Keegan's Lady Read Online Free PDF

demand that Patrick let you see our father's ledgers and journals so you might prove your stepfather was swindled and was innocent of Camlin Beckett's death. On the heels of that request, you made no secret of your belief that our father or one of his friends would be implicated in the murder instead!"
    When Keegan made no move to speak, Caitlin rushed on to add, "You've accused our father, of cold-bloodedly killing a man, Mr. Keegan! Just you think about that. True or false, it's a very serious indictment, and no matter what your personal opinion of Conor O'Shannessy may be, even you must admit it's a charge no dutiful son could let stand uncontested. Our father is no longer alive to defend himself. Naturally the boy has demanded a retraction and hates you for refusing to make one!"
    In a perfectly level voice, Keegan replied, "Four things, Miss O'Shannessy. Remember them well. The first is that I didn't twist your brother's arm to make him play poker that night. The minute he learned who I was, he started challenging me to play, not the other way around. I can only assume he believed he was lucky enough at cards to fleece me. It was his choice to put the deed to the Circle Star Ranch into the pot as part of his ante. I didn't suggest he do so, or in any way encourage it."
    He shifted his weight and resettled his hands at his hips. "Second, the things I've said about your father are the truth, not mere accusations. Third, it was not effrontery on my part to demand to see his ranch records, but an attempt to uncover evidence that would clear my stepfather's name. If your father and his friends were innocent of any wrongdoing, as you obviously believe, there would have been nothing in those records to implicate them. So why all the fuss? Were you and your brother afraid to let me see those records for some reason? Possibly because you feared I might actually find proof that my stepfather was innocent?"
    The question was one Caitlin had already asked herself, and the truth was, she believed Keegan's stepfather probably had been innocent. Whether or not Conor O'Shannessy had been stupid enough or careless enough to make entries in his ledgers and journals attesting to that, however, was another question entirely, and one she preferred not to address, not because she was afraid to learn the truth, but because she feared doing so might destroy her brother.
    Why couldn't this man understand that? Everyone had illusions, her brother's being that his father had been a basically good man whose personality was grossly altered by his consumption of whiskey. Sometimes self-deception was all that kept a person sane.
    Camlin Beckett's murder had occurred nearly twenty years ago. Joseph Paxton was long since dead, and her brother was still very much alive. As far as she was concerned, the truth, no matter how damning, had been buried with her father, and it should stay buried. What earthly difference did it make now if Paxton had been innocent? The facts wouldn't bring him back, nor would they undo what had happened. Ace Keegan could leave this place any time he chose and get on with his life. Patrick would have to live with the shame of a scandal until the day he died.
    As if he sensed she wasn't going to reply to his question, Keegan hauled in a deep breath and released it with a long sigh. "The last point I want to make, Miss O'Shannessy, is that your brother isn't a boy. He's a grown man. It's time he suffered the consequences of his actions. Maybe next time, he'll think twice before he gets trigger happy."
    "Next time?" Caitlin felt a hand on her arm. Believing it to be Hank's, she didn't jerk away. "If you hang him, there won't be a next time! Please. There must be another way to settle this. I will happily compensate you for the bull. How much did it cost you?"
    Keegan's mouth drew up at one corner in a humorless smile, his flashing teeth a startling white. "Three thousand, plus shipping."
    Caitlin's knees nearly buckled. "Three