“Let’s see…” She tapped her finger on her chin as she looked at the other passengers on the train. One middle-aged woman sat by the window, frowning. The grayish-brown traveling gown she wore appeared more pricey than most of the others on the train. The woman’s posture was stiff and proper and her brown-gloved hands rested on her lap as she clutched a white handkerchief. She even wore a bonnet, although the sun wouldn’t touch her face through the window.
“Rick, do you see that woman over there?” Cecily pointed in the direction of the woman.
“Yes.”
“I want you to study her for a moment. Then, I want you to tell me why you think she’s traveling, and especially why she’s not happy.”
She watched Rick’s expression as he glanced at the other woman. Seconds later, he swung his head back to Cecily and arched an eyebrow.
“You want me to do what?”
She chuckled. “You heard me. Tell me why you think she’s traveling and why she’s sad.”
“How would I know?”
Sighing heavily, she folded her arms and relaxed in her chair. “Just try this experiment with me.” She shrugged. “I learned by studying people, so that’s the only way I know how to teach you.”
“Fine.” He blew out a large breath and looked back at the other woman.
As silence passed between them, Cecily took this time to study Rick. It was still hard for her to believe she had been partnered with a man so incredibly robust and handsome as sin, but she needed to keep her heart out of this. He wasn’t looking for a wife – only to teach a new agent. And yet, she enjoyed looking at him and dreaming.
From what she’d learned from studying Rick so far since meeting him, was that he dedicated himself to his job and nothing else. He’d already told her how often he traveled from one state to the next, and so that told her that if he did have family, they weren’t close. Rick was the type of man who didn’t make a lot of friends, only because he knew he’d be assigned to another town in another state.
Needless to say, Rick was more like Cecily than she first figured. She had never wanted to make friends, either. She had probably stayed in a town just as long as Rick before her father packed up the family and moved. At least she knew she and Rick had something in common.
She hadn’t been really paying attention, so when Rick turned his head and met her stare, it caught her off guard, mainly because he noticed her gawking at him. A smile tugged on one side of his mouth, which made her heart flip. But it was the softness in his gaze that melted her heart.
She licked her suddenly dry lips. “Are you done?”
“Yes.”
“Tell me the lady’s story.”
“I think she’s had a death in the family. She’s not wearing black, because it’s probably been a few months since her loved one died. She’s traveling to a family member’s house to live now since she doesn’t have any place to call home.”
Cecily grinned and nodded. “Not bad.”
“Was I right?”
“That, my dear Rick, we’ll never know unless we follow her when she leaves the train, or we ask her, which of course we won’t do.” She peered toward the other woman, quickly assessing her since she hadn’t given herself much time when she first looked at the lady.
“What story do you think she has?” he asked.
“I agree that she has lost a loved one, but I think it was her fiancée.” Cecily’s gaze dropped to the woman’s lap. “See how she’s holding that monogramed handkerchief in her lap? She’s holding it tightly, as though she never wants to let go.” Pausing, Cecily studied the woman’s clothing. “Although her clothes are expensive, they are still plain, which tells me she’s not trying to capture any man’s attention. That’s why she’s wearing her bonnet inside the train. She’s probably heading back home to her family.”
“Why would she travel alone if she’s a single woman?” he asked.
She sucked in a quick breath of air as she met Rick’s stare. He’d somehow leaned closer to her, and she wasn’t prepared for the nearness. It also surprised her that he had thought of something she hadn’t. Then again, she’d never had her father or brothers accompany her when she went into town, only because they didn’t want someone to spot them.
“I believe you’re right, Rick. She wouldn’t be traveling if she was single, however…” Her mind grasped at ideas as she grinned wider. “I traveled to Denver by myself, and nobody asked where my companion was. Perhaps the lady is a daring female like myself who likes taking risks.”
“Or,” Rick said softly, “who likes to cause a scandal.”
