Lady and the Gamble: A Sweet Victorian Romance (The Colby Brothers Book 2) Read online

  Lady and the Gamble

  The Colby Brothers Book 2

  Copyright 2018 Peggy Ann Craig

  Published by Peggy Ann Craig

  Edition License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  He just won the lady of his dreams.

  He just didn’t realize that meant literally.

  Ryan Colby had one dream and one dream only for as long as he could remember. He would sail up the St. Lawrence River to the sea beyond and explore far off places and oceans. So when he wins the Lady Evelina, a private schooner, in a poker game he believes his dream is about to be realized. However, he soon discovers he had been duped into wagering on the lady, Evelina, instead.

  Evelina Hepworth was the youngest of six daughters and the last to become betrothed. As beautiful as she was, there were no prospective suitors interested in a woman suffering from schizophrenia. Fearing everything from staircases to the great outdoors, she refuses to even step outside her home. A challenge for Ryan who must convince the woman to consider him a potential husband in order to secure his claim on the Lady Evelina.

  Lady and the Gamble is a sequel to Princess and the Ox and though both books are stand-alone books, it is recommended to read them in order as there are spoilers that could potentially ruin your reading enjoyment.

  Click here to purchase a copy of Princess and the Ox if you haven’t already done so.

  Interested in reading a FREE prequel to the Colby Brothers Series? Gypsy and the Sheriff takes place twelve years before the series begins. It is the story of a traveling gypsy and a no-nonsense sheriff who meet when she starts peddling a love potion in his hometown of Placid and causing a whole lot of trouble.

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  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Note from the Author

  About the Author

  Other Books by Peggy Ann Craig

  PROLOGUE

  Buffalo, 1885

  Ryan Colby was a single card move away from achieving his life-long dream.

  The stout man across the table wore a serious scowl as he surveyed the cocky young sailor. A thick plume of smoke hung over his head like a halo from his cigar causing his eyes to narrow as he stared hard down his nose at Ryan. However, Ryan wasn’t intimidated. He rocked back on the hind legs of his chair and raised an arrogant eyebrow at the older man, confident in his set of cards. Before them lay several folded cards along with a heap of colored chips. In general, he wasn’t one to wager more than he could afford. But this time around, Ryan had put every penny he owned in. It was Clive Hepworth’s move and Ryan knew he had bested the man. Nothing could outdo a royal flush. He couldn’t believe his luck.

  Around them, the small tavern had slowly emptied leaving only a handful of patrons. The proprietor of the establishment had dimmed most of the lanterns apart from the one that hung over the poker table where Ryan sat playing the most important game of his life.

  They had been at it since high noon with six of them initially at the table. Now they were down to just Ryan and Clive. Ryan’s hand was the best it had been in a very long while. If he was being honest, the cards—or lady luck—hadn’t been in his favor all year. That was until today.

  For the most part, he usually wasn’t so dang arrogant when it came to revealing his hand, but blazing Mary, he was so excited he couldn’t control the grin that tugged at his bottom lip.

  Taking a swig of whiskey from his tumbler to conceal the smile, he glanced out the saloon’s window to see the Francesca, an enormous four-mast clipper, sail past the establishment. She was headed down the Niagara River en route for Detroit City some one hundred and eighty-seven nautical miles south on the western point of Lake Erie. His smile wavered, as he would have preferred being on board the ship and sailing the open waters rather than being cooped up in some dark smoky saloon in the overcrowded city. Even if that meant forgoing the best cards he’d ever played. And he would have if Clive hadn’t upped the odds favorably by tossing his “little lady” into the pool.

  The lady in question was the man’s very own private schooner, Lady Evelina. Sure, it was small and by far nowhere near as grand as the Francesca was, but it was just the right size for a one-man crew with its single mast and living compartment below deck that contained a sleeping quarter nearly unheard of in a private vessel. A boat Ryan could only have dreamed about owning. He certainly didn’t make enough money as a sailor on the Great Lakes to save the kind of funds needed to buy such a beauty.

  But who needed to when the opportunity came around to win the boat fair and square in a hand of cards. When he entered into the game earlier that afternoon, he had no idea the boat was up for grabs. No, he had just come down to play an innocent friendly game of poker to while away the time until the Francesca pulled out of port. Then, to his amazement, he began winning round after round. The atmosphere in the saloon had gotten thick with tension and anticipation. The game went on for so long, the other players who had bailed out earlier, began betting with each other on the game’s final outcome.

  Hand after hand, Ryan raked in the chips and bought a round of drinks for the establishment. He probably ought to rein in his level of alcoholic consumption as he was getting a bit too tipsy, but he was feeling far too pompous. Clive Hepworth had nothing left. He was down to two chips and the last hand. Then shocking everyone, he went all in—throwing into the pool his pride and joy, the Lady Evelina, so certain was he of his hand.

