An Agent for Hope
Page 8
His handsome face brightened, and he took her in his arms again, covering her mouth with his. She wanted to melt, to sigh, and to confess her feelings, but his gentle lips made her just want to kiss him right now.
“What’s going on here?”
The upset voice from nearby broke Hope’s and Jesse’s moment. She turned to look toward the train. A middle-aged man dressed in black trousers and a black suit coat with gold buttons on his chest, strode toward him. The railroad engineer removed his square hat and scratched his head.
Jesse stepped past Hope but kept hold of her hand. “We are humbly sorry for making you stop your train.”
“Why were you on the tracks?”
Jesse pointed to the chains still on the ground. “I’m a Pinkerton agent. Someone wanted me dead, and... those people are now on your train robbing your freight car.”
The older man hissed and jerked his head back toward the train. “Sir,” Jesse continued, “I only have one gun to try and stop them. Will you and some of your men be able to help me?”
“Most definitely.” The engineer nodded sharply before storming back to the engine.
Jesse and Hope hurried after the man. He gathered two more of his engineers and gave Hope a pistol.
“Sir,” Jesse said, “my wife and I are Pinkerton agents. We will stop the outlaws, but we need you and your men to back us up.”
The first engineer motioned his hand to the other men as they made their way toward the freight car. Hope finally remembered where Robert had placed everyone. She tugged on Jesse’s hand, stopping him.
“Kate is in the passenger car and will make a commotion for Robert to sneak into the freight car. Pete is on the freight car’s roof.”
Jesse glanced up at the car. “When we reach the last passenger car, I’ll climb up and surprise Pete.”
“Uh, Agent?” The first engineer asked. “I can have my men at the end of the freight car, waiting for the gang’s escape.”
“Perfect.” Jesse smiled.
They resumed their walk toward the end of the train, their steps getting faster with each second.
Hope waited as she watched Jesse slowly climb up the side of the railcar to the roof, taking every precaution he could. Once she felt that he’d be all right, she moved to the steps to the last passenger car. The other men hurried to the end of the freight car.
Cautiously, she peeked inside the window to see what kind of commotion Kate was causing, since this had been the gang’s plan to keep the passengers distracted. The woman lay on the floor, feigning some kind of malady. Many people were around her or watched from their seats.
Grinning, Hope made her way inside without anyone seeing her. She was still dressed like a boy, even though her hair hung long over her shoulders, and of course now she had a bandage around her head. She tightened her fingers around the butt of the gun as she neared the other woman who had her eyes closed as she groaned.
Hope scanned the woman from head to toe, wondering where she had kept her weapon because it didn’t appear that the woman was touching it at all. As Hope passed other passengers, she whispered her apologies squeezing past them, getting closer to Kate.
Finally coming to a stop at the woman’s feet, Hope pointed her gun at Kate. Gasps ricocheted throughout the car, and most of the crowd had hurried back to their seats.
“There’s no need to panic,” Hope said. “I’m a Pinkerton agent... undercover.”
At that moment, Kate’s eyes opened, and color left her face. Hope gave the woman a nod. “I think you should get up off the floor now. We have stopped you and the others from robbing the train, just as we told you we’d do.” Hope quickly glanced at two men who were in their thirties. “Could I get your help to lift Mrs. Hinchee off the floor? Make sure she doesn’t have a weapon.”
The men hurried to assist. As Kate was slowly helped up, Hope smiled brightly. “I’m happy to report that the train didn’t kill my husband as you and your son had hoped.”
Another man approached Hope, and a woman slowly followed. Hope didn’t want to take her eyes off Kate. Not yet – and not until she could find someone with rope to get the outlaw tied up.
“Excuse me, Agent Slade.”
The voice was very familiar, and she glanced at the man now standing next to her. Recognition struck, and relief flooded her. She smiled. “Good day, Agent Morgan.” Hope looked over Graham’s shoulder to see his wife, Evelynn. It took all of Hope’s willpower not to give them both a big hug. “What a surprise you’d be on this train at this exact time.”
Graham chuckled and pulled out handcuffs from his pocket. “Remember that case we’re working on?”
Hope nodded.
“Well, I think you and Jesse just solved it for us.” Graham winked before slapping the cuffs on Kate’s wrists.
“We did?” Hope asked, looking at Evelynn. Now she understood why Jesse told her that it was better to work with other agents.
The other woman smiled, brightening her whole face. “Yes. We were searching for Dalton’s gold.”
Hope laughed. “Well, it’s on the freight car. In fact, Jesse is there—”
Just then, gunshots rang through the air, almost sounding like they came from the top of the train. Hope’s heart dropped. Why were there more than one shot? Oh please, Lord... let Jesse be all right.
