In their bedroom, Jason set the book down on his bedside table then wrapped his arms around Kale. “Why don’t you tell me what happened?”
“They weren’t there.”
“I gathered that. Did Mr. Monroe tell you where they are?”
“No. No one’s there. The entire place was abandoned. It looked like no one had been there for years.”
Jason pulled Kale down to sit on the bed with him. “That must have been difficult. Are you all right?”
Kale nodded.
“Really?” Jason could see Kale working to hold himself together. He wasn’t sure whether he wanted to push Kale to the breaking point or let him be. Letting Kale keep everything to himself, the way he was wont to do, could lead to problems. After everything they had been through together, Jason had promised himself he would never let Kale get lost in his own darkness again.
“No. I should have let you come.”
Jason massaged Kale’s shoulder with one hand while he held Kale’s hand with the other. “I understand your reasons for not wanting me to come, and I admire them. I’m still here for you. This isn’t the end. We’ll find them.”
“Thanks, Jason. I had hoped this would be easier. How was your day? Did you spend much time with your father?”
Jason’s hand dropped to the bed. “No. I spent all day in my mother’s sewing room. I feel her so strongly there. It was nice to be close to her again.” Kale’s face tightened as if he was trying to keep pain from showing. “But we don’t need to talk about it. Whatever you need tonight, I’m here.”
“I need a drink.”
“All right. Let’s go to a bar in town. We’ll get a drink and ask around, see if anyone knows what happened to the Monroes.”
* * *
Jason had never stepped foot in Carson’s bar in his life. He’d made a point of avoiding it when he lived in Malar. At the time, he’d thought it below him. Now bars were all too familiar. For nearly three years between the time he’d sold Kale and the time he was reunited with him, Jason had drowned in bars. The dark lighting, stale stench, and littered floors had provided the perfect environment in which to let the whiskey do its work. Fighting off the power alcohol held over him had been one of the most difficult battles of his life. He had only taken up drinking again when he and Kale had achieved security in their lives and relationship, with nothing left to drown. Since moving to Naiara, he and Kale often spent evenings downing a pint with friends.
The temperature inside was noticeably higher than outside. The stench of sweat and alcohol was as thick as the bodies crammed into the small building. Kale went to the bar to place their order while Jason tried to find a place to sit. A few minutes later, Kale came over with a whiskey for himself and a beer for Jason. There wasn’t an empty seat in the place, so they stood against the wall with their drinks.
“I asked the bartender if he knew of the Monroes. Said he hadn’t heard of them.”
“There’s plenty more people to talk to tonight. Someone must know something. It seemed when I lived here that everyone knew everyone else’s business.”
“Yeah, but they did live on the other side of the county. I’m not sure anyone here will know them.”
“It’s better than sitting in the house. Don’t worry, Kale. Even if we don’t find anything tonight, we can still have a decent time, get our minds off things.”
The beer was refreshing and a nice distraction from the heat. Kale quietly sipped his whiskey. Jason knew Kale wouldn’t get drunk. He never did. That was Jason’s specialty, which was why he typically avoided hard liquor and stuck with beer. He’d developed quite a taste for it. Most wealthy people were wine connoisseurs, but not Jason. The complexities of beer, such a common drink, intrigued him. The beer Kale had bought him was a smooth, light wheat beer. He thought he detected some honey and maybe a dash of apple. If they were in the country much longer, perhaps he could visit some breweries. It would be a nice distraction if Kale decided to go off by himself again.
“You fellas want a seat?” Jason turned toward the deep voice on his right. A neatly dressed man sat by himself at a table for four.
“Thank you.” Jason stretched his hand across the table as he and Kale sat. “My name’s Jason, and this is Kale.”
“George. Nice to meet you.” The man’s grip was firm without being crushing. “I own the leather shop down the street. You both new in town?” George shook Kale’s hand.
“No, just visiting. Looking for someone, actually.”
“Oh?” There was a note of suspicion in the lilt of George’s voice.