  Clive narrowed his eyes and looked hard across the table at Ryan, holding his gaze until at last he splayed out his cards fan-like across the top of the oak surface.

  Four of a kind.

  Ryan whistled, feigning defeat. “Oh man, Hepworth, that’s a dang good hand.”

  “Just play your cards and stop acting like a cocky son-of-a—.”

  “Now, now, no need to get all excited. I tell ya what…” he said while exhaling heavily with false despair and rubbing his jaw as if contemplating his next move. Then, smug as all can be, he lifted his chin and planted a great big grin from ear to ear and shouted to the establishment, “Someone get me a cigar because I just won me the sweetest little lady this side of the St. Lawrence River!”

  Triumphant, he laid his cards down with a flourish, leaping to his feet and whooping with joy.

  He couldn’t believe it. Eight hours of the most intense and grueling game of poker had just won him the boa
t of his dreams. The idea of sailing beyond the Great Lakes and up the St. Lawrence to the sea beyond was something he had wanted to do ever since he could remember. His favorite toy as a child was a wooden sailboat his father had carved. He wanted nothing more in life than to become a sailor and travel to far off continents and oceans. And that dream was about to become a reality.

  Several men smacked him on the back with congratulating slaps while yet again another round of free drinks resulted in a rupture of jeering and rejoicing.

  Clive approached him appearing far friendlier than Ryan would have been if he had just lost his most prized possession in a poker game. “Well played, Colby. Congratulations.”

  Somewhere in the haze of his intoxication, his conscience tried to nudge Ryan that something didn’t feel right. Even in a slightly drunken stupor, he felt somewhat guilty. But, then again, no one forced the man’s hand. He could have walked away from the table with only his pocketbook empty.

  “That was a just hand, Hepworth. I won it fair and square.”

  “Touché.” He nodded in agreement. “I am not going to try to argue the wager. Though it pains me to hand over my precious Evelina, she is yours. If you want her.”

  “Want her?” Ryan chuckled, “I’ve dreamt of nothing else all my life.”

  “You’ll take good care of her, won’t you? I mean, I can trust that the man who won over my beloved little lady will look after her?”

  “She couldn’t be in better hands.”

  “Good. I had a feeling about you.”

  Ryan frowned slightly then tilted his head. “You seem awfully collected for a man who just lost his boat in a poker game.”

  Clive studied Ryan’s face for a very long time before he finally responded, “It is time I retire and spend more time at home with the family.”

  “You got a family, Hepworth?” This surprised Ryan, Clive was one of the many sailors he crossed paths with on his voyages up and down the Great Lakes.

  “Oh yes, indeed. My handsome wife and,” he paused to lock gazes with Ryan once again. “Six beautiful daughters.”

  Ryan’s eyes bulged. “Six?”

  “Yes. I am blessed with six beautiful daughters, but alas no son.”

  “Wow, that’s a doggone amount of female estrogen under one roof.”

  Clive grinned, giving a nod of agreement. “Being the only male in the household is rather daunting at times. But I love all my daughters dearly and only want the best for them.”

  “I’m sure you do.”

  “That’s why I need your assurance that you will take utter care of my beloved Evelina.”

  “Why? Was one of your daughter’s expecting to inherit it? Is this going to create a family feud?” Ryan hated it when his nagging conscience stuck its busybody nose where it didn’t belong. He didn’t want to hear a sob story that could tear the man’s family apart or create a huge rift. Family was important to Ryan. Very important. He loved his dearly though perhaps he didn’t see them as often as he should. But if there was one thing he learned after the near-death experience of his brother Jay, was that life was far too short and one should never take for granted the time we have left on this earth

  “Oh no, no, nothing like that. My girls don’t sail,” Clive said drawing Ryan’s attention back to the present, then added almost wistfully. “At least, not anymore.”

  “Good, I’m glad to hear it,” he sighed with relief. Dang, he wanted that boat but didn’t think he could have taken it with a good–or sober–conscience if it meant putting a rift between Clive and his daughters.

  “It’s getting late, why don’t we call it a night and settle up later sometime.”

  “Now wait just a minute Hepworth, I don’t plan on leaving Buffalo without the Lady Evelina.”

  He smirked. “She’s not here. She’s in Detroit.”

  “Detroit?”

  “Yes, where I live.”

  “You live in Detroit?”

  He chuckled. “Yes, I do. Not all sailors are wandering hobos.”

  “I just never thought it possible to balance both a family and sailing.”

  Clive slapped him on the back before beginning to turn aside. “When you love both just as equally, you find a way.”

  Now that was a subject Ryan differed on but refrained from getting into a disagreement with the man. Instead, he pressed the more important matter of collecting his winnings as soon as possible.

