Free Lilac Temptress by Elizabeth Davis Page A

on so diligently, and
walked to the Casa Bayou Inn lobby.
    When seeing a young boy sweeping the
floor, he offered him money to tend to his mare for the remaining
time that he was in town. He had recently bought this horse for
this business trip, and couldn’t sell the difficult animal in New
Iberia if it were not well cared for, which was his plan. The boy
agreed happily, and Drake paid him for the first day. “I’ll get
right to it sir,” Drake heard the boy excitedly say as he scurried
to obey.
    Exiting the inn, Drake strolled toward
the tavern, soon entering through its swinging doors. The place was
almost empty, apart from three men gathered around a table, playing
cards that for a split second glanced back at him. Uninterested in
Drake, the men turned their attention back to their
game.
    Drake grinned, catching sight of the
crimson-haired woman. Her back faced him while she stood on a stool
behind the counter.
    An attractive young man handed her
gleaming bottles of brandy, scotch, and whiskey. She carefully
placed them on high shelves. The strong resemblance between Sierra
and the young man prompted Drake to recall their conversation about
her brother, Kyle.
    Kyle turned his head, finding a brawny
man standing in the bar’s entrance. “Can I get you a drink, sir?”
Kyle called out in a friendly voice.
    “ No, no drink,” Drake
replied.
    Sierra dropped a bottle of brandy at
the sound of the familiar voice. As the bottle shattered, she
turned, startled to find Drake standing at the entrance. He watched
her intently with those amazing blue eyes that she remembered so
well.
    He made a handsome picture, wearing a
black morning coat with a waistcoat cut from the same cloth, and
trousers of a lighter russet shade. His smile caused a cool wave to
ripple through her body as she stared back at him enthralled.
“What... why... I thought you left town,” she spoke
softly.
    Drake didn’t hear her words, however,
Kyle did.
    “ You didn’t tell me you met
an outsider,” Kyle glared at Sierra.
    The loud shattering of brandy brought
William rushing out of the back, and before Sierra could respond to
Kyle, William asked, “Sierra honey, you still dropping bottles
from—?” he caught himself once he noticed Drake, and stared at him,
his eyes ablaze. “Mr. McCalister—I thought I advised you and your
friend to leave town.”
    Intrigued by the ensuing conversation,
the men previously embroiled in their game turned their heads with
sudden interest.
    “ You never let me be heard,
Mr. Hunter. I have a fine offer to make you,” Drake stated firmly.
“One that I’m sure you won’t want to pass up, sir.”
    “ Frankly, I don’t care
about any offers. I don’t need anymore than I already have,”
William scoffed.
    It was clear to Drake that William
didn’t like him. “Mr. Hunter, if you would give me just five
minutes of your time, I will make my offer. If you don’t accept,
I’ll leave town immediately afterward.”
    “ And your friend?” William
asked, lifting his brow skeptically.
    “ My partner left this
morning.”
    “ And you stayed so that you
could cut some sort of deal with me that I have already refused?
You are an overconfident man, Mr. McCalister.” William didn’t trust
him.
    “ Indeed, and I intend to
walk out of here with a deal,” Drake stated plainly.
    William puffed. He would enjoy turning
down this arrogant man. “You’ve got your five minutes. Start
talking.” He walked to one of the round wooden tables, and motioned
Drake to join him.
    Drake recalled what Sierra had told
him about William, which gave rise to his resentment of him.
William needed her, Sierra had said, although her displeasure at
how he detained her in Jadesville angered her. But Drake couldn’t
think about that now. He needed to remain levelheaded. He had
business to carry out.
    “ Some tribes adamantly
refuse to abandon the nearby parishes. Uprisings occur frequently.
We both know your treaty with the natives won’t