Rebecca Hagan Lee Read Free

trust you even more with my second one.”
    “Then you’re a better man than I am, because I don’t trust myself.”
    “You should,” James said. “Because you’re as trustworthy and honorable as the day is long. So you loved my wife. I was away on business half our married life. Did you act on those feelings? Did you seduce her? Or allow her to seduce you?” He stared at Will. “Did you take her into your bed, Will?”
    “No. Of course not!”
    “Why didn’t you?” James asked. “You loved her. You wanted her, and you had every opportunity.”
    “Because she was your
wife
, Jamie. And I may make a habit of falling in love with them, but I don’t make a habit of seducing other men’s wives. Especially when the woman I love happens to be in love with my closest friend.”
    “Then what the devil has changed?” James was practically shouting, his blue eyes shooting sparks at him. “So you’re afraid of falling in love with Elizabeth. . . . I was scared spitless at the idea of falling in love with her—of falling in love with anyone again—and I did it anyway.”
    “Dammit, Jamie, you don’t understand!”
    “What? That it hurts? That it hurts for you to be around us? I understand pain, Will. I watched you struggle with your feelings for Mei Ling for years. Did you think I was blind to the pain you were feeling? Did you think I didn’t feel guilty because she was sent to me instead of to you? Did you think I enjoyed seeing you want what I had, then struggle with guilt for being human and feeling a bit of envy from time to time? Did you think I enjoyed seeing the pain in your eyes when I couldn’t bring myself to look at her or forgive her when I knew she needed it so desperately? When I knew it was killing her? Killing you? Killing all of us?” James sucked in a ragged breath. “Open your eyes, Will, because what you’re feeling is double-edged. It cuts both ways. I understand your need to get away. I understand your need to do penance, but you don’t need to sail halfway around the world again for that,” James told him. “If it’s distance you need from me and Elizabeth, why not work from the city instead of Coryville? Use the San Francisco office. Put whoever you want in charge of day-to-day operations and oversee him along with our new enterprise. I can’t do it. I’ve got my hands full here and have no desire to travel back and forth to the city to check on Jack or Pete Malcolm or anyone else.”
    “All right.” Will’s sudden capitulation came as a shock—to him and to Jamie.
    “All right?” James required confirmation.
    “All right, Jamie.” Will couldn’t keep a note of self-disgust out of his voice. The truth was that he didn’t want to abandon their venture to go to Hong Kong. That city held as many painful memories for Will as it did for James, and although he loved his father, ministering to the man’s flock held no particular appeal for him either. “I’ll go to San Francisco. I’ll assume responsibility for the special project we’re about to launch and the Craig Capital office. And I’ll run it as I see fit, with no argument or interference from you.”
    James laughed. “I can’t promise not to argue,” he admitted. “But I’ll draw up papers transferring the ownership of the San Francisco operation to you. You’ll get no interference from me.” He reached out and offered Will his hand. “Fair enough?”
    Will shook the hand Jamie offered. “Fair enough.”

Chapter Two

    “A good cause makes a stout heart and a strong arm.”
    —PROVERB
    SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
    FEBRUARY 6, 1875
    W ill Keegan opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling of his bedroom in the
Silken Angel Saloon. His head ached from the pall of bluish smoke that lingered in the saloon, produced by the hundreds of cigars and cigarettes his customers smoked each night. The half bottle of brandy and the pot of coffee he’d drunk, the loud conversation, and the music from the slightly