An Agent for Darcy

by Laura Beers

  “I have been cleaning all morning, and I haven’t heard him come home,” she responded. “But I do expect him shortly.”

  The man’s approving gaze roamed the kitchen. “You have done a remarkable job, Miss…” His words trailed off.

  Ralph nudged the man in the stomach. “This is Mrs. Bailey, Adam’s new housekeeper, and she is the wife of the new cowhand, Porter.”

  Disappointment flashed in the man’s eyes, but he blinked it away. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Bailey. My name is Dustin Weber.”

  “It is a pleasure to meet you both, Mr. Weber and Mr. McCoy,” she acknowledged.

  “We are not so familiar here at the ranch,” Dustin remarked. “You must call me Dustin.”

  Ralph shifted in his stance. “And I go by Ralph here. Mr. McCoy is my brother.”

  Darcy waved her hand towards the Dutch oven. “There is plenty of stew if you’d like to join us.”

  “I am not sharing whatever that delightful smell is,” Adam declared, walking into the room. Darcy heard a hint of humor in his words. “I’ve barely survived on that sludge that Don’s been preparing for the cowhands.”

  Ralph grinned, his hands fidgeting with his hat. “You better not let Don hear you talking that way about his food.”

  Adam’s eyes scanned the kitchen. “You have done a terrific job, Mrs. Bailey.”

  “Thank you,” she responded. “Tomorrow is laundry day.”

  Letting out a sigh of relief, Adam said, “I can’t tell you how pleased I am to hear that. I have been recycling clothes for far too long.” He ignored the snickers from his cowhands as he pulled out a chair. “Why are you here in my home and not out working?” His tone was stern, but it held no bite.

  “Dustin just informed me that I am not allowed to go out to the valley,” Ralph declared in a frustrated tone.

  “That’s right,” Adam confirmed. “But it’s not just you. I have ordered that no one ventures that far until we sort this matter out.”

  Ralph let out a groan. “We have over two hundred cattle grazing in that field, including seventy-five of my own stock.”

  “It is not worth the risk,” Adam contended.

  “It may not be worth the risk to you,” Ralph shouted, “but it is for me! My cattle are all that I own.”

  Adam frowned. “Be that as it may be, the cattle will be fine for a couple of weeks…”

  Ralph stormed towards his brother, but Dustin placed his hand on Ralph’s shoulder, holding him back. “If the cattle get lost in those mountain trails, we might never see them again,” Ralph asserted. “I am going to check on my cattle.”

  “If you do, then you are fired,” Adam stated firmly.

  “Fired?” Ralph’s mouth gaped open. “You would fire your own brother?”

  “I would, and I will, if you do something foolish like putting your life on the line for something so inconsequential,” Adam contended.

  Ralph brushed off Dustin’s hand. “You are a self-assured, uppity man and possess a head as hollow as a fiddle,” he proclaimed. “Maybe you are making the cowhands disappear.”

  Adam shot up from his seat so fast that the chair fell to its side. “How dare you insinuate that I have anything to do with those men’s disappearance.”

  Ralph stormed closer to his brother until they stood inches apart, his chest heaving with fury. “You have only ever cared about yourself,” he growled.

  “That is not true,” Adam responded with a tightness in his voice. “I promised father that I would take care of you.”

  “By forcing me to live under your thumb,” Ralph asserted as he shoved his brother.

  “Ralph, stop this,” Dustin ordered, trying to step between the two men.

  Adam came back swinging, hitting Ralph in the left eye, causing him to fumble backwards and knocking Dustin to the ground. Once Ralph regained his bearings, he reared his fist back and slammed it into Adam’s stomach.

  Tired of this useless altercation, Darcy took the derringer out of her pocket, pointed it towards the ceiling and fired a shot, resulting in white plaster dust filling the air. The men stopped fighting, and all stared at her in shock.

  Returning the pistol to her pocket, Darcy gave them a stern look. “I do not allow fighting in my kitchen. If you would like to continue fighting, then please do so outside.”

  Ralph extended his hand to Dustin and helped him stand up. With mumbled apologies, Dustin and Ralph quickly left the house.

