by Laura Beers
“Do you think he’ll have a case already lined up for us?”
Lincoln lifted his brow. “Us? You’d like to team up again?”
Amey felt her cheeks growing warm. “I… uh… misspoke. I meant do you think Archie will have new cases for both of us?”
“I wouldn’t mind working with you again, Amey,” Lincoln said.
“You wouldn’t?”
He shook his head. “Not at all. You’re a formidable woman, and I’ve never enjoyed an assignment this much.”
“Oh,” she replied. “Yes, it was rather enjoyable.”
“It was, wasn’t it?” he asked, smiling.
She worked up the nerve to ask, “Is there any other reason you want to continue partnering with me?”
Lincoln gave her a baffled look. “Do I need another reason?”
“I suppose not,” she said softly.
Taking a step closer, he asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“It’s clearly not nothing,” he observed in a concerned voice.
The door to the post office opened, and a portly man announced, “I’m about to take a break. Can I help you folks with something?”
Lincoln turned his attention toward the man. “Yes, I need to send a wire.”
“Then come on in,” the man said with a wave of his hand.
“Do you want to come in with me?” Lincoln asked.
Amey shook her head. “I should really go back to the hotel and start packing my things.”
“Would you like me to escort you?”
She shook her head. “That’s not necessary.”
“Are you sure?”
“I am,” she replied as she started backing up. “I’ll meet you back at the hotel.”
Lincoln watched her for a long moment, his eyes searching her face. “I’ll be along shortly.” His words almost sounding like a promise.
She nodded her understanding before she turned to walk toward the hotel.
As she walked down the boardwalk, Amey realized that she’d been fooling herself. Lincoln may want to kiss her, and she desperately wanted to kiss him, but he didn’t have any deep, lasting feelings for her. He just wanted to have a good time.
If she continued to work with him, she had no doubt that she would fall deeply, hopelessly in love with him. She was already halfway there, and her heart couldn’t take the rejection if Lincoln never felt the same.
No, it would be best to part ways with the ridiculously handsome Lincoln Hoyt. It was better for her to be alone than to pine after an impossible dream.
Lincoln walked along the boardwalk with a spring in his step. He’d just sent off the wire to Archie, and it had taken longer than he had intended. He had no doubt that he would receive a response later that day. Which meant they would most likely have to sleep another night in Longworth. Not that he minded. He loved spending time with Amey. How he used to think she was an infuriating woman was beyond him.
He found Amey to be delightful and refreshing. She had managed to take a hardened man and bring joy back into his life. For that, he would be forever grateful.
He couldn’t wait to work another assignment with her, and then another. He saw no reason for them to ever stop working together. Perhaps on their next case, Amey would let him kiss her. He truly hoped so. He had never wanted to kiss a woman as badly as he wanted to kiss the beautiful Amey Hoyt.
Lincoln smiled as he reached the hotel and opened the door. As he walked across the entry hall, he thought about how he loved that Amey had his last name, and, frankly, he didn’t mind that he was married to her. He already had some deep feelings for her, but it was evident that Amey did not feel the same way.
However, he hoped that was about to change. He intended to woo his wife and convince her that he was worth taking a chance on. He planned to begin wooing her over dinner tonight.
A woman’s voice broke through his musings. “Mr. Hoyt,” Mrs. Willow said with a concerned expression on her face.
“What is it?” he asked, growing slightly anxious.
Mrs. Willow stopped in front of him and lowered her voice. “Your wife just left for the train station.”
“She did?” he asked in disbelief.
Mrs. Willow nodded as she slipped a piece of paper out of the pocket of her dress. “She asked me to give you this note.”
Lincoln accepted the note and opened it. He read:
Lincoln,
I’ve decided to return to Denver without you. I enjoyed working the case with you, but I prefer to work alone. I wish you a lifetime of happiness, and I’ll always look back to the time that we spent together with much fondness.
Yours truly,
Amey Hoyt
His eyes shot up to the proprietress. “When does the train leave?”
“In ten minutes,” she said, pushing him toward the door. “Go get your wife.”
Without waiting to be told twice, Lincoln took off running toward the train station. He had just run up the stairs when the train pulled into the station. His eyes frantically sought his wife. In a moment, he saw her in her burgundy traveling gown, sitting on the lone bench.
He watched as she rose from the bench, then stood waiting for the train to come to a complete stop.
“Amey!” he shouted as he ran to her.
She turned toward him with surprise on her features. “Lincoln,” she said, her eyes darting toward the train. “What are you doing here?”
He stopped in front of her, his breathing labored. “What am I doing here?” he asked in between breaths. “What are you doing here?”
She nibbled her lower lip. “I wrote you a note. Didn’t you get it?”
Holding up the crumpled piece of paper, he replied, “I did, but I still have some questions.”
“Which are?”
He stepped closer to her so Amey had to tilt up her head to look at him. “Why are you leaving me?”
