“Where’s that son-in-law of yours these days? He still running from the law? Damn, but he’s the fastest gunslinger I’ve ever seen work! Took ole Jed Langley without a blink, by God, and Jed’s the fastest around. Or was. Got hisself killed a while back, plugged in the back by some cowpuncher he pushed just a bit too hard. Had a temper, Langley did. I always knew he’d end up dead instead of making old bones.”

Irritated, the senator managed to say coolly, “I have no idea where Morgan is at this moment. We don’t keep in touch.”

“No? Well, he gets around, that’s for sure. Thought you might be meeting him here, since your daughter’s arrived. Wheeoo! I don’t mind sayin’, Morgan has good taste when it comes to women! Damn, I thought that Italian gal was a looker until I saw your daughter. She’s a beauty!”

Brandon felt his face freeze into a polite smile that he hoped masked his surprise at finding out Virginia was in San Antonio.

“So you’ve run into Virginia?”

“Senator, I had to stop myself falling off the sidewalk tryin’ to get close to her! Lord, those green eyes and that red hair—like a cloud, by God!” He chortled. “That’s about as fanciful as I get, though I wouldn’t mind giving Morgan a run for his money for that one!”

A trickle of sweat dribbled down under his high collar, and he fought the urge to swear. If Virginia was here, then Steve was no doubt close by. It could be very awkward!

While Shanghai Pierce talked about Virginia, Brandon busily constructed a plausible reason for being in San Antonio. It would never do to allow Steve Morgan to know too much about his plans. He knew too much as it was. Damn him! Why was he here?

It wouldn’t have made Brandon feel much better to know that Steve was wondering the same thing.

Just his luck, Steve thought, to ride into trouble again. He should have sent Ginny on to his grandfather’s despite her objections. Now there were bound to be problems he hadn’t anticipated.

Most of all, with Ginny.

“Did you know she was going to be here?” Ginny eyed him skeptically. “Is that why you wanted me to go elsewhere?”

“Don’t jump to conclusions, Ginny. I had no idea that Francesca would be here. San Antonio is not exactly the kind of place she likes to visit.”

“Ah, I’d forgotten. The great Signorina di Paoli seems to prefer singing in London or Paris…yet here she is. What a wretched coincidence!”

“Believe it or not, it is a coincidence. In case you’ve forgotten, I’ve been out of touch lately.”