Loving an Outlaw by Kristen Iten

Author:Kristen Iten [Iten, Kristen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-05-19T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

Two middle-aged men sat across from each other in a small office that smelled of stale tobacco and sweat. Neither man knew exactly what to make of the other. They secretly sized each other up.

“And what kind of influence could you possibly hope to exert that will convince her to leave with me?” Doctor William Price leaned back in the same chair that Abigail had sat in the day before. His thumbs rested in his gray vest pockets. He puffed his small chest out and continued speaking with a voice that grated on his companion’s ears. “Miss Dodd made her opinion of you quite clear this morning.”

James Penlapp placed his elbows on the desk in front of him. His fingers formed a steeple, and he leaned forward wearing a steely expression on his face. “I believe the same thing could be said about you.” A smile bereft of all kindness appeared on his face.

Price cleared his throat and mumbled something inaudible.

“We can either sit here and trade jabs all day, or we can come to an arrangement,” said Penlapp. “I want the property. You want Miss Dodd. Those two objectives work hand in hand and so must we.”

“I still don’t see how you’re going to convince that stiff necked child to sell, much less leave with me. She is infuriatingly obstinate.”

“My good doctor, do you know how I got my start in banking?”

Dr. Price looked at Penlapp with dull, unblinking eyes.

“Evictions. I specialized in evictions in my early years back east. Let us just say …” Penlapp paused for effect. “The talent has never fully left me.”

“I presume you are referring to evicting individuals who were delinquent on their payments to the bank,” said Price. “I don’t see how that skill is of any use in this situation. It doesn’t matter how much talent—as you call it—you have in such matters. The fact remains that you cannot evict a person from a property they own free and clear. You told me yourself that the bank does not hold a mortgage on the property.”

“You let me handle that end of the bargain. All I need is assurance from you that when she is ready to go, you will sell to me.”

“Why are you so interested in getting your hands on that property?” Price ventured.

The creases in Penlapp’s forehead deepened as his brows drew together in a scowl. “My reasons are my own. Do we have a deal or don’t we?”

“Of course. I don’t want that land. All I’m interested in is the money,” said Price with a wave of his hand.

Penlapp let out a hearty laugh. “Now, we’re getting to the heart of the matter.” He slapped his desk, rattling the contents of the top drawer. “You need her money.” The gold chain of his pocket watch jingled as his round belly continued to shake with laughter.

Price stiffened in his chair, dabbing his face with a neatly folded handkerchief. “Need is a rather extreme word for it.” He made a great show of placing the handkerchief back in his breast pocket and positioning it just so.

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