She pressed her lips together as if she was trying to control her growing emotions. “I have enjoyed our time together, but it’s better if I work alone.”
“Why?”
“Because…” Her words were lost when the train blew its whistle.
He leaned closer. “Because of what?”
Her eyes shifted toward the train as she said, “I’d better go. I don’t want to miss this train. There’s not another one until tomorrow.”
“Then I’ll go with you.”
She gave him a puzzled look. “But what about your carpetbag at the hotel?”
“You mean more to me than my material possessions, Amey.”
Amey’s lips parted. “What are you saying, Lincoln?”
Yes. What was he saying?
He ran a hand through his disheveled hair. “I never wanted to get married. Ever. But then you came along, and I suppose you’re not that bad for a wife.”
“Pardon?” she asked, taking a step back.
This was not going well.
He reached out and placed his hands on her shoulders. “I care for you, Amey Hoyt. More than I should. You’ve brought joy back into my life and have given me a reason to smile. Please don’t leave me.”
Tears came to her eyes, and she brought her gloved hand up to wipe them away. “I care for you, as well, which is why I’m scared.”
“Why are you scared?”
She closed her eyes, and a tear escaped onto her cheek. “My own family disowned me. I couldn’t bear the thought of you not wanting me.”
“Oh, Amey,” he said, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close. “I promise that I’ll never hurt you.”
“Don’t you see?” she started. “I need to leave. It will be easier for both of us.”
“I agree.”
“You do?” she asked, shifting in his arms to look up at him.
He nodded. “It would be easier,” he replied, “but I’m afraid I can’t let you go. My heart will always belong to you.”
“Do you truly mean that?”
Lincoln
dropped down onto one knee as he reached for her hand. “Amey Hoyt, will you do me the honor of staying married to me? I want to court you properly.”
“You do?”
“Frankly, I’m not sure how it will work,” he said, “but I’ll search for times to woo you during our assignments. Perhaps even find appropriate times to kiss you.”
A mischievous smile came to her face. “Is right now an appropriate time?”
He jumped up eagerly and placed his hand on the back of her neck. “It is,” he replied with a flirtatious smile.
Lincoln watched as Amey closed her eyes and parted her lips. Never had she looked more beautiful, he thought. He leaned closer and brushed his lips against hers, kissing her softly.
Amey’s eyes fluttered open. “That was… adequate.”
“Adequate?” he repeated in disbelief.
No woman had ever called his kisses “adequate” before.
She nodded, her face expressionless. “Perhaps we should try it again?” she asked innocently.
He chuckled. “You’ll hear no complaints from me.”
Not sparing another moment, Lincoln gathered her close and kissed her, thoroughly and completely. He doubted he would ever tire of kissing his wife. His wife. He loved the sound of that. He would spend the rest of his life ensuring that Amey never regretted staying married to him.
After a long, delightful moment, Lincoln leaned back and asked, “Was that better?”
“Oh, yes,” she said in a breathless tone. “Much, much better. Can we try it again?”
He smiled as he rested his forehead against hers. “How about we do it someplace a little more private?”
Amey turned her head to see people had stopped on the train station platform to watch them, and he saw her blush adorably.
Stepping back, he held out his hand and said, “Come, let’s go back to our hotel room.”
“I need to make sure that Jasper and my trunk don’t get on this train,” she replied, slipping her hand into his.
He nodded. “I’ll go get your trunk. Why don’t you go see that Jasper hasn’t been loaded in yet?”
“All right,” she replied.
After he’d secured her trunk, he walked down the platform to where a group of people had assembled. He stepped closer and saw Amey was crouching down next to Jasper, who appeared dead.
“Is your horse dead?” a woman asked, leaning closer.
Amey shook her head. “No. He just doesn’t want to board the train.”
A man spoke up. “He looks dead to me, ma’am. He even has his tongue sticking out.”
“I know,” Amey sighed. “Jasper is quite a dramatic horse.”
Lincoln watched as Amey leaned closer to Jasper’s ear and started whispering something. In response, her horse’s ears started twitching.
To his surprise, Jasper rose and pressed his nose affectionally into Amey’s side.
“Well, I’ll be,” he muttered to himself.
Amey grabbed the reins and smiled over at him. “Ready to go back to the hotel?”
“Yes, Mrs. Hoyt.” He offered his arm to her and glanced over at Jasper. “I thought your horse was dead.”
“Most people do,” she replied.
“Did your horse truly not want to board the train?”
She laughed. “They were leading Jasper toward the train, and he just dropped down, lifeless.”
“You were right,” Lincoln said. “Your horse is quite temperamental.”
Amey placed her hand on Jasper’s neck. “I love my horse,” she shared. “He reminds me of a happier time.”
Lincoln stopped and turned to face her. “I promise that I will make you so deliriously happy that you will never once regret your decision to stay married to me.”
“Do you promise?”
He leaned closer and kissed her firmly on the mouth. As his lips hovered over hers, he said, “Yes, I promise, wholeheartedly.”