  Darcy placed her hands on her hips and asked, “Do you want to explain what that was all about?”

  Adam waved his hand dismissively. “It was nothing.”

  “Don’t dismiss me.” She lifted her brow. “Ralph clearly holds hostility towards you.”

  Adjusting his black vest, Adam replied, “He’s just hot-headed.”

  “Apparently, so are you,” Darcy huffed, dropping her hands.

  “What in tarnation did you just say?” Adam asked in an annoyed tone.

  Darcy rolled her eyes. “I don’t think I could have made my statement simpler for you. You both have tempers, and you both escalated that fight.”

  Adam picked up his chair and sat down. “I am not paying you for your opinions, Mrs. Bailey,” he drawled.

  Moving to stand in front of him, Darcy crossed her arms over her chest. “But that is exactly what you are doing. What I just witnessed in this room is vital to our investigation.” She watched as Adam’s eyes narrowed disapprovingly. “Furthermore, if you ever say anything that insulting to me again,” she paused, uncrossing her arms, “remember that I am a skilled nurse.” Leaning closer, she whispered, “And I can make your death look like an accident.”

  Adam’s eyes widened in disbelief as Darcy stepped back. “Now if you will excuse me, I am going to take a break. I find your presence to be unbearable at the moment.”

  Keeping her head held high, Darcy walked over to the door, opened it, and slammed it behind her.

  Dusting off his trousers and shirt, Porter walked towards the house and saw Darcy sitting on a chair by the kitchen door. She was staring off into the distance. He wanted to shake his head at her lackadaisical attitude. A Pinkerton agent never had the luxury of being absentminded. They always had to be on guard.

  As he hopped up the two steps onto the porch, he was about to open his mouth to give her his counsel, when she turned to face him. He saw the sadness in her eyes and immediately rushed to her side. “What’s wrong?”

  “Adam is not what he seems,” she remarked.

  He dropped to a knee in front of her. “Did he hurt you?” he asked, searching her body for injuries. His blood began to boil at the thought of Adam striking his wife. He would pay for this.

  “No, no, no,” she replied quickly. “Nothing like that. He just has a mean temper, as does his brother, Ralph.”

  “I haven’t noticed that,” Porter said, his anger cooling. “Both men gave orders but nothing that would indicate they had a quick fuse.”

  Darcy leaned closer to him, and she smelled like soap and sunshine, if that was even possible. “Ralph and Dustin came into the kitchen…” She shared the story of the altercation, and ended with, “I was so angry that I stormed outside.”

  Porter guffawed. “First of all, you can’t threaten to kill our client. It’s not written in the Pinkerton code, but it is an unwritten rule.”

  He watched her shoulders relax at his easy tone. “Now you tell me,” she joked.

  Reaching out, he brushed away the white plaster dust in her hair. “Do I even need to explain the dangers of discharging a pistol into the ceiling?”

  “No,” she murmured. “I figured that one out on my own.”

  He rose and offered his hand to assist her. “I am famished, and I only get a short break for my meal.” Instead of releasing her hand right away, he held it as he walked to the kitchen door.

  He stood aside as Darcy walked into the kitchen and saw Adam jump up from his chair at the table. “Mrs. Bailey, I want to apologize for m
y inappropriate remarks earlier.” His words were rushed as he tried to ask for her forgiveness.

  Darcy stood rigid, but she tilted her head in acknowledgement. Porter placed his hand on the small of her back. “Isn’t there something you would like to say to Adam?”

  She pressed her lips together for a moment before saying, “I am sorry for threatening to kill you.”

  Adam let out a bark of laughter. “I daresay I gave you reasonable cause.” He pointed towards the chair. “Please sit and let’s start over.”

  “Allow me to dish up bowls of stew first,” Darcy said, taking a step towards the fireplace.

  “Nonsense,” Adam responded. “You sit, and I will serve you and your husband.” He retrieved three bowls from the shelf and filled them full of piping hot stew.

  Porter grabbed three spoons and walked back over to the table. He held out a chair for Darcy. “We have a few questions for you,” he stated, directing his comment to Adam.

  “I assumed as much,” Adam acknowledged as he placed the bowls on the table.

