Read Online Wilder Than the Rest: MacLarens of Fire Mountain by Shirleen Davies - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Shirleen Davies
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already made, Pierce had been the one to identify the leader and close down the operation. To her distress, working with him had done nothing to lessen her attraction to the tall, handsome man.
Mollie had been angry when he’d insisted they leave the Benstead’s house. Even though it had grown late and others were saying their goodbyes, Pierce’s sudden appearance by her side, the way he’d clasped her arm, forcing her to his will, had infuriated her. Now, looking back, his anger was no more than she’d felt when Virginia had thrown herself at him. The short ride home had done nothing to relieve the tension between them. She’d simmered while trying to control the urge to vent her frustrations. At the same time, she’d wanted to wrap her arms around him and pull him to her. Her instincts told her that Pierce had been fighting the same temptation.
While Mollie had tried to ignore and fight it, Pierce had given in to it and she’d been swept along as a willing participant. Until he’d stopped. Now, they were as far apart as ever.
Mollie pulled her thoughts to the present as the carriage stopped outside a fashionable restaurant. She could see Henrietta Benstead, Lottie Goss, and Viola Black through the large windows. Each of the women was older than Mollie by a few years. Only Lottie and Viola were originally from the area, Lottie from a small town on the other side of the bay and Viola from the city. Henrietta was from Philadelphia.
“Good afternoon, Mollie.” Henrietta beamed as Mollie was shown to her seat.
She greeted the others, noting that Virginia Traxton had not joined them.
“Is Virginia ill?”
The three glanced at each other before Henrietta spoke.
“She sent a note with her apologies, indicating she was indisposed.” Henrietta looked at the others again before continuing. The three knew the woman’s life with her husband, Thomas, was strained. They suspected he kept a mistress, yet no one had dared bring it up with Virginia. “We so enjoyed having you and your husband over for supper. It’s always nice to meet people new to San Francisco.”
“Thank you again for having us. We enjoyed ourselves immensely.”
“You seemed to spend quite a good deal of time speaking with Thomas. Did you find some common ground?” Lottie asked, remembering how Traxton’s gaze had rarely lifted from Mrs. MacLaren.
“I don’t know about common ground, however, he was gracious enough to explain a little bit about how all of you are connected. It seems each of your husbands work together in some way.”
“Yes, that’s true. My husband, Harold, is an engineer, involved with the railroad and planning additional bridge systems,” Lottie explained. “Viola’s husband, Gerald, handles distribution of building supplies—steel, iron, and other products. And, of course, Henrietta’s husband is in banking.”
“And Mr. Traxton?”
No one said a word until Viola broke the silence. “Thomas owns several businesses. He doesn’t speak too much about them, although, I’m certain the men understand what he does. He and his wife haven’t been in San Francisco more than a few years. According to my husband, his businesses are doing well.”
“Sounds intriguing.”
“Yes, Mollie, that’s an excellent word for it.” Henrietta opened her menu. “Well, ladies, shall we order?”
******
Pierce was on edge. He’d spent the last few days poring over various bits of information that funneled in from Lee and Noah. As necessary as it was, and as much as he usually enjoyed solving puzzles, he needed more to do, something to take him out of this office and into the streets.
Eva had been to the office twice, garnering the attention and, Pierce surmised, the suspicions of his assistant, Martha O’Connell. He had deflected the speculation by introducing Eva as a business associate of Louis Dunnigan.
“What do you make of it, Eva?”
“Lee’s message says that several prominent New York and Boston
Mollie had been angry when he’d insisted they leave the Benstead’s house. Even though it had grown late and others were saying their goodbyes, Pierce’s sudden appearance by her side, the way he’d clasped her arm, forcing her to his will, had infuriated her. Now, looking back, his anger was no more than she’d felt when Virginia had thrown herself at him. The short ride home had done nothing to relieve the tension between them. She’d simmered while trying to control the urge to vent her frustrations. At the same time, she’d wanted to wrap her arms around him and pull him to her. Her instincts told her that Pierce had been fighting the same temptation.
While Mollie had tried to ignore and fight it, Pierce had given in to it and she’d been swept along as a willing participant. Until he’d stopped. Now, they were as far apart as ever.
Mollie pulled her thoughts to the present as the carriage stopped outside a fashionable restaurant. She could see Henrietta Benstead, Lottie Goss, and Viola Black through the large windows. Each of the women was older than Mollie by a few years. Only Lottie and Viola were originally from the area, Lottie from a small town on the other side of the bay and Viola from the city. Henrietta was from Philadelphia.
“Good afternoon, Mollie.” Henrietta beamed as Mollie was shown to her seat.
She greeted the others, noting that Virginia Traxton had not joined them.
“Is Virginia ill?”
The three glanced at each other before Henrietta spoke.
“She sent a note with her apologies, indicating she was indisposed.” Henrietta looked at the others again before continuing. The three knew the woman’s life with her husband, Thomas, was strained. They suspected he kept a mistress, yet no one had dared bring it up with Virginia. “We so enjoyed having you and your husband over for supper. It’s always nice to meet people new to San Francisco.”
“Thank you again for having us. We enjoyed ourselves immensely.”
“You seemed to spend quite a good deal of time speaking with Thomas. Did you find some common ground?” Lottie asked, remembering how Traxton’s gaze had rarely lifted from Mrs. MacLaren.
“I don’t know about common ground, however, he was gracious enough to explain a little bit about how all of you are connected. It seems each of your husbands work together in some way.”
“Yes, that’s true. My husband, Harold, is an engineer, involved with the railroad and planning additional bridge systems,” Lottie explained. “Viola’s husband, Gerald, handles distribution of building supplies—steel, iron, and other products. And, of course, Henrietta’s husband is in banking.”
“And Mr. Traxton?”
No one said a word until Viola broke the silence. “Thomas owns several businesses. He doesn’t speak too much about them, although, I’m certain the men understand what he does. He and his wife haven’t been in San Francisco more than a few years. According to my husband, his businesses are doing well.”
“Sounds intriguing.”
“Yes, Mollie, that’s an excellent word for it.” Henrietta opened her menu. “Well, ladies, shall we order?”
******
Pierce was on edge. He’d spent the last few days poring over various bits of information that funneled in from Lee and Noah. As necessary as it was, and as much as he usually enjoyed solving puzzles, he needed more to do, something to take him out of this office and into the streets.
Eva had been to the office twice, garnering the attention and, Pierce surmised, the suspicions of his assistant, Martha O’Connell. He had deflected the speculation by introducing Eva as a business associate of Louis Dunnigan.
“What do you make of it, Eva?”
“Lee’s message says that several prominent New York and Boston
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