Turner's Vision Read Free Page B

gentle prodding for details. “He is dead ma’am. That’s enough for a lady to know.”
    “Sir, I can assure you I will not grow faint or squeamish at the details.” Resentment welled up quickly in Claudia, her character completely forgotten in her anger. “I truly wish to be assured in my own mind that this man is no longer a threat to my friend.”
    She met his gaze with a determined one of her own. For a moment she thought he would ignore her request and treat her like some schoolgirl miss.
    Finally, he raised one eyebrow at her. “Nathan and I trapped him in an old abandoned mine. We both shot at the same time. Then, to be sure he would never bother Nathan’s family, or anyone else, we dragged his body to a deep shaft, and threw it down.” He paused a moment, and Claudia thought he did so simply for effect. “It was a long time before we heard it hit bottom.”
    Claudia gulped hard. She saw both boys staring at Micah in a mixture of awe and admiration. “Well, then,” she said, clearing her throat. The letter seemed to burn her hand.
    He nodded toward the letter she held in her lap. “Did Laura tell you why I am here?”
    Allow him to take over the investigation.
    No, no. She could do this. She let a little girl’s giggle escape her.
    When she stood once more, Micah again followed suit.
    “Henderson, will you and the boys see to the animals?” She walked over to the mantel and removed the key to the liquor cabinet from the ornate wooden box there. “I would like to speak with Mr. Turner, alone.”
    Henderson looked pointedly at the key she held in her hand. “You are sure, Miss?”
    “Yes, quite sure.” She knew he questioned her decision to offer liquor to a virtual stranger, more than her decision to question him in private.
    The day her father finally went to his bed never to get out, she’d locked away all the whiskey and brandy, along with the terror they’d brought to her. From that moment on, the cabinet remained locked.
    “Very well, Miss.” Henderson motioned to the boys, who put up a momentary fuss, until he reminded them that the horses were their responsibilities.
    Claudia took out the decanter of whiskey and a large crystal tumbler. She smiled as sweetly as she could over her shoulder at Micah. “Please have a seat, sir. Such manners as yours are rare these days.”
    “My mama would be pleased to hear you say that, ma’am,” he drawled, seated once again.
    She poured the tumbler half full of dark, amber liquid. Remembering to put a soft sway into her walk, she carried the glass over to him. “How long was your journey to get here from Colorado?”
    “With the railroads crossing the country as they have, the trip wasn’t nearly as long as it once was.” He accepted the drink with a wary look on his face.
    Claudia bit back a laugh. This was going to be so easy.
    Sauntering over to the settee, she let her hips sway even deeper. She turned, imitating the graceful swoop that she’d watched Laura’s cousin perfect over the years of their childhood and fell gracefully onto the settee. Finally, Clara was good for something.
    Tilting her head off to one side, Claudia cast as seductive a look as she could imagine at him. “Have you learned anything further about poor Senator Anderson’s demise?”
     
    Micah took a long, slow drink of the whiskey, enjoying the burn as it trailed down his throat to his stomach. He eyed the minx sitting across from him. This wasn’t the same woman who left this room with tears in her eyes to read her friend’s letter. What game did she play at now?
    “Perhaps you could tell me what you’ve learned, ma’am,” he countered.
    She widened her eyes, resting one hand against her long neck, giggling softly. “Why, sir, I really don’t know anything at all.”
    “You wrote Laura that Senator Anderson’s body washed up on the Potomac River shore last spring, didn’t you?”
    “Oh, yes. I did mention that little article in the newspaper, didn’t I?