by Laura Beers
He lifted his brow. “You haven’t seen me in four years, and that is how you greet me?”
“I don’t understand your meaning,” she replied, reminding herself that it was not polite to stare.
Paden had grown even more handsome since she last saw him, and she wondered how that was even possible. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and had a disarming smile. With his chiseled features, sharp cheekbones, and square jaw, no man had ever come close to his attractiveness, at least not in her eyes.
An impish smile came to his lips, the one that used to cause her knees to grow weak. But that was a different time, and she was a different person now.
“I think a kiss would be appropriate considering our engagement,” he declared.
“Engagement!” Mrs. Tyson exclaimed, her hand flying to her chest. “Good heavens. I did not expect that.”
“We are not engaged,” Rosalie rushed to correct.
There was a twinkle in his eye as he responded, “We may not be officially engaged, but we had an understanding between us.”
Rosalie needed time to think, and she couldn’t do that with Paden standing so close. “I need to freshen up before supper,” she said, inching her way toward the stairs.
Paden extended his arm toward her. “Allow me to escort you to your room.”
Drat! He saw through that ruse. Rosalie gave him a weak smile before she slipped her arm through his, attempting to ignore the tingles that coursed through her when they touched.
“That’s most kind of you,” she murmured, attempting to keep her voice cordial.
“There is nothing kind about it,” he replied in a hushed whisper, leading her up the narrow flight of stairs. “I just wanted to ensure you didn’t plan to escape out the window and run from me.”
“I only did that one time, and I was ten,” she reminded him, finding herself smiling at the childhood memory.
He chuckled, and his familiar laugh warmed her heart. “It is good to see you, Rosie.” He stopped at the top of the stairs. “I have missed you.”
Rosalie pressed her lips together. So much needed to be said between them. She needed to apologize for leaving without saying goodbye, but she couldn’t seem to find her voice.
Paden turned to face her. “Go freshen up. We can talk later.” His full, clear voice with its note of impersonal kindness was like a dagger to her heart.
“I’ll be down in a few minutes,” she assured him as she began backing up.
Walking swiftly toward her room, Rosalie didn’t dare look back at Paden. Her heart ached knowing that she was not the person that Paden thought she was. The past four years of being on the road had changed her, and once he recognized that, he would leave her alone. She was sure of it.
Chapter 2
Paden Brooks waited at the bottom of the stairs for Rosalie so he could escort her to supper. He had not properly prepared himself for seeing her again. Her beauty had always managed to take his breath away, but it wasn’t just her attractiveness that he fell in love with. Her kindness and compassion for others also fascinated him.
Even when they were both in the school room, he knew that they would eventually get married. Rosie was two years younger than he. She encouraged him while he worked as a deputy to her pa, the sheriff of Waterglen, Colorado. On her eighteenth birthday, he approached her pa and asked permission to court her. It had been the happiest day of his life when she agreed to his courtship.
But everything changed a few months later when Sheriff Addis was gunned down by Bill Garrett and his gang. When the bullets started flying, her pa had shoved Rosie to the side, but a stray bullet still managed to hit her.
“Are you all right?” Rosalie asked as she stood in front of him. She had changed her clothes and was now wearing a pin-striped dress with ruffles running the length of her skirt.
“I was just thinking of a happier time,” he lied.
“You seemed deep in thought,” she remarked. “You should be grateful that I didn’t have nefarious intentions toward you, because you failed to see me approach.”
“Is that so?” he replied, his lips curling into a smile.
Rosalie tucked a lock of brown hair that had fallen out of her side bun behind her ear. “As a Pinkerton agent, I expected better of you,” she teased.
This is what he missed. They had always had a good rapport between them, and he loved nothing more than bantering with Rosie. He waggled his brow. “I carry two guns on me and a knife. Would you like to know where I keep them?”
With a contemplative look, Rosalie ran her eyes down the length of his brown suit. She snapped her gaze back up. “You are carrying a gun in your left pocket, and, if I had to guess, you have another one in the back of your trousers. Also, it is fairly obvious that you have a knife in your left boot.”
“That’s impressive,” he commented.
She smirked. “Not really. When you worked as a deputy, you always kept a knife in your boot. Plus, you may write with your right hand, but you prefer your left hand for other things.”
“Well,” he started, offering her his arm, “it looks like I’m going to have to come up with new ways to fool you.”
A thrill of pleasure raced through him when Rosalie slipped her arm into his.
“I find that hard to believe. I might know you better than you know yourself,” she said lightly, but he knew no truer words had ever been spoken.
Paden walked her into the dining room where two place settings were arranged across from each other at the table.
Rosalie’s steps faltered. “Why are only two plates on the table?”
“I requested to dine privately with you this evening,” he explained, leading her to a chair. “Is that a problem?”
Rosalie glanced nervously at the door leading into the kitchen. “Poor Mrs. Tyson is a lonely widow, and it is…”
“Nonsense!” Mrs. Tyson proclaimed, walking into the dining room from the kitchen. She placed a basket of bread onto the table. “I have decided to let you two catch up.”
“That isn’t necessary…” Rosalie attempted again.