Laughing, she placed her hand on his strong arm. “Or… perhaps she was interested in becoming a Pinkerton Agent, but when Mr. Gordon told her she had to get married, the mere idea frightened her to death and now she’s traveling back home, disappointed.”
Rick’s wide smile showed most of his white, straight teeth. He covered his hand over hers.
“My dear wife, I believe you are the winner.”
“Indeed? What have I won?”
“You’ve won…” He paused as his gaze dropped to her mouth. His expression softened as his fingers swept over her fingers in a soft caress. “Uh, I think you’ve won…”
Her heartbeat thudded crazily against her chest and she leaned forward slightly. “Yes?”
“You’ve won this game.”
He blinked rapidly and withdrew. She pulled her hand off his arm, and literally felt the warmth from his body’s nearness leaving her. Disappointment weighed heavily in her bosom and she sighed. Once again, she reminded herself that although they were married, it was in name only.
* * * *
Relief swept through Rick when he stepped off the train and onto San Francisco soil. Being in such close quarters on the train with a lovely woman who didn’t know how to tell when a man just wanted to be alone with his thoughts in silence, had frayed his nerves considerably. The only time Cecily was quiet was when she was asleep.
He’d never had a more aggravating train ride – or a more entertaining one. At least Cecily knew how to make him laugh and play mind games with her. Her presence made the time pass faster, for which he was grateful.
Cecily’s eyes were round with wonder as she exited the train. Her gaze moved slowly to their surroundings, and her smile widened by the second.
“Oh, this is truly amazing!”
He chuckled. “I’m glad you like the scenery. Wait until you get into the neighborhoods. You’re going to love the homes.” He offered his arm to her. “Are you ready to venture into town, Mrs. Tanner?”
She gave an audible sigh and slipped her hand around his elbow. “I certainly am, Mr. Tanner.”
Rick had sent a telegraph to the Pacific Grand Hotel to reserve him a room. He’d been at this particular hotel a few times, and thankfully, they remembered him and trusted that he would pay.
After renting a wagon and loading their trunks on the back, Rick drove them to the hotel. It was hard not to watch Cecily’s reaction to the area, but he also wondered why she looked as if this was her first time. Hadn’t her family lived around this area in Cloverdale? It seemed odd that they would never travel from Cloverdale to San Francisco.
“How long has it been since you were in San Francisco?” he asked, curious to her reaction.
Her head swung his way. “What makes you think I’ve been to San Francisco?”
He shrugged. “Doesn’t your family live in Cloverdale?”
Her laugh sounded too forced as she flipped a hand in the air. “Of course they do, but I have never been to San Francisco. Some of my family has, but not me.”
Rick tightened his fingers around the reins. He really hated that he couldn’t read her. One minute she appeared to be lying, and the next, he could tell she was telling the truth. The longer he was with Cecily, the more he doubted his ability to know when people were lying. Why was she making him doubt his own skill?
She laughed again, and this time it sounded genuine. “Don’t you re
member when I told you I’d never been here and that I wanted you to show me everything?”
He nodded, trying to act like he’d forgotten. If she could pretend, so could he. “Oh, yes. That did slip my mind. I guess the excitement of everything has made me forgetful.”
She pulled back slightly, studying him. He really didn’t like her doing that to him. It made him uncomfortable.
“You were excited? Really? You certainly didn’t act like it.”
“I’ll admit that at first I was in shock. With the wedding and all…”
“Ah, yes.” She nodded. “That was a shock for both of us.”
She shifted in her seat and looked forward. He took the moment to study her a little better. At the moment, she appeared upset. She wasn’t smiling as widely or looking at every building with awe-struck eyes. Should he try to play that game she taught him and read her to know her story? The sad thing was, he doubted he’d ever really know the real Ruth Cecily Livingston.
Their room was ready at the hotel. Unfortunately, the hotel only had a large room with one bed. Tonight would be difficult, for certain. Once they had changed clothes and freshened up a bit, Rick was ready to start their assignment. Side-by-side, they strode back out of the hotel and onto the boardwalk.
