia. Oops, there’s one of those already.” He chuckled at his own joke.
When Jed failed to be amused, Calhoun cleared his throat. “So what brings you to Napa, Mr. Fraser? You figure on settling here?”
“I’m here as a guest of my former captain, Nathan Collins.”
“Zat so.” His leery gaze swept Jed. “I’m well acquainted with the family.”
“So I’ve been told.”
“Are you Nathan’s attorney, Mr. Fraser?”
“No, I’m just looking out for their welfare. I have a few questions regarding this railroad transaction.”
“I’m sorry, but if you’re not their legal representative, Mr. Fraser, I’m not at liberty to discuss their private affairs with you.” He shifted his gaze to the door. “Sorry I can’t be of any further help. I’m sure you can see your way out.”
“I intend to do so, Mr. Calhoun, as soon as you show me that you’re authorized to represent the railroad.”
“I would be glad to, Mr. Fraser, but since there’s no mortgage or lien against the property, you apparently have no financial investment, either.
“As I said I’m just a family friend.”
Calhoun studied him intently, then asked, “On second thought, maybe you do, Mr. Fraser?” After another long inspection, Calhoun nodded. “Yes, I think I see. Possibly a physical one, Mr. Fraser.
“What do you want, Mr. Fraser?”
“Yesterday the Collinses had a serious accident, and Garrett was almost killed. I’m here to suggest it better not happen again.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Calhoun leaned forward, his eyes as cold as steel. “Are you threatening me, Mr. Fraser?”
Jed rose to his feet. “If any more accidents occur to any member of that family, I assure you that you’ll suffer the consequences. In the meantime, I’m advising the railroad of the tactics you’re using to acquire that property on their behalf. I’m sure they don’t want their reputation blemished by an unscrupulous shyster.”
Calhoun burst into laughter. “Blemish their reputation! When was the last time you read a newspaper, Mr. Fraser?”
“I stand by what I said, Calhoun.”
“Strong words for a man who has no dog in the hunt, Fraser.” Calhoun stood up. “Without any proof to back up your allegations, I’ll sue you and the Collins family for every square inch of that property.”
“We have proof to show that the axle of the buggy has been sawn through.”
Calhoun snorted. “What proof is there that I had anything to do with it?”
“Captain Collins has a distinguished reputation. I’m sure his word will stand up in any court, as will my own testimony. He informed me of your threat to his daughter and grandson.”
Calhoun laughed again. “Distinguished reputation? A couple of gunrunners during the war? Any judge west of the Mississippi—and most certainly the judges in the California courts—would be happy to see you both hanged for your treason during that war.
“And as for you, sonny, your word ain’t worth
“Good day, sir, I’m looking for Vincent Calhoun,” Jed said.
“You’ve found him.” The man rested his lit cigar in an ashtray and rose to his feet. Portly and short, Calhoun appeared to be in his sixties. He reached across the desk and offered his hand. “What can I do for you, stranger?”
“Mr. Calhoun, my name is Jed Fraser,”
They shook hands, and the attorney indicated for Jed to sit down.
“Fraser. Sounds familiar. Where are you from, Mr. Fraser?”
“Virginia.”
“Hmmm, there’s a passel of Virginian Frasers up at the end of the valley. Wine growers, I’m told. You related to them, Mr. Fraser?”
“I’m proud to say that I am, Mr. Calhoun.”
“Seems a lot of you Virginians have come West. We’ve got a couple more right here. If we get many more of you, we’ll soon have to change the name of the state to West Virginia. Oops, there’s one of those already.” He chuckled at his own joke.
When Jed failed to be amused, Calhoun cleared his throat. “So what brings you to Napa, Mr. Fraser? You figure on settling here?”
“I’m here as a guest of my former captain, Nathan Collins.”
“Zat so.” His leery gaze swept Jed. “I’m well acquainted with the family.”
“So I’ve been told.”
“Are you Nathan’s attorney, Mr. Fraser?”
“No, I’m just looking out for their welfare. I have a few questions regarding this railroad transaction.”
“I’m sorry, but if you’re not their legal representative, Mr. Fraser, I’m not at liberty to discuss their private affairs with you.” He shifted his gaze to the door. “Sorry I can’t be of any further help. I’m sure you can see your way out.”
“I intend to do so, Mr. Calhoun, as soon as you show me that you’re authorized to represent the railroad.”
“I would be glad to, Mr. Fraser, but since there’s no mortgage or lien against the property, you apparently have no financial investment, either.
“As I said I’m just a family friend.”
Calhoun studied him intently, then asked, “On second thought, maybe you do, Mr. Fraser?” After another long inspection, Calhoun nodded. “Yes, I think I see. Possibly a physical one, Mr. Fraser.
“What do you want, Mr. Fraser?”
“Yesterday the Collinses had a serious accident, and Garrett was almost killed. I’m here to suggest it better not happen again.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Calhoun leaned forward, his eyes as cold as steel. “Are you threatening me, Mr. Fraser?”
Jed rose to his feet. “If any more accidents occur to any member of that family, I assure you that you’ll suffer the consequences. In the meantime, I’m advising the railroad of the tactics you’re using to acquire that property on their behalf. I’m sure they don’t want their reputation blemished by an unscrupulous shyster.”
Calhoun burst into laughter. “Blemish their reputation! When was the last time you read a newspaper, Mr. Fraser?”
“I stand by what I said, Calhoun.”
“Strong words for a man who has no dog in the hunt, Fraser.” Calhoun stood up. “Without any proof to back up your allegations, I’ll sue you and the Collins family for every square inch of that property.”
“We have proof to show that the axle of the buggy has been sawn through.”
Calhoun snorted. “What proof is there that I had anything to do with it?”
“Captain Collins has a distinguished reputation. I’m sure his word will stand up in any court, as will my own testimony. He informed me of your threat to his daughter and grandson.”
Calhoun laughed again. “Distinguished reputation? A couple of gunrunners during the war? Any judge west of the Mississippi—and most certainly the judges in the California courts—would be happy to see you both hanged for your treason during that war.
“And as for you, sonny, your word ain’t worth
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