by Alex Jane
A smile played on Asher's lips and he nodded, although he didn't tear his eyes away from the embers. "Yes, I…I'd forgotten, is all."
"Forgotten what?"
Blue eyes looked over, bright even in the gloaming. "What it's like to be around family. It's been a while."
"Told you my mother liked you." Emmanuel couldn't help feeling a little triumphant.
"She's charming."
"She certainly charmed you."
"Your father too. He's…"
Emmanuel chuckled. "Yes, he is. Ma says he has the ability to make anyone feel as if they're the most important person in the room just by smiling at them. If he'd only get his face out of a book to do it."
"You mean I'm not the most important person in the room?" Asher smiled, probably expecting a tease or something in return given the way he looked lost when Emmanuel replied, "You are to me."
Asher swallowed hard and looked away. "I should be going."
"To check the horses? That's a good idea." Emmanuel drained his glass and got up. "I'll come with you. I want to double check the latch on the henhouse anyway. Then we should get to bed."
"You want me to stay?" Asher looked so confused, Emmanuel was struck with the urge to laugh at the deep furrows in his brow.
"Yes. And not only because I don't want to face the accusations of wrongdoing on my part when the old folks get up tomorrow and see you gone. I'm pretty sure they like you more than me. Come on. Soonest done, soonest in our bed."
Asher took the proffered hand and stood up, stepping into Emmanuel's space immediately. The kiss was quick, although the hand cupping Emmanuel's neck could have easily pulled him closer to deepen it. Instead, Asher drew away and smiled again. "Our bed?"
Emmanuel chuckled and shook his head. "You sure do ask a lot of questions, Marshal."
"I'm hoping one day I'll get a straight answer."
It stung a little, knowing how intensely he felt for Asher but not having the wherewithal to tell him just yet. But Emmanuel smiled anyway and kissed Asher back. "How's this for a straight answer. I'm definitely not fucking you with my parents in the house. Now come on. I'm tired."
Asher laughed and took Emmanuel's hand and, later that night, made a liar out of him as they made love so quietly and sweetly, even a wolf in the house couldn't have heard them, except for Asher's quiet, "I love you," as he folded himself around Emmanuel's back and fell asleep before Emmanuel could even think about a reply.
Chapter Eight
The most awkward thing about the following morning was that it wasn't awkward at all. Emmanuel kept waiting for something to happen, for some awkward glance or stuttered conversation, but actually the four of them managed to navigate getting the chores done, the animals fed, and preparing breakfast with little in the way of discomfort.
"Do you have any plans while you're here?" Emmanuel asked as he poured everyone a second cup of coffee.
"Actually," Asher interrupted before Josiah could reply. "Seth and Malcolm were hoping you would be able to come over later this afternoon. They have some things—rather we have some things which need to be discussed."
Given the way he didn't react, Emmanuel was pretty sure his father knew exactly what the cryptic meeting was going to be about, especially when he only nodded and said, "We'll borrow the carriage and be up there sometime after two, I guess."
Asher nodded. "Good. I'll let Ephraim and Josh know."
Emmanuel did raise his eyebrows at that. "This a private party or is everyone invited?"
"I wasn't excluding you. I only found out about this myself yesterday," Asher said around a smile.
"And what is this exactly?"
Emmanuel still didn’t have much idea what the impromptu meeting was about, even as they were pulling up outside Seth and Malcolm's modest house in town. It was a neat two-story place with a small barn and space enough for a large kitchen garden and a milk cow. They didn't have either of those things anymore, now they were getting on in years and being so close to the mercantile and able to buy in most of what they needed without having to bother keeping a large animal around. They still had fruit trees and chickens but little else to take up time that was better spent enjoying their dotage. Still, their location—closer to the saloon than the church in more ways than mere geography—was just how they liked it.
