by Laura Beers
Her eyes went wide, and she looked at him with what could only be described as adoration. “You wish to cook me dinner?”
“It’s only dinner,” he responded.
However, by the look on her face, it was clear that she didn’t consider this a small task. “Thank you,” she murmured as she leaned back in her chair.
Porter couldn’t be sure, but he swore he saw her blink back tears.
Chapter 4
Darcy smelled the pancakes before her eyes even opened. What a delightful way to wake up, she thought. The sun had barely peeked over the horizon when she threw back her covers and stepped out of the bed. She removed her nightgown and dressed herself in a simple calico gown with no lace or frills, which was designed for the rigors of the Wild West.
She quickly brushed her hair, pulling it back into a bun at the base of her neck, and put her boots on. It was time to face Porter. After he had prepared her eggs for supper, Darcy had felt something shift between them. They were not quite friends yet, but they weren’t adversaries anymore.
Exiting her room, she walked the short distance to the kitchen. The small cottage had a kitchen, sitting area and bedroom. The sound of sizzling butter in the pan greeted her as she rounded the corner and saw Porter flipping a pancake in the air. “Did they teach you that at the agency?” she joked.
He glanced over his shoulder at her with a twinkle in his eye. “Finally, sleeping beauty has awoken for the day.”
“It is barely sunrise,” she contested, looking out the small square window in the kitchen.
Dropping a pancake onto a plate, Porter replied, “I’ve been up for over an hour.”
Darcy took a moment to admire Porter’s brown trousers, long-sleeved plaid shirt, black vest and a red bandana handkerchief tied around his neck in a hard knot. She had to admit that he looked ruggedly handsome in his cowboy attire.
Porter whistled, causing her eyes to dart up to meet his gloating gaze. “Do you like what you see, Mrs. Shaw?”
“I… um…” Her words faded as she cleared her throat in utter embarrassment.
He was standing next to the round table with a plate in his hand. “I have asked you, twice, now, if you are ready for your breakfast,” he stated with an impish grin. “But you couldn’t seem to stop ogling me.”
“I wasn’t ogling you,” she defended.
“You are a terrible liar,” he teased before placing the plate on the table. “I suppose it will be incredibly difficult for you to get work done since you have been partnered with such an attractive man.”
“Am I being reassigned then?” she asked innocently.
“Touché.” He laughed as he pulled out a chair for her. “Come sit down and eat before it gets cold.”
She sat down and allowed him to push in her chair. “Supper and now breakfast. You are spoiling me.”
“That is the idea.” Porter went back over to the stove and started preparing more pancakes. “Didn’t your husband ever make you food?”
Darcy reached for her fork as she revealed, “No. Josh wasn’t the kind to spoil anyone.”
“Even his wife?” he asked with an uplifted brow.
“No.” She poured syrup on her pancakes and started eating, ignoring Porter’s watchful eye.
“Darcy, I am your partner, and I need to know more about you. Please stop avoiding my questions,” he requested, shifting towards her as he cooked.
“Ask me anything, except about Josh. I do not like to discuss my husband.”
“Dead husband,” he corrected, pointing the spatula at her, “and you need to.”
She swallowed her bite. “Why is that?”
He removed the pancakes from the pan, placed them onto an empty plate, and walked them over to the table. “Because I need to know everything about you to be an effective partner. Your likes and dislikes, fears and joys, and anything from your past that might affect your work.” He pulled out a chair and sat down. “Both of us need to know each other so well that we can begin anticipating each other’s next move.”
After taking a bite of food, Darcy chewed slowly as she chose her next words carefully. “Josh is a touchy subject for me.”
“I understand, but this is not a suggestion,” he said. “Let’s start with an easy question. How did you two meet?”
Placing her fork on the plate, she sighed then shared, “From the moment I saw Josh in the school house, I knew he was the one. He was three years older than me, and I used to follow him around everywhere he went.” She smiled sadly. “I even told him that he was going to marry me one day.”
“What happened?” he asked before he took a large bite of his pancakes.
Her eyes darted towards the plain white walls. “I went off to finishing school and Josh continued his education to become a doctor, eventually ending up at Boston University. When I arrived back in town after completing school, I convinced my father to send me to a medical school in Boston, just so I could be closer to him.”
Porter swallowed his bite. “I take it that worked.”
“Not at first,” she confessed. “I was so busy with my studies that we rarely saw each other during my first six months, but we shared the same group of friends from doing rounds at the nearby hospital. Josh was in his final year of school and spent a considerable amount of time enjoying the nightlife. There were many days that he was too drunk to go to his classes, and his roommates were forced to take notes.”
“I can see why you fancied the man,” Porter joked.
“I deserve that.” Darcy picked up her fork and pushed the pancake around on her plate. “I should have seen the signs, but I thought I could save him from himself. Help him become a better man.” Her fork stilled. “He was brilliant when he was sober.”
“You sacrificed yourself to save him,” Porter stated, pointing his fork at her.
She winced at the truthfulness of his words. “When we arrived back in town, I decided to give him time to set up his practice, and I spent most of my time at my family’s cattle ranch,” she shared, placing her fork back on her plate. “But Josh was a charmer and after a while he began pursuing me. He bought me flowers, chocolate, and made me promises that he never intended to keep.”