Mrs. Tyson interrupted her. “Don’t fret about me, dear. I have plenty to keep me occupied.”
“If you change your mind, then you are welcome to join us,” Rosalie said before sitting in her chair.
Paden winked at Mrs. Tyson. “Thank you for the meal. It smells delicious.”
Once the proprietress left the room, Paden sat across from Rosalie. “You seem reluctant to share a meal with me. Is there a reason why?” he asked.
Rosalie shook her head. “I was just concerned for Mrs. Tyson. That is all.”
“You are a horrible liar, Rosie.”
Her lips parted, drawing his attention to her full lips. Lips that he had kissed before.
She laughed shakily. “It’s just been so long since I’ve seen you.”
“Four years and five days, to be exact,” he remarked dryly, unable to stop himself.
Rosalie lowered her gaze to her lap. “That’s what I recall as well.”
Paden felt like kicking himself. He hadn’t intended to play his hand just yet. For over four years, he had waited for Rosalie to come to her senses, to return home… to him. But with each passing day, he knew his chances of being with her were slipping away. He planned to bring Rosalie home. To be with him. He couldn’t do that if he turned her heart against him.
“Stick to the plan,” he muttered to himself.
“Did you say something?” Rosalie asked, bringing her gaze back up.
He swiped his hand over the generous helping of food on his plate. “I just said that everything looks delicious.”
“It does.” She picked up her fork, and then placed it back down. “Paden… I just want you to know…”
“Would you like some more potatoes?” he asked, cutting her off.
Rosalie glanced down at her plate. “I already have more than enough.” He extended the bowl to her anyway, and she set it next to her. “Um… as I was saying…
”
Paden pushed back his chair and rose. He wasn’t ready to hear what she was about to say. “Where are my manners? Allow me to serve you.” He came around to her side of the table and reached for the spoon in the bowl of mashed potatoes. “Just tell me when to stop,” he stated, as he placed a large scoop of potatoes over her smaller portion.
“That is more than enough. Thank you,” Rosalie replied.
Paden placed the spoon back in the potatoes and returned to his chair. Taking control of the conversation, he said, “I understand that you have caught eight of the original members of Bill Garrett’s gang.”
“Nine,” she corrected. “I caught the last member of the gang today.”
“That’s impressive.”
Rosalie picked up her fork and started moving around the mashed potatoes on her plate. “The only person still eluding me is the leader, Bill Garrett.”
“Do you have any leads?”
She blew out a puff of air. “No. And I have been searching relentlessly for him.”
“I have a lead,” he announced, proudly.
“You do?” she asked, sitting straighter in her seat and placing her fork on the table. “What is it?”
Paden leaned back in his seat. “The Pinkerton National Detective Agency has been hired on a case and it revolves around Bill Garrett.”
“What is the case?”
“I’m afraid I can’t share the tip,” he hesitated, “unless…”
“Unless what?” she asked in an overeager voice.
This was it. The time had come for him to win back his betrothed. He winced, knowing this was the greatest gamble he had ever taken. “Unless you would be willing to become a Pinkerton agent and work the case alongside me.”
She drew in a sharp breath while her eyes grew wide with disbelief. “You want me to become a Pinkerton agent?”
“I do. Mr. Archie Gordon runs the Denver office, and he has already signed off on your hire.”
“But he doesn’t even know me,” she remarked in astonishment.
Paden grinned. “When I informed Archie that you single-handedly brought eight members of Bill Garrett’s gang to justice, he was quite impressed.”
“I don’t know,” she murmured. “I am not sure I would make a good agent. I don’t always play by the rules.”
“You are clever, quick on your toes, and a sharp shooter. All good qualities to possess as an agent.”
A mischievous gleam came to her eyes. “Are you sure I can’t tempt you into telling me the tip?”
“What are you offering?” he asked, his eyes darting to her lips.
“I could pay you,” she stated. “Bounty hunters are paid extraordinarily well.”
Paden frowned. This was not going well, he thought. “I don’t want your money, Rosie,” he said, attempting to keep the curtness out of his tone.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking clearly,” she replied, averting her gaze back to her plate.
An uncomfortable silence descended over them, and he did not like it. Paden rose, picked up his chair and repositioned it next to hers. He sat down and waited for Rosalie to look at him.
“I know how much you want to bring Bill Garrett to justice. Perhaps almost as much as I do,” he said, maintaining her gaze. “After you left town, I was heartbroken, but I know why you did it. It was the same reason I became a Pinkerton agent. We both have longed to bring your father’s killers to justice.”
Rosalie was watching him intently, making no indication she wanted to speak up.
Paden continued. “A tip about Bill Garrett’s whereabouts came into the Pinkerton Detective Agency, and it appears credible. That’s why Archie assigned me to this particular case and gave permission for you to become an agent.”
“Can’t I work alongside you without becoming an agent?”
He shook his head. “That’s not possible. Pinkerton agents have a set of bylaws, and we aren’t allowed to team up with a bounty hunter. It’s a conflict of interest, since we were hired to do a specific job.”
“I don’t care if I get paid,” she declared. “I just want to be there when Bill is arrested or killed.”
