by Laura Beers
“You thought you could just flirt with me, and I would tell you everything that you wanted to know,” she huffed.
Lowering his voice, he asked slowly, “Is this because we almost kissed?”
“Oh, you are good,” Audrey scoffed, reaching for her silk robe next to the bed. “You wanted me to want to kiss you.”
He sat back on the bed as his hand stroked his chin, his brow furrowing deeper. “Now I am confused. Did you want me to kiss you?”
Throwing her hands up, she stormed closer to the bed. “Do not play your mind games with me.”
She stormed toward the door, but when she put her hand on the handle, she heard Warren stand up and reach for his boots. “Let me go with you to the outhouse. It’s not safe for you to go alone.”
Not buying his concern, she grabbed her pistol off the nightstand and deposited it in the pocket of her robe. “Trust me, no one will mess with me tonight,” she declared as she turned to leave.
After slamming the door, she marched down the darkened hall, becoming more vexed with each step. Warren believed that she was so gullible… so lonely… that she would fall for his charms and bend to his will. She was not a fool. Luckily, she saw through his ruse before it was too late.
As she exited the hotel, she begrudgingly recognized that his plan almost worked, but now she saw him for what he truly was. A master manipulator. She may trust him as her partner, but she refused to trust him with any matters relating to her heart.
Chapter 6
Sitting tall on his horse, Warren looked out over the coal mine at the edge of town. He had spent the early hours of the morning touring with Sheriff Walker, Mayor Brown, and Mr. Douglas. Now, he tried to make sense of the words Mr. Douglas spouted. He assumed he was explaining the advantages of investing in this particular mine, but not knowing about such things, Warren couldn’t be sure. Not for the first time during the day, he wished Audrey was by his side. He had no doubt that she could have helped him navigate through these financial terms.
The thought of Audrey reminded him of last night. He had almost lost control and kissed her. When she refused to share her story, he’d felt a surge of protectiveness come over him, and he had felt an intense desire to help her.
However, as he pulled her back onto the bed, he found himself unable to tear himself away from her. Despite everything that he had said or done previously, he saw trust in her eyes, and he let his guard down. Something he never did.
Then, she had shoved him away and accused him… well, frankly, he was confused about what had transpired. He still didn’t know if she’d wanted him to kiss her, or if she was furious that he had almost kissed her. Her vexed words did not clarify that very well, and they didn’t speak for the rest of the night.
Despite her anger, Warren was pleasantly surprised when he woke up to find her cuddled up against him in bed. Her hair smelled liked vanilla, and he enjoyed how she breathed in soft little snores as she slept. Knowing that Audrey would be embarrassed at being in such an intimate position with him, he eased his way out of bed, quietly putting on his boots.
He left the room for a quick bite to eat before meeting with the men. After breakfast, he met up with them in front of the livery stable.
As they rode to the mine, Mr. Douglas and the mayor kept up a constant prattle about the benefits of Hickory Creek and this particular mine. Warren found his mind wandering frequently. He didn’t really understand or care about most of what they said. He wanted information that would lead him to the counterfeiters.
Still, he needed to build their trust, so he should at least pretend to listen. He nodded at something the banker said, then asked what he hoped was an intelligent question, which sent Mr. Douglas on another monologue of useless information.
Stifling a sigh, Warren’s thoughts drifted away again. He wiped his brow. The grit on his forehead told him how dirty he was. Later, he would need to go to the boarding house to take a bath. Perhaps he should suggest that they bathe together. A smile came to his lips. He sure loved to rile Audrey.
A chuckle interrupted his musings, and he looked up to see everyone looking at him. “I recognize that look,” Sheriff Walker said with a smirk. “You are thinking about your wife.”
Warren cleared his throat as he shifted the reins in his hand. “I was just hoping Audrey isn’t upset that I left without saying goodbye this morning.” Would she be upset that he didn’t wake her before he left? Or did he do the right thing by letting her sleep?
Mayor Brown chuckled. “I bet she will be pleased that you let her sleep.”
