“Thank you, Sheriff,” Iris offered as he left for his destination. She appreciated him providing some privacy for their discussion.
Sawyer settled into the chair the sheriff just vacated. “What can I do for you, Miss Lake?”
“Please, call me Iris.” She smiled and shifted on the chair. “This isn’t official business or anything. I… I wanted to ask you a question.”
“Well, ma’am, you’re in luck. It’s Wednesday and we answer questions on Wednesdays.” Sawyer sipped his coffee, grinning at her.
She appreciated his teasing and relaxed a bit. “Daniel shared my past with you, and I know you’re aware of my less-than-stellar childhood. I did horrible things, but I’ve turned my back on that way of life.”
Sawyer nodded. “And you assisted the law by providing information on what you suspected might have happened during the robbery, instead of abetting your father and brother who you feared had committed a most horrible crime.”
“Hearing someone had killed that poor bank manager,” she whispered. “I feared I would be arrested, not knowing if one could be charged for ‘guilt by omission’, for not sharing with Daniel what I suspected my family had done.”
“Everything turned out all right in the end.” Sawyer sipped his coffee. “No need to worry any longer.”
“Oh, that’s not what worries me now. Daniel proposed last night,” she whispered.
Sawyer reared back in his chair, a stunned expression on his face. “How could that be a bad thing? Don’t you love him?”
“I love him with all my heart. But I won’t ruin his life. I can’t be the reason he’s turned down by the Pinkerton Agency.”
“I’m not following you.”
“Daniel hopes to become a Pinkerton more than anything in the world. With my background… I’m not certain I should risk the Pinkerton Agency learning about my past history. If they refuse to hire him or if he was hired and then they changed their minds because of me, Daniel would be devastated. I couldn’t live with myself.”
Sawyer waved off her comment. “Don’t worry about it. The Pinkerton Agency already knows everything about you.”
“How can that be?” she whispered, hearing her greatest fear had been realized.
“Quite simple. I realized your relationship with Daniel would eventually result in a marriage proposal.” Sawyer leaned his arms on the desk and met her eyes. “I informed them of your past myself.”
Chapter 28
Iris gasped, her heartbeat pounding in her ears while her eyes filled with tears. Had she truly heard Sawyer correctly? Worrying whether or not she should accept Daniel’s proposal was pointless now. Clearly, Mr. Manning intended to ensure no woman like Iris became the wife of a Pinkerton. Daniel considered him a colleague, a mentor, and a friend, and she’d just learned the former Pinkerton agent had betrayed Daniel in the worst way.
Iris stood, slightly wavering on her feet as her vision blurred with unshed tears. To remain here any longer would be a waste of time. She couldn’t accept Daniel’s proposal. To do so would ruin his life. Now that the agency had been informed of her past, Daniel would never be accepted as a Pinkerton unless she stepped away from the man she loved and set him free to pursue his dream without her.
“Are you all right, Miss Lake?” Sawyer inquired, leaping off his chair.
“I… I need to leave.” She took a step, stumbled, and flopped onto the chair.
Sawyer rounded the desk and met her eyes. “You’re as white as a sheet. You’d better remain in that chair until this passes.”
Until this passes?
Iris gaped at him. “You’ve single-handedly destroyed the career of the man I love. This will not pass!”
Sawyer reared back. “Destroyed whose career?”
“Daniel’s.”
“His career couldn’t be better. He’s waiting to hear that he’s been hired by the Pinkerton Agency.”
“I’m fully aware of that. Daniel mentioned it last night, ensuring I would be willing to move to Chicago if necessary.” Iris straightened in the chair and blinked away her tears, anger replacing her shock. “But now…”
“What about now?”
“I can’t marry Daniel.” She struggled to her feet, anger bordering on outrage. “The Pinkerton Agency will never hire him, believing his fiancée is a thief and pickpocket!”
“Was a thief. As an impressionable child led astray.” Sawyer took her arm and guided her back into the chair. “Let me explain.”