“Nothing bad. I’m wondering where I can find Jedediah Monroe. I went out to his place today, and it was deserted. There were some slaves he had when I was younger, and I was hoping I could buy them off him.” Jason was horrible at lying to Kale, but with anyone else, he had no problem saying what was needed to get what he wanted.
“Seems a lot of trouble to go to for some slaves.”
Jason smiled. “You caught me. It’s not really about some slaves. It’s actually about one. There was a girl who used to serve there. Now that I have some money, I wanted to make some of my boyhood dreams come true, if you know what I mean.” Jason’s stomach roiled at the insinuation, but he didn’t let it show on his face.
George laughed. “Ah, I see.” Disgusting that looking for a slave to buy for sex was understandable here. Of course, Jason hadn’t had qualms about it either, years ago. “Yeah, I’ve heard of the Monroes. Didn’t really know them personally, but I buy hides out in that area and hear plenty. From what I understand, they fell on some hard times. Ended up selling most of their slaves and carted the rest out to their family’s place. Last I heard, they were living in a cousin’s guest house.”
“Why not sell the farm? Why abandon it and let it fall into disrepair?”
“That land has been in the Monroe family for more than two hundred years. Maybe they don’t want someone else owning it. Maybe they’re hoping to return someday. Who knows?”
“Well, thanks for the information. Any idea where this cousin lives?”
“Not around here. I don’t think they’re in Malar County. I seem to remember hearing something about them moving northeast of here, but I’m not sure.”
Jason raised his beer to George. “Thanks again.”
“My pleasure. Does your friend ever talk?” George tilted his head toward Kale.
Normally, Kale was the one who could charm anyone into anything, but he didn’t look predisposed to speak. Jason couldn’t blame him. “Bad day.”
“Thank you for your help.” Kale looked George directly in the eye. “I appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome.” George focused back on Jason. “So, you say you grew up here. Who’s your family?”
Jason shifted in his seat. It would be rude not to answer, especially after George had been so helpful. “I’m a Wadsworth.”
George’s face lit up. “You’re Robert’s boy? Well, damn, I’ll be. His cattle have some of the best hides in the country. You in the cattle business too?”
“No. My business is steel.”
George nodded. “That’s right, I had heard you married into the Arlington steel empire. Seems I remember something else about you moving to Naiara.” George looked from Kale, to Jason, and then back to Kale. “Wait a minute. Kale, you said your name was?”
Jason could sense as much as see Kale tense beside him.
Kale gave a curt nod, and George’s eyes went wide.
George eyed Jason. “That’s what it was. Rumor had it you fell in with your personal slave and took him across the border to free him.”
“Yes. Is that a problem?” Jason’s voice was cool. He dared George to take issue with them.
George shook his head. “No, no problem. Never heard something so bizarre in my life. I don’t like meddling in other people’s business though. As long as you mean me no harm, we got no problem.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” Jason let warmth seep back in
to his tone.
“I suppose you’re not really looking for a—”
“Well, well, looky who’s here, boys: my old slave, Kale.” Jason whipped his head around to see Carter Cartwright standing behind him with a couple of his friends. Kale froze, keeping his eyes lowered to his drink. He was so still that Jason wondered if he was even breathing.
“I don’t believe you have business with us, Carter.”
“Oh, I believe a slave impersonating a free man is everyone’s business, seeing as it’s illegal.”
Kale remained disturbingly still. This had been his worst fear about returning to Arine. Jason had promised himself and Kale there wouldn’t be any problems. It was time to live up to his word. “I don’t see any slaves here, Carter. You should get your facts straight before you throw around accusations.”
“You know damn well what I’m talking about, Jason. That there is Kale, the slave your father bought from mine for you. Just ’cause you took him across the border doesn’t mean he’s free when he comes back here.” Carter took a menacing step forward. He glowered down at Jason, fists clenched, itching for a fight.