Would she? He really didn’t know. “I suppose so,” he replied.
A wagon filled with coal started up the small hill toward them, and they watched as the driver stopped on the dusty road a few yards away. “Mayor Brown,” the man called, “can I speak to you for a moment?”
The mayor dismounted his horse and led it to the wagon. After a few moments, the man waved Mr. Douglas over. “I could use your opinion, too, Charles.”
Mr. Douglas dismounted his horse and tossed his reins to Sheriff Walker. “Would you mind holding these? This could take a while,” he muttered to himself as he walked over to join their discussion.
Warren removed his hat and wiped the sweat off his brow with his sleeve. He realized he was no closer to finding the counterfeiters than he had been before this little tour. He stopped and corrected himself. They were no closer to finding the counterfeiters. His job was to train Audrey as well as to solve this case. He sighed. It was going to be a long assignment.
Sheriff Walker pulled back on the reins and moved his horse closer to Warren’s. “What are you really doing in my town?” His words were deliberate and stern, completely at odds with his relaxed demeanor.
Not ready to give up his advantage, Warren started, “I’m here to invest…”
“Don’t take me for a fool, son,” the sheriff contended, his hand going to the pistol in his holster. “Do I need to arrest you to get the truth out of you?”
Warren looked at the sheriff for a moment and instinctively knew that it was time to admit his true identity and hope Sheriff Walker wasn’t corrupt. Glancing at the three men talking a few yards away, he kept his voice low. “I am a Pinkerton agent. My true name is Warren Rockwell, and I have been assigned to find a counterfeiter.”
Not removing his hand from his pistol, Sheriff Walker asked, “Do you have your badge?”
“I do.” He never went anywhere without his badge, but he didn’t move to retrieve it.
The sheriff eyed him warily. “I will expect you to show it to me later, but I will take your word for it for now.”
“Thank you.” Warren was relieved.
Dropping his hand from the pistol, the sheriff’s look changed from suspicious to speculative. “You aren’t by chance Warren Rockwell, the bounty hunter?”
“I am.”
The sheriff whistled softly in approval. “I heard you single-handedly brought down the whole Ridgemont gang.”
Warren shifted the reins to his right hand, uncomfortable with the praise. “I only did my job. Nothing more.”
The sheriff watched him for a moment before admitting, “I made you as a lawman at dinner, but I had to be cautious.”
“You did?”
Sheriff Walker chuckled. “I was a Texas Ranger for nearly twenty-five years before I took this easy gig. I can spot a man of the law from a mile away. However, I am still unclear whether your wife is an agent.”
“I am training her,” Warren shared. “This is her first case.”
Nodding, the sheriff took his hat off and ran his hand through his white hair. “You were wise to bring her in as an agent. She was clever with her questions over dinner. Most men would run their mouths to keep her attention. Heck, I would have told her all my secrets if she’d asked.”
Warren ran his hand along the length of his horse’s neck. “Audrey doesn’t realize the effect she has on others.”
Placing his hat back on his hea
d, Sheriff Walker gave him a pointed look. “She is a smart woman; you can see it in her eyes. No doubt she will learn to use that to her advantage, but I have a sense it comes naturally to her.”
Warren nodded. “I agree. Although, Audrey can drive a sane man insane.”
The sheriff grinned. “That is the job of any good wife.” His smile disappeared as he looked over at the group of men by the wagon. “Do you have any leads on the counterfeiters?”
Loud laughter came from the group of men in front of them as they conversed, and Mayor Brown slapped Mr. Douglas’s back.
Warren kept his voice low. “Not yet. We picked up the investigation in Hickory Creek because one of my associates, Mr. Meyer, sent his last update from here. Unfortunately, we haven’t heard from him since and are acting on the assumption that he was killed.” His alert eyes watched the sheriff closely, looking for any signs that the lawman might be hiding something. “Did he approach you, by chance?”
Sheriff Walker shook his head. “I never saw anyone named Meyer, and if he’d approached my deputy, I would have been informed.”
