“Would you like to dance?”
Cade’s voice startled her from behind, making her jump nervously. She almost fell right off the porch, yet his arm reached out to grab her quickly. He smiled as she pulled her arm from him quickly.
“I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“Then don’t sneak up on me.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
Gillian was shocked to see him bow slightly towards her. He must have run home to clean up without her seeing him. His hair was neatly combed and he had on a clean shirt. There was no trace of coal dust on him. He looked almost like… a proper suitor, she realized, her eyes widening in surprise at the idea of him wanting to impress her. Cade extended his hand as if they were getting ready to glide onto a ballroom floor instead of a worn cobblestone street in the wilds of Pennsylvania.
“Dance with me… please?” Cade asked softly, watching her.
Nodding silently, Gillian placed her fingers onto his hand and followed him out into the street. She couldn’t help but stare at the attractive man beside her. This seemed so foreign, so strange, to have him actually laying on the charm towards her. She’d seen him angry and emotionally upset – but this was something else. Cade gave her a lopsided smile as he carefully put his hand at her waist.
“Don’t shoot me,” he teased huskily, reminding her of yesterday evening. “I just want to dance with you.”
“Don’t make me want to,” she breathed, looking up at him.
His half-hearted smile blossomed and she felt something take hold of her heart, making it clench as ragged, untamed emotions coursed through her veins, frightening her. Before she could back out of his arms, Cade swung her around and led her into the throng of dancers nearby.
Apparently he liked to spin her about, as he pulled her closer and stepped lively to the music. She laughed happily as she held on for dear life at the quick steps, trying to keep up with him. The man danced like no one was watching and was keeping pace with the beat of the music. Her hand was in his and his arm cradled her snugly against him. It would have been quite shocking to a chaperone at the tiny space between them, but they could get away with it because they were here under the pretense that they were married.
“Cade… Cade…” Gillian laughed in protest, trying to catch her breath.
“Are you having a good time?” he teased, picking her feet up off the ground and spinning her about. She clung to him to prevent being trampled as they swung around again. She could feel the rumble of laughter in his chest and realized that she was very nearly hugging the man. He’d released her hand and she’d wrapped it around his shoulders. There was no pressure, no intensity, only a wildness and laughter that they shared.
“I’m having a brilliant time,” she admitted shyly.
“Good,” he said smiling at her, his face not far from hers, but instead of desire in his eyes, they sparkled with happiness. “Does that mean if I ply you with some punch that maybe you’d dance with me again?”
“If you call that dancing,” she teased. “It was more like tossing me about and spinning in circles.”
“It was fun and you know it.”
“It certainly was,” she confirmed, nodding breathlessly. “And I would love a glass of punch and a break to catch my breath.”
“Come,” he encouraged, holding out his hand to her. Without a second thought, Gillian grasped it and smiled at him, seeing the pleased look in his eyes. He bought them two glasses of punch at a table nearby and two tarts to snack on. The succulent smell of the roast pig wafted on the air, but there had not been an announcement that it was ready to eat just yet.
Accepting the punch and the treat, she stood beside Cade and watched the dancing as it commenced. She could see Fallon and Rourke’s dark heads in the crowd, as well as a few others that she’d been introduced to over the last couple of days. The punch was tangy with a slight aftertaste that made her head spin and the tart was an egg custard that tasted slightly of nutmeg.
“Careful with the punch,” Cade whispered to her as he leaned down. “I believe there might be something a bit stronger in it.”
“I wondered at that,” she admitted, glancing up at him. Her heart nearly stopped as she saw the heady look in his hazel eyes near her own. He seemed to hesitate for several seconds, unmoving, there under the faint glow of the oil lamp above them.
“The bullet might be worth it,” he said intimately, his eyes searching hers.
“You’re safe,” she whispered, staring at him. He nodded ever so slightly as he leaned in towards Gillian. He waited, his breath mingling with hers as they stood there unmoving.
“Are you sure, because I can’t take it back and this changes everything.”
“I know. Maybe it’s the punch?”
“Then I’ll get you another glass,” Cade swore before his lips grazed hers tenderly. Gillian almost smiled at his words but the feeling of desire washed away any humor of the moment. He deepened the tender kiss, dropping his tart on the ground nearby, allowing his free hand to cup her face. She felt herself melt against him at the sheer caress of his thumb against her cheek. Cade broke the kiss and looked at her with reverence and awe in his eyes.
“It’s definitely worth it,” he whispered, his finger tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. His finger touched the shell of it, causing her to shiver. She looked at him, feeling full of fear, uncertainty, and desire mixed with guilt. He seemed to sense that and smiled ruefully.
“Just focus on having a nice time tonight. We can talk later.”
“Don’t push me,” she cautioned regretfully.
“I won’t, but I’m not your enemy.”
“I know that.”
“Do you?” he questioned lightly, finishing his punch in one large sip. “Let’s dance again and I will ply you with more punch later - I promise.”
“That doesn’t mean we are kissing again,” she warned.
“A man can dream, can’t he?” he quipped as he plucked the empty cup from her hands and pulled Gillian back into the throng of dancers. She saw his happy smile and eagerly went into his arms, the world swirling around her quickly again.
Gillian danced with Cade several times until Rourke cut in. He wasn’t nearly as smooth or vivacious as her partner was, but it was almost like getting a break from the sheer intensity of the man. She saw that Cade was dancing with Fallon, keeping a wide berth between them. This made her smile and shot a thrill of possessive pleasure through her.
“Ah! Lemme introduce you ta’ someone,” Rourke said quickly, pulling her out of the dancers. “James McKenna, this is Gillian Malone. Her husband is nearby and I think I’ll need ta’ be collecting my gel before he steals her away.”
“Mrs. Malone,” James said in a very tight, measured voice.
“Mr. McKenna, it’s very nice to finally meet you.”
“I’ve spoken with your husband rarely because someone always seems to be hovering nearby - but he says very kind things about you.”
“Does he now?” she began, as James suddenly turned his back on the dancers and faced her directly. The pleasantries they’d exchanged for the others nearby were suddenly gone.
“I know who you are and you need to get word back quickly,” James whispered in a hushed voice. “We aren’t safe here. There’s over three thousand members in these parts and being led by a man named John Kehoe. Stay away from him. He’s nothing but trouble and I believe he might suspect something is afoot. You both need to get out of town with as little attention as possible,” he cautioned and suddenly smiled magnanimously, his voice rising