Jason deliberately stood, not giving up a centimeter of space, even though it meant being nearly nose to nose with Carter. It took immense willpower to stand his ground when Carter’s foul breath assaulted his nostrils. Carter easily had fifty pounds on him plus a lifetime of experience in barroom brawling.
Jason kept his voice calm. “You’re mistaken, Carter. Kale is a free citizen of Naiara with diplomatic status. If you stir trouble with him, you’d instigate an international incident. I’d hate to have to tell your daddy that you were arrested and brought before the prime minister and the king for assaulting a Naiaran agent under the protection of the government. Have you ever met the king? Nice fellow, although he does hate it when he’s made to look foolish to the Naiarans.” Anger flared in Carter’s eyes, and they darted from side to side, as if searching for the truth. “I know I said a lot of big words just now. If any of them confused you, I’d be happy to clarify.”
Carter’s eyes narrowed, and he stepped backward, jabbing a finger in Jason’s direction. “You’d best leave this county as quick as you came. No wonder your daddy’s dyin’. Mine’d rather be dead than see me shame myself like you have.” Before Jason could respond, Carter turned on his heel and motioned for his friends to follow. “Let’s go. This place has gotten too trashy.”
It wasn’t worth following and taking a swing at him. Jason had wanted to avert trouble, and he had done it. Surrendering to his anger would give Carter exactly what he wanted. Jason lowered himself to his seat and registered the surprise on George’s face. Of greater concern to him was Kale, who breathed deeply, eyes still fixated on the drink clasped in his hands. Jason gently rubbed his back. “It’s all right.”
“Thank you.”
“I told you there wouldn’t be any trouble.”
“You shouldn’t have to fight my battles for me.”
“That’s what I’m here for, to fight when you can’t. It wasn’t cowardice, Kale. You didn’t know if he would accept that you’re free. There was tremendous risk for you in acting and none for me. You were always the wise one of us, and that’s why you sat there and kept your mouth shut even though I’m sure you had an earful for him.”
Kale’s breathing was returning to normal, and his body slouched into a more natural posture, his grip on the glass relaxing. Jason knew Kale had been scared. More than that, he had been terrified, and with good reason. However, despite all that was at stake, it wasn’t cowardice that had stilled Kale. It was shame, his hurt pride at being viewed as a slave, and probably at having family who were still slaves despite his efforts. Jason would do anything to protect Kale’s pride. Kale could keep his fear under control, but without his pride, he was nothing.
It was a familiar situation. A picture of Kale standing broken before him when Jason had discovered that—in an ironic twist of fate—Kale had ended up working for a labor firm at one of Jason’s steel mills flashed before him. Without his pride, Kale had shriveled into a shell of a man. Seeing Kale stripped of the one thing that mattered to him had been the worst moment of Jason’s life. Worse than the moment when Renee had told him he would have to sell Kale or lose her. Far worse than when Kale had told him he had never loved Jason, so that Jason would sell him in order to live happily ever after with Renee.
Jason’s hand shot out and grabbed Kale’s drink. He downed the whiskey in a single gulp to chase away the images. Jason couldn’t let Kale turn into that broken man again, even for a moment. “You’re fine, Kale. I’ve got you. You never have to hang your head. And if you want to go find Carter and beat the shit out of him, I’ll be right there with you. Gods know he deserves it.”
“No. You’re right. I’m fine.”
“Sorry to interrupt, but you’re diplomats?” George’s face looked as if he didn’t know how to process what had just happened.
“Yes, I was wondering that myself.” Kale faced Jason with a hint of his usual good humor glinting in his eyes.
“Well, I’m sure he’s not smart enough to figure it out.”
George laughed and shook his head. “You sure are smooth, Jason.”
Kale ordered another drink, and the three of them relaxed into comfortable banter. Jason had the information they needed to find Monroe. It was time to enjoy the respite from his father’s home and the ghosts that lingered there.
