The Duke's Dark Secret (Historical Victorian Romance) by Emily Brant Read Free Book Online

though he’d told a particularly good joke.
                  The heavy-set woman who had served Louisa came out of the kitchen and put her hands on her hips. “What is it now, Frank? You know I’ve still got a customer.”
                  “Seems like that’s part of the problem, isn’t it.” The man took a chair from a table and sat down in it in the middle of the restaurant. His two companions idly strolled around as though looking for something to break, Louisa mused. “You’ve still got a customer. A very pretty one, by the look of her. But that shouldn’t be any more, now should it? I offered you a nice little bit of money to clear on out and yet here you are and here we are.”
                  “And who are you?” Louisa asked, suddenly feeling very cross. She packed up her letter and things in a hurry, just in case things became nasty.
     
                  But Frank simply ignored her. “You need to get on out of here Gertie. Take the money today. When I make you an offer, you’d best take it. The other option… well, you’re not going to like the other option. The boys might, won’t you?”
                  The man with the beard reached over casually and overturned one of the tables. “I would, Frank.”
                  Gertie cried out and began to wave her fists angrily. “Frank Durant, you get out of my restaurant before I call the sheriff!”
                  “Sheriff Tate? He doesn’t care much what I do.” Frank yawned. “We have us an understanding, don’t you know? I’m an upright business owner, bring in a lot of business for this town. You… business ain’t so good anyhow.”
                  Gertie huffed and returned to the kitchen.
                  “Well, that sounds like a no, boys. That’s too bad. You may want to leave here, Miss.” He said, standing up. “Hate for you to see things get ugly.”
                  “I will not.” Louisa folded her arms. She had no great loyalty to this place, but she’d made up her mind about Durant. “Someone needs to stand up to you bullies, and I intend to bear witness…”
                  “Witness?” Durant snickered, grabbed his chair, and flung it across the room. Louisa flinched. “Girl, you get on over to the Lucky Star and get yourself a job as a dancer. Or get on out of town. My girls don’t need competition from a pretty face like your own.”
                  She felt her fear rising, but stood her ground. “I’m going nowhere.”
     
                  When she’d made her declaration, she looked to the door which swung up at that moment. Jeb Bradford strolled in, holding a pair of six-shooters. “Seems to be a bit of ruckus here. Y’all raisin’ a ruckus?”
                  Frank Durant scowled. “This ain’t your affair, Jeb. You go poking your nose in another man’s business you’re going to be sorry. Or…” and here he smiled slightly. “You already forget what happened to that brother of yours?”
                  Jeb cocked the safety on each weapon. “You sure you want to raise that point with a gun pointed at your head, Frank?”
                  Durant put his hat back on his blonde head and grinned. “Good point. I’d hate to give Sheriff Tate a reason to hang you and miss out on all the fun. We’ll be back. You can’t save Gertie from all her problems, Jeb.”
                  Jeb stepped aside from the path of the doorway and waved. Frank and his pals left, casting menacing glances as they passed the man. “High-stakes game you’re playing, Jeb. Hope it’s worth it.”
                  Once they’d left, Gertie came out carrying a rifle she pointed towards the door. “Thanks, Jeb.” She offered with a smile. “Fetch you a coffee and bacon? On the