Read Online The Shepherd's Betrothal by Lynn A. Coleman - Free Book Online Page B

wealth and prosperity. Perhaps she didn’t see him as worthy?
    â€œIf I can’t be patient and wait for her, I am not worthy, am I, boy?” He looked down at Conall. “Let’s remove those stitches. Lie down.”
    Conall obeyed. Ian knelt down beside him and with the tip of his knife cut each stitch and gently pulled them out one at a time. “Good boy.” Then he put some salve on Conall’s wound and wrapped him up with the bandage Hope had purchased for him. “I’ve got to stop thinking about her, boy.”
    â€œAbout who?” Gabe stood in the doorway.
    Ian groaned. “I need to remember to close doors.”
    â€œWouldn’t matter, you don’t have windows yet. So, who do you need to stop thinking about?” Gabe teased.
    â€œDoesn’t matter, she’s not available.”
    â€œWell, then, that is a problem.” Gabe came in and sat himself down at the table. “I brought you some lunch and I wanted to speak with you about your investments.”
    â€œI don’t have any investments.”
    â€œWhich is why I wanted to speak with you.” Gabe smiled.
    Ian rubbed the back of his neck. “I take it this is what ye do for work?”
    â€œYes, I’m a financial advisor. You have a lot of money sitting in the bank. I can help you make that money work for you.”
    â€œI’m not a fancy man, Gabe. I’m a simple man. I invest in me work and I work with me hands.”
    â€œI’m not saying that’s a bad thing. In fact, I think it is a good thing. Land and livestock are good investments.” Gabe passed over one of the paper-wrapped sandwiches.
    â€œCan we sit down? I’m not going to pressure you into buying or investing right now, mostly because I do not know your business. But it can’t be too much different than the beef market. Buy low, sell high—it’s that simple. However, there are many variables that a man must consider. Your pups for instance. I figure you’ll be training them, but you won’t be needing all six. Those can be sold to some of the cattle ranchers in the area. Everyone is amazed by your dogs.”
    â€œI raised, trained and sold dogs in Ireland. Mostly Irish sheepdogs. Truth is, ye could earn eighty pounds sterling back in Ireland for the sale of a well-trained hunting dog, but I sold sheepdogs for fifty pounds. At the current exchange rate that would equal two hundred and fifty dollars American, which I don’t think a farmer would pay.”
    Gabe sat back in his seat. “You’re probably right. What do you think they’d be worth here in Florida?”
    â€œDon’t know.” Ian unwrapped his sandwich and took a bite. “I figured I would have to wait and see what kind of market would be available for me. There is a reason I took them with me everywhere I went.” Ian winked.
    Gabe laughed out loud. “Touché. So you don’t need my advice after all.”
    â€œI didn’t say that. But I may not be as lost as ye might think.”
    â€œGood, then I’d like to learn more and see if I can help advise you?”
    Ian nodded. “I’d like that.” And maybe ye can clue me in about yer sister.
    They finished their lunches and Gabe headed back to the city. Later that evening Ian started working on his ledgers, replaying his conversations with Gabe and with Hope. As complicated as his relationship with Hope was, Ian didn’t want it any other way. He’d been turning down some invitations to dinner with local families, suspecting they were nothing more than attempts to match him with their daughters.
    He knew it wouldn’t be fair to give any hopeful young ladies ideas because his heart was not free. Not with his feelings for Hope growing every time he met her.
    He glanced at the figures. He still had plenty of money, and within six to seven months’ time he’d have that litter trained and ready to sell.