An Agent for Claudia

by Marie Higgins

  Claudia’s heart continued to break. She couldn’t take any more of this. She wouldn’t believe her grandmother was a thief until she heard it from the old woman’s mouth directly.

  “You know I’m telling the truth. Remember when we were in Mobile and the three of us were at that party? The reason we left early was because your grandmother had stolen the jewels and we needed to leave before the servants discovered them missing.”

  Claudia reached the window and had to sit on the window seat in case her weak legs gave out on her. Confusion pounded in her head, but she still couldn’t believe it, and yet... She had noticed her grandmother wearing a pearl necklace with a ruby in the middle. Claudia had once commented to her grandmother about the lovely necklace. Grandmama had said it was a gift from an admirer. She had led Claudia to believe the admirer was a wealthy older gentleman in the next town over. And yet, the man never called on Ruth after that. Now Claudia knew why.

  Keeping the gun in one hand behind her back, she used her other hand to rub her forehead. If only all of this would go away. She was tired of feeling so helpless. Tired of feeling that she wasn’t good enough. Only Blake had made her feel important. He was the only one who loved her unconditionally.

  “Phillip, just leave. I... don’t care about the plantation any longer. If you want it, you can have it. Just leave me and Blake alone. Once we’re married, we’ll be out of your way.”

  Phillip’s surprised expression was brief before he scowled and shook his head. “I don’t believe you. Besides, I’m looking forward to showing you how a man really treats a woman.”

  He jumped toward her, and instinct took over. She brought the gun in front of her, pointing it toward her cousin. Suddenly, all of the sadness and confusion disappeared. No longer did her body shake. She was finally in control.

  His eyes widened when he looked at the gun in her hand. He stopped. His cheeks reddened as his scowl deepened.

  “Phillip, unless you want to share the shallow grave with Johnny, I suggest you leave my room and my plantation immediately.” She found the strength to stand. Feeling more determined, she squared her shoulders. “Blake is a Pinkerton agent, and he and the other agents will stop you and your friends, mark my words. We are not going to let puny men like you in our lives ever again.”

  “What are you going to do? Shoot me? I don’t believe you have the courage.”

  She nodded. “Take a step toward me and see.”

  Phillip shook his head. “I’m not letting you go this time. I plan on winning, Claudia. You might as well get that through your head.”

  There was nothing else she could do but shoot him. Men like Phillip and Johnny were dangerous. And yet, she’d never taken another person’s life before. If she did so now, would guilt eat at her for the rest of her days?

  Suddenly, the door to her room swung open and Blake rushed inside, holding a shovel. Phillip swung around and guarded himself. Blake swung the shovel toward Phillip, but her cousin jumped out of the way.

  Blake’s glare was dark as he slowly stepped toward Phillip. He raised the shovel and swung again, but Phillip blocked it with his arms. In a quick second, he yanked the shovel away from Blake.

  Holding in a sob, Claudia’s body froze as she watched her cousin creep toward the man she loved. Phillip’s expression was pure evil, and she feared the worst. Blake was a quick shot, but... did he have his pistol on him?

  She could see a hint of fear in Blake’s eyes, but she knew him well enough to be determined not to let her cousin win. But doubt snuck in her head, and her hopes dropped.

  Phillip swung the shovel at Blake, but he blocked the strike with his arms. The blade of the shovel ripped Blake’s sleeve and blood surfaced on his arm.

  Growling, he grasped the nearest wooden chair and threw it at Phillip, knocking the shovel out of his hands. It slid to the floor, stopping near her feet. Phillip screeched an awful sound as he jumped on Blake, wrapping his fingers around Blake’s throat.

  No! She would not allow this to happen. Phillip could not take away everything she loved.

  Finding the strength that had been buried inside of her, she grabbed the shovel and hurried toward the two men on the floor. She raised the shovel just as Phillip’s head turned her way. She brought it down as hard as she could on the side of his face. Once the blade made contact, Phillip fell into a motionless heap. Blake shoved the man off him and quickly stood.

  Relief poured over her and she ran to Blake. He took her in his arms, and held her so tightly she almost couldn’t breathe, but she didn’t care. Finally, this nightmare was over.