Darcy rose and placed the plate on the counter before she found the strength to continue. “After we were married, Josh became a different person. He started controlling me, forcing me to do certain things, and if I refused, he would become exceedingly angry.”
Porter’s jaw clenched. “Did he ever strike you?”
“Only once,” she confessed, returning to her seat. For some reason, being close to Porter provided her with much needed reassurance. “After he knocked me to the ground, I told him that I would shoot him if he ever laid a hand on me again.”
“That’s why you carry the derringer.”
“Eventually, it didn’t matter. Josh would go to the saloon and drink excessively every night.” She ducked her head, embarrassed. “I started sleeping in another room and would lock the door to avoid his drunken temper.”
Porter placed his hand on her sleeve. “Why didn’t you tell your father or brother?”
“I couldn’t,” she stated with a shake of her head. “I kept thinking it would get better, especially since we got along fine when Josh wasn’t drunk.”
“A marriage shouldn’t be about merely getting along fine.”
“Most mornings, I would handle the patients until Josh arrived, and no one seemed the wiser.”
His warm hand encompassed hers as he asked, “How did he die?”
Darcy felt the blood drain from her face. She couldn’t answer that. She wouldn’t answer that. Luckily, she was saved by a knock at the door. “I’ll get it,” she said, jumping up from her seat.
“Wait,” Porter declared. “Where is your gun?”
Her eyes darted towards the back room. “In my nightstand.”
He frowned, obviously displeased with her response. “A Pinkerton agent always carries a weapon. Always.”
“I understand.” She hesitated. “Should I retrieve it now?”
“Wait till after our guest leaves.” He stood and walked towards the door. “While you were sleeping the morning away…”
“I was hardly sleeping the morning… ” she attempted to say.
Porter spoke over her in an amused tone. “I invited our boss for breakfast.” He smirked, and her gaze dropped to his lips.
What was wrong with her, she wondered, as she quickly averted her gaze. She was acting like a love-sick debutante instead of the jaded widow that she was.
Tearing his eyes away from his beautiful wife, Porter opened the door wide. “Good morning, sir.” His greeting dimmed when he noticed the dark circles under Mr. McCoy’s eyes. “Come in,” he urged as his eyes scanned the empty yard.
“Morning,” Adam mumbled under his breath as he brushed past him.
Darcy spoke up from her seat. “It appears that you had a rough evening.”
Adam grunted as he dropped into a chair. “I just discovered that my wife was murdered. How do you think I slept last night?”
Rather than appear upset by his angry tone, Darcy gave him a sympathetic smile. “Allow me to serve you breakfast.” She rose, grabbed a plate from the counter, and dumped a pile of pancakes from the plate on the table onto it. “Here you go,” she said cheerfully, offering him the pancakes.
Adam winced as he accepted the plate. “I am sorry for being so rude.”
“You have nothing to apologize for,” she assured him before she sat back down.
Porter noticed that Darcy wore a simple dress for the day, but it only enhanced her natural beauty. How was it possible that she looked radiant from the moment she woke up? When she’d stepped into the kitchen this morning, the whole room brightened.
Banishing his wayward thoughts, he sat in a chair across from Adam. “Before I report for work, would you explain to us what is going on at your ranch?”
Picking up his fork, Adam started, “I own thousands of acres, and my property backs up into the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Obviously, my entire property is not fenced, but along the north-west corner of my property there is a lush valley surrounded by towering mountains. My father constructed a fence along one area to prevent the cattle from disappearing up one of the mountain trails.”
Adam stopped speaking and took a large bite of his pancakes. After he swallowed his food, he continued. “I own over one thousand head of cattle, and we routinely rotate the cattle for grazing purposes. My foreman is constantly sending cowhands to check the fences and make any necessary repairs. About six weeks ago, Trevor was responsible for checking on the fences in the valley and never came home.”
“Did you search for him?”
Adam nodded. “The following morning, we mounted a search, but we couldn’t find him or find any type of a struggle. His horse and gear had been secured to a post, making the situation even more peculiar. How can someone just disappear?”
Porter leaned forward in his seat. “He might have fallen off a cliff or got swept away in a flash flood.”
“We considered those possibilities,” Adam stated. “However, the following week, Nick, my foreman, went missing under the same circumstances.”
“Did you consider sending the cowhands in pairs?” Darcy asked.
Pushing his plate away, Adam said, “Yes, and they disappeared as well. The next day, I sent a telegram asking the Pinkerton Detective Agency to take my case.”
“Have you considered the Indians might have ambushed these men?” Porter questioned.
“Anything is possible. Lately, a few tribes have been feuding over land,” Adam expressed, “but they have been hunting game on my family’s property for generations. My men are under strict orders not to engage the Indians and to let them pass in peace. Besides, they are more interested in the elk, buffalo, and bighorn sheep anyway.”
Porter rested his right forearm onto the table. “What about a competitor?”
Adam shook his head. “Three Bar Ranch is the only competitor that borders my land and that’s on the southwestern tip. We’ve never had an issue with them before.”
