Read Lily (Song of the River) for Free Online Page B

talking about, Jean Luc?”
    “I’m sure I haven’t the slightest idea.” Jean Luc dropped back into his dining chair. “Mr. Matthews must have me confused with someone else.”
    The genial host he vaguely remembered from the night before had disappeared. In his place stood an angry volcano. Mr. Matthews took two long strides toward the table, his hand reaching for something in the inside pocket of his coat. Was he going to shoot him here in his family’s home?
    The gambler pulled out a sheet of paper and held it in front of Jean Luc. “Are you going to deny this IOU?”
    Jean Luc opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
    His father stalked over and grabbed the piece of paper. “What is this?” His eyes perused the short statement. “It says that you have sworn to turn over the deed to the
Hattie Belle
in lieu of the debt you owe Mr. Matthews.” He balled up the paper and tossed it on the table.
    All three men watched as it bounced off the edge of Jean Luc’s dinner plate and rolled toward a pair of lit candles in the center of the table.
    “That paper has your son’s signature on it. And I have half a dozen witnesses who will verify he signed without any duress. He was certain he held the winning hand, but alas, the cards were against him.”
    “You were against me, you mean.” Jean Luc could hear the note of panic in his voice. He cleared his throat and looked at his father. Papa’s face had aged ten years in ten minutes. A stabbing pain of remorse shot through him. But it was too late for remorse. He would bluff his way through this. Surely his father would believe his word over that of some stranger. “I don’t owe this man anything.”
    “Did you go to his gambling hall last night?”
    “Yes, but—”
    His father pointed a finger toward the note. “Did someone else sign that or force you to?”
    Reluctantly, Jean Luc shook his head.
    More color drained from his father’s face. “Go upstairs and get the deed.”
    “But Papa, the game was fixed.”
    A sound from Mr. Matthews indicated he was ready to defend himself. Jean Luc’s father turned toward him. “I apologize for my son. He has no excuse for his words or his behavior.”
    “You don’t have to apologize for him. Jean Luc is a grown man.”
    “Apparently he’s more immature than I had hoped.” Papa turned back to him. “Get—the—deed. Now!”
    The last word propelled Jean Luc from his chair. He practically ran from the room, his humiliation complete. How could he have been so stupid? How could he have gambled away the first thing his father had entrusted to him? How would he ever make up for his colossal error?
    The questions chased him upstairs and circled in his mind as he unlocked the box. Hot tears blurred the words on the deed. He wiped them away with an angry hand before they could fall on the paper. He would be a man about this.
    Jean Luc considered several scenarios. Could he claim the deed had disappeared or been stolen? No one would believe such a coincidence. Besides, since Blake had the IOU, he could force Jean Luc to have an attorney draft a new deed.
    He had to give the deed over to the nefarious gambler tonight, but he would find a way to get it back. He had been cheated. None of the provincials in this backwater town could have defeated him honestly. He had played in some of the best gaming halls in France, and he’d never had such ill luck.
    He had hoped to have a few days to find out how he’d been cheated, but that was not to be. He had to temporarily admit defeat. But one day he would prove his suspicions and wrest his property back from Blake Matthews. He would do whatever was necessary, no matter how difficult. He would once again bask in the glory of his father’s approval. On the day he succeeded, he would make Mr. Matthews pay for his humiliation. On that day, he would put his boot on Mr. Matthew’s neck and make him scream for mercy. On that day, everything would be right again.
    Halting steps brought