  “Oh, Blake,” she sobbed painfully. “I couldn’t shoot him, even if I really wanted to.”

  “That’s all right, my love. Hitting him over the head with the shovel worked perfectly. He’s out of commission now.” He kissed her. “I’ve never had a woman save me before. It was rather nice. Thank you.”

  She glanced at her cousin. Blood poured from his nose and mouth. “Is he dead?”

  “Probably not, but I’m sure he’ll have some teeth missing and a broken nose when he wakes up. Not to mention, he’ll be in jail. Maybe not in this town, but one that actually follows rules.”

  Another person rushed into the room, holding a gun. Claudia was happy to see Chaplain Brooks helping Blake. The chaplain’s gaze moved from her to Phillip on the floor before the man grinned.

  “I can’t believe I missed the good part.”

  Blake laughed. “Yes, you did. My lovely woman here took care of her evil cousin. But I’ll admit, having two shovels smacking him in the head would have been even better.”

  A small moan from the other side of the room had Chaplain Brooks swinging around. Frances stirred, rubbing her head. Chaplain hurried to the maid’s side, kneeling beside her.

  “Are you all right?”

  Frances’ cheek was bright red where Phillip had struck her, and the woman’s auburn hair had tumbled out of the coil she’d always kept it in, falling in waves around her shoulders. She stared at Chaplain Brooks with wide eyes.

  “Yes, I’ll be fine once the fire in my cheek disappears.”

  Claudia left Blake’s side to tend to her maid, but it appeared that Mr. Brooks was already doing that. He gingerly touched Frances’ swollen cheek and she flinched.

  “Let’s get you down to the kitchen. I’m sure we can find something that will help the swelling.”

  Frances nodded and took the chaplain’s outstretched hands as he helped her stand. She stopped and swayed, but Mr. Brooks’ slid an arm around her waist to keep her upright.

  “Here, let me help you,” he told her.

  As Claudia studied her maid, she realized how much younger the woman looked with her hair hanging around her shoulders. Before, Claudia had always thought Frances was older, but now Claudia realized they were probably around the same age.

  After Mr. Brooks and Frances left the room, Claudia heard Blake chuckle. She stared at him warily. “What’s that about?”

  He shook his head. “Did you see the way Vincent was with your maid – all gentle and caring?”

  “Yes. Is he normally not like that?”

  “Don’t get me wrong,” Blake said, taking Claudia back into his arms, “Vincent is a gentle man, but he rarely goes out of his way to help a woman in distress.”

  “Well, I for one, am happy to see that he cared enough to take an interest in Frances.”

  “Me, too.”

  She turned her head and glanced at her cousin again. “What are we going to do next?”

  Blake released a heavy sigh. “Now we wait for the cavalry.”

  “The United States Cavalry?”

  “No. We wait for the Pinkerton agents’ cavalry. They’ll make things right in South Carolina, I promise.”

  EPILOGUE

  Blake stood across from Claudia, holding her hands and staring into her enchanting eyes. She was a beautiful woman, and she made a breathtaking bride. She wore a white gown with silver beads stitched acr
oss the bodice, and fabric flowers with the faintest tinge of pink sewn into the puffy sleeves. Her hair was loosely pulled into a coil and surrounded with a white veil held on her head by a wreath of pink and silver flowers.

  Archie Gordon was the one performing the ceremony – since it was legal now – and Vincent Brooks stood up as Blake’s best man. Claudia’s maid, Frances, was the bride’s attendant. Thankfully, the swelling and redness had been gone from her face for two days now.

  Archie had obtained a special license for Blake and Claudia and they were married four days later. Not many people came to the wedding, but it was only because Claudia didn’t know whom to trust. And although her grandmother was here, she was heavily guarded by two Pinkerton agents and would be taken to jail once the ceremony was concluded.

  “I now pronounce you man and wife.” Archie Gordon grinned as he rocked back on the heels of his shiny black boots. “You may kiss the bride.”

  Blake nodded to his supervisor. “Indeed, I will.”

