Read Online This Gun for Hire by Jo Goodman - Free Book Online

Ann had tumbled from the depot’s platform and onto the tracks as No. 486 was rolling in. She was immediately rescued by the miners crowding the platform, and her aunt had made a heroic leap to cover Ann’s body with her own, necessitating the rescue of her as well, but the question of
how
Ann had fallen had not been satisfactorily answered. Ann blamed herself, for in her mind, she had gotten tangled in her skirts and must have made a clumsy attempt to disengage. She had no recollection of being jostled, and neither her father nor Quill had suggested that she might have been pushed. Her aunt’s account of events was similarly unhelpful. It was an accident that was no accident at all. Quill knew it for what it was—a warning. And on this, he and Ramsey Stonechurch were of like minds.
    As if he did not already know the answer, Quill asked, “What reason did she give you for wanting to stay?”
    “Ach.” Ramsey waved a hand dismissively. “She insists no one can take care of me as well as she can. There is no reasoning with her. I pointed out that her aunt does very well by me, but she claimed that Beatrice has not taken my best interests to heart because my sister-in-law says nothing about my whiskey and cigars. Thank God, is what I said. Ann did not find that amusing. She marched off and has not spoken to me since. We argued after dinner.”
    “When you asked for your whiskey and a cigar.”
    Ramsey thrust his chin forward, unrepentant.
    “You have no shame,” said Quill.
    “Why should I? Dr. Pitman says there is no harm in it.”
    “I would call him a quack, but what he is, is a toady.”
    Ramsey’s dark eyes narrowed as he stared suspiciously at Quill. “Did you speak to Ann after all? That is very close to what she said, except she called Pitman a sycophant.”
    “Your daughter has a better vocabulary than I do. I am not sure she will be improved by college.”
    “Mother of God. Did you say
that
to her?”
    “I told you, I didn’t talk to her, and she rarely approaches me for advice about you or anything else. I am fairly confident that she sees me as one of your sycophants. Probably the very worst of them since I am always nearby.”
    “She should be used to lawyers dogging my footsteps.”
    “Perhaps, but it does not mean she respects them for it, and you should keep in mind that I am not really your lawyer.”
    “You could be.”
    “No, I could not.”
    “You choose not.”
    “That’s right, and this is an old argument. An old, settled argument.”
    Ramsey shrugged. “I don’t see the harm in mentioning it now and again.”
    “The harm is that you will lower your guard as you become accustomed to me as a lawyer when you hired me as your bodyguard.”
    A deeply skeptical grunt came from the back of Ramsey’s throat. “I think you are a better lawyer.”
    “Perhaps, but I have no interest there, and since I am charged with protecting you, it is better if you keep that in mind.”
    “Better for you, you mean.”
    “Only in the sense that it makes my job a little easier if you also remain alert. The consequence of you failing to do so could make you dead.” Quill thought that Ramsey was going to raise a counterpoint after he mulled that over, so itwas a pleasant surprise when he offered no objection and returned to the subject of his daughter and her rebellion.
    “I think my daughter imagines herself in love,” said Ramsey. “That’s why she will have no part in leaving.”
    Quill had not expected that. He said nothing.
    “Do not pretend that it had not occurred to you. You watch everything. Everyone. You must have observed her mooning about.”
    “Mooning? Ann? No, I have not observed that.”
    “Well, if that’s true, you should not admit it. It does not inspire confidence in your ability to protect me.”
    “Your daughter is not trying to kill you.”
    “She might if we argue again as we did last night.” Ramsey stroked his beard, thoughtful. “I want the name of the young