Iris slumped in her seat, the stuffing completely knocked out of her. What had been done couldn’t be reversed. The Pinkerton Agency couldn’t unlearn about her past. Daniel’s fate would be sealed if she remained in his life. And with that realization, any hope of her ever marrying the man she loved vanished. She swallowed the bile threatening to rise to her throat.
The thought of turning her back on Daniel, forgoing everything he’d become to her, pierced her heart. And what of Daniel? What would he make of Sawyer’s actions? Would his betrayal destroy their friendship?
Iris shook her head. “There’s nothing you can say now to fix this.”
“There is nothing to fix.” Sawyer held up his hands. “Daniel’s acceptance is only a matter of time.”
“How can you be so… daft?” she blurted, feeling her face redden. She shouldn’t be talking to a lawman in such a demeaning and disrespectful manner, but the man infuriated her. Didn’t he realize what he’d done?
Sawyer looked at her and then he burst into laughter. “Daft? Must admit I’ve never been accused of that.”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said—”
“I understand you’re upset,” the lawman interrupted, waving off her apology. “But you have nothing to be concerned about.”
Iris gaped, speechless.
“I wrote a detailed letter of recommendation on Daniel’s behalf. I explained his talent for law enforcement, his tenacity when pursuing any perpetrator of a wrongdoing. I summarized his record of success from helping find his sister-in-law when she was abducted, through to taking an offhand remark made by a child and relentlessly badgering his coworkers until they believed his suspicions, enabling us to capture those responsible for a local bank robbery.” Sawyer returned to his chair. “I wanted the Agency to hear about you from me, not some unreliable source or unsubstantiated hearsay. I explained your past and I vouched for you as someone who’d turned her life around and completely forsaken her family and their criminal lifestyle. I told them that Miss Iris Lake should be a permanent part of Daniel McLennon’s life and that I wholeheartedly approved, foreseeing absolutely no conflict of interest from such a relationship, even from a possible future marriage.”
Iris shook her head, her mind unable to grasp what she was hearing. “And you believe they’ll judge me a suitable wife for one of their agents?”
“I most certainly do. An understanding and supportive spouse is an invaluable asset to an agent.” Sawyer smiled at her. “Would you be prepared to keep your household going while on your own when Daniel’s away from Chicago working on a case, perhaps for weeks? Even several months?”
Iris considered the likely scenario he’d presented to her, should she marry the man she loved. “Yes, I would. Knowing Daniel would come home to me as soon as he possibly could… absolutely.”
Sawyer slapped the desk. “I believe you would. And having seen your bravery and competency when in Butte, I know you’d do an admirable job of it.”
Iris clasped her reticule to her chest and slowly rose to her feet. “Thank you, Mr. Manning. I appreciate you taking the time to speak with me.”
“Have I managed to lay your concerns to rest?”
She nodded and smiled. “You’ve dispelled every one of them.” And knowing she had an answer for Daniel, she couldn’t wait to talk to him.
“Sheriff Robertson mentioned you were taking a prisoner to Deer Lodge? Daniel told me my brother, Eric Lake, had been sent there. Would you mind taking a letter from me to Eric?�
��
“Not at all. We’ll be leaving early in the morning.”
“I’ll hurry home and write to him and bring my letter back in an hour.”
Sawyer walked her to the door. “That would be perfect. I’ll see to it that Eric gets your letter.”
“Thank you, Mr. Manning. I appreciate your help… with everything.” Iris touched his arm and then dashed home to compose the thank you letter for her brother. She hoped Daniel would drop by Mrs. Carter’s house tonight. She wanted to tell him her decision.
* * *
Daniel hadn’t counted on being sent to Deer Lodge. At the last moment, Carl instructed him to accompany Sawyer who’d been instructed to transport Fred and Shorty Mason to the Montana Territorial Prison this morning. Daniel planned to visit with Iris tonight, hoping she would have an answer for him. Ensuring their prisoners didn’t escape custody took priority over his own personal plans, and he’d helped Sawyer work out a strategy last night to ensure a safe and successful trip.
“Are we ready?” Jim Snow strode into the jailhouse.