  Porter sat down next to Darcy. “You informed us that Ralph could not possibly be behind this, but Darcy witnessed your heated fight. Is it not conceivable that Ralph wants to ruin the McCoy Cattle Ranch?”

  “For what purpose?” Adam asked, sitting down across from them. “If I go under, then he could lose everything as well.”

  “Ralph mentioned he owns cattle, and they are mingled with yours up in the valley,” Darcy pointed out.

  “It’s true,” Adam confirmed. “I gave him a hundred head of cattle last spring and they are branded with his own brand. Contrary to what you just witnessed, I do love my brother. I have even considered making him a part owner of the ranch, but he is too young for that type of responsibility. He is only twenty-one.”

  Porter took a bite of his stew, and his eyes grew wide. “This is fantastic stew!”

  Darcy smiled at his praise. “You seem surprised.”

  “Why have I been cooking for you?” Porter joked. “Now that I know what a great cook you are, I demand you start making all of my meals.”

  She laughed as he hoped she would. “I should warn you that I can only make a few things well. Stew being one of them.”

  “I take it that you two are newlyweds,” Adam observed, glancing between them. “How recent is it?”

  “Typically, we don’t discuss our personal lives with our clients,” Porter informed him. “But, yes, it was recent.”

  “Oh, the bread,” Darcy shouted, jumping up from her seat. “We can’t have stew without bread.”

  As Darcy sliced the bread, Adam asked, “Are you still traveling to the north-west corner this evening?”

  “Yes,” Porter confirmed, his eyes lingering on Darcy.

  “Good. I would like to go with you,” Adam expressed.

  Porter’s eyes darted back towards him. “For what purpose?”

  “I want to move the cattle to another pasture to ease Ralph’s worry,” Adam replied.

  Darcy placed the bread on the table in front of him. “It might be dangerous for you.”

  Adam wore a solemn expression. “What exactly are you looking for?”

  Porter shrugged one shoulder. “Anything that someone would be willing to kill for. We might be dealing with Indians or a crazy person that lives in the foothills. We won’t know until we get up there.”

  “I have been racking my brain, but I have no idea why someone would want to kill my Amanda,” Adam confessed. “Much less four cowhands. I have considered myself a fair employer, and I haven’t fired anyone in years.”

  Porter pushed back his seat and rose. “Well, if you will excuse me, I need to get back to work. My boss is tough and doesn’t allow slacking of any kind,” he said, wiping his hand over his face to hide his growing smile.

  Adam chuckled. “I’m sure the other men would understand if you were a few minutes late, because I’m sure they have seen your wife.”

  “I’m sure you’re right. I married a beautiful woman,” Porter admitted, enjoying the faint blush on Darcy’s cheeks as she kept her gaze lowered. “I will be back after my shift, and we can take off shortly thereafter.”

  Adam rose. “I’ll see to the horses.”

  “Darcy,” Porter said, as he leaned closer to her ear, “stay out of trouble, please.”

  She tilted her head, causing their lips to be inches apart. “I can’t make any promises,” she jested with a cheeky smile on her lips.

  His eyes became fixated on her lips. He had never had such a desire to kiss a woman as he did with Darcy.

  Adam cleared his throat by the door. “If you are done memorizing your wife’s features, we have work to get done.”

  Porter straightened and stepped back. “See you in a few hours,” he mumbled as he followed Adam out the door.

  Adam clapped him on the back. “You are a lucky, lucky man.”

  “I am,” he responded, wishing, and not for the first time, that this was a real marriage.

  Chapter 6

  Reining in her horse, Darcy took a moment to admire the expansive green fields that sloped down towards the McCoy Cattle Ranch. The homestead looked so small, so inconsequential in the valley, especially compared to the imposing mountains looming behind her.

  Kicking her horse into a run, she followed behind Porter and Adam as they rode higher and higher through the foothills until the Rocky Mountains started jutting up. Adam maneuvered them into a mountain pass and slowed their horses’ gait to match the rocky terrain.