Seth came out of the house just as Josiah was helping Martha down from Duke’s borrowed carriage that they had arrived in the day before, and she moved smoothly from the step right into his arms. Though they were cousins, Emmanuel knew his mother regarded Seth more as an older brother; annoying but much loved by her. She credited him with inspiring her to become a doctor, although he dismissed her claims, saying all he did was bleed heavily in front of her one time, apparently not wanting to take the credit—or blame—for her choices.
Seth greeted Josiah much the same, hugging and chatting when Jonathon appeared to help Emmanuel deal with the horses. It seemed very much as any other family gathering, with news exchanged, laughter, and teasing. Even after Asher rode up and the conversation moved inside to the parlor, things appeared easy and relaxed.
After Asher had left for town that morning, Emmanuel’s parents hadn't made a point of giving their approval or mentioning him staying over at all. But he was sure Seth was bound to say something to embarrass him. He loved his cousin, but there was no doubt he couldn't help himself when it came to mischief. Which meant he was already a little on edge when Ephraim showed up.
"We all here?" he asked as he strolled into the room looking like he'd just come from milking the cows and clapped Emmanuel on the arm.
"Still waiting on one more," Seth replied, throwing his arm around Ephraim's shoulder, making them look such an odd couple being that Seth's three-piece suit wouldn't have looked out of place on Wall Street. "No Josh?"
Ephraim shook his head. "He wanted to but he has to work. I'll fill him in later."
Seth snorted and whispered something in Ephraim's ear that made Ephraim laugh, and Asher, who was on the other side of the room, blush. There were times Emmanuel was very glad he didn't have the ability to hear quite that well.
"While we wait, does someone want to tell me what we're doing here?" Emmanuel still didn't have much of a clue other than the gathering was clearly more than a family reunion.
No one got the chance to answer as there was a noise from the kitchen, and a few moments later Jonathon came in, accompanied by Sheriff Daniels of all people. It was the last person Emmanuel was expecting. The sheriff looked a little overwhelmed, crumpling the brim of his hat in both fists until Jonathon drew it away from him and left Malcolm to drag him into the room and make the introductions.
Once he'd been properly acquainted with Martha and Josiah, and there had been a shuffling of seats in order to fit everyone in, the sheriff took a place next to Asher, seemingly relieved he was close to someone he trusted. Their proximity made Emmanuel a little jealous and the feeling was unexpected, despite a reassuring glance from his lover across the room.
"Now we're all here," Seth said as he reclined into his high-backed chair. "The sheriff has some news, I think. Michael?"
It looked for a minute as if the man couldn't decide whether to stand or stay seated but eventually cleared his throat and began. "Uh. Well, the latest is that the date for the town meeting has been set for Friday. Baskin wanted to hold it tomorrow but I managed to persuade a couple of people that Friday would be better. I tried for next week but I couldn't hold them off any longer. Sorry."
"No, no," Asher said, placing a hand on Michael's shoulder. "You did good. That should be enough time."
"Enough time for what?" Emmanuel was starting to become a little frustrated. "What meeting?"
He didn't miss the glance that passed between Asher and his father and then Seth, who looked a little guilty. "That's my fault," Seth mumbled. "I was going to talk to you about things but—"
"I thought we should wait." His father didn't look at all repentant. But being in the dark, Emmanuel was
n't sure whether repentance was due or not.
"Being that I appear to be the only one in the room who has no idea what's going on, I'm not sure what you're waiting for." Emmanuel leveled him with a look but in the end it was Michael who spoke up.
"Things aren't right here. They haven't been in a while. The town was managing, struggling but managing before Baskin and his cronies came. Money was tight but then the war effort started. Most of the homesteads in the area started to specialize crop-wise, mostly in corn and beets, and were getting good income from the agents down at the rail yard. The bank set itself up and seemed to be intent on helping folks out."
"Business was booming," Jonathon chipped in, looking grim. "And it looked like staying that way."
"But it didn't." Emmanuel didn't even make that a question.
Michael shook his head. "Baskin was giving out loan money like it was candy. If anyone questioned the slip in cents on the dollar they were getting from the agents, he persuaded them the situation was a temporary dip, that the prices would pick up, and they could pay back the loan easily."