  “When will you be back home then? I don’t plan on waiting long to claim my prize, Hepworth.”

  “Good to hear. I’m expected back in Detroit in two days’ time. Why don’t we reunite then?”

  Ryan relaxed and offered an unsteady smile. “Sounds good. I can probably join a crew on another cargo ship and be there sometime tomorrow evening.

  “Take a layover and come by the house the following morning and we’ll settle out then.”

  Ryan internally grimaced. He didn’t want a layover. He wanted to claim what was rightfully his and be on his way. Just the very thought of hitting the open waters in his very own schooner had his heart rejoicing. But he held his objections back. After all, it couldn’t be easy to lose such a valued possession.

  “Sounds good.” Then when it looked like Clive was about to leave, Ryan stayed him. “Wait, where do you live?”

  “Last blue stone house on the north pier. Home with the vegetable garden out front. Wife likes to grow her own vegetables even if we own just a small plot of land.”

  “Ok, great sounds good. I’ll come by first thing in the morning.”

  “Come around brunch instead. It will be Sunday and the family attends church in the morning. You can meet all my daughters as they’ll have returned from worship by then.”

  Ryan had to force down an instinctive frown. He had no interest in meeting Clive’s family let alone try to create small talk with them. After all, what would he say? Hi, I’m Ryan, the cad who stole your father’s boat from under him in a poker game. Not that he stole the boat, he reminded himself. He won it honestly, as he reiterated to Clive. It was a gambler’s oath to uphold their wager. It was also a better’s oath not to humiliate or shame the loser. Hence, though he was eager to claim his winning, he respected his opponent and the stakes he was willing to put forth for the sake of the game.

  “That would have been nice but I really need to head out early as I missed the Francesca and need to sail north for home as the folks will be awaiting my homecoming.”

  Home for Ryan was in Placid, a small picturesque town overlooking the eastern banks of Lake Huron on the Canadian side of the lake at the mouth of the Granton River.

  “Won’t hear of it.” Clive shook his head. “You’ll stay for brunch and entertain my family with that sweet sounding harmonica of yours. It’s so rare they get such entertainment.”

  Ryan forced a smile to his lips. Yes, that was him, he could always be counted on to entertain the folks. Just once, he wished he was needed or wanted for something more worthwhile. But being the youngest sibling of two older brothers, his place had always been as the performer. Leave it to big, strong Jay if it required physical work or quiet, reserved Garret if it required intelligence. Ryan, however, as long as he could remember, was the one left to charm.

  Chapter 1

  Lake Erie, en route to Detroit City

  Two days later Ryan managed to secure a position as a deckhand on a cargo ship transporting a load of codfish to the Detroit market. The clipper had been out all night reeling in codfish off the coast of Newfoundland to sell at the seafood auction. Ryan envied the sailors and their expedition but was able to subdue the feeling of jealousy for the first time. His turn was just around the corner. Just as soon as he secured the Lady Evelina.

  It was a race back to the market so the crew could fetch the best prices for their catch. The more deckhands they had, the faster the clipper reached its destination. They left Buffalo while the sky was still black and raced across Lake Erie at easily seven or eight knots. The massive but sleek cr
aft sped across the calm waters like a phantom gliding across the evening sky with her sails in full bloom. She was clipping at top speeds and before Ryan knew it, the captain called to clew up the sails.

  This meant the coastline was approaching and they had to begin slowing the ship down. The crew scrambled to their respective riggings on one of the three masts that made up the ship. Ryan leaped over the rail deck and climbed up to the lower boom where he found his place amongst six other deckhands on the main mast. He anchored himself to the ropes then paused to raise his chin and close his eyes. There was nothing else like it. Standing up there in the riggings, with nothing but the ropes securing him to the vessel as she raced against the night. He loved the feel of crisp cool air on his face. He exhaled a satisfying sigh and thought there was no other place he’d rather be.

  The lead deckhand shouted a command drawing Ryan’s attention back to the task at hand. He leaned over and began the chore of gathering the sail. As he did, his attention was drawn to the view beyond the stern. The bow of the clipper sliced easily through the lake as she sailed westward toward the dark coastline, however, in contrast, the view to the rear of the ship was the complete opposite. The mizzenmast stood before him slightly shorter than the main mast and hence cut a remarkable silhouette against the early dawn. Peeking slightly over the horizon, the tip of the sun had scarcely begun to rise but still managed to cut a spectacular ray of light through the black waters. The Great Lakes had some of the most spectacular sunrises and sunsets along their coastlines. They never ceased to amaze Ryan with their breathtaking views. Each was as unique and memorable as the next. That morning was no exception. The eastern sky was starting to light up like a magnificent painting of orange and yellow hues along with bold streaks of fiery red. He hoped that the bloodshot sky wasn’t an indication of what he could expect from the upcoming day.