ELEVEN
Jesse ducked down, grumbling under his breath. Why had his beautiful wife saved his life, only for it to be put in jeopardy again? It was as if Pete had known Jesse was coming for him – and waited for the exact moment to fire his gun. Jesse had felt the bullet from Pete’s gun buzz closely to his ear. Jesse had quickly moved and fired back, but because he’d been more focused on getting out of the way, he didn’t know if he even came close to hitting his target.
He needed to keep Pete busy, only so that Hope and the engineers could do their jobs and catch the others.
Jesse blew out a gush of air from his mouth. With the train stopped, that would make it easier for Robert’s gang to get away undetected.
“Pete,” Jesse called out. “You might as well give yourself up.”
“I’m not an idiot, Agent Slade.”
Jesse rolled his eyes. “Well, you could have probably stood by your statement a month or so ago, but since you’re now part of Robert’s gang by your own choosing, that classifies you as an idiot.”
Pete released a few choice swear words, and Jesse chuckled to himself. He didn’t know if the barber finally figured out the truth or if he was just upset that Jesse was right.
“Slade, how did you get out of those chains, anyway? Robert tied you up good. You should be dead by now.”
Jesse grinned, remembering the way Hope had saved his life and fought through the tears of frustration to make sure he was off the railroad tracks, risking her own life for his. His heart swelled. He’d never loved her as much as he had during those terrifying minutes. “Maybe I am dead and I’m just a ghost now.”
“No, you’re not. Ghosts can’t carry guns.”
“Are you certain about that, Pete? Have you met any law abiding ghosts lately?”
“Enough, Slade! I want to know how you freed yourself.”
Slowly, Jesse peeked over the top of the roof. Pete’s scowl registered with surprise. Jesse took that opportunity to shoot at him before he quickly ducked back down. He missed. But then so did Pete’s shot.
Jesse didn’t have any more ammunition left to fire. This was the disappointing thing about a two-barrel Derringer. All shots had to be precise. One needed to aim better and concentrate while using a Derringer. Jesse should have remembered that before now.
“Pete, you really should just give up. I’m up here to capture you, but there are other people in the passenger car with Kate and behind the freight car, waiting for Robert. You really can’t get out of this.” Jesse sighed. “I tried to warn you earlier, but I guess you were too greedy to understand the depth of your poor choices.”
“I’ll not let you take
me alive,” Pete said loudly.
“Really? Is it worth risking your life for? I assure you, Robert and Kate – and even Frank – are not worth it.”
“I won’t hang for something I didn’t do.”
“Pete, have you killed anyone?” There was silence for a few minutes, before Jesse heard a meek, no. “Have you held up a bank or robbed a train – other than this one?”
“No. This was my first train robbery.”
Jesse sighed. “Then I doubt you’ll hang at all. Your only crime is that you trusted the wrong people.”
“However,” came a sweet voice on the other side of the freight car, loud and in control, “if you don’t drop your weapon now, I’ll arrest you for the attempted murder of a Pinkerton agent, and that just might get you hanged.”
Jesse grinned and peeked over the edge of the roof, looking toward his beloved wife. She had climbed on the other set of stairs and was pointing a gun toward Pete. Jesse had never been prouder of Hope than he’d been today.
Nodding and lowering his gaze, Pete dropped his weapon and held his hands above his head. Jesse smiled lovingly as he watched her. Perhaps he had trained her well, after all.
HOPE STOOD ON THE HOTEL’S porch next to Jesse as they waved their goodbyes to Graham and Evelynn Morgan. The sun had begun to descend, and the sunset had never been more beautiful in the horizon as it was now. Of course, there was only one thing more breathtaking than the sunset... it was Jesse.
She looked at his smiling face as he bid their new friends goodbye while the Morgans rode off down the street. Today had been a trying day for both Jesse and Hope, but thankfully, after they had gotten everyone arrested and in jail, Hope and her husband were allowed to return to their hotel rooms to get cleaned up. Jesse was in his hotel across town, and she was in hers, counting the minutes until she could see him again.
She had hurried through her bath and dressed in one of her favorite lavender gowns. She dried her hair but left it long and flowing over her shoulders. She’d disposed of the bandage around her head, and left the wound open to the fresh air in order for it to heal faster. This evening, she was going to look her best for her amazing husband since her heart was so full of love.
Apparently, during this time, Graham and Evelynn had finished yet another case they’d been working on lately... finding evidence against the sheriff of Colorado Springs that he’d been working with Frank Hinchee, which was why the outlaw had escaped the other day. The sheriff had also been arrested, and the Deputy Howard Tripp was appointed sheriff by Graham Morgan. Hope was very thankful that the town was now in good hands.
And speaking of being in good hands... Jesse slid his arm around Hope’s shoulder and pulled her against him as he smiled down at her.
“I thought we’d never be alone,” he said.