“Then I shall take you at your word, husband.”
“Please do,” he murmured. “Please do.”
Epilogue
Three months later
“Are you going to open the letter?”
Lincoln shifted in his seat and looked up at Amey. “I am.”
She smiled down at him. “You’ve been staring at that envelope for nearly thirty minutes.”
“I know,” he sighed, placing the letter back down on the desk in their hotel room, “but I’m afraid of what it will say.”
“Do you think your parents will be displeased that you married me?” she asked in a worried tone.
He shrugged. “I couldn’t care less what they think,” he said. “Marrying you was the best decision of my life.”
“Are you sure?”
Lincoln reached up and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her down onto his lap. “I have never been so sure about anything in my life, my dear. I love you more every single day.”
She leaned in and kissed him. “That makes me happy to hear,” she murmured against his lips.
“Well, then get used to it, because I intend to tell you every day how much I love you.”
“You’d better hurry and open it. Archie is expecting us soon,” Amey encouraged.
He picked up the letter. “What if I don’t open it?”
Amey laughed. “Stop being such a coward and open it.”
“All right,” he said, ripping open the envelope. “But I should warn you that my parents might make good on their promise to disown me, especially since I informed them that I plan to continue working as a Pinkerton agent for the foreseeable future.”
“That won’t change the way I feel about you,” she replied, wrapping her hands around his neck. “I will take you as you are.”
Lincoln unfolded the letter and started reading. Amey watched as he furrowed his brow, and his lips pressed tightly together. It didn’t appear to be good news by the way he was reacting.
Once he brought the letter down, she asked, “Did they disown you?”
“No,” he said, slowly. “They said they’re proud of me for getting married to such an impressive woman.”
“They think I’m impressive?”
He nodded. “I wrote in great detail about all of your accomplishments.”
“Then why do you seem upset?”
Lincoln met her gaze. “My parents have never told me that they were proud of me before,” he shared. “It feels rather—”
“Good?” Amey asked, finishing his thought.
He smiled. “I was going to say disconcerting.”
“Well, I am proud of you.”
“Why?”
“Do I need a reason?” she asked. “Besides, I would have supported any decision you made. I just want you to be happy.”
Lincoln kissed her and leaned back. “What did I do to deserve you?”
She laughed. “If I recall, you used to consider me ‘infuriating’.”
“I’m man enough to admit that I was wrong,” he replied, glancing down at the letter. “My parents are hoping that we can come to New York to visit with them.”
Amey nodded. “I suppose we can take a vacation after this next assignment.”
“Do you truly want to go to New York?”
“I’ve never been there before, so I think it would be exciting to visit,” Amey said, rising from his lap. “But we’d better hurry if we want to meet with Archie on time. You know how he gets if his agents are late.”
After they left their hotel, they started walking down the bustling sidewalk toward the Pinkerton Detective Agency.
Amey glanced over at him. “Do you have any desire to work for your family’s business?”
“I do, eventually,” he replied, “but I assume it won’t be until we are ready to settle down and have a family.”
“Well, it might be that we will need to settle down sooner rather than later.”
“Why do you say that?” he asked.
Placing a hand on her stomach, she said, “Because I’m preg
nant.”
Lincoln stopped on the sidewalk and turned to face her with surprise on his features. “You’re pregnant?” he asked in a slow, deliberate fashion.
“I am,” she replied, holding her breath.
A wide smile came to his face. “What wonderful news!”
“Is it?”
In the next moment, she found herself wrapped up in Lincoln’s arms. “You have made me the happiest man alive.”
“I’m glad that it pleases you,” she replied honestly.
Lincoln leaned back, his smile still intact. “Doesn’t it please you?”
“It does, even though it means that I won’t be able to work as a Pinkerton agent anymore,” she replied honestly.
“Then I shall stop working as a Pinkerton agent, as well,” he announced.
“No… no, I won’t let you do that,” she started.
Lincoln put his finger against her lips, stilling her protest. “It doesn’t matter what I do with my life. The only thing that matters is that you are by my side.”
“Do you mean that?”
He nodded. “I do. And we’ll make the decision… together.”
Amey smiled and gazed into the face of the man she was going to spend the rest of her life with. Never had she been so happy. She’d always chased after adventure, but with Lincoln by her side, she felt content. For being his wife, and the mother of his children, would be her greatest adventure.
The End
Other published stories from Laura Beers
The Beckett Files Series
Regency Spy Romances
Saving Shadow
A Peculiar Courtship
To Love a Spy
A Tangled Ruse
A Deceptive Bargain
The Baron’s Daughter
The Unfortunate Debutante
About the Author
Laura Beers is an award-winning author. She attended Brigham Young University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management. She is an avid reader, though she was a reluctant convert. She can’t sing, doesn’t dance and loves naps.
Besides being a full-time homemaker to her three kids, she loves waterskiing, hiking, and drinking Dr. Pepper. Currently, Laura Beers resides in South Carolina.
