In The Beginning by Gail Daley (top 100 books of all time checklist .TXT) 📕

always thought of you as one of those heroes in the books the Runners smuggled in. It's easy to read about a character in a book risking his life to rescue the heroine. Not so easy to watch it done by my husband. Promise me you'll be more careful from now on?"

"Which book?" he inquired.

"Oh, you!" Iris picked up the dishtowel off the counter and popped him with it.

The Ides Of March

WHILE THE ST. VYR'S were dealing with Franks and his failed revenge ploy, Ira Johnson stepped down off the train from Junction City and stood looking around. This was the first time he had visited this area of the coast and it made him uncomfortable. Azure City looked and smelled different from Junction City and his old stamping grounds in Highland Mountain.

The Seaport was at the apex of a long narrow bay opening out into a largely unexplored Ocean. The port and the traffic coming into it was controlled by the powerful Sullivan Clan. The Sullivans were rumored to keep a tight rein on any less than legal activities taking place in Azure City and the smaller satellite towns along the coast. Johnson was acutely aware that here he would not have allies of the sort he had developed in River Crossing. It had been many years since he had moved into an unknown territory without influence or allies.

He knew he was going to need to convince Samuel that remorse at the deaths of his other sons had changed him, and he no longer wanted to take St. Vyr's holdings. It wouldn't be easy. Samuel was not only smart; he could read people.

"Are you looking for a place to stay, sir?"

He looked down at the skinny teenage boy who had spoken. Unknown to Ira Johnson, the boy or one of his cousins had met every incoming train from Junction City for the past three months looking for a man matching Johnson's description.

Ira knew would need help to find Samuel in this large bustling city. This might be a way to find allies, he decided. He would play the father looking for his estranged son. Hopefully, in would arouse sympathy in this boy. It was even the truth. Having others believe that was why he was here would make it easier to put pressure on Samuel. He smiled down at the boy.

"Yes, I am," he said. "Perhaps you can recommend a place?"

"My name is Fred, and I know just about every place there is in Azure," the boy, who was one of Marie's nephews, said.

"What kind of place are you looking for?"

"Is there a hotel with good beds and good food around here?"

"Sure, I reckon Sullivan's Rest will be just the thing," said Fred, relieved he would not need to nudge Johnson into lodging at the Inn where he had been told to take him if he showed up. He reached for Ira's bag. "Let me carry that for you, sir."

Ira followed the boy down the street toward a medium sized, three story building with a wrap-around porch on the bottom and verandas on both the upper stories.

"What brings you to Azure, sir?"

"I'm looking for my son," Ira made his face look sad. "We haven't spoken in a while, and I hope make amends."

"Does your son live here?"

"I hope so."

"Don't you know?"

"Actually, I will need help to find him. The reason we haven't spoken in so long is I disapproved of the woman he wanted to marry. He chose her over me. I regret it now, but I have to find him to tell him so."

"Gee, that's too bad, sir."

By this time, they had reached Sullivan's Rest. Fred carried Ira's bag into the lobby, a cool, well-appointed room with large windows showing ships docked down the street at the wharf. He set the bag down in front of the desk and rang the bell, hollering, "Yoi! Martha! I brought you a guest!"

A tall, slim girl with a marked resemblance to Fred came out of the back. "No, need to yell, Fred. Our guest will think we are a bunch of hooligans. Welcome to the Sullivan, sir. Would you like a room?"

Ira gave Fred an ironic look. He had been steered to a relative's place. Fred probably waited at the station every day for that purpose. He hoped the kid hadn't lied about the beds and the food. "I would, if the food and the beds are as good as reported by this young man."

She gave him a serene smile. "They are. We start serving in about thirty minutes." She handed him a key and turned to the boy. "Number thirteen, Fred."

"Sure thing, Miss Martha." Fred picked up Ira's bag again and led him towards the stairs. The room they had given Ira was in the back. "It's quieter here, Sir. The rooms in the front get kind of noisy in the evenings when the sailors come off the ships."

"Thanks." Ira tossed him a handful of copper chips as a tip, which Fred caught deftly.

As the boy turned to go, he called him back. "Say, kid I might need a little help to locate my son. You haven't heard of a young couple who just moved here have you? The man will be a tall blond, and the woman is quite a looker. I think they might be using the name Clancy."

Fred appeared to think about it. "Well, it sounds like the family who just took over Butternut farm. Does your son have kids?"

"No, I don't think they've been married long enough to have children yet."

"Oh, I guess it couldn't be them. I can ask around if you like?"

"Please. How will I find you tomorrow?"

"Just ask Miss Martha. She's my cousin, so she knows how to reach me."

The next afternoon Johnson rode out to the Butternut farm with Fred. He still wasn't convinced the boy had found Samuel, but as he had spent most of the morning getting blank looks from the shopkeepers, he agreed to ride out there. If