Chapter 7

April 1866

Cole POV

Three weeks ago, I was headed for New Orleans. The stage was a few hours away from my destination and I began to make a list of all of the things I would say at my meeting. I had a meeting with Mr. LaCroix and his business partner, Mr. Rossi. Unfortunately, for them, they had no idea I was coming.

The two of them had been a pain in my ass for the better part of the last five years. They continue to fire upon my ships that sail into the port of New Orleans, many times destroying my cargo. If the cargo wasn’t lost it was stolen by them. They had been relentless. I was forced to send half of my ships to Mobile, Alabama to keep at least half of my cargo in tack. I refused to succumb to their treachery. Sailing into New Orleans was better for my business, and I didn’t see any reason why both shipping companies couldn’t use the same p