Read Covington, Cara - Love Under Two Lawmen [The Lost Collection] (Siren Menage Everlasting) for Free Online

eager to tear into their gifts on Christmas morning.” Sarah rolled her eyes, then looked at Amanda. “It would appear these men will not rest until you share your legacy,” she said.
    “The book is in my carpet bag,” Amanda said. “I’ll go get it.”
     
    * * * *   
     
    Warren loved seeing Adam excited.
    He didn’t have the same connection to the gold as the others did. He’d been a clerk in the War Department and hadn’t faced the same dangers as his lover and their friends. But their excitement infected him. No longer content to just sit on the sidelines, he got up from his chair to stand behind Adam and read over his shoulder.
    Adam wanted to begin at the start of the journal, of course, and read chronologically.
    “Here, listen to this.” He looked up at Warren for a moment before casting his gaze back to the yellowed page before him.
    “I knew as soon as I saw him that Jeff was deeply troubled. He said nothing as he poured two glasses of whisky. He offered me one, then gestured to the chair, impatience on his face.
    ‘We were friends before I came into this accursed office, Bill,’ he said. ‘Now I am about to leave it, and the broth of failure is a bitter brew indeed.’
    ‘We stood nobly against the forces of Northern aggression,’ I assured him. ‘We did our best. There should be no shame in that.’
    ‘But there is, and nothing more I can do on that front. I’ve called you here for a specific reason. I’ve arranged for the rest of our monetary reserves to be gathered together, and I will leave Richmond in accompaniment of the shipment. We gave our word to the French we would repay their loan, win or lose. If our struggle, our suffering, is to stand for anything, then our word must be honored.’
    ‘Of course.’ There was no question of this in my mind whatsoever. Apparently, though, there had been great discussion amongst members of the cabinet. They felt the gold should be kept here, some desiring to use it to rebuild after the devastation of war, others to set aside against a future day when we could resume our crusade. And others wanted the money for themselves. It was this last group Jeff feared would have their way, for they had already departed for Savannah, even now conspiring to liberate the shipment before it reached the docks. Clearly, action needed to be taken.
    “I understood what Jeff was asking of me. I would need help, and of course there was only one man I would consider having by my side and at my back. So I took my good friend Robert into my confidence and told him of this one final duty to our country and our president.”
    “That has to be Robert Montgomery,” Joshua said.
    Amanda nodded. “Yes, it was.” When all gazes looked at her, she shrugged. “Sorry. I have read the journal several times. I almost have it memorized.”
    “Well, hush,” Adam said.
    Warren smiled, even as he noted that Sarah looked nearly aghast. Amanda, though, just chuckled. Her cheeks took on a bit of pink, and he was reminded how appealing she was when his cock stirred to life.
    Thank God he was standing behind Adam so no one would notice.
    Adam continued to read.
    “Robert and I chose but a few men, men who’d served with us faithfully . The President acted upon my suggestion and placed Captain Billy Parker, one of our best naval officers, in charge of the expedition that was to escort the gold. We waited until dusk, and then the ten of us, dressed as plain, common farmers, stole into the campsite and surrounded the officers. As I had hoped, Billy recognized me. He immediately ordered his men to stand down and to lower their eyes.
    “From the moment we made ourselves known until we were leading the wagons away, not even a half hour had passed.”
    Adam stopped and looked over at Caleb. “You questioned Captain Parker, didn’t you?”
    “I did. He swore that the bandits got the drop on him, ordered him to tell his men—they were not much more than boys, if memory serves—to