Kissing Comfort Read Online Free PDF Page B

home with his mother. Bode lived above the shipping offices on Montgomery Street and had done so since returning from the war. Comfort was not privy to the reason Bode chose to live apart from his family, and Bram was often uncharacteristically tight-lipped where Bode was concerned. Her encounters with Bode had always been brief, mostly in passing, and for her at least, accompanied by a fine element of tension that annoyed her and appeared to amuse him. Bram made a point of steering her clear of Bode when he was around, but she had a niggling suspicion that this was done more for Bram’s sake than hers. “Will you recognize your assailants if you see them again?”
    â€œWhich ones?”
    â€œThe ones that waylaid you first.”
    â€œThen no, but I think I know where to find the young ruffians. They might be able to identify the others, if they can be compelled to talk. On principle, they’re against speaking out.”
    â€œHonor among thieves?”
    â€œMore likely fear of retaliation if any one of them talks. And by retaliation, I mean disfigurement or death. My attackers were probably Rangers.”
    The Rangers were the most fearsome of the gangs operating in the Barbary Coast. No one faced them down, although the newspapers regularly pointed out their vices, reported the harrowing accounts of their victims, and called for them to be rounded up and expelled from the city.
    Comfort felt Bode’s eyes on her again, as though trying to decide what she knew or had heard about the Rangers. Had he meant to shock her or prove to himself that she could not be shocked? If it was a test, she had no idea whether she passed or failed. She was relieved when they reached the portico and Bode indicated that they would go on. They were more than halfway to their goal.
    â€œYou were fortunate to have survived the encounter,” she said evenly. “I’ve never heard of the Rangers being run off by anyone.”
    â€œThat occurred to me also, but those boys swarmed like locusts.” He gestured toward the servants’ entrance. “The kitchen will be as crowded as the salon,” he said. “But I think I know all of the staff. I can’t say the same for the guests.”
    Comfort ignored that. If the guest list included people he did not count as his friends, he was still acquainted with them. They were business associates, men of power and influence, traders, bankers, railroad men, politicians, and speculators, and Beau DeLong stood shoulder to shoulder with them. They’d come to wish him well, and quite possibly to use the opportunity to settle some bit of business, but mostly they’d come to wish him happy on his thirty-second birthday.
    â€œThere is considerably less hesitation in your step,” she said.
    Bode nodded. “You can ease away if you like.”
    â€œWhen we reach the door.”
    They negotiated the stone steps that led down to the kitchen with considerable care. Comfort was glad she hadn’t abandoned him. He was favoring his left leg, and she suspected the injury to his back was now radiating pain as far as his knee.
    â€œI understand the bruises and cuts to your face,” she said. “But what happened to your back? Were you kicked?”
    The truth was less palatable. “Tripped.”
    â€œYou tripped or you were tripped?”
    â€œIs that an important distinction?”
    â€œPerhaps not to you, Mr. DeLong, but I would like to know if there’s amusement to be had at your expense or if I must continue to feel sorry for you.”
    â€œI stumbled over my own feet trying to avoid the point of a knife.”
    â€œWell,” she said, vaguely disappointed. “It’s difficult to know how to respond to that.” Comfort reached for the door and turned the knob, testing whether she’d be able to ease it open. At first she thought it was barred, but a second push made it give way. “If you don’t want