Cecily had dressed in a lavender gown for today’s outing and coiled her long brown hair on the back of her head. It surprised him that she didn’t like wearing bonnets, but personally, he thought she was prettier without them.
He led them toward the center of town near City Hall. San Francisco had a new mayor since Rick was last there. His sources had told him that Mayor Stephens was approximately fifty-five, short and wide, with a thinning patch of black hair on the back of his head while the top was bald. He’d been mayor of San Francisco for only one year. According to the report that Rick had received from Archie, the townsfolk loved Mayor Stephens because he enforced the law and arrested men for becoming violent when they were drunk.
Rick could see that unlawful men might not like being arrested while they were drunk, and perhaps one or more of these men would want to protest against the new law. Indeed, the city council was correct to worry that something might have happened to the mayor. But the question still remained… why did his family say they’d talked to him on a daily basis?
“Where are we heading now?” Cecily asked.
Rick nodded at the miniature mansion just up ahead of him on the hillside overlooking the busy city’s main street. “That is where the mayor lives. My plan is to question his family and servants. They state they’ve seen him, and yet the people Mayor Stephens works with haven’t seen him for almost two weeks.”
“What should I do?”
He slowed his steps and gazed down into her wide blue eyes. “You will study them, which is your talent, correct?”
“Of course.”
“Let me ask them questions, and you will study their reactions. I won’t be able to look at all of them at once, but with your help, we might be able to see something that’s not right.”
“I can do that.” She smiled.
Soon, they were at the mayor’s front door. Rick only had to knock once before they were greeted by the butler. The middle-aged man wore gray trousers with a matching vest, and a white shirt. His thick blond hair was slicked back away from his face. The slender man didn’t crack a smile as he stared at Rick.
“I’m Agent Tanner, and this is my wife. We are Pinkerton agents, and we’d like to talk to the mayor’s family.”
The servant’s expression hardened. “The mayor’s wife and daughters are the only ones here. His two sons are not in residence.”
“Fine. I’ll speak to his wife and daughters, then.” Rick stayed strong, not wanting the servant to stop him from doing his duty.
The butler showed Rick and Cecily into the parlor before walking out of the room and closing the door behind him. Cecily blew out a heavy breath.
“He’s one stiff butler if you ask me,” she said in a low voice. “I wonder if he swallowed a long stick and that’s what has made him so irritable.”
Rick chuckled, understanding fully what Cecily was implying. “Indeed. The man acted as if we were bothering him to do his job.”
Cecily arched her perfectly-shaped eyebrow. “Perhaps we were. Do you think we should ask him some questions?”
Rick nodded. “Within time, I’m sure.”
Rick remained still as he waited, but Cecily wandered around the room, looking at everything she could. Of course, the room was littered with expensive vases and trinkets. On the walls hung fine artwork, and on the floors were Persian rugs. The mayor certainly wanted to flaunt his wealth to his guests.
Another painting on the wall captured his interest and Rick walked closer to study the portrait of the family a little better. A handsome man with his wife and two daughters in the portrait were no doubt the mayor and his family. From the picture, the mayor was a robust man with hair similar to the color of Rick’s. The mayor’s wife and daughters were all very lovely, and they looked to be a close-knit family.
Quick footsteps outside the room caught Rick’s attention. Cecily hurried back by his side. When the door opened, an elderly woman hobbled in, relying heavily on her cane. Her white hair wound on top of her head like a bees’ nest. The gown, along with the jewelry that the woman wore was gaudy, to say the least. The woman was certainly not tasteful in her fashion.
Behind her walked a middle-aged woman, resembling one of the women in the painting. Her red hair with streaks of gray was also coiled on her head, but done so in a more orderly fashion. She didn’t wear as much jewelry as the elderly woman.
Two other women, perhaps in their mid-twenties, were the last to enter the room. They resembled their mother with their plain gowns and red hair.
