Romancing The Runaway Bride. Karen Kirst
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They said their goodbyes, and Adam headed for the Mitchell Coal & Mining Company. Jason Mitchell welcomed him into his office with polite formality. Waving him into a chair, he resumed his spot behind the desk cluttered with papers.
“What can I do for you, Mr. Draper?”
“I promise not to take up much of your time.” He did a quick inventory of the cramped space. “Based on our brief exchange yesterday, I thought you might have insight into the area’s property shortage. I visited the land office earlier and was met with discouraging news.”
Sinking against the dull leather chair, Jason steepled his hands. “It’s like I told you at the fund-raiser. The Maroni brothers are greedier than most. I’ve been in this business a while. Competition’s normal. Even healthy.” He rubbed at a coffee stain ingrained in the desk. “These men are different.”
“How so?”
“First off, I’ve yet to set eyes on them. Only the land office clerk and the ranchers who’ve done business with them have spoken to them face-to-face.”
Adam wet his lips. Ogden could’ve gotten another accomplice, a man this time. “Maybe they like their privacy.”
“Maybe.” Jason’s eyes hardened. “Or maybe they’ve got something to hide.”
“Don’t they have a temporary office set up? Somewhere to conduct business?”
“They were staying at The Lariat, but I haven’t managed to get a meeting with them.” He sighed and drummed his fingers against the wood. “There have been too many ranchers forced off their land. Not a coincidence, if you ask me.”
Adam adopted an expression of disbelief. “Are you suggesting the Maronis orchestrated accidents to get their hands on land they think is rich with coal?”
“I do.”
“Have you gone to the sheriff with your suspicions?”
He rolled his eyes. “The new sheriff is an incompetent oaf. Folks aren’t happy that the previous sheriff, Buck Hanley, abandoned the job to go into business for himself.”
Adam would have to pay the sheriff a visit and make his own observations. “Not what I wanted to hear, but I thank you for your candor.”
“Cowboy Creek’s a fine place to live, but it won’t support an operation like yours. Not with the hunt for coal. You’ll have better success somewhere else.”
Adam stood. “I’ll take what you’ve said into consideration.”
He was at the door when Jason spoke. “One more word of advice. Don’t bother with the Frazier woman. She’ll lead you on a merry dance.”
* * *
Something was bothering Deborah. She’d offered little to the dinner conversation and left much of her meal on the patterned china plate. Afterward, when everyone had migrated to the parlor, she’d declined offers to join in games in favor of standing at the windows and gazing mutely out at the street.
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