The Sunstone Brooch : Time Travel Romance Katherine Logan (no david read aloud TXT) 📖

“I don’t know yet.”

“Asshole. Doan be so cryptic. If you know something, tell me.”

“Come on, Remy. You know the deal. Not until I have more to go on than just a hunch. But when you get back, get the lawyers working on it. Find a way to repurchase Williams Ranch, plus all the ranches adjoining it. Tell Kenzie and Kevin to go through a shell corporation. There can’t be any connection to MacCorp.”

“Spend millions of dollars on your hunch?”

“If I’m right, it’ll be worth it. If I’m wrong, we’ll put whatever we buy back on the market. Or Kevin can pay for it out of my share of the Lafitte treasure, and I’ll own ranches in North Dakota.”

“What if the owners won’t sell?”

“Then we’ll use drone technology and keep eyes in the sky to watch what they’re up to.”

Remy packed away his supplies, shaking his head. “I doan know what this is about, but I’ll talk to Elliott and David as soon as I can. But you didn’t say why Kit and Cullen stayed behind.”

“Probably to extend the visit with their family. You should probably leave for Kentucky in the morning or as soon as Ensley feels like traveling. Tell Roosevelt that JC wants his wife to join him there. He won’t object. But here’s the thing. Once you leave here, Austin and Ensley need to travel as a married couple. I don’t want them separated, not ever. It’s too dangerous. Plan to rent a private car.”

“Why Austin?”

“He’s the most accurate shooter in the family. I already knew he was good. I’ve been hunting with him enough times, but until I saw that bear, I didn’t know how good.”

“I didn’t notice.”

“Two shots into the heart-lung area. Two shots in the head.”

“You haven’t been anywhere near that bear. How do you know?”

“There are four shells on the ground within fifteen feet of the bear. If I had to get off four shots guaranteed to kill a grizzly, that’s where I’d aim.”

“Yeah, but I’m a good shot, too. So it makes me wonder if you’re playing matchmaker, and if you are, stop it. All hell’s going to break loose when Austin figures out Ensley was the editor who rejected his manuscript and then lied to him.”

“She didn’t lie to him. She just didn’t tell him who she was.”

“Can’t believe you’re one of those jerks who believe a lie of omission isn’t a lie. You asshole. You know it is.”

“I’m not a jerk. Just be sure you’re close by when Austin puts it together. Ensley won’t be in any condition to set him straight. Tell Austin he’s got an assignment, and there’ll be plenty of time to hate her later.”

“She’ll want to go back to New York when we get home.”

“Elliott might be too worried about JC for a while, so lean on David and Kenzie. They’ll make sure Ensley understands her life is in danger. She has got to learn fighting skills, and Braham has the best setup for that.”

Tavis glanced across the clearing and watched Austin gently cleaning Ensley’s arms and hands. He remembered the vision of Ensley in Austin’s arms, and he reconsidered the best place for her to go.

“If Austin is still speaking to her after this is over, she could go to Colorado to live. David can hire special ops guys to teach her everything she needs to know. And as soon as Penny delivers, she might like to spend time at the ranch training with Ensley.”

“You and I could teach her.”

“I might not be back for a while, and she should start immediately. Plus, Elliott will need you. If the situation with JC is as bad as I’m afraid it is, Elliott might start living out of a whisky bottle again.”

“Meredith won’t let him.”

“Meredith might be in that bottle with him. JC is her only child. Talk to Kevin. He was with Elliott years ago when he was drinking and living on painkillers.”

“From what I hear, Kevin was an enabler. Gave Elliott whatever he wanted.”

“Then find out what he did and do the opposite.”

Remy shrugged. “That makes sense.” He sat back and packed up his gear. “I’ve done the best I can do for him with what I have. How do you want to handle this transfer?”

Tavis looked around the clearing again. “Let’s move Erik next to Arthfael. Then I can hold on to both of them.”

“What’s going to happen when you get to Jarlshof? You’re returning with their dead chief. They might decide to kill the messenger or, in this case, the delivery boy.”

“They’ll know these are animal wounds. I’ll be okay, but the funeral might be a problem. The traditional funeral for a chief is violent and goes against everything I believe. I’ll refuse to participate, and that won’t sit well with the rest of the Council.”

“They woan hurt you, will they?”

Tavis looked off at the rich orange colors of the setting sun, recalling the ancient stories of funerals for Viking chiefs, and he shivered. “I don’t think so.”

“Doan go, then. We’ll bury Erik here, then return in the future and give him the burial he deserves.”

“I don’t have a choice, Remy. And I’d never disrespect Erik.”

“You should take someone with you.”

“Who? Elliott depends on you.” He glanced back over at Austin and Ensley. “And looking at those two, Ensley might be just what Austin needs—and vice versa. Keep ’em safe. Okay?”

“Austin can be the biggest asshole I’ve ever been around. If he acts up, I’ll shoot him.”

Tavis looked back at Remy, wishing he could see this mission through before going back to Jarlshof. But the funeral of a Viking chief was his priority—before any other obligation.

“One more thing,” Tavis said. “If you go through Chicago, don’t even step off the train. Send your porter to the local Pinkerton office and hire half a dozen agents to travel with you.”

“Should I mention Daniel Grant recommended hiring them?”

“Play it by ear, but if you find someone who knew him, you’ll have to make up