Read Online Deep Harbor by Lisa T. Bergren - Free Book Online Page A

rakish gaze as he looked her over. She stood still, silent, unwilling to give him any edge.
    “Come on, Brice,” said his companion, “I wanna work come Monday, and I won’t if Storm finds out about this.”
They must be cowboys
, Tora surmised,
employed on one of Trent’s ranches along the railroad lines
.
    “Maybe she won’t always be Storm’s girl,” Brice said.
    Tora turned away from them, as if they were merely pesky flies she could ignore, when she saw Andrew approach, tossing the glasses of lemonade to the grass and reaching inside his jacket as if for a sidearm.
    Brice, apparently spotting him too, said softly in Tora’s ear, “Ahh, the banker. Best be goin’. Evenin’, ma’am.”
    “Miss Anders, are you all right?” Andrew asked, stepping between her and the retreating men, his hand still inside his breast pocket.
    “I am fine. Don’t be silly. They were just a bunch of bored cowboys.”
    “They will not bother this fine crowd anymore tonight.” He walked away, heading toward a deputy and speaking with him, using wild gestures.
    “He’ll have them in jail, I suppose,” Tora whispered to herself. She reached inside her bag for a handkerchief, feeling suddenly weak. Her hand trembled, and it surprised her. She hadn’t realized how afraid she was until then. After a few moments, she regrouped, telling herself that Tora Anders needed no one’s protection, certainly not Andrew Aston’s, or Trent Storm’s.
    As she searched for the linen handkerchief, Andrew returned to her and the fireworks display began, the crowd shouting in delight. In the dim light of a green-gold explosion, Tora looked up at Andrew and leaned closer to his chest, silently beseeching him to kiss her.
    All at once, she needed to know she was desired, and protected, and close to another, if but for a moment.
    And Andrew happily complied.

    A thousand miles away, Trent stared out his window over the Mississippi River and watched Duluth’s own fireworks display. Never in his life had he felt so miserable. He needed to know how Tora was, what she was up to. Even if she could not belong to him. A knock sounded at his door.
    “Enter,” he said curtly, taking another sip of his drink. He glanced over his shoulder. “Ah, Joseph.” He perused the short, stocky detective and waved at the crystal decanter.
    Joseph declined. “You wished to see me at once?”
    “I did. Sorry to disrupt your Fourth of July celebration, but I have a proposition for you, Campbell. Please, sit down.”
    The detective sat down on the edge of his chair, hat in hand, as if ready to spring.
    “I need you to follow Tora Anders.”
    “I see,” he replied without comment. “For how long?”
    “Six months. Maybe a year. I want to know what she’s up to, how she’s faring. I want you to be nearby at all times, ready to help if she needs it.”
    Joseph laughed. “If you’ll permit me, Tora Anders does not strike me as a woman who needs a rescuer.”
    His words struck Trent to the core. A rescuer? He shook his head. “Call me a fool. I want her followed. I don’t trust her or her judgment these days—she’s a woman scorned. Doesn’t always make for the best decisions. Find out everything you can.”
    “And the pay?” Joseph asked carefully.
    “Double your normal rate, plus room and board. She was still in Helena, last I knew. But knowing Tora, it won’t be long before she moves on. She’ll have something up her sleeve; you can count on it.”
    “Understood. I take it you want me to leave immediately?”
    “As soon as possible.”
    “I’ll need to tie up some loose ends, with my family and my business.”
    “Why not take your family along? Rent a house in Helena. It would help you fit in better.”
    “A good idea. I’ll run it past the missus. The kids would kill for the chance to see the Montana territory and get out of this humidity for the summer.”
    “Very well.” Trent stood. He shook the shorter man’s hand, dismissing him.