"Speculate to accumulate," Malcolm murmured, and it sounded like a death sentence.
Michael nodded. "When things started to look like they weren't going to pick up, a few of the farmers went to him for help, to get some more time to pay back the money. I think he pretty much laughed in their faces. When a couple of them got together and went to my predecessor, that's when the sheriff suddenly found he wanted to retire and I somehow got the job." He blushed a little and looked at the floor.
"And thank the goddess." Seth's voice was booming in the quiet room. "You've done us proud, Michael. It takes guts to stand up to someone like Baskin. A lesser man would have buckled."
"I don't know." Michael smiled up at him but it was weak. "I still feel a bit cowardly that I can't say anything to his face."
"So, you're…what? Spying for Seth? Pretending to be the bank's man?" The idea sounded rather over-dramatic coming from Emmanuel's lips.
"No, I couldn't lie like that." Michael looked rather amused by the idea. "I just do my job and make my own mind up about who I share information with, is all."
"Totally a spy," Seth faux-whispered, making Michael smile a bit wider. "Seriously, though. When he first came to me with his concerns, I'd already been thinking along the same lines."
"Which were?"
"Which were that I'd been dealing with banks a long time but I'd never come across one which operated quite like First Provincial. Mostly, bankers are stuffed shirts who love hoarding money and jerking off over their dividends. Generally, they don't strong-arm people into borrowing money and then send in muscle to beat it out of you."
"So not typical bankers."
"Not bankers at all by my estimation." Seth huffed out a breath and looked as if he was ready to go for the drinks cabinet. "I'd heard of such things out west but here…I suppose really our little town was bound to succumb at some point. There are new regulations coming in but trying to enforce them is a nightmare. And it was too late for some."
"Like Kovac?" Emmanuel was almost afraid to mention him.
Seth nodded, solemnity looking awkward on his shoulders. "Him. A few others. I didn't see what was happening at first. People lose their land. It happens but then when the people coming in and buying it up all walked like Baskin and talked like Baskin…I should have seen it sooner."
"It's not your fault, old man," Ephraim said, reaching out and patting Seth on the arm. "You weren't the only one who should have seen it."
"What could you have done, though?" Emmanuel asked, wondering where all this was leading. "Surely people would have stopped going to him when they heard about the problems others were having?"
He was surprised when Ephraim laughed. "You would think. But it seemed as if they put a whole lot of effort into making it seem like the ones who fell behind were exaggerating how bad it was, that what happened to Arthur was his own fault. I know some of what they've been spreading about the co-op and Seth and your father. I put down the fact Otis might be out of a job come next month at Baskin’s feet too."
"What the hell has Otis ever done to him?"
"He helped out Bart Stiegel with some paperwork. Read some things through for him and advised him not to sign. That was enough. All it took was a few whispers and some filth spread about his parentage…"
"That just…that just doesn't make sense." Emmanuel's head felt as if it might explode. "He's lived here his whole life. The people know him."
"Who knows what people say in the privacy of their own homes. I know you think everybody loved Caleb and Jacob when they were here but, believe me, it wasn't always so. There were plenty of folks around here who would have gladly seen the back of them. And those folks bred, and their bigot children had children of their own and didn't move away."
"All right," Emmanuel said, spreading his hands wide to cover his knees while he tried to get a hold of himself. "All right. So Baskin is a crook, tricking farmers into taking out loans they can't afford in order to buy up their land cheap and sell it to his friends, trying to get rid of anyone who stands in his way." Everyone in the room nodded solemnly. "Is that why Asher…Marshal Franklin is here?"
The ripple of amusement at his awkwardness wasn't as subtle as he'd have liked, but it made Asher smile as he leaned forward, so Emmanuel didn't scowl too hard. "There was an incident a while back. A small town in Michigan, a bank set up shop, within months the place is taken over by a mining company. All the original occupants were either dead or cleared out. A few people looked into it but it was hard to prove anything. The man behind the scheme went by a different name but from the descriptions, it sure as hell sounds like Baskin."