  Darcy kept her alert eyes on the mountains on both sides of them. Tall pine trees loomed all around as they rode deeper into the mountains. The pass narrowed, forcing them to ride in single file. She was about to ask where they were going when they entered a wide valley filled with grazing cattle and bright flowers. A flowing river ran the length of the valley and disappeared back into the mountain terrain. This scene was picturesque.

  “Now do you see why I am fighting so hard for this property?” Adam asked them as he surveyed his land with pride.

  Darcy nodded. “I do. It is beautiful up here.”

  “Come. Let me show you the fence,” Adam invited, urging his horse forward.

  The cattle barely acknowledged them as they rode by, causing Darcy to smile. Lazy cattle. Near the far corner of the valley was a fence that spanned about fifty yards. Adam reined in his horse next to it. “This barrier prevents the cattle from going up this mountain path, which becomes steep and is quite treacherous.”

  Darcy’s eyes roamed the valley, noting that except for this fence the entire valley was surrounded by rocky terrain that would be impossible for cattle to travel. “I see why you fenced off this area. This valley is the perfect place for grazing.”

  Porter dismounted his horse and secured it along the fence. “Is this where the horses of the missing cowhands were found?”

  “It was,” Adam confirmed as he dismounted. “There is no reason for my men to have gone past this fence or anywhere else in the mountains.”

  “Have you explored these hills, Adam?” she asked.

  Adam shook his head. “I haven’t had the time or the desire since I am much too busy trying to run a ranch. But my wife loved spending time in this valley. She enjoyed looking for caves.”

  Stepping behind the fence, Porter announced, “I am going to hike up this trail and see if I can find anything.”

  Darcy dismounted her horse and tied the lead to the fence. “Would you like me to go with you?”

  “No, it is much too dangerous,” Porter stated, over his shoulder. “I’ll be back.”

  Darcy turned her eyes towards the imposing mountains and saw crevices in the rocks. If she was going to hide a body, tossing it into a crevice would be the perfect hiding place. She started hiking up the hill, climbing over huge, craggy rocks, and skirting the dense, dark green shrubbery that mingled with large pine trees that dotted the mountain landscape.

  “I am not sure this is such a good idea,” Adam sai
d from somewhere behind her.

  Darcy glanced over her shoulder. “If you’re afraid, then you are welcome to turn back.”

  Not bothering to wait for his response, she continued to look around, hoping to find a clue. She had spent a considerable amount of time as a young girl looking for caves in the mountains that lined her family’s ranch. Dark, enclosed spaces had never frightened her, much to her father’s dismay.

  That’s when she saw it. An arched opening about twenty yards up the hill, but it was partially hidden behind shrubbery. She hurried up the hill, barely able to contain her excitement. When she arrived at the thick bushes, she pushed them aside and saw a boulder blocking the lower portion of the entrance.

  Darcy peered deep into the darkened cave, feeling an overwhelming desire to search this tunnel. However, this was not a pleasure trip. She was looking for clues that would help them find the missing cowhands. “Doesn’t it seem odd that a boulder is blocking the entrance into this cave?”

  “Not particularly,” Adam admitted.

  Her eyes roamed the dirt surrounding the shrubbery, noting the unusually smooth ground, but she also noticed small overturned pebbles. To confirm her theory, she saw that some of the low growing plants had been broken off. “It appears that someone wiped away their tracks but wasn’t careful when they stepped on the plants.”

  “Why would someone go through the trouble of wiping away their tracks up here?”

  “Exactly. What is that person hiding?” Darcy put her hands on the boulder and futilely tried to shove it away.

  “Allow me to help you,” Adam said, reaching around her and rolling the boulder to the side.

  “Thank you,” she murmured, dusting her hands off on the skirt of her dress.

  She ducked her head down and stepped into the darkened cave. She heard the sound of dripping water in the distance, and the air was damp and cool. “You don’t have a lantern by chance, do you?” she asked, knowing that Adam was right behind her.

  “Unfortunately, I left my lantern in my other vest pocket,” he replied sarcastically.

  Darcy ignored his cheeky response and stepped further into the cave. The only light streamed in from the opening and a blanket of darkness loomed ahead of her. Not deterred by the lack of light, she started walking down the tunnel.