Love's Last Gift (on hold)

Chapter 11

"When two soul mates are apart, they don't feel quite right;  it's as if something is missing.  When they are together, they feel at peace."  ~Shelly Wu

"Did you find her at the hotel?"

"No, Governor.  There was no Mrs.Vanderbilt at the hotel.  The desk clerk said she checked out yesterday morning."

"Did he know where she was heading?"

"I don't know, sir."

"Well, did you ask him?

"No, sir."

Clayton Ramsey turned slowly to glare at the young man who worked for him.  "Then go and ask him now, you idiot!"

The young man ran to the door and down the stairs.   "Why must everyone around me be such a disappointment and an obstacle to my goals.  All I've ever asked is that everyone around me simply be as diligent and as focused on what I want as I am."  He pinched the bridge of his nose in dismay.  "Is that asking too much, Milton?"

"Certainly not, Clayton,"

"You would think all these ruffians who work for me would be more grateful.  After all if it weren't for me granting them all amnesty and then giving them jobs they would all be in jail or living in squalor."

Dr. Graves handed the governor a glass of brandy.  "Here drink this and then I will give you some of my special tonic to sooth your nerves."

"Thank you, Milton.  You're the only one who understands me.  You and Bartholomew."  He turned the snifter of brandy up and drained half of its contents in one long swallow, then winced at the burning sensation in his throat.   Dr. Graves gave him a small shot glass with a clear liquid inside.   He swallowed it then chased it with the rest of the brandy.  "Why can't people just do as I ask them to do?  When they don't cooperate then they force me to do things that I don't want to do.  I'm not a bad person, Milton, really I'm not."

"Of course not, Clayton,"   the doctor said as he led the man he had known for twenty years to the bed in the apartment over his office.  "Now lie down and get some rest.  Things will look better in the morning."

"All I wanted was to create an heir.  Is that so wrong?  Obviously my son wasn't going to get the job done.  If she had only cooperated, then she would have been the mother of the heir of the president of the United States and she would never have wanted for anything.  Now she is forcing me to once again do something that I do not want to do.  When her outlaw lover ends up dead she will only have herself to blame, not me."

"Yes, Clayton.  You are right as always."

"Has anyone heard from my son?"

"The servants said he was not home when the fire started.  But no one knows where he is."

"Pity really.  If he had been lost in the fire it might have worked to my advantage.  I could have had those two on murder charges instead of attempted murder and I definitely would have gained many sympathy votes from the public."   His eye lids were growing heavy.   "Then his existence wouldn't have been a total waste.  Milton, I still want to go ahead with my plans to create that heir.  So don't leave town until I have Evangeline back."

"I won't Clayton.  I'll be here to look after things."

 "But what about my daughter?"

"Megan is being taken care of properly.  And Bartholomew is on the trail of your daughter-in-law.  Don't worry about a thing."   Dr. Graves took the empty glass from his sleeping benefactor's slack hand.   "There, there, Clayton.  All your secrets are safe with me.  Of course it will continue to cost you to keep them that way."  He poured himself a glass of the expensive brandy and lit one of Clayton's choice cigars.   He settled onto the velvet covered sofa and propped his feet upon the arm.  A broad smile covered his face.  "And after learning that your beautiful young conquest is heiress to a fortune herself,  I think my price just went up."