“I’ll hold you to that,” she said as Liam led the way back into the stable.
Deirdre bit her lip as she watched Jeremiah go, and she hoped he remembered exactly where he’d left off.
Chapter Seventeen
“BEALE! YOU IN THERE?” Liam pounded on the door again.
Jeremiah grimaced as he glanced up and down the hall. This boardinghouse was far less reputable than the Darbys’, but it was inexpensive and so that made it the first choice of most working men who found themselves in Crest Stone.
“He left last night,” a voice said from down the hall. “Now, are you going to quit banging on the door, or do I need to have you removed from the premises?”
Jeremiah followed Liam’s gaze to the proprietor of the place. The red-faced man glared at them.
Liam straightened. “I’m sorry, did you say—”
“Beale left last night. Turned in his key and paid up. Don’t ask me where he went. I don’t know. I don’t ask such things.”
Liam looked as if someone had tossed cold water on his face. Jeremiah tugged at the brim of his hat. “Thank you. We’ll be going.” He grabbed hold of Liam’s arm and tugged him until he began moving.
Outside, Liam shook his head. “He’s gone. With the money. All of it.” He closed his eyes and ran a hand over his face. “Meanwhile, I’ve got twenty men without pay.”
Jeremiah felt for Deirdre’s brother. It was a bad situation to be in. “Can you cover their pay until you wire your investor?”
Liam let out a low groan. “I can’t. I don’t have enough that I can access. And if those men don’t get paid . . .”
Jeremiah nodded slowly. A few of the men had looked downright murderous when Beale wasn’t there to pay them. Liam wasn’t a small man, but there was no way he’d hold his own against so many who wouldn’t be understanding if he explained the situation.
“You could borrow locally, just enough to get you through until the hotel investor can send more.”
Liam winced slightly. He likely didn’t care much for the idea of borrowing money, and Jeremiah couldn’t blame him. It had taken every ounce of his humility to ask his father to lend him funds for the livery.
Liam suddenly looked up, his eyes bright with an idea. “You haven’t bought into the livery yet, have you? Would you consider a short-term loan?”
Jeremiah shifted awkwardly. How could he turn Liam down gently? He needed every bit of that money to meet with the lawyer the following week. “I can’t. I’ve got to present those funds while the lawyer’s here. What about the bank? Or Jake Gilbert?”
“Gilbert.” Liam nodded thoughtfully. “I’ll ask him.” He slapped Jeremiah on the shoulder. “Thanks, brother. And thank you for standing by me earlier.”
