by Laura Beers
“You know nothing about me,” she growled.
A cruel smile came to his lips. “How do you think you were able to track me and my men over the years? You had to think like us, act like us. You just don’t want to admit that you became one of us.”
Rosalie wanted to shoot Bill Garrett. She wanted him to stop talking. He deserved to die! Why did Paden not understand that? If she killed Garrett, then she would finally be able to be with him, without the burdens of her past. She would be free to love him… without restraint.
“Rosie, it’s over. You caught him,” Paden said. “Let’s go home.”
Home. Tears came to her eyes. She wanted to go home. She had done what she had started out to do, and he was right. It was time for her to let this hatred out of her heart. To start over… with Paden. And if she killed Garrett then she would lose him forever. It was time for her to choose her husband over vengeance. It was time for her to take back her life.
“Bill Garrett,” she began, “you are under arrest for the murder of Sheriff Addis, Sarah Parks, Timmy Walters, Ralph Neeter…” As she listed all the names of the people that were killed that fateful day, she felt her burdens lifting off her shoulders. She had obtained justice for them too.
Paden went and tied Garrett’s hands with twine behind his back, then started leading him toward the meadow where Sheriff Walton, Deputy Charlie, Emeline, and the restrained criminals had assembled.
Sheriff Walton watched them approach and gave her a knowing smile. “I knew you wouldn’t kill him, Agent Brooks.”
“I wasn’t as confident as you,” she admitted, her steps faltering.
He walked closer to her and placed his hand on her shoulder. “You are an honorable person, just like your father was, and I would trust you with my life. I wanted you to work that out on your own.”
“Thank you, sheriff,” she replied, her voice hitching with emotion. “I miss my father.”
“As well as you should,” he said, nodding. “Your father would have been proud of what you did today, and the restraint you showed with Garrett.” He smiled. “I probably would have at least shot him in the knee to prevent him from escaping.”
Paden shoved Garrett toward Sheriff Walton. “It is my turn to talk to my wife,” he proclaimed, smiling. He walked up to her and cupped her cheeks. “You were magnificent, my love.”
“Thank you for believing in me.”
Lowering his forehead to hers, he replied, “You finally chose me.”
“I did.” Tears came to her eyes. “I love you, Paden. I am so sorry for everything. I’m sorry…”
Her words were stilled when he pressed his finger to her lips. “No more apologizing. Your journey took you on a different path, but in the end, you are back where you belong.” He brought his lips closer to hers, his warm breath brushing over her face. “I love you, Mrs. Brooks. Now that our case is over, please say that you will truly be my wife.”
“Ye…” She hadn’t even finished her answer when he pressed his lips firmly against hers. Not that she was complaining. She didn’t think she would ever tire of kissing her husband.
Loud clearing of throats came from next to them, forcing them to draw apart… only slightly.
“Do all Pinkerton agents kiss each other once they finish their assignments?” Deputy Charlie asked, shuddering.
“Apparently so. It is revolting, though.” Sheriff Walton winked at her. “Agent Brooks, would you mind caring for Miss Holmes?”
“I’d be glad to,” Rosalie said, walking over to Emeline, who had her arms wrapped around her waist.
As Rosalie helped Emeline back to where they had secured their horses, she glanced over her shoulder and watched as Paden helped escort the criminals.
It was over, even though Bill Garrett was not dead. He would pay for his crimes, and he no longer had power over her.
A feeling of contentment washed over her. Paden had loved her so much that he had come after her; he had fought for her. He had saved her from herself, and she would spend the rest of her days proving to her husband how much she loved him. Her husband. Even though it had taken her longer than she had intended, she was finally back where she belonged… in the arms of Paden Brooks.
Epilogue
Paden kissed his wife’s hand as she anxiously looked out the train’s window. “Are you nervous, my love?” he asked in a teasing voice.
“It’s been so long since I’ve been home,” she confessed, nibbling on her bottom lip.
Placing his finger under his wife’s chin, he forced her to look at him. “Are you worried that the townsfolk will revolt and shoot you the moment you step off the train?”
She laughed as he hoped she would. “No. I left without saying goodbye. I worry that my friends will be angry with me.”
“If you prefer, we could always start our next case early,” he said, tapping his finger on the file sitting in his lap. “I am sure the Clancy Brothers Gang wouldn’t mind going to jail a week earlier.”
Rosalie smiled. “I’ve read the case file. My guess is that the sheriff is crooked, and he’s harboring the fugitives in his town.”
Lifting his brow skeptically, he asked, “You got all that from the two documents in the file?”
“Didn’t you?” she replied cheekily.
Paden felt like his heart would burst with joy, and he hoped his wife felt the same. “Are you happy working as an agent? Or do you miss being a bounty hunter?” he asked, slipping his arm around Rosalie’s shoulders and tugging her close.
Reaching into a pocket of her green, fitted bodice, she removed her Pinkerton badge and ran her fingers over it. “Well, I have been a Pinkerton agent for less than a week, and I find there are a lot more rules associated with being an agent. Furthermore, the pay is substantially less than a bounty hunter.” She smiled. “But I have a remarkable partner and that makes all the difference.”
