Lilac Temptress

Chapter 12

It was noon, and Drake had overslept. He gathered the paperwork for the acquisition of William's property, groomed himself, and rushed into the inn's lobby.

He saw a boy sweeping the floor and offered him coins to look after his steed. Drake planned to sell the horse in New Iberia. It had to be well-cared for.?

Exiting the inn, Drake strolled toward William's tavern; it wasn't long before he was pushing past its swinging doors. The place was almost empty, except for three rogues gathered around a table in a game of cards. They barely spared Drake a glance.?

Catching sight of Sierra's backside, Drake grinned.?

She was standing behind the bar, and an attractive young man was handing her gleaming bottles of brandy, scotch, and whiskey. She carefully placed them on shelves almost too high for her reach.

The strong resemblance between Sierra and the young man she was with, prompted Drake's recollection of their conversation about her younger brother, Kyle.

Kyle noticed the man standing in the bar's entrance. "Can I get you a drink, sir?"

Drake shook his head. "No, thanks,I'm looking for Mr. William Hunter."

A bottle of brandy slipped from Sierra's hand, crashing to the floor at the sound of Drake's husky voice. As the bottle shattered, she turned, startled to find Drake there. He watched her with those incredible blue eyes that she remembered so well.?

He made a handsome man wearing a black morning coat with a vest cut from the same cloth and trousers of a lighter russet shade.

His smile caused a warm wave to ripple through her body as she stared back at him. "What, why? I thought you left town," she whispered.?

Drake hadn't heard her words, although Kyle had.

"You didn't tell me that you met an outsider." Kyle turned to Sierra.

William rushed out of a backroom, and before Sierra could respond to Kyle, William said, "Sierra honey, you still dropping bottles from," He paused, his eyes blazed, seeing Drake.

"Mr. McCalister,I thought I advised you and your friend to leave town last night," William said.?

With sudden interest, the men who'd been deep into their card game turned their heads toward Drake.

"You did Mr. Hunter, but I'm the last man who'll be sent from Morgan City to make you any offers, and I have a mighty fine proposition for you," Drake stated.

"Frankly, I don't give a damn about what you want to offer. I don't need any more than I already have," William scoffed.

"Mr. Hunter, I only need five minutes of your time. If you don't accept my offer, I'll leave town immediately."

"And your friend?" William lifted his brow.

"My partner left this morning."?

"Smart man, but you stayed behind after I've already refused. You sure are a bullish man." William walked toward Drake, coming face-to-face.

"I intend to leave here with a deal, Mr. Hunter," Drake replied.

William huffed. He'd enjoy turning down this arrogant bastard, he thought, walking to one of the wooden tables and taking a seat. He motioned for Drake to join him. "You've got five minutes. Start talking."?

Drake sat down, recalling what Sierra had told him about her having a debt to William, which gave rise to his resentment of the man.

William needed her,Sierra had made an excuse, even though she was displeased at how William had kept her in Jadesville.

But Drake couldn't think about that now. He needed to stay levelheaded and negotiate a deal.?

"Some Indian tribes haven't abandoned nearby parishes. Uprisings frequently occur. We both know that your treaty with the natives won't last long after tracks are laid through these parts." Drake watched William shift in his chair, sure that William understood the truth of his words.

"Mr. Hunter, private land is needed as well. Establishing a railroad through these parts is an enormous undertaking. Times are changing, and this railroad company will make our economy stronger. It will usher in the twentieth century."

"You are a visionary," William exhaled, rubbing his chin.

"I am, and you refuse to see what's right in front of you. This railroad brings with it the power to feed the hungry and heal the sick. You have a town of farmers. A train can quickly, safely, and cheaply transport your goods to port cities."?

William listened. His face became harder to interpret,but Drake knew he had William's full attention.

"There is a lack of education for children in your town. Goods are not transported here fast enough from New Iberia because of the treacherous swamp. Your sick often don't receive the medicines they need before it's too late."?

William winced; the loss of Sierra's mother to yellow fever was something that might have been prevented had the town's physician had enough medicine for early treatment.?

"We live the best way we know how to, Mr. McCalister. We've survived tragedies in this town. We'll survive whatever is to come," William protested, sounding more like he was trying to convince himself instead of Drake.?

"Most of the men in your town have already given up the necessary land, Mr. Hunter. These townsfolk know that merchants have developed a keen interest in building a railroad through here. May I ask what's keeping you from selling?"

Drake took stock of William's temperament; he reckoned that William also didn't like change.

"I was hired to represent you and get you a deal. My employer, Mr. Morgan, hopes that small towns like Jadesville will develop around the railroad. But yours is already here, and close enough to New Iberia to benefit from trade." Drake held out the neatly folded financial papers that he removed from his coat's inside pocket.

"This is the figure that Mr. Morgan is willing to pay you. It's a sweet deal. Morgan means to get you what you want. In turn, he intends to get what he wants." Drake slid the paperwork across the table to William.?

William skimmed the papers with reservation. "Are you any good at what you do, Mr. McCalister?"

"I am the best in New Orleans. I can represent you at the sale, making sure you get what your land is worth."

"I don't care about the money, and I hate admitting the obvious. But you're making a great deal of sense to me." William looked over his shoulder and met Sierra's suspenseful gaze. This sale might give her everything she ever wanted, he thought. Suddenly, Adrienne slipped into his mind.

Adrienne always knew what was best, and lately, she'd been trying to convince him to sell his land. The amount of money offered was substantial enough to make any man sign away his soul. The world was changing. Even Jadesville, the place he'd made his home, couldn't stay the way it was. No matter how much he wished that it would.

"We have a deal, Mr. McCalister." William stood up and shook Drake's hand.

Still seated, Drake grinned, pleased that the conversation had gone smoothly. "Soon, buyers from Morgan City will be here. I'll have the details of the proposition delivered to you before the evening."?

William nodded at Drake, then considered Sierra and Kyle, both listening, quietly. They hadn't dared say a word.