Chapter Thirty-Six

After dinner, Adam carried their bags to their bedroom while Jim and Micah spoke about the legal papers in the main room.

Sitting on the side of the bed, Shiloh untied her scarf, and then pulled her boots off. Sucking in air as she pulled the right one off, she rubbed her ankle before she removed her sock. Adam heard the sound she made and was in front of her on his knees in an instant.

Taking her foot in his hands, he said, "Let me see," then pulled her sock off. "Your ankle is hot. The only reason it's not swollen is because your boot constricted it."

"It doesn't hurt that badly, but I wonder if I'll be able to get my foot in my shoe tomorrow."

"We'll have to wait and see. I might have to leave you here while I go deal with the courthouse. I think Evelyn will be disappointed, though. She likes you."

Taking a deep breath and smiling, Shiloh stood on her left foot and began to unbutton her skirt. "I'll make it…somehow. Where are we staying?"

"We'll be at the Lick House again."

"That's an awfully fancy hotel, Adam. Why there?"

"Because they don't let just anyone up on their third floor, remember? I don't want you overrun by curious people." Adam steadied her while she took off her skirt, then took it and her blouse and hung them in the wardrobe. He untied her corset and waited for the rest of her under things which he draped over a chair.

"Would you bring my brush?" she said, pointing to a small bag on the dressing table. "If I'm at Maguire's it shouldn't be a problem."

"We have to get you to Maguire's, so people will know you're there. I thought you could go with Micah and me if we find some mining equipment for sale." Surrounding her with his arms, he pulled her against him. "All that depends on what your ankle looks like in the morning," he said, gazing lovingly at her while she brushed her hair.

Smiling up at him, she said, "It really doesn't hurt that badly."

He bent and kissed her nose, then her mouth as she moved her hands up his chest and over his shoulders. He moved away slightly and said, "We'll see," then kissed her again as he lifted her against him and moved her backward toward the bed. She was smiling up at him as he took her brush and tucked her in. "Go to sleep. I want you well rested in the morning."

He bent to kiss her one more time and as he was rising, she grabbed his ears and met his eyes with hers. "Adam?"

"Hm?"

"I love you."

Sitting back down, he tenderly kissed her again. "I love you, too. Good night."

Closing the door quietly behind him, he went back to the sitting room and joined Micah and Jim. Jim had already poured Adam a glass of whiskey and handed it to him as he sat down. "Micah was just telling me about his and Shiloh's meeting with Crocker yesterday."

"Yeah, Adam. Where'd she learn to talk business like that? She didn't learn that from Dad."

Adam snorted. "I'm sure she learned some of it from Amos, but she did go to college."

"They don't teach that in college. She was comfortable. She had Crocker eating out of her hand."

Chuckling, Adam said, "Well, she had already impressed Crocker before that. She gets her confidence from performing, and I'm sure a good bit of it just comes naturally. Did you know she took law courses while she was in New York just so she could understand contracts?"

Micah looked at his whiskey and shook his head. "I've been watching her for years yet I don't know her anymore."

"That's not really true," said Adam. "She's the same girl. She's always been intelligent from when she was very young. She's always been stubborn, and she's always had a temper. She inherited her musical talent from your mother. She just needed the right direction. And there's one more thing you probably don't know."

"What else?" asked Micah, still staring at his glass.

"She remembers everything she reads." Micah was expressionless. "I'm serious."

"It's true, Micah," said Jim. "When she was here in March, we were going over her performance contracts. I had several examples, and she read all of them and quoted me verbatim what parts of each she wanted to use in her contracts. She'd just close her eyes and spout."

Setting his glass on a table, Micah clasped his hands, covering his mouth and mumbling. "My kid sister. Who'd a thought?"

Adam watched Micah for a moment before he changed the subject. "Jim, how long will it take you to change the paperwork for the ranch and the subsidiary for the mine. I'd like to sign those before we leave so we can file them here and then again in Virginia City."

"It should only take a few days. I can have them finished before you get back from San Francisco."

"Good. I'll probably spend two days at the courthouse site. I don't know yet if the mayor will request a meeting, and Micah and I are going to purchase some mining equipment if there's any to be had in the city. I also need to talk to George Hearst."

"Hearst? What about, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Apparently, his company owns the property just north of the ridge where we found a rich vein of silver and some gold. Do you remember someone trying to sell the Flying W out from under Shiloh and that business with Sam King?" Jim nodded. "We found where Sam got the ore he had assayed. There's a shallow shaft at the base of the ridge. On the other side, there's another shallow shaft. I had rocks from both sides assayed. There's nothing on the other side. It's all on the Flying W side, and that means that someone took ore from the Flying W side, had it assayed and claimed it was from the other side of the ridge. Hearst bought that property based on that assay. I think whoever turned in the assay was planning to tunnel through to our side of the ridge. Hearst needs to know what he bought into."

"What do you think he'll do?" asked Jim.

"I'm hoping he'll tell me the name of the broker that sold him that property. Then maybe we can trace it back to whoever was responsible for trying to sell the Flying W."

"If you can get the name, I can help with some research. Sometimes these investment firms hide assets behind layers of companies. It takes some persistence to weed through them all, but it can be done."

"If I find out anything from Hearst, I'll let you know. Now, if you gentlemen will excuse me, we have a long ride tomorrow and a busy afternoon after that." Micah stood with him. "Shiloh's ankle was bothering her tonight. I may have her stay behind while Micah and I go into San Francisco."

Smiling, Jim stood and said, "She's always welcome to stay here. If she does, I'll make sure she's well cared for."

"I know you will," said Adam, nodding.

"Before I turn in, I'm going to check on the horses," said Micah. "Don't wait up. I'll find my way."

Adam turned toward the bedroom. "Good night, gentlemen."