Paden kissed her soundly on her lips, causing an old lady across from them to clear her throat. He smiled, unashamed. “When I wired Archie that we solved the case and that Bill Garrett was in custody, along with the members of his gang, he was so pleased that he gave us a whole week off.”
“Don’t you usually get time off between cases?”
He chuckled. “No. That’s a luxury only bounty hunters have.”
“Pity,” she replied. “If I had been a bounty hunter, I could have collected the five-hundred-dollar reward for Bill Garrett’s arrest.”
The train came to a stop outside the Waterglen station, and Paden offered his hand to assist his wife as she rose. As they walked down the steps of the train, Rosalie’s disappointed eyes scanned the empty platform. “I had assumed my nana would have met the train.”
“Something must have come up,” he said as he watched their trunks being unloaded at the far end of the platform. He walked over and requested that they be delivered to Lois Addis’ house.
Rosalie’s back was rigid as she stared at the town of Waterglen, Colorado. He approached her and asked, “Is there a problem?”
“Where is everyone?” she questioned. “No one is walking down the boardwalk, and I don’t see any businesses open. It looks like a ghost town.”
Paden offered her his arm. “You are a detective now. Shall we investigate, Agent Brooks?”
They stepped down onto the main dirt road and a line between Rosalie’s brow appeared. “It’s nearly noon, but no one is out today. This is so odd.” She tugged him toward the sheriff’s office. “We need to go speak to the sheriff.”
“Good idea,” he replied, attempting to hide his smile.
Arriving at the sheriff’s office, they saw a note nailed to the locked door. It read, ‘Meeting at the Hotel - 12 pm.’
Immediately, Rosalie tugged him toward the hotel on the opposite side of the road. “What could be so important that they called a town meeting?” she murmured under her breath.
“Are you talking to me or are you asking yourself?” he asked in amusement.
She st
opped in front of the main doors of the hotel. “What do you suppose is wrong?” she asked, her voice strained.
Paden reached out and opened the door. “Let’s go and find out, my love.”
She nodded and walked into the hotel’s lobby without saying another word. A nice young man greeted them at the front desk. “May I help you?”
“We are here for the town meeting,” Rosalie announced.
“It’s being held in the ballroom,” he replied, pointing toward a set of double doors. “You’re the last to arrive.”
Rosalie walked up to the double doors and spun back around. “Do we have a right to intrude?”
Paden chuckled as he walked up and opened the door, revealing a darkened room.
“I thought the meeting was in this room?” Rosalie asked, taking a tentative step forward.
“Surprise!” came a collective shout.
The lights were lit, revealing a ballroom filled to capacity with men, women and children. In front was Lois Addis holding her arms open wide. Rosalie rushed into her grandmother’s arms and embraced her warmly.
Leaning back against the wall, Paden watched as Rosalie was approached by nearly everyone in the room, providing her with well-wishes and loving embraces. He was content standing back, watching the genuine smile on his wife’s face. That was something he would never tire of.
His gamble had paid off. He had a willing wife, a clever partner, and he would spend his days ensuring she never regretted her choice to marry him. It may have taken him longer than intended to make Rosie his own, but she had been worth the wait.
After what seemed like hours, Rosalie walked back up to him and asked, “When did you have time to plan all of this?”
Paden wrapped his arms around her. “Were you surprised?”
“I was,” she admitted, wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling him to her. “Again, when did you have time to plan this?”
He gave her a boyish grin. “Once you agreed to partner with me, I anticipated our assignment would take a few days to solve, and I had correctly assumed that we would be blissfully happy after we completed the case. So much so, that you would want to visit your nana to share the good news.”
“Aren’t you the cocky agent?” she joked.
Paden kissed her, his lips lingering. “I wanted you to see that the town appreciated all that you gave up in the pursuit of justice for your father and the other victims. They have been rooting for you, hoping that you would catch Bill Garrett and finally decide to come home.” His eyes scanned the room to see familiar faces. “They have missed you, too.”
“I love you,” she said. “Thank you for doing this.”
Growing serious, he confessed, “We carved out different paths for ourselves, paths that would never have been available if we had stayed in Waterglen, but we eventually found our way back to each other. You have always been a remarkable woman, but now your experiences and newfound talents have allowed us to partner together as Pinkerton agents. And I wouldn’t trade that for anything.”
Lois Addis walked up to them. “Are you ready to go home?” she asked.
With love in her eyes, and a smile on her lips, Rosalie responded, “I am already home.”
The End
Coming Soon by this Author:
An Agent for Alexina
The Pinkerton Matchmaking Series
Release Date: August 2019
Don’t forget to join us at the Pinkerton Matchmaker Readers Group on Facebook so you can stay up-to-date on all the new releases!
About the Author:
Laura Beers attended Brigham Young University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management. She is an avid reader, though she was a reluctant convert. She can’t sing, doesn’t dance and loves naps.
Besides being a full-time homemaker to her three kids, she loves waterskiing, hiking, and drinking Dr. Pepper. Currently, Laura Beers resides in South Carolina.
You can reach her at [email protected]