Secrets Read Online Free PDF Page B

braced hard against the broken tiles of the floor. He looked as if he might erupt from the small chair at any moment.
    An open bottle sat on the small, rickety table in front of him. Slade was facing the door. Despite the heavy smoke which hung in the air, he saw his brother Edward the moment he paused in the doorless entrance of the shabby cantina which was in an alley well off of Templeton’s main thoroughfare.
    Edward strode forward. He was slightly taller than Slade, an inch or so over six feet, yet much bigger in build. Slade was whipcord-lean, Edward was abundantly muscular. Like Slade, he had midnight-black hair that framed a face that could only be described as handsome. But that was where all resemblance between the brothers ended. Edward was much fairer than Slade and his eyes were light-blue. His jaw was broader, his nose larger and slightly hooked. He was well-dressed in a dark suit and a white shirt, a silver waistcoat and a silk tie. Unlike most big men, he wore his clothes well and gracefully. Of course, they had been custom-made for him. His black boots were polished to a high sheen and he wore a dark Stetson, which he tossed onto the table beside his brother. “Goddammit, Slade. Couldn’t you find a worse place?”
    â€œHello, brother.”
    Edward pulled up a chair and grimaced as he looked at it before sitting down. “You actually like this kind of hellhole? Two blocks over Renee’s got the best whiskey in town, and the softest girls.”
    â€œI feel at home here,” Slade said mockingly.
    Edward stared at him. “Bull. In Frisco you wouldn’t be caught dead in a rat hole like this.”
    Slade said nothing. He turned and signaled a fat saloon girl for another glass for his brother.
    â€œYou gonna drink that whole bottle?” Edward asked.
    â€œMaybe.”
    Edward sighed. He took Slade’s glass and drank half of it, then pushed it back at him. “I miss him, too.”
    â€œDon’t start.”
    â€œWhy not?” Edward’s face tightened, and his beautiful blue eyes glazed. “I’m not going to ever get over it, not ever. There was no one like James. But I’m not drinking myself to death.”
    â€œYou’re only screwing yourself to death,” Slade said calmly. “If you don’t watch out you’ll catch something you’ll regret.”
    Edward was angry. “You should talk! You’re no damn choirboy! I’ve met Xandria.”
    â€œThere’s nothing between us and there never was,” Slade said flatly.
    â€œThen you’re a fool,” Edward said just as flatly.
    A moment passed. Slade smiled. It was a sad smile, but a smile nonetheless. Edward smiled, too, his expression almost identical except that his was dimpled. The waitress came with a glass. Slade was about to pour his brother a drink, but Edward stopped him. He took a handkerchief from his breast pocket and cleaned the glass, holding the cloth up afterward to show Slade that the linen was now gray. Slade shrugged, refilling both of their drinks. “A little dust never hurt anybody.”
    Edward sighed and drank. “So what happened? The whole town’s buzzing. You found her.”
    â€œI found her.” Slade’s mouth tightened. “She doesn’t remember who she is. She doesn’t remember anything.” An image of her looking at him with near-worshipfuleyes assailed him. Angrily he shrugged it off. But it was an image that had been haunting him ever since he had left her at the hotel.
    Edward blinked. Then he said, “Well, maybe that’s for the best.”
    Slade looked at him, understanding him. “Did she love James?” If so, it was better that she didn’t remember, that she was spared, at least temporarily, some of the grief.
    â€œHow in hell would I know? You’re the one he wrote those letters to. I got sick of hearing how goddamn beautiful and perfect she was and told him to