"There's a warrant out?" Emmanuel's frustration peaked when Asher nodded. "So why haven't you arrested him yet?"
"Because I need to be able to prove they're one and the same. I can't do that overnight. That's why I'm here. If I can find some connection to what happened in Keweenaw County, then I can take him in." Asher took a deep breath and sat back. "But first we've got to deal with this assembly."
"Which is about?"
Several people opened their mouths to speak but Michael got there first. "It's a town meeting. One which has been kept on the down-low to keep certain people away."
"Certain people being the ones in this room," Seth added, low.
Michael looked embarrassed but went on. "Baskin wants to try to break up the co-op. Force the Feed and Seed out of business so farmers have to take out loans to buy equipment and whatever for themselves. Because you all have been helping everyone out, it's taking much longer than he thought it would to get what he came for. Baskin wants to force Seth out of business so he can step in."
"Can he do that? Is that something that could happen?" Emmanuel looked to Seth and Jonathon, feeling suddenly anxious. Seeing the small smile on their faces didn't so much reassure him as make him more uneasy about what might be coming.
"He might be able to," Seth said. "If it weren't for the one thing he wasn't counting on."
Emmanuel didn't bother to ask what that might be as his cousin's eyes flicked over to the end of the couch where his father had been sitting quietly since they'd sat down to talk.
Josiah didn't look at all worried. He wasn't particularly relaxed either, or rather he looked serious, which didn't sit well on his face. Taking a breath, he seemed reluctant to speak, until he looked Emmanuel in the eye. "When you asked me about the town deeds and what we did and didn't own when I saw you at Violet and Duke’s, I was already looking into it. Or rather I had the lawyers looking into it." He sounded almost guilty for having blown off Emmanuel's query when he'd mentioned the town deeds. Not guilty enough to apologize to him, his attention flitting between Seth and Asher before his brow furrowed. "Not sure it's going to do us any good though."
The disappointment in the room was palpable. "So there's nothing we can do?" Ephraim was almost pleading. "We can’t stall them much longer, Joe. And who kn
ows how long it'll take Asher to get enough to shut him down."
There was some discussion, a bit of to and fro, which amounted to nothing when everyone was talking over each other. It took a couple of attempts for Emmanuel to get himself heard, mostly as he was somewhat afraid to actually speak up.
"Maybe we don't have to shut him down," he said for the third time and the room fell quiet.
"What do you mean?" Asher leaned forward in his seat, giving him his full attention.
Emmanuel cleared his throat. "I mean, maybe we don't have to shut him down. Maybe we can play him at his own game."
"You want to swindle people?" He knew his mother was being deliberately obtuse, but he still sighed petulantly.
"No. I mean…Baskin has set up his bank to get what he wants. Why don't we do the same?"
"You can’t just set up a bank." Seth sounded dubious
"No. But we could start a credit union. It makes sense. With the co-op being run out of the Feed and Seed, why not make the loan system Grandpa Henry had formal. That way we can help the folks who need it and maybe stop Baskin from stripping the town dry."
"That—" Seth stopped and seemed to look into the far distance for a second to think. "That could work. It would be a hell of an investment though. I'm not sure we have the wherewithal."
"I can look at selling off some stock," Josiah said, pulling out his pocket book and pencil. "It might take some time to get the licensing and—"
"I, um…" Emmanuel cleared his throat. "I may have already wired Uncle Thaddeus about that."
"When did you do this?" Asher sounded surprised and strangely pleased.
"After the incident the other day," Emmanuel said softly. "I just wanted to see what our options were."
"And your first thought was to bankroll the entire county?
Emmanuel frowned. "Not the entire county. Just…a bit of it."
Asher huffed out a laugh and from the way his attention flicked down to Emmanuel's lips, there was little doubt they would have been kissing if it had been even vaguely appropriate.