She chuckled. “Graham and Evelynn are wonderful people, and I’m very happy we are friends, but I’ll admit, I had hoped they would leave.”
Jesse stroked Hope’s cheek and her heartbeat quickened. Of course, she’d noticed that a lot lately. Every time he touched her, she was filled with warmth and comfort. When he wasn’t around, she felt empty.
“Why had you wanted them to leave,” he asked.
“Because, we have so much to talk about.”
He arched an eyebrow. “We do?” His fingers moved to her mouth and the tip of his thumb stroked her bottom lip. “I was hoping to do something entirely different.”
Heat bloomed in her face since she had similar thoughts as well. But first, they needed to talk. “Later.” She turned toward him and slid her arms around his waist. “I need to tell you of some discoveries I’ve made yesterday and today.”
“Tell me about them.”
His voice grew huskier every time he spoke, and it made little nervous flutters in her belly. “I’m not sure really how it happened, or when, but you’ve made an impression on my mind and heart.” She paused, but only briefly. “I’ve realized that I’m a better person and a better agent when I’m with you.”
His eyes sparkled as his expression turned serious. But she didn’t want him to say anything yet.
“I realized,” she quickly continued, “that the number two is much better than one. I never knew how lonely I was until I pushed you away. And then last night when I knew Robert had taken you and that you might be hurt or dying, I couldn’t think of anything else but finding you. Nothing mattered to me except making sure you were alive. There was a point that I didn’t even care about catching our train robbers. All I cared about was you.” She lifted her hand and caressed his cheek. “When I saw you lying on the railroad tracks, I was dying inside. I knew that I couldn’t possibly live without you. I wanted to be with you... forever.”
Jesse cupped her face and lowered his mouth to hers. Because they were still outside where they could be noticed, he kept the kiss simple, but it was still powerful enough to make Hope lose her breath.
“Oh, my darling Hope,” he whispered in a tight voice, “I’ve waited so long to hear you tell me that. I have wanted your love and trust from the first moment I saw you.”
“Please forgive me for not being ready for your love.” She smiled. “But, I’m ready for it now.” She cuddled closer. “Oh, Jesse, I do love you so much. Don’t let me go ever again.”
“I will never force you, but if you want to leave me, rest assured that I’ll find you and make you fall in love with me again.”
“I’ll never leave. Why should I when you’re the best thing that has ever happened to me?”
He released a low groan and kissed her once more, deeper, and more passionate. However, the noise of a passing wagon ruined the mood. He lifted his head, still smiling down at her.
“Mrs. Slade? I hope you don’t mind, but I’d love to take you back inside the hotel and up to your room. I believe it’s finally time we became husband and wife – in all sense of the word.”
She nodded. “You always have the best ideas.”
He chuckled. “Only when I’m with you.”
With his arm still around her shoulders, and hers around his waist, they walked together back into the hotel. Her life had meaning now, and she had so much to look forward to. Soon, she’d want to start a family with him and maybe settle down in a quiet little town. Perhaps she’d find something else to do instead of being a Pinkerton agent. Maybe he would want something else, as well. It didn’t matter, really. All that mattered was that they did it together.
She’d once heard her mother say that the recipe for a long-lasting marriage was a healthy dose of communication, with several sprinkles of forgiveness, and topped with saying I love you every night before retiring. Hope would make sure she followed this recipe to perfection. In fact, she’d even add in a few extra ingredients like – adventure and laughter. Then, that would be her ideal marriage.
THE END
Pinkerton Matchmaker stories
Make sure to read my other Pinkerton Agent romance stories
An Agent for Cecily - https://www.amazon.com/Agent-Cecily-Pinkerton-Matchmaker-Book-ebook/dp/B07L532RCH
An Agent for Evelynn - https://www.amazon.com/Agent-Evelynn-Pinkerton-Matchmaker-Book-ebook/dp/B07N39WXMS
An Agent for Claudia - https://www.amazon.com/Agent-Claudia-Pinkerton-Matchmaker-Book-ebook/dp/B07RKRB7CT
An Agent for Frances – https://www.amazon.com/Agent-Frances-Pinkerton-Matchmaker-Book-ebook/dp/B07TVQ2DFR
An Agent for Scarlett - https://www.amazon.com/Agent-Scarlett-Pinkerton-Matchmaker-Book-ebook/dp/B081KVFXJG
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Author’s Bio
Marie Higgins is a best-selling author of Christian and sweet romance novels; from refined bad-boy heroes who make your heart melt to the feisty heroines who somehow manage to love them regardless of their faults. She has over 80 heartwarming on-the-edge-of-your-seat stories, and broadened her readership by writing myst
ery/suspense, humor, time-travel, paranormal, along with her love for historical romances. Her readers have dubbed her "Queen of Tease", because of all her twists and unexpected endings.
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