Page 68 of Once More, My Darling Rogue
The door opened and a large bruiser of a man entered. “Gregory said you wanted to see me.”
“Yes.” He waved the man in. “I want to introduce you to Morris.”
Morris’s head didn’t reach the bruiser’s chin. “Morris, meet Goliath.”
Morris chuckled, revealing two rotten teeth that Drake wished he’d knocked out of the man’s mouth.
“That ain’t really ’is name.”
“Probably not, but it’s what we call him around here. Notice his hands. How large and strong they are. He’s going to become your shadow.”
“Me shadow?”
“That’s right. The next time you take a whip to a horse, he’ll be there. He’s going to count each lash against horseflesh. When you’re done, he’s going to take those incredible hands of his, ball them into fists, and introduce them to your face as many times as you struck the horse. I daresay he’s going to eventually destroy those good looks of yours.” A generous assessment of the man’s features considering he closely resembled a toad.
Morris paled. “That ain’t fair.”
“Of course it is. You have a choice here, which is more than you gave the beast today. Either lighten the load of your wagon or use more horses to pull the weight, but stop abusing them.”
“It’s because of that bitch—”
Drake came up slowly, menacingly. Morris must have recognized his error as well as the fury that was no doubt glinting in Drake’s eyes because he quickly took three steps back. “I’ll stop ’urtin’ me ’orses.”
“Good.”
Slouching, Morris slipped in and scraped the coins on the desk into his hands. “I’ll be off now.”
“You should know that you probably won’t see Goliath keeping watch, but rest assured he’ll be there, because I don’t like you, Morris.”
“Don’t think much of you either.”
“That bothers me not in the least.”
Morris scurried out like the rodent he was.
“Do you really want me to follow him?” Goliath asked.
With a sigh and shake of his head, Drake dropped back into his chair. “He’s a bully. The threat is no doubt enough.”
“That’s good ’cuz I’m not much good at counting.” He gave Drake a pointed look. “And I don’t hit. You know that.”
Drake grinned. Goliath was a giant of a man, but a gentle one. “Morris doesn’t have my inside knowledge.”
Goliath indicated the untouched glass of whiskey on the edge of the desk. “May I?”
“Absolutely.”
Goliath took it in that large paw that Drake had used to intimidate Morris and tossed back the amber liquid. He smacked his lips. “So who’s the bird?”
Drake stiffened. “I beg your pardon?”
“What do you care if he abuses his horses? You’re doing this to get the attention of some lady.”
“A rather inept ploy considering she’s not here to witness my good deed.”
“Perhaps.” He set down the glass. “I’d best get back to the kitchen. A good many hungry lords tonight.”
“I’m going to be leaving for a while. Pack up some dinner that I can take with me.” He cleared his throat. “Enough for two.”
