Ed closed his eyes for a moment. “Cora. Please understand.”
It was her turn to shove from him. “Understand what?” She didn’t wait for an answer. Instead, she fled to the safety of her room.
She called for Grace. When the woman stepped into the room she said, “Untie the corset.”
Grace worked quickly, but even when her dress was off and her corset loosened, she still found it difficult to breathe. That was twice in one day she thought her lungs were crushed and she’d never breathe again. There wouldn’t be a third time.
Ghost threwopen Ed’s office door and barged in with fisted hands and a fighting stance. “You best not have done something unseemly to Miss McKinnie.”
“Do you really think me that kind of man? You’d group me with Mr. Grous?” Ed fumed at the accusation yet didn’t want to fight the only friend he had left in this town. The only man he ever truly trusted.
“What did you do?” Ghost didn’t remove his hat, but he did unfurl his fingers.
“We had a moment in the gardens where I believed Miss McKinnie and I were close to a kiss, but I didn’t take liberties with her. I reassured her that I would care for her, that I would pay for her.”
Ghost laughed, a hearty, booming, everyone-in-the-world-could-hear kind of laugh.
“Stop. What’s so funny? You find that Cora, the woman I need to help restore my fortune, being angry with me to be a humorous matter?”
“No, the fact that I, an uneducated man, knows not to tell a woman you’ll pay for her. You told Miss McKinnie she was no better than a prostitute.”
“I didn’t. That woman twists everything I say around. She teases me with her smile and the sway of her hips. She distracts me with her womanly ways, and I’m the bad guy?”
“So you are attracted to her,” Ghost said in an accusatory tone.
Ed grabbed his whiskey and poured himself a double. “She’s a beautiful woman, and I’m a man. That’s all that is.”
“So she’s no better than a prostitute to you.”
“I didn’t say that.” Ed sipped his drink, longing to escape the conversation and his life for a few moments.
“No, but that’s what she heard. Why don’t you stop avoiding your feelins and start bein’ a man deservin’ of a woman like Miss McKinnie?”
“You know why.” Ed downed the rest of his drink and slammed the glass down. “I’m not going to marry and have children. Do you not understand that if I can’t secure these investors to infuse some capital into my business, we’ll all starve? I’d never bring Cora into that life.”
“But once the deal’s done. What about then?” Ghost pushed too hard. It wasn’t his place to interfere. His place was to take orders. Or to provide guidance.
“Then I’ll set Miss McKinnie up wherever she wishes in a life of her choosing. She will never have to marry to survive like my sister did.”
“What if she wishes to marry?”
Ed stiffened at the realization Ghost was right. She’d most likely marry and have a family. “Then she’ll have that choice.”
“And if you see her daily around town or at social occasions, how will you feel, knowin’ you gave her to another man?”
“It won’t matter. She’ll return back east. I’ve already offered to pay her way and for her housing and expenses until she’s settled and married.”
“So you have it all planned out.” Ghost poured more whiskey into a glass and handed it to Ed. “Here, sir. I hope this and money keeps you warm and happy since it’s all you’ll have.”
He left Ed holding the glass with the realization his life would be secure and lonely. The way he’d always planned. No marriage meant no responsibility, which meant no living in the darkness of watching those he loved die in his arms because he couldn’t protect them from the world.
“I suggest you make peace with Miss McKinnie if you hope to fool everyone outside this house. No one’s going to believe you two like each other. They might see the love you don’t, but not the like.” Ghost cleared his throat and withdrew something from his pocket. “There’s something else. You received this telegram today.”
Ed took it and noticed the name. “It’s from Peggy.” His heart soared at the idea she’d finally reached out to him, but his elation plummeted when he read the two sentences.
Husband dead. If serious about helping, send ticket to San Francisco.
“How can I bring her here? I don’t even know if there’s a here to bring her to.”