Daniel glanced at Sawyer who’d removed Shorty from his cell and placed him in shackles and handcuffs. They would pick up Fred at Doc’s on the way out of town.
“What do you mean ‘we’?” Sawyer inquired.
“Figured I’d come along.” Jim dropped his saddlebag on the floor and poured himself a cup of coffee. “I’m constantly thinking about horses. I’m even dreaming about horses. I need something new to occupy my time.”
“Don’t let those ranchers hear you’re giving up,” Daniel muttered.
“Who said anything about giving up?” Jim glared at him. “Taking a break is not giving up.”
Sawyer guided Shorty toward the door. “You’re welcome to come along.”
“More the merrier,” Shorty scoffed. “Who lost their horses?”
“Nobody lost their horses. We’ve got horse thieves in the area. More than two dozen valuable horses have gone missing from three different ranches.” Daniel glanced at Jim. “So far. Could be more go astray if someone isn’t keeping watch.”
“What if I told you where you might find them horses?” Shorty smiled like a Cheshire cat. “Making this trip without these damn shackles on would be more comfortable.”
Daniel laughed. “You’d try anything to get your way.”
“All right. But when we were looking for a place to hole up we came across a couple fellers with at least a dozen horses. Maybe more. I didn’t count ’em. Them fellers said they were bringing these mares to new owners from a horse sale some place. Can’t recall where that was either. I recall there were three different brands on the horses which I figured was a little strange.” Shorty shrugged. “Could be nothing but could be the horses you’re looking for.”
Jim uttered a string of curse words that would curl a nun’s hair. “Where did you see the horses?” he demanded. “And are you certain they were all mares?”
Shorty glanced down at the shackles and Jim threw up his hands.
Carl strode into the jailhouse. “You gentlemen about ready to leave?”
“Not even close,” Sawyer muttered. “We have an issue to iron out first.”
Carl stood hands on hips. “What now?”
“Seems Shorty might have information on where those thieves were holed up with the stolen horses.” Daniel glared at the prisoner.
“What do you know?” Carl demanded.
“Seen some fellers.” Shorty stood, a determined expression on his face as he glanced down at his ankles. “Maybe tell you where, if you take these dang things off.”
Carl rubbed his chin for a few minutes. “Take ’em off, Sawyer.”
Sawyer shook his head. “This is not a good idea.”
“I ain’t gonna escape.” Shorty watched Sawyer removing his new jewelry. “Thank you. Feels better already.”
Carl grabbed Shorty by the shirt and walked him over to the chair in front of his desk where he pushed him onto the seat none too gently. “Start talking.”
For the next half hour, Shorty talked while everyone listened to determine where in the area he and his uncle had been when they’d run across the horse thieves. Finally, Shorty mentioned a fork in the road just north of where they’d been.
“Wait. Was there a red rock formation around there?”
Shorty thought for a moment. “Maybe a ways back of there, farther north. Nearer to the cave we holed up in.”
Daniel pointed at Sawyer. “I know the valley he’s talking about. It’s a ways from Milestone. We summered some of our stock there years ago during a dry spell.”
“Let’s go, McLennon.” Jim Snow leapt off the chair and tossed his coffee cup into the washtub. “And never once have I mentioned to anyone that it was only mares that were stolen.”
“Can’t go. I’m taking Shorty to Deer Lodge,” Daniel replied.
“No, you’re not.” Carl waved him toward the door. “Go with Jim. I’ll send another deputy with Sawyer, or I’ll go myself if necessary.”
“Taking me to prison can wait ’til tomorrow if you want,” Shorty drawled. “I ain’t in no hurry.”
“We’re going.” Sawyer yanked him off the chair and shoved him out the door. “It’s a damn long ride, but we’ll find someone to go with us even if I have to stop at the Double M and talk A. J. McLennon into coming along.”
“Who is A. J. McLennon?” Shorty muttered, glaring at Daniel.
“Pa’s a retired hired gun,” Daniel offered. “So don’t try any funny business or you’ll be plucking buckshot out of your backside.”
“Actually, I was joking.” Sawyer met his boss’s eyes. “You seriously think AJ would be interested in taking this fellow to Deer Lodge with us?”