“Pinkerton agents are required to check in on a regular basis for their safety,” Warren explained. “That also allows the home office to monitor the progress of a case.”
The sheriff adjusted his hat to shade his eyes a bit more. “Well, I hate to say this, but you are wasting your time in Hickory Creek. This town is home to good people. The only crimes committed here are by the men from the surrounding areas coming into town to blow their money on alcohol, gambling, and girls.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “If I had to guess, the counterfeiters have a base camp in the woods and only come into town to swap out the money.”
The morning sun beat down particularly hot, making Warren decidedly uncomfortable in the saddle. He took the handkerchief from his neck and wiped the sweat from his face. “I agree. Counterfeiters usually base their operations away from prying eyes. I have seen printing presses in caves, tents, and even in an abandoned jail.”
“You should know that the town boasts one incredibly slow, hand-cranked press,” Sheriff Walker shared. “Dwight is the editor and operates the newspaper from his home. Sadly, he hasn’t been able to afford a steam-powered press.”
Before he could ask his next question, the sheriff cut him off. “And, I know what you are thinking. Dwight is an honest, law-abiding citizen. I am confident that he does not counterfeit notes.”
Warren’s eyes narrowed. “How can you be sure?”
“Because his press is missing the letters ‘w’ and ‘m’.” He grinned. “It makes reading his paper quite difficult until you get used to it.”
As Warren opened his mouth to ask another question, the wagon started rolling away, and Mayor Brown and Mr. Douglas walked back over to them. Mayor Brown had a smile on his face.
“Apparently, we are going to have a barn raising this weekend to help the Cogan family.” The Mayor placed his hand on Mr. Douglas’s shoulder. “And this man has suggested we have a dance after the work is done.”
Mr. Douglas brushed off the mayor’s hand. “Everyone knows that barn raisings end with socializing and dancing.”
Mayor Brown laughed as he placed his foot into the stirrup. “You are just hoping to get some time alone with Miss Alice.”
Mr. Douglas accepted the reins from the sheriff and mounted his horse. “There is nothing wrong with that. Miss Alice is a nice, handsome woman.”
The sheriff chimed in, “Plus, she is one of the few available ladies in the town.”
“Exactly,” Mr. Douglas grumbled. “Now, can we drop the matter?”
Curious, Warren asked, “How many unattached women are in town?”
“Four,” the mayor confirmed, “but two of them have made it clear they are not interested in marriage.”
Turning his horse toward the road, Warren pressed, “Why wouldn’t a woman want to get married?”
Mr. Douglas rode up next to him. “Mrs. Phoebe Quinn and Mrs. Matilda Tucker are sisters and run the finishing school. Neither have any interest in courting.”
“Mrs.? That seems odd,” Warren mumbled, puzzled.
Sheriff Walker rode up on the other side of him. “Not particularly. They lost their husbands in the war and are still deeply mourning their losses.”
“Their husbands died over six years ago,” the mayor pointed out. “They need to move on and marry one of the eligible bachelors in town. That would boost their spirits, I’m sure.”
“Has anyone tried to court them?” Warren asked, tipping his hat down to block the sun.
“Yes, and it did not end well for John.” Mr. Douglas laughed. “Mrs. Tucker saw him approach the school and ordered him to turn around. When he didn’t…” he paused, smiling, “she shot a hole through his hat.”
Warren’s brow flew up. “She shot at him?”
The sheriff chuckled. “Don’t worry. I warned her about shooting at people. Told her she could either resist the temptation or spend some time in my jail.”
“I am sweating through my shirt,” the mayor announced. “Let’s ride.” He kicked his horse into a run, and they all followed suit.
As they rode back to town, Warren hoped that Audrey had managed to stay out of trouble.
Dressed in a rich, blue dress with a short bodice, Audrey stepped onto the porch of the hotel and breathed in the early morning air. When she woke up, she was pleased to discover that Warren had already departed the room. It had allowed her privacy as she changed and prepared for the day.
