“But you didnae help me.”
“Not then. But I am now.”
“Hmm. Look at you playing fast and loose with the truth.”
“Only enough to ensure we both get what we want, and no one else gets hurt.”
“And what if I’m wanting you to conduct underhanded business dealings, as you so generously call them?”
“I’d say no. But I don’t think you will,” he continued bluntly. “I think there’s a reason you’re buying up land from men who haven’t done much for Seattle except hold back progress and horde its wealth. I think you have schemes up your sleeves, ones that could help more people than you’re willing to admit. And that’s the kind of change I can get behind.”
Gunn leaned back in his seat with a huff. “Dammit, Anderson. I didnae want to like you.”
“Then we have a deal?”
“Aye, we do. Turns out one of my men has to return to England next month. You can fill in for him.”
“Thank you, Mr. Gunn. I won’t let you down.”
“Good.” He shoved to his feet. “Your time’s up.”
Emil stood, grinning, and followed Gunn to the front door. He held out his hand, which Gunn eyed a moment before shaking it with a grip that was far too tight. Donning his hat, he stepped onto the front porch.
“The blonde girl,” Gunn said suddenly. “The suffragist.”
Emil turned, his hand tightening at his side. “What about her?”
Gunn’s brows rose, as if he found Emil’s reaction amusing. “That was her letter in the Post today. You think it’ll do the trick?”
Emil didn’t even ask how he knew it was Olive’s. “It better.”
Gunn nodded once. “I’ll put out the word.”
“Thank you,” he replied, not quite able to hide his surprise.
“Can’t abide a woman in danger,” he replied with a shrug. But there was a thread of something in his voice that betrayed his nonchalance—anger? Bitterness? He didn’t have time to study it before Gunn shut the door in his face.
Emil blew out a breath. “Well, that’s that.”
He strode toward the Queen Anne streetcar, whistling a jaunty tune. He’d done it. Everything was going perfectly. He couldn’t wait to tell his father. Couldn’t wait to begin the new job. And most of all, he couldn’t wait to tell Olive.
Everything was finally going his way. He would make sure it stayed that way, starting with treating Olive to the best outing of her life.
Chapter 23
“I could become accustomed to being chauffeured around in an automobile,” Olive mused, smiling at Emil behind the wheel.
“Are you comfortable?”
“Very. Warm, too.”
The moment she’d climbed into the front seat, Emil had tucked her feet into a raccoon fur foot warmer, draped her seat in an enormous flannel blanket, and tucked her into the seat with another. She was thoroughly taken care of, and she was thoroughly enjoying it. Still smiling, she returned her attention to the view outside the passenger window.
She hadn’t been this far north of the city in a long time, and she was fascinated by the signs of urban sprawl. On one side of the road, a crew erected wooden utility poles and strung them with wire. On the other side, a newly built General Store heralded a growing population. The roads were still in poor shape, but the number of wagons, buggies, and pedestrians was far more than she’d expected. Progress was upon them.
“Let’s keep this trip accident-free,” Emil said. “Or Mack will never let me borrow his pride and joy again. Even for you.”
“Agreed.”