  He gathered his bride in his arms and smiled down into her lovely eyes, knowing he’d never get tired of looking at her. “I love you,” he whispered as he lowered his mouth to hers.

  In front of others, he had to keep the kiss simple and sweet, but he anxiously waited for the moment they were alone. Then he’d kiss her the way he really wanted to.

  As they pulled apart, the group applauded. One by one, they came up and congratulated the couple. Claudia’s grandmother was teary-eyed and apologetic as she hugged her granddaughter. Tears also pooled in Claudia’s eyes.

  “I’m sorry you allowed Phillip to convince you to do wrong, but now you must pay for it.” Claudia squeezed the older woman’s hands.

  “I know, dear. I hope you will come and visit me often.”

  “I shall.”

  Mrs. Willis turned and walked away with two of the Pinkerton agents.

  After everyone began mingling, Claudia stepped back in his arms. “Well, Mr. Bentley, what are our plans for the future?”

  “It all depends, Mrs. Bentley.” He winked. “Do you want to become a Pinkerton agent with me, or would you be happier running your plantation?”

  “I can’t do both?”

  He shrugged. “I suppose you could. After all, I’m sure there are other assignments in South Carolina that need a Pinkerton agent.”

  She smiled brightly. “I would like that very much.”

  Archie stepped up to Blake and patted his shoulder. “Agent, I suspect you realize what a can of worms you opened up running across this conspiracy with the South uprising against the North.”

  Blake frowned and nodded. “Yes, but with Phillip in jail awaiting his trial, which I’m almost betting might end in a hanging, I’m hoping his comrades will see that what they are doing is dangerous and that they won’t win.”

  “I heard from Allan Pinkerton, and he has contacted South Carolina’s senator. They’ll be replacing the law in Charleston very soon.”

  “That makes me feel more comfortable.” Blake sighed. “But until all is settled, my wife and I are going to stay in Charleston and make sure everyone is obeying the law.”

  “Splendid.” Archie beamed. “I wouldn’t entrust it to anyone else.”

  As Archie left, Vincent walked up to him. “Well, my friend. I’ve got another assignment.”

  Blake’s heart dropped. He and Vincent had worked together for so long, he didn’t want to lose the best friend a man could ever have. Then again, Blake was a married man now. The most important person in his life should be his wife.

  “I’m going to miss you,” Blake said sadly. “Where are you going?”

  “Texas. I’m going to follow up on some leads that were found in Phillip’s room.”

  “Good. Keep in touch.”

  Claudia leaned up and gave Vincent a kiss on the cheek. “I shall miss you.”

  Vincent squeezed her hands affectionately. “Thank you for making my friend very happy.”

  She smiled at Blake. “It was my pleasure.”

  “And remember what I said about groveling,” Vincent told Blake and winked. “It’ll help you out of arguments all the time.”

  “Oh, really?” Claudia said with a laugh as she arched her eyebrow at Blake.

  Chuckling, he took her back in his arms and kissed her. “Actually, my love, I believe kissing you will help more than groveling.”

  Sighing, she snuggled against him. “Much better.”

  Silence stretched between them as he glanced at the small crowd. The Pinkerton agents had been his family for so many years, and these men were like brothers to him. But he was very happy to start a new life with an amazing woman, who would definitely make him happy... and keep him on his toes.

  He kissed her forehead and she looked up at him. “My love, are you ready to start our honeymoon?”

  Her eyelids lowered and a deep sigh came from her. “I thought you’d never ask.”

  “Do you mind if we find our own bedroom in your house? I think your bedroom is nice, but it’s too... feminine.”

  She laughed. “I do believe, Mr. Bentley, that this may just be our first argument as a married couple.”

  “Really?” He waggled his eyebrows. “Then let’s start when we get home. I can’t wait to make it up to you.”

  As they left the church, both were laughing... and hurrying as fast as they could to the buggy.

  THE END

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  Author’s Bio

  Marie Higgins is an award-winning, best-selling author of clean romance novels that melt your heart and have you falling in love over and over again. Since 2010, she’s published over 60 heartwarming, on-the-edge-of-your-seat romances. She’s broadened her readership by writing mystery/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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