![Ana Leigh - [The Frasers 4 - Jed] - One Night with a Sweet Talking Man](/res/dh/book4.jpg)
spit in the wind. You tell Nathan Collins that I’ve withdrawn the railroad’s offer. I’m gonna buy his property myself. I’ll give him ten cents an acre, and he’d be wise to take it and clear out of here while he has the chance, or he’ll be leaving in a pine box. Now get the hell out of my office, or I’ll have the sheriff haul your Rebel ass out of here.”
“Court or no court, I don’t back down from Yankee carpetbaggers. So save your breath for someone who’ll swallow your bull.”
Jed paused at the doorway. “And if anything happens again to one member of that family, I will settle with you personally.”
The moment Jed entered the restaurant, Caroline sensed the news wasn’t good. Funny how in such a short time she had grown to recognize some of his body language. Could he do the same with hers?
His handsomeness and carriage were obvious, but what she found even more attractive was his aura of confidence. At first she had mistaken it for arrogance, but she’d realized it wasn’t cockiness at all, but his positive attitude about life.
If only he wasn’t a Fraser. She sighed and forced the thought from her mind as he ruffled Garrett’s hair and sat down next to her son. Jed genuinely liked Garrett; that was clear. And there was no question that Garrett worshipped the ground the man walked on. Another complication in her already muddled life.
“What luck did you have with Calhoun?” Nathan asked.
“Not good, sir. Matter of fact, I may have exacerbated the situation.”
“In what way?”
“In the beginning Calhoun denied any connection with the buggy incident, but by the time we finished, he was threatening you’d leave here in a pine box and told me to tell you he’s withdrawing the railroad’s offer and will pay you ten cents an acre—like it or not.”
“That blunderbuss! Who does he think he is?”
“A very dangerous man, Captain Collins. I think you should take his threats seriously.”
“Are you suggesting I sell out, man? That’s practically stealing the land. I have no intention of selling, no matter what the snake would offer.”
“I think he’s very aware of that, sir. That’s when he interjected the pine box into the conversation.”
“What are you going to do?” Caroline asked.
Nathan slammed his fist on the table. “Not bow to his threats; that’s for certain.”
“Mama, what did Mr. Calhoun mean when he said Granddad would leave in a pine box?” Garrett asked.
“It’s just an expression, sweetheart. Have you decided what you want for lunch?” She glanced helplessly at Jed. “I think we should order. You have a train to catch.”
“You just don’t want me to know what you’re talking about,” Garrett said.
Nathan chuckled. “You’re a smart lad, my boy. You do your old granddad proud.”
“You ain’t so old, Granddad. Bet you could beat the tar out of that Mr. Calhoun if you wanted to.”
“Garrett, that’s no way to talk,” Caroline said.
“Well he could , Mama.”
“Your mother’s referring to the word ain’t , Garrett. It’s improper.” Jed winked at her.
“And you know your mother don’t like no improper grammar,” Nathan teased with a twinkle in his eye. “Ain’t that right, honey?”
Caroline sighed in exasperation. “How can you two grown men make light of this situation? We have a serious problem.”
Garrett’s eyes rounded in astonishment. “Just ’cause I said ain’t ?”
Try as she might, Caroline couldn’t keep a straight face when the men started laughing. Garrett looked perplexed as he glanced around the table, then he added his boyish laughter to theirs.
Their laughter was a momentary release to their tension, but once it ceased, Caroline’s thoughts returned to the seriousness of the situation they faced. What chance did the three of them have against the power of Vincent Calhoun? Could a man’s greed for wealth threaten their well-being? Was a piece of property worth jeopardizing the lives
“Court or no court, I don’t back down from Yankee carpetbaggers. So save your breath for someone who’ll swallow your bull.”
Jed paused at the doorway. “And if anything happens again to one member of that family, I will settle with you personally.”
The moment Jed entered the restaurant, Caroline sensed the news wasn’t good. Funny how in such a short time she had grown to recognize some of his body language. Could he do the same with hers?
His handsomeness and carriage were obvious, but what she found even more attractive was his aura of confidence. At first she had mistaken it for arrogance, but she’d realized it wasn’t cockiness at all, but his positive attitude about life.
If only he wasn’t a Fraser. She sighed and forced the thought from her mind as he ruffled Garrett’s hair and sat down next to her son. Jed genuinely liked Garrett; that was clear. And there was no question that Garrett worshipped the ground the man walked on. Another complication in her already muddled life.
“What luck did you have with Calhoun?” Nathan asked.
“Not good, sir. Matter of fact, I may have exacerbated the situation.”
“In what way?”
“In the beginning Calhoun denied any connection with the buggy incident, but by the time we finished, he was threatening you’d leave here in a pine box and told me to tell you he’s withdrawing the railroad’s offer and will pay you ten cents an acre—like it or not.”
“That blunderbuss! Who does he think he is?”
“A very dangerous man, Captain Collins. I think you should take his threats seriously.”
“Are you suggesting I sell out, man? That’s practically stealing the land. I have no intention of selling, no matter what the snake would offer.”
“I think he’s very aware of that, sir. That’s when he interjected the pine box into the conversation.”
“What are you going to do?” Caroline asked.
Nathan slammed his fist on the table. “Not bow to his threats; that’s for certain.”
“Mama, what did Mr. Calhoun mean when he said Granddad would leave in a pine box?” Garrett asked.
“It’s just an expression, sweetheart. Have you decided what you want for lunch?” She glanced helplessly at Jed. “I think we should order. You have a train to catch.”
“You just don’t want me to know what you’re talking about,” Garrett said.
Nathan chuckled. “You’re a smart lad, my boy. You do your old granddad proud.”
“You ain’t so old, Granddad. Bet you could beat the tar out of that Mr. Calhoun if you wanted to.”
“Garrett, that’s no way to talk,” Caroline said.
“Well he could , Mama.”
“Your mother’s referring to the word ain’t , Garrett. It’s improper.” Jed winked at her.
“And you know your mother don’t like no improper grammar,” Nathan teased with a twinkle in his eye. “Ain’t that right, honey?”
Caroline sighed in exasperation. “How can you two grown men make light of this situation? We have a serious problem.”
Garrett’s eyes rounded in astonishment. “Just ’cause I said ain’t ?”
Try as she might, Caroline couldn’t keep a straight face when the men started laughing. Garrett looked perplexed as he glanced around the table, then he added his boyish laughter to theirs.
Their laughter was a momentary release to their tension, but once it ceased, Caroline’s thoughts returned to the seriousness of the situation they faced. What chance did the three of them have against the power of Vincent Calhoun? Could a man’s greed for wealth threaten their well-being? Was a piece of property worth jeopardizing the lives
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