“I’m afraid I can’t allow that unless you become an agent.”
She reached for her glass of water. “I could follow you and have you lead me to Bill.”
“You may be good, but I am better,” he said, giving her a playful grin.
Smiling above the rim of her glass, Rosalie asked, “How would you know?”
Paden placed his right forearm on the table and leaned closer to her. “I have been tracking your movements for years. Did you truly believe I wouldn’t keep tabs on you?”
With an inquisitive look, Rosalie studied his face. “Nana,” she muttered as she placed her glass back down on the table. “My nana told you.”
Seeing no reason to deny who his source was, he shared, “Your grandmother would write to me, keeping me posted on your whereabouts, but I read the articles in the newspapers written about you. You are quite the infamous bounty hunter with interesting tactics.” He smiled. “And yes, she did wire me, informing me that you were in Silver Creek.”
“Did my nana share anything else with you?” she asked as she nibbled on her bottom lip.
Paden knew what she was asking. In every letter that Rosalie sent to her grandmother, she always inquired about what he was up to in a roundabout way. It had given him hope that she still cared for him.
“Yes,” he admitted. “She always kept me informed of the town’s festivities.”
She let out a relieved sigh. “She did the same for me.”
Carefully, he studied her oval face, taking in her high cheek-bones, flawless skin, and olive complexion. “What do you say, Rosie? Will you work alongside with me as an agent?”
Rosalie furrowed her brow as she sat in quiet contemplation. He wasn’t going to rush her answer. He knew all too well that she analyzed both sides of an argument before she came to a decision. That was one of the things he loved about her.
Her words started off cautiously. “If I go along with this preposterous plan, then I will become a Pinkerton agent… just like that?”
Feeling immensely pleased that she was at least considering the idea, he explained, “Since you are a new agent, I’ll be required to train you.”
“Then what?”
Paden shrugged, hoping his words sounded convincing. “You can continue to work as a Pinkerton agent, or you can quit.” He had no intention of ever letting her go, but he couldn’t admit that. At least, not yet.
“I’ll do it,” she said, suddenly. “I will do whatever it takes to see Bill Garrett hang for his crimes.”
“Excellent.” He hesitated, knowing what he was about to tell her would take considerably more convincing on his part. “There is just one more thing. It is a silly rule, to be honest, but it is designed for propriety’s sake.”
Rosalie eyed him with suspicion. “What’s the rule?”
It was getting overly warm in the room, and he had the sudden urge to tug on his collar. He cleared his throat to buy himself more time. “Since we are a man and a woman,” he began, gesturing between them, “it is required for us to be married to work as agents.”
Immediately, she shoved her chair back and jumped to her feet. “That is out of the question.”
“Just hear me out… please!” Paden exclaimed in a desperate tone.
Rosalie crossed her arms over her chest and lifted her brow. He heard her tapping her boot against the plush carpet.
“The marriage is only required while you are training to be an agent,” he spoke quickly. “Once we complete our assignment, then we can get an annulment.”
“An annulment,” she repeated, dropping her arms in a huff.
Paden rose from his seat. “Yes. I have been told that it is very easy to obtain.”
In reality, he had no idea if that was true or not. None of the training agents that married their partners had gotten an annulment. Not one. He was
hoping the trend would continue with him.
Some of the anger left her features as she replied, “I don’t know, Paden. Being a Pinkerton agent, I can handle, but being married…” Her voice trailed off.
Reaching out, he placed his hands on her arms. “We work well together, Rosie. We both want the same thing. Who cares about the silly requirement of being married? We can go after Bill Garrett and both get closure.”
Her eyes roamed his face, and he detected a hint of vulnerability in them. “We won’t truly be married, will we?”
He wanted to shout yes, but instead he shook his head. “No. This is a business deal. That’s all. We will go our separate ways after this case.”
Rosalie’s eyes grew guarded and unreadable. “I need some time to think,” she said softly.
Did he detect a note of hurt in her voice? Or was he just being overly optimistic? Paden stepped back. “Of course.”
She turned to leave.
Feeling a little frantic, he picked up her plate. “You hardly ate.” Extending the plate toward her, he gulped as their fingers brushed. “Unless you would like me to leave so you can think in the dining room?”
“I would prefer to eat in my room.” Her expression was unreadable. Her tone was soft, but Paden couldn’t tell what she was feeling.
He watched her leave the dining room without glancing back. If she didn’t agree to become his wife, then he could resort to abducting her until she consented. No, that would never work. Rosalie was a stubborn thing, almost as stubborn as he was. She needed to come to the decision on her own.
He prayed his plan would work. After all, his future happiness depended on her agreeing to his proposal.
Chapter 3
“I have decided against marrying you,” Rosalie declared to her reflection in the mirror of the dressing table in her room.
No, that will not do, she thought. She straightened her shoulders and tried again. “I thank you for your kind offer, but I will find Bill Garrett on my own.” There. That will suffice.
She placed the last pin in her hair, knowing she was making the right choice. Paden didn’t want to marry her. He was doing this only out of guilt and their shared history together. Most likely, he didn’t think she could find Garrett on her own, and he extended this offer out of pity.