She walked toward the center of town, her steps kicking up dust on her way. She perused the wooden structures, but nothing appeared out of the ordinary. She strolled the rickety boardwalk past the sheriff’s office, Skinner’s Saloon, a general store, a small post office, and Ruby’s Theatre, which she suspected was a brothel. She heard the clanging of a blacksmith pounding on metal as her eyes took in the businesses on the other side of the road. Another saloon sat next to a livery stable on the corner.
Further up the road, she saw a brick church on one side and a quaint, wooden schoolhouse on the other. A few children played on the grass out front as they waited for school to begin. She heard the distinct clang of spurs on the boardwalk, and she looked over her shoulder to see a dirty cowboy approaching her.
“Hello there, pretty lady,” he said, slurring his words. He didn’t even bother to meet her gaze, but instead focused on her chest.
She gave him a disapproving glance. “Isn’t it a little early to be intoxicated?”
The cowboy stopped next to her, tipped his hat up, and smiled flirtatiously. “Aren’t you feisty this morning?” He glanced over her shoulder and asked, “Are you up for earning some coins?”
As she turned her head to ignore him, Audrey realized that she was standing in front of Ruby’s Theatre, and this man thought she was a prostitute. What a way to start the day! Taking a step back, she held a hand up. “I believe you have mistaken me for…” She gasped when he took a large step toward her, wrapping his right arm around her waist and yanking her against him.
Reacting immediately, she shoved him and took a step back. “How dare you touch me!”
As she turned away from him, he gripped her left arm tightly. Sneering, he insisted, “I am not paying you to talk. Just show me to your room and give me a good time.”
She fisted her right hand and punched the cowboy in the face. Not giving him time to react, she shoved him in the chest. He tumbled off the boardwalk, landing hard on his backside. Quickly, she retrieved her derringer from her skirt pocket, pointed it at the cowboy, and cocked it for emphasis.
She was surprised by a deep chuckle from behind her. “You might want to put that away. It is illegal to brandish a weapon in town.”
She glanced over her shoulder. “Are you the law, sir?” she asked dryly.
Sunlight flickered off a badge pinned to a black vest. Bringing her gaze up to his face, she saw that he had a strong jaw covered in dark stubble, a straight nose, and pierc
ing blue eyes. His light-brown hair was just visible beneath his hat, and her first thought was that he was too attractive to be a lawman.
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied. “I am Deputy Harper, and I must insist you put your weapon away.” His words were firm, but his eyes held merriment.
Lowering her gun, she looked back toward the drunken cowboy. She reminded herself that she was a married woman, at least for the time being, and should not be caught ogling this deputy. “This man mistook me for an employee at Ruby’s Theatre and attacked me,” she explained calmly.
“Attacked you? You attacked me!” the cowboy exclaimed from his position on the ground. Looking at the deputy, he added, “Arrest this woman. I want to press charges.”
Deputy Harper pursed his lips, looked at the cowboy and tucked his thumbs into his belt. “I saw it differently, Travis, and I must side with this pretty lady.”
“She’s no lady; she’s a whore,” Travis scoffed.
Deputy Harper marched to the drunkard, grabbed his arm and dragged him to a standing position. “You are under arrest for being intoxicated in public and assaulting a woman,” he stated harshly. “It would be best for you if you closed your mouth.”
Shoving Travis forward, Deputy Harper said, “I apologize for this ruffian, Miss…”
“Audrey… er… Mrs. Kimball,” Audrey stammered, then recovered and continued, “My husband and I are visiting Hickory Creek from the east.”
Disappointment flashed in the deputy’s eyes when she admitted she was married, but he blinked it away and smiled at her. “If you wouldn’t mind coming down to the sheriff’s office with your husband later today, then I can write up a report.”
“Thank you, Deputy Harper.”
He chuckled. “I didn’t do much. After all, you had the matter resolved before I stepped in.” He started to turn but stopped. “Would you like me to escort you back to your hotel?”
She smiled at his kind offer. “No, thank you. If you could point me toward Mrs. Brown’s, then I can find my own way.”
