He kissed her tenderly, and she melted against him. Tomorrow she would be a bride and a wife. She could scarcely draw breath. After tomorrow, they would never have to part again. Never leave to go to their separate houses. Never be alone.

“They aren’t going to change their minds,” the man declared as Theodore Sedgwick sipped his whiskey. “Are they?”

“Not at this late date,” Theo admitted. “However, we can still make it costly to them. Perhaps if we plan it right, it will even be financially disastrous.” He had always seen this as the prized goal anyway. He didn’t care whether Duluth or Superior got the railroad. Not really. It would have pleased him to see Duluth fail because that would hurt his father, but he honestly didn’t care.

What he wanted was for Luke Carson’s name and reputation to be destroyed. Now that Luke’s father was in town, Theo had even tried to figure out a way to harm the old man as well. After all, it had been his bank Rafael had embezzled from and the elder Carson who had pressed the charges to the utter limit of the law. If there was a way to destroy father and son, that would be perfectly satisfying.

“We can do nothing about the railroad. Cooke has that sewn up, and despite our having swayed a good number of congressmen to see things our way, money is what will always move railroads. However, we’ve another matter to consider. The canal.”

Theodore knew the man who was speaking only by reputation. They’d never been formally introduced, nor did he imagine they would be. The man had no interest in someone of Theo’s lowly status, unless of course that someone could actually accomplish something. Theodore had failed in his eyes, and that made him less than useful to the likes of this politician.

If Theodore could figure out a way to put an end to the canal plans, then perhaps the politician might have other uses for him. After all, Theodore’s quest for revenge against Luke and his father wouldn’t last forever. He’d ruin those two or kill them. Maybe both. Either way, he would still need powerful friends in the future.

Chapter 21

At breakfast the next morning, Luke was more than a little excited. “Pastor Sedgwick said to come to the church at seven tonight. He will marry us then. Mrs. Sedgwick said she’d even invite a few of your closest friends to witness the occasion, and there will be a little reception afterward.”

“It sounds like a simple affair is growing more elaborate,” Gloriana said, glancing at her brother. “JT, are you feeling all right?”

He shrugged. “I’m tired.” He cut into his pancake and said nothing more.