Darcy picked up Adam’s plate and walked it over to the sink. “You mentioned that Ralph inherits the ranch if you die, but does he not already own a percentage?”
“No,” Adam replied. “Ralph is my stepbrother. After my mother died, my father engaged in reckless behavior and got a woman pregnant. The woman died when Ralph was seven, and he was dropped off at our doorstep.”
“I imagine that came as a shock,” Porter commented.
Adam nodded. “You could say that. The woman hadn’t even informed my father she was pregnant.”
“Does Ralph know?” Darcy asked over her shoulder as she washed the dishes.
“He does,” Adam confirmed. “When my father’s will was read, we learned that I had inherited the entire ranch, and Ralph was left with nothing.”
Porter rose and grabbed a drying towel. As he reached for a wet plate, he asked, “How did Ralph handle the news?”
Adam leaned back in his seat. “He was only sixteen at the time our father passed, but he has never complained to me. Besides, Ralph is not behind this. I assure you.”
“Why does Ralph not sleep in the house with you?” Darcy asked.
Adam shrugged. “He moved out after Amanda and I were married. He said that he wanted to give us privacy.”
After he dried the plate, Porter placed it down on the counter. “Don’t take offense that we consider Ralph a potential suspect. We have to consider all options before we clear someone.”
Darcy extended him another plate to dry while she said, “I will act the part of the housekeeper and clean, but I plan to join you when you ride out to that corner of the property.”
“How exactly did you know I was planning to do that?” he asked, amused.
She flashed him a playful smile. “It appears that I can already anticipate your next move, husband.”
“Perhaps I should ride with you both?” Adam asked, standing.
Porter reluctantly tore his gaze from Darcy’s. “No, but a map would be helpful. You must be mindful to show me no favoritism. Treat me like you would any other hand.”
“I hope you have thick skin,” Adam joked. “I have high expectations for my cowhands.”
“Good. As well as you should,” Porter stated, placing the drying towel on the counter. “If you need to pass along a message, then slip into your house and inform Darcy.”
“Understood,” Adam replied, walking over to the door. “Shall we?”
Porter placed his hand on Darcy’s waist, and he felt her stiffen. He leaned closer and whispered, “Stay safe, and don’t take any unnecessary risks.” He stepped back. “I will see you during my lunch break.”
“I could say the same to you,” she replied.
“Not necessary. I am a seasoned agent.” He walked over to the hook next to the door and retrieved his Stenson. “Don’t go anywhere without your gun.”
Adam held open the door for him, but before he walked through it, Darcy said, “Thank you for helping with the dishes.”
Placing the hat on his head, he tipped it towards her and headed out the door. Porter was pleased with himself. He was breaking down Darcy’s barriers, and establishing trust between them. It had nothing to do with her alluring smile. He was learning more about her, so they could become more effective partners.
He sighed. He couldn’t even convince himself that was true.
Chapter 5
Darcy looked around the parlor room with pride. All the dust had been removed, the walls were washed, windows scrubbed, carpets and drapes were brushed and shaken outside, and the floor swept. She reached down and picked up the water pail. On her way back to the kitchen, she grabbed the broom that was resting against the wall.
As she took her first step into the kitchen, the smell of the fire in the hearth and the combination of the stew brewing in the Dutch oven caused her to sigh in co
ntentment. It had only taken her an hour to clean and dry the rest of the dishes and now the kitchen sparkled clean. She was immensely grateful for Porter’s help. Josh had never once helped cleaned the dishes, claiming it was woman’s work. However, her new husband didn’t appear to have the same qualms about the tedious drudgery.
Porter was an interesting man, she thought to herself. He was devilishly handsome, and she found herself drawing closer to him. But no man could be as kind and considerate as he appeared to be. It must be an act for the sake of their assignment. After all, she was posing as a dutiful and loving wife, so it was only logical for him to act in a similar fashion. He was good though. He was so believable, that she had started falling for it.
Suddenly, the kitchen door was thrown open, and a tall cowboy, with a slender build and black hair sticking out from under his hat, stormed into the room.
“Adam!” He stopped when he saw her and quickly removed his Stetson. “Ma’am,” he said, respectfully. “I apologize for barging in. By chance, have you seen my brother?”
“You must be Ralph,” she stated as she dried her hands on her dress.
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied. “I can’t seem to find him outside, and I was hoping he came inside.”
“I’m afraid not. I haven’t seen him today.” She walked over to the hearth, took the lid off the Dutch oven, and stirred the stew. “But I am expecting him for lunch. You are welcome to join us.”
“That is a kind offer, but I eat with the other cowhands.”
Darcy listened for any sign of resentment in his tone, but she found none. “Perhaps another time then.”
“Did you find him?” a man’s gruff voice came from behind Ralph.
“No, he’s not in here,” Ralph confirmed.
A man only a few inches taller than her, with a dark face, stern features, and a heavy brow, walked further into the room. His steps faltered when he saw her, and he quickly swiped his hat off his head. “I apologize, ma’am. We were trying to locate Mr. McCoy.”
