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his home taken from him without the slightest warning, he did not doubt that Elijah would have taken it even if he hadn’t shown up here and so conveniently offered him a pound of flesh.

    The thought of losing his home was the only thing that kept him here and kept him listening to that hateful, controlling man. He probably had enough money and influence to do what he claimed. Men like him never made empty threats. If I ever get near Katrina, I will strangle her with my bare hands. He punctuated his last thought by slamming his fist on the dresser top.

    “Be careful, you’ll hurt yourself.” Elijah’s voice was deep and soft, but it still startled Will. He hadn’t heard Elijah enter. Will turned and saw that he, too, had changed and was now wearing black pants and an off-white pullover. “I knocked, but apparently you didn’t hear me,” he said, explaining why he entered Will’s room without permission. “If you’re ready,” he said, “I will escort you to dinner.”

    Will nodded and said, “I’m ready.” Dinner , he thought to himself. I can’t even begin to imagine what awaits me there .

    Eli approached him, and with a hand on Will’s lower back, ushered him out of the room. “Is your room satisfactory?” he asked as they descended the staircase.

    “Yes, it’s very nice.” Eli was being the perfect host, so attentive. This was something Will had not at all expected. Here’s something you don’t see every day: a rough, powerful Western rancher leading another man to dinner. What am I, a debutante? He kept his hand firmly placed on Will’s back as if he really cared about his comfort. His behavior was a little puzzling. “I would like to talk with you further about… my situation, when you have time?” Will asked.

    “Of course,” he answered very politely. “After dinner.”

    “Thank you.”

    Elijah was surprised by Will’s sudden complacent attitude, but he wasn’t completely buying it, either. Will was a very handsome and astute young man. Eli looked forward to figuring him out. Is he the cold, callous designer of Katrina’s plan? Or is he who he claims to be, just an innocent bystander? It will take time, but I will find out the truth. There was a lot more to Will than met the eye or the ear. He was tough and guarded, but there was warmth and depth to him, which intrigued him. Will claimed to have had no communication with his sister in the last two years, yet he still came to help her when she called.

    On a more carnal note, he also appreciated how good he smelled, how nicely Will’s upper body filled out the white, cotton shirt and navy blue sweater, and how his strong back muscles felt against Elijah’s hand. Katrina was a very tiny, delicate girl who gambled everything on looks and her figure. She was the type of girl that some men, including Martin, found attractive. Eli, on the other hand, never cared much for the female form; he preferred a well-proportioned, strong, healthy man who knew what he wanted out of life and was more than capable of getting it. He looked down at Will, walking so stiff and careful beside him, and wondered, Who are you?

    When they entered the dining room, there sat a young man at the long dining table. He was drinking from a stemmed glass and reading. He quickly set the papers aside when he saw them. This man was tall, but not as tall as Elijah. His body was muscular and lean. His hair was light brown, slightly wavy, and a little longer than Elijah’s. Apart from those differences, the family resemblance was obvious. Overall, he was a very good-looking young man. He smiled and stood up when he saw Will.

    “You must be William,” he said warmly. His voice lacked that deep, thunderous quality of his brother’s. He shook Will’s hand and asked about his trip. Will felt rather awkward standing there between them as if he were a welcome guest.

    “This is my brother, Martin,” Elijah stated. He then seated Will to his right, he took the