Carl laughed. “Ask him. He’ll have his horse saddled faster than you can blink.”
“All right then. That frees up another deputy to go after the thieves,” Jim said. “I’ll need all the men I can get.”
“Let’s go.” Daniel stuck his Stetson on his head. He couldn’t think about Iris right now. He needed to find those horses and get them back home. And see the culprits responsible were dealt with. In Daniel’s opinion, hanging was almost too good for any man who’d steal another fellow’s horse. A slow painful death seemed more fitting to his way of thinking. Of course, most folks would be shocked to learn he even considered something so dark and menacing, and completely out of character for a McLennon.
By seven o’clock, Daniel and Jim had rounded up six deputies, including themselves, and two of the ranchers who’d lost horses. They’d drawn their step-by-step intentions in the dirt with a sharp stick and every man knew his part in the plan. Now, Daniel just hoped the horse thieves hadn’t moved on. One of the ranchers reported another four of his mares had gone missing two nights ago. Daniel figured their chances were good that they’d catch the thieves unawares. Of course, even the best-laid plan went awry sometimes.
With a silent prayer for an uneventful but successful day, Daniel mounted Honor and rode with his colleagues and neighbors down Main Street and out of town.
Chapter 29
Iris strode into the jailhouse, closing the door a tad less gently than she’d intended.
Carl Robertson stood at the woodstove, warming his hands. “Hello, Miss Lake,” he muttered, returning to his desk. “Only the last week in October and already I’ve had enough of this cold weather.”
Iris crossed the floor and planted herself in the chair across from him. “Where is Daniel? I need to speak with him, please.” She hadn’t seen hide nor hair of him in three days and she’d begun to worry.
“That doesn’t matter. We’ve got bigger problems.”
Iris swung around and glared at Mrs. Landers. Iris hadn’t noticed the town gossip when she’d entered. “What problems?” she demanded of the usually obnoxious woman.
“Harold Watson has left town.” Mrs. Landers looked down her nose at Iris.
“For Pete’s sake. He must have requested a few days off, o
r he’s away on bank business,” Iris muttered and returned her attention to the sheriff. “I haven’t seen Daniel in three days. Where on earth is he?”
“Chasing horse thieves.” Carl leaned back in his chair. “Most of my deputies went with him; Sawyer isn’t back from Deer Lodge yet, and I’m dealing with Mrs. Landers.”
“You have my sympathies,” Iris whispered, meaning specifically the latter. “Can you tell me when Daniel will return?”
“The question is when will Harold Watson return?” Mrs. Landers interjected. “And what is he up to?”
Iris blew out her breath and silently counted to ten. She turned and met the woman’s eyes. “What could he possibly be up to?”
“Theft.”
Iris gaped. What was the woman talking about? And then the town meddler’s meaning took root. “You think he stole money from the bank and left town?” she blurted.
“Exactly.” Mrs. Landers folded her arms across her substantial bosom and glared at the sheriff.
Carl dragged his hand down his face.
Iris burst into laughter, imagining him counting to ten as well. “You cannot be serious!”
“I most certainly am. And he’s taken that… woman and her brat with him.”
Iris noticed Victoria hadn’t attended classes the past two days. “You mean Nancy and Victoria?”
“Yes.”
“Nancy is a wonderful lady and a hard worker according to Amanda McLennon. And Victoria is a delightful child.”
“And Harold Watson is a thief,” Mrs. Landers completed the summary.
“You have absolutely no proof of that,” Carl chimed in. “But I’ve sent for Milton and we’ll learn the truth soon enough.”
“I need to see it for myself.”
Carl glanced at Iris, a pained expression on his face.
“You might as well walk her down to the bank and show her the money is in the vault, or you’ll not enjoy a moment’s peace until you do,” Iris suggested.
“First intelligent suggestion I’ve heard all day.” Mrs. Landers reached for her reticule off the corner of the sheriff’s desk. “Shall we leave?”
A Reinvented Lady (Sons Of A Gun Book 2) Page 17
