by P. Creeden
And the backstage crowd grew louder with their applause.
Opal smiled up at Caleb who, in return, smiled down at her. She wanted what the actors wished for her—years of wedded bliss. As long as it was with Caleb.
Epilogue
Opal
The culprit sat tied on the floor glaring at Opal and Caleb once the actors’ applause had settled down. Mr. Turner came in, clapping his hands together. “That’s enough excitement for one day. We still have a show to run. Everyone back to work!”
With murmurs of assent, the actors went back to work along with the rest of the crew. Mrs. Mauney came over and patted Opal’s shoulder, taking the now cool iron from the floor and giving her a wide smile. “I’ll get the rest of the dresses. Thank you for making everyone safe. A female Pinkerton agent? I couldn’t be prouder.” Then the older woman wrapped a cloth bandage around Opal’s injured hand.
One of the crew members asked, “Is Mr. Wade truly helping us the rest of the afternoon?”
Mr. McFly shook his head. “He was only undercover until they caught this evildoer. I think he has a handful on his own right now.”
Caleb stepped over and grabbed the man by the rope he’d been trussed with and helped him to his feet. The man sneered, baring his teeth and spitting in Caleb’s direction. Caleb frowned. “Easy now, there. What’s this all about? Why have you been causing so much trouble?”
The man hissed. “That two-bit actress has no talent. How could she even compare to my lovely Suzette? And this whole theater is a comedy if it believes that Miss Prescott worthy of the lead role in that play. It should be Suzette’s role. I was only here to make sure that she got to play the part. Understudy? Unacceptable.”
Opal shot a glance toward Miss Smith, whose eyes were wide and round, her mouth ajar, and a look of horror on her face. Opal stepped closer to the actress. “Do you know this man, Miss Smith?”
Her eyes remained wide as she slowly shook her head. “I don’t believe we’ve ever met.”
The man pulled against his ropes and dropped to his knees. “No, my love, we haven’t yet met. I intended to introduce myself after handing you a bouquet of roses tonight when you gave the performance of your life. I have been following your extraordinary talent from stage to stage. You are lovely and a far greater actress than Miss Prescott or any other.”
Opal frowned. This man had thoroughly admitted the crimes he’d been caught for, but did he set fire to the theater? She leaned in and whispered in Miss Smith’s ear. “Please, ask him if he set fire to the theater to show his burning passion for you.”
Miss Smith’s wide eyes blinked three times before she whispered back, “It was arson?”
Opal shook her head slightly. “Please, just ask the question. He may not answer us, but I believe he’ll answer you.”
“Okay,” she said before taking a slow breath. Then she met eyes with the culprit. “Did you set fire to the theater to show your burning passion for me, then?”
A wide smile spread across the man’s face. “It was an accident, but yes, you could see it as my passion burning for you. I only meant to set fire to Miss Prescott’s dress, but it got out of control, just as my love for you is uncontrollable.”
Miss Prescott squealed and collapsed into her chair. Opal ran over and fanned her, meeting eyes with Caleb. With a nod, Caleb helped the man get back to his feet once more and then escorted him out of the dressing area. Opal patted Miss Prescott’s shoulder. “Everything is going to be all right now. The villain has been captured and the show must go on. You are safe.”
Her eyelashes fluttered up at Opal. “So, you’re not a patron or a backstage worker, but a Pinkerton Agent?”
A smile tugged at Opal’s lips. “I am.”
“And you and Mr. Wade are married?”
Opal’s heart flipped in her chest as she answered, “Yes. Yes, we are.”
Miss Smith sat in the chair at beside Miss Prescott. “It must be wonderful to have a man fall in love with you and not threaten to burn down a theater to prove it. I can’t believe it was arson. I thought it was lightning. This is all my fault then.”
With her other hand, she patted Miss Smith on the shoulder. “This isn’t your fault. You cannot control the actions of an insane person. And burning down a theater is no way to show love. Love does not destroy, it builds up. The moment he began harming others to prove his love, it became something quite the opposite of love.”
Both women sighed. Miss Prescott said, “Spoken like a true married woman. I hope I find a man like your Mr. Wade, someday.”
Heat rushed to Opal’s cheeks. She murmured thanks, not knowing what else to say. Miss Smith giggled. “Look at her blush; it must be true love.”
Opal shook her head. How could these women run the gambit of emotions in such a short amount of time? Then she backed a step away. “Well, everything seems all right here, and the show must go on. Break a leg, both of you! I must go help my husband with our charge.”
They both nodded their farewells and began to get their makeup ready for the show. Opal couldn’t help but get excited about seeing her husband again.
