The Sapphire Brooch by Katherine Logan (best novels to read to improve english .txt) π

Read free book Β«The Sapphire Brooch by Katherine Logan (best novels to read to improve english .txt) πΒ» - read online or download for free at americanlibrarybooks.com
- Author: Katherine Logan
Read book online Β«The Sapphire Brooch by Katherine Logan (best novels to read to improve english .txt) πΒ». Author - Katherine Logan
βCharlotte saved my life, and in doing so, she almost lost hers and Jackβs.β
βYe can be grateful without leaving home.β
Braham set his glass on the end of the desk and scrubbed his face with his hands. βYe donβt understand, do ye? She did it out of love. Not love for me, but love for her country, for Virginia, family, and tradition. She put everything at risk, and she almost lost it all. Itβs why we fought a war. But I didnβt want to fight. I didnβt go to Washington for lofty ideals. I went because Iβd given Sherman my word.β
βYe made the promise to Sherman because of me.β Cullen reached out and squeezed Brahamβs shoulder.
βCharlotte is the most honorable, fearless, and loving woman Iβve ever met. And I donβt want to spend another day without her. Sheβs calling me, Cul. Ye want to know why I can walk away from my law practice, the governorβs office, and possibly the White House? The answer is simple. Because I want Charlotte more.β
Cullen returned to his desk chair, picked up Brahamβs last will and testament, and leafed through the pages. βWhat will ye do in Charlotteβs time? Ye canβt practice law.β
βSince the Mallorys still own the plantation, I assume they will continue to own it in Charlotteβs lifetime. Iβll have money to build her a house on the property, and Iβd like to start a winery and breed horses.β
Cullen folded the will and tucked it into his top drawer. βWhat if sheβs married?β
Brahamβs brows shot up, and he looked at Cullen, shrugging slightly. βThen Iβll be a part of her life in any role sheβll allow me to play.β
βHow are ye going to pull this off?β
βIβm going to MacKlenna Farm, and Iβll die either by accident or disease. When ye have all the gold, bury it in my casket.β
βWhat are ye going to tell Stanford and the other members of the party?β
Braham rubbed a hand across his mouth, wiping away a drop of liquor. βI have business in the east to settle, and when I return, weβll make an announcement.β
βAnd Melissa? What about her?β
βIβll tell her the same thing. I wish I could make it easier on her, but I canβt, Cul.β
βYeβre giving up everything for a long shot.β
βIβm giving up this life for the one I truly want, and Iβm willing to bet Charlotte still loves me. And hasnβt married.β
Cullen opened his calendar and thumbed through the pages until he reached the present month. βWhen are ye going to Kentucky?β
βNext week.β
βNow that the railroad is completed, it wonβt take months to get there.β Cullen dipped his pen into the ink then scratched a note on the calendar. βKit and I are going with ye.β
βYe donβt need to do that.β
βYes, we do. If yeβre going to die, weβll want to attend yer funeral.β
98
MacKlenna Farm, Lexington, Kentucky, 1869
Two weeks later, the train carrying Braham, Cullen, and Kit from Cincinnati approached the Lexington depot. Kit hadnβt visited her uncle since the summer of 1853, and she had never met her aunt. For the last hour, Kit had primped and paced up and down the aisle of the train, moving about in an unfocused sort of way, quite unlike her usual decisive strides. The swishing of her skirt and bumbling movements had disturbed other passengers. Finally, Cullen grabbed her around the waist and plopped her into her seat.
She shot him an angry glance. βWhyβd you do that?β
Cullen merely smiled, not bothered by her tone. βThe man across the aisle was about to do the same. Be thankful it was yer husband who manhandled ye and not a stranger.β
She pursed her lips in speculation, looking from Cullen to the man across the aisle. Then she shrugged and fiddled with her clothes, ironing the front of her dress with the flat of her hand.
When they reached the depot, Braham immediately spotted Sean and Lyle Ann waiting on the crowded platform. Kitβs aunt, a woman in her mid-forties, appeared as anxious as Kit, patting at the hair at her nape. What was it about women that made them afraid having one hair out of place or a wrinkle in their clothes would somehow make them unacceptable?
They disembarked and Kit almost tripped as she hurried to her uncle.
βKitherina.β Sean grabbed her in a bear hug and swung her around, swishing her skirts. βIβm so glad to see ye, lass. Howβre those bairns of yers?β He set her down, beaming with excitement. βOh, excuse me. Kit, this is yer aunt, Lyle Ann.β
Lyle Annβs wide eyes stared at Kit, obviously baffled by her unorthodox behavior. Then finally her face brightened, and her small pink mouth reversed her lipsβ downward droop and she beamed.
Braham pressed the crook of his finger against his lips to contain his smile, but his shoulders trembled with suppressed laughter.
βI havenβt seen Kit this spirited since I met her at Fort Laramie in β52,β Braham said, low-voiced, to Cullen.
Something moved in the backs of Cullenβs eyes. Surprise? Acknowledgement? βIβve had glimpses, but mostly I see spirit play out in our wee lassies.β
βFor yer sake, I hope they donβt race Thoroughbreds or jump into swollen rivers.β
Cullen slapped Braham on the shoulder. βI can only hope.β
When they reached the farm, the ladies went to visit the nursery, and the men found their way to Seanβs office for whisky and cigars.
βYer telegram said yeβre on yer way to Washington, but didnβt say why. Is this in preparation for a presidential campaign?β A broad grin creased Seanβs face.
Braham puffed on his cigar. βNo. The trip is only to provide a reason for my absence. We let it slip to the press we were going to Washington for business and on to New York on a shopping expedition.β
βWhat are ye really planning?β Sean watched Braham closely.
Braham made a quick glance behind him to be sure no one was coming in. βIβve
Comments (0)