Chapter Thirteen
“Martin, it’s Kale.” Despite Jason’s insistence that his father was opposed to scientific progress, there was actually a telephone in the house.
“Kale, what can I do for you?” Martin’s tone was as formal as ever, but Kale detected a trace of warmth in his voice.
“I was hoping you could look into something for me.” Martin had been Jason’s secretary until Jason and Kale decided to move to Naiara. Now, he served as president of Arlington Steel. He was their go-to man, and they both trusted him implicitly.
“Certainly, let me just get a piece of paper.” There was some rummaging on the line, and Martin returned. “All right, Kale, go ahead.”
“Jedediah Monroe. I want you to see if there’s any record of court proceedings regarding his estate, creditors, bankruptcy, that sort of thing. It would be in Malar County. Also, see if you can find anything about a cousin he might be staying with. We don’t know where they live, but we don’t think it’s in Malar. Any information you can dig up about what kind of people they are would be helpful in addition to their whereabouts.”
“I’ll telephone Mr. Smithson, and we’ll start searching immediately. I take it the search hasn’t gone well if you’re needing my help.” Mr. Smithson was one of Jason’s attorneys.
“No, there’ve been a few bumps.”
“Well, don’t worry. We’ll find them.” The earnest words comforted Kale. He and Jason weren’t alone. “I don’t mean to pry, but was this Mr. Monroe your original owner?”
“I figured you would have known that already from my title.”
“I’ve never seen your title. Jason wouldn’t let anyone handle it but him and his attorneys when it became necessary.” There was some commotion: a female voice and the clink of a tea cup and saucer. “Sophie’s here and wants to say hello.”
“Kale, it’s been too long. How are you? How’s Mr. Wadsworth holding up? You’d better be taking care of each other at a time like this.”
Kale chuckled. Just the sound of her voice cheered him, such a stark contrast to the gloom of recent days. “We’re doing all right, Sophie. Don’t worry about us.”
“I do, and I will, and you should be used to it. Don’t lie to me. If everything was all right, you wouldn’t be needing Martin’s help.”
“We came across a little obstacle is all.” Kale hesitated to say more, but he knew Sophie would pull it out of him. “My family wasn’t where I thought they’d be. I went out to the farm where I was raised, and the place was abandoned. I knew there was good chanc
e they wouldn’t still be there.”
“Oh, hon, I’m sorry. But don’t be getting down. It’s just a delay is all. You know Martin won’t sleep ’til he finds out what you need. I’ll make sure of it.”
“Thanks, Sophie. How’s that beau of yours doing?” Sophie had been their cook-cum-housekeeper and had stayed on to keep up the Perdana house with Martin. While Kale didn’t want to see her leave their odd little family, he wanted her to live her own life and be happy. She was young and pretty and should be out having a good time.
“Martin had no right telling you and Mr. Wadsworth about Max. He’s just fine. Now, I have to be getting back to my chores.”
“Sure you do, Sophie.”
“Oh shush. A girl’s allowed to have some private things. Give my love to Mr. Wadsworth, and be good.”
“I will, Sophie.” The call disconnected. Kale hung up the hand piece and leaned against the wall. He was glad he’d made the call himself. Jason offered, but Kale had already let Jason do too much. That scene in the bar the previous night had been ridiculous. Kale could stand up for himself.
Jason was reading one of his mother’s journals when Kale reached their room. “Sophie sends her love.”
“Thanks. Did you get any more information out of her about her gentleman caller?”
“No, she ended the conversation pretty quickly after I brought him up.”
“You know, I always wanted her and Martin to end up together. Wishful thinking.”
“They would make a good pair. I admit I’ve thought the same. They already act like an old married couple.” Kale sat on the stuffed chair next to the fireplace. There wasn’t a sofa in the room, just a desk and chair Jason currently inhabited. “Martin and Mr. Smithson are going to see what they can find and call us back.”
“Good. They’ll find something. Do you want to head down to breakfast? Demetri said it would be served at nine.”
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