Caleb
Once the police took custody of Mr. Lionel Greene, the culprit, Caleb stepped toward Opal and frowned down at her hand. “Has the bleeding stopped yet?”
The two of them sat alone in Mr. Turner’s office while Mr. Turner escorted the officers to the exit of the theater. Opal blinked and then looked down at her hand which had been wrapped in a cloth still. “I truly forgot about it.”
Relief flooded over him. “Good. That means you’ve not been in pain this whole time.”
She shook her head as he took her delicate hand in his and unwrapped it. “It’s barely more than a scratch,” she insisted again.
His jaw clenched as he saw the red wound but was glad to see the bleeding had stopped. “Let’s get back to the hotel. I’ve got cleaning supplies there and a salve to treat this. The last thing a lady needs is a scar.”
She touched the scar that was right over the top of Caleb’s eyebrow. “Like this one? I think that scars can give people character, too.”
His heart raced as he peered up at her. He shook his head, a lump forming in his throat, but he knew if he didn’t say it now, he’d struggle to say it later. “I don’t want an annulment.”
She gasped, and her eyes went wide, but her fingers remained on his forehead.
“Unless, of course, you want one.”
Laughter bubbled up from her throat as she smiled and then she shook her head. “I don’t want one. I only want you.”
He picked up her hand and kissed the area around her wound. “I’m so happy to hear that, as I’ve never wanted any woman the same as I want you.”
Her fingers moved gently over his forehead, his temple, his cheek. He closed his eyes and leaned into her touch. She ran her delicate fingers across each of his eyes and then his lips. When he opened his eyes again, the heat of passion burned in hers. He pulled her toward him and kissed her again, desperately. The heat between them began to grow.
Then the click of the door behind them interrupted their blessed silence. They pulled away quickly, both panting as though they’d stopped breathing. He needed her more than he needed to breathe. He hoped she felt the same.
“Well,” Mr. Turner said as he entered the room. “The police have the arsonist in custody, and the actors are getting ready for the show. The patrons and donors have nothing to worry about, and I believe I will be sleeping a bit easier, myself.”
Both Caleb and Opal stood, smiling and facing their client. “You are happy with the outcome of the case, then.”
He nodded. “Absolutely. I will send a telegraph to the Denver office and my good friend, Archie and let him know that you both have done a marvelous job. Thank you both. Would you like to stay for the show this evening? I can get you both tickets.”
Opal smiled and shook her head. “No, sir. We’ve seen the rehearsal enough times now to know the play nearly by
heart.”
Caleb offered the man a hand. “Thank you, Mr. Turner for your generosity in offering, but I know we’re both extremely tired and would like to return to the hotel.”
Mr. Turner took Caleb’s hand and shook it. “Thank you both. Truly. I hope you both have a successful and prosperous career with the Pinkertons, as well as a long and loving marriage.”
Heat rose to Caleb’s cheeks as he looked over at his wife. “We will.”
Opal
Everything about their evening together was perfect and the next morning, they woke in each other’s arms—both on the bed they had so stubbornly argued about only the day before. She held Caleb’s arm as they walked to the train station, excited for the ride back to Denver, even though they knew it would be almost two days on those uncomfortable bench seats again. For the first time in a while, she thought of her cousin Dudley and hoped he was doing well in Atlanta. She promised to try to send him a telegraph when they got back.
“Mrs. Wade, I believe when we get back to Denver, we should go shopping for a house of our own. I’ve been saving for just such an occasion,” Caleb said as they took a seat in the station to await the arrival of their train ride home.
Opal’s heart skipped a beat. “A house?”
He nodded and took hold of her hand, pulling it to his lips for a soft kiss. “Maybe we won’t start a family right away. We should solve a few more cases with the Pinkertons first, as I want you to get a chance to travel and be an agent for more than just one case. This is better than I ever imagined it would be.”
“What is better?”
“Being married... to you. Having my wife come with me to solve crimes. All of this,” he said softly, his eyes full of love.
Opal nodded. It was better than she had ever imagined, as well.
About the Author
P. Creeden is the sweet romance and mystery pen name for USA Today Bestselling Author, Pauline Creeden. Her stories feature down-to-earth characters who often feel like they are undeserving of love for one reason or another and are surprised when love finds them.
Animals are the supporting characters of many of her stories, because they occupy her daily life on the farm, too. From dogs, cats, and goldfish to horses, chickens, and geckos -- she believes life around pets is so much better, even if they are fictional. P. Creeden married her college sweetheart, who she also met at a horse farm. Together they raise a menagerie of animals and their one son, an avid reader, himself.
If you enjoyed this story, look forward to more books by P. Creeden.
In 2018, she plans to release more than twelve new books!
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