Beloved Counterfeit Read Online Free PDF Page A

the price.”
    “Sit down, Micah,” Josiah said. “That’s not it at all. The Seminole are too busy up north to come hunting for blood down here.”
    “Josiah’s right.” Caleb turned his attention to the window that looked out on the docks and the ocean beyond. “And so far they’ve been more inclined to strike where there are fewer who can fight them.” He glanced back at Micah. “At least for now.”
    Micah shook his head, impatient for his turn to speak. Already the idea of confessing didn’t settle well in his gut.
    “You’ll like this, Micah,” Josiah said. “So keep quiet until you’ve heard it all.”
    “It’s simple, really.” Caleb reached for the handle of the topmost desk drawer and slid it open. “I’ve got a commission here that I’m prepared to offer you. Captain of the Fairweather Key Militia. Doesn’t pay much, but a boat and plenty of free time to preach or farm or do whatever you please comes with the salary.” He shrugged. “Unless the Seminole decide to pay us a visit. Then you’d be plenty busy.”
    “Fairweather Key Militia?” Micah took the paper from Caleb but did not bother to read it before letting the correspondence fall to the desktop. Whether this opportunity was from God or the devil, he couldn’t be sure.
    “You’ve got the wrong man.”
    Caleb rose. “I’m rarely one hundred percent certain of anything, Micah, but this time I’ve got no doubt I have exactly the right man. You’re a natural leader. I’ve seen it for myself out on the reef and in my warehouses. You’ve had chance after chance to do the wrong thing and profit from it, yet I’ve never seen you do anything but make honorable choices.”
    Honorable choices. Any other man would’ve busted his buttons at such a compliment. For Micah, it only deepened his shame.
    “He’s right,” Josiah added. “We didn’t exactly start off on the right foot. Remember when I took the Caroline to go back to my sinking ship and find Isabelle when the others refused to? You ended up the only man who would stand up to Judge Campbell and fight to free me from jail, and you were the one I stole the boat from.”
    Micah shrugged and decided to lighten the mood with humor. “Some days I have to wonder if that was such an honorable thing.”
    Josiah gave him a good-natured jab. “And my wife would likely agree.”
    “In all seriousness,” Caleb said, “I’m being pressured to provide the name of a man who will take on the organization and training of men to protect the island in case of Seminole attack. Emilie’s got her heart set on a trip to Santa Lucida, so this issue must be settled today.”
    “Then pick Josiah. He’s a better man for the job than me.”
    “I’ll not argue the point of which is the fittest for duty.” Caleb nodded toward Josiah. “But I also doubt there would be much happiness in the Carter household should I name Josiah to that role and keep him from accompanying his wife to Santa Lucida.”
    “She’s been looking forward to meeting the woman who has become Emilie’s substitute mother,” Josiah said.
    “Yes,” Micah said carefully, “I see the dilemma.”
    “Then we’re agreed.” Caleb returned to his seat. “All that remains is for me to send word to Washington that I’ve found my man.”
    Micah swiped at the beads of sweat gathering on his brow despite the November chill. How easy it would be to take on that role, to accept the vessel that would take him out of his job at the warehouse and back onto the open ocean.
    He’d carried on the ruse of being an upright citizen for all these years. What were the chances he’d ever be found out?
    Yet God knew.
    He had always known.
    And loved Micah anyway.
    “I’ve done as you asked and listened to your proposal,” he said to Caleb. “Now I’d like the same in return.”
    Caleb’s nod gave him the go-ahead to speak, yet Micah found his voice would not come. Twice he cleared his throat, but the words refused to dislodge.