The elderly woman hobbled directly to Rick, and stopped in front of him. She raised her steely-eyed glare to him and scowled.
“This nonsense must stop now. Tell your people to leave us alone!”
SEVEN
Cecily sucked in a quick breath, afraid to make any disturbance for fear the old woman would pierce her with the glare from Hades.
Two things shocked Cecily. The first was that this woman held so much anger inside of her. And two… that she wouldn’t want a Pinkerton Agent’s help.
Very odd.
Rick cleared his throat and straightened, meeting the older woman’s withering look. “Pardon me, but we haven’t been properly introduced.” He paused, but briefly. “I’m Pinkerton Agent Broderick Tan—”
“I don’t give a hog’s snoot who you are,” the elderly woman snapped. “We are tired of you bothering us, and we want you to stop.”
Rick didn’t blink an eye, thank goodness. Cecily feared that she’d crumble under the other woman’s scrutiny.
“Forgive us, ma’am, but this is the first time I’ve been here. In fact, I am the first Pinkerton Agent to call on you.”
Cecily took a quick glance at the other three women. They kept their eyes diverted to the floor as if trying to be invisible. Cecily shifted her gaze back to the older woman who now peered at Rick through narrowed eyes.
“Pinkerton, you say?” she asked slowly.
“Yes, ma’am, we are from the Pinkerton Agency.”
The older woman hesitated as she scanned her gaze over Rick slowly. Cecily found it odd that the other woman hadn’t looked toward her at all. Then again, this gave Cecily more time to study the woman’s behavior.
Presuming this was the mayor’s mother – since she didn’t resemble the other three women – Cecily surmised that the mother of the missing man would be extremely worried. In fact, the woman should be begging Rick for answers. Instead, she was mad… which Cecily felt she was expressing to cover up her true feelings.
Cecily glanced at the other three women again. Why weren’t they angered? If the mayor was missing, wouldn’t they be pleading for someone to find him? Wouldn’t they want answers, too? But instead, they stood as if trying not t
o be noticed. Almost… fearful of the outcome.
Cecily had experienced this feeling quite a few times when her father’s enemies had confronted him, trying to get answers. She had stood in the corner of the room, praying they wouldn’t look at her or want answers from her. If those angered men would have forced her to answer, she would have gladly confessed to her father and brothers’ wrongdoings.
Is this what was going on with these women?
“Pray tell,” the elderly woman said, “why would a Pinkerton Agent want to ask us questions?”
“Perhaps it’s to find out where the mayor has been the past two weeks.”
Chortling, the older woman flipped a withered hand in the air. “How am I to know his every move during the day? I’m only his mother, not his bodyguard.”
“Then let me rephrase that,” Rick said. “When was the last time you saw Mayor Stephens?”
“Hmm… The last time, you say?” The older woman tapped her crooked finger on her chin, pretending to be deep in thought. “I suppose it was this morning at breakfast. Wasn’t that when we saw him last, Penelope?”
The middle-aged woman’s head snapped up. Her wide-eyed stare switched between her mother-in-law and Rick. “Uh… yes. I believe that was when we last saw him.”
Cecily looked quickly at the mayor’s daughters. They traded worried glances. Something wasn’t right in this room. An idiot could tell this family was trying to keep a secret.
“This morning?” Rick asked, keeping his voice the same tone.
“It was.” The elderly Stephens nodded once. The mayor’s wife and daughters nodded in a quick rhythm.
“Do you remember what he was wearing?”
All four women traded worried glances this time, but as before, the old woman, was their ring-leader speaker.
“If I remember correctly, he was wearing his pin-striped gray and white suit.”
Rick nodded, keeping suspicious eyes on the older woman. For several awkward moments, all he did was stare at the two older women. Cecily wished he would let her ask questions. After all, they were a team. Patience wasn’t one of her strong qualities, and she knew something would fly from her mouth soon if he didn’t talk.
An Agent For Cecily (The Pinkerton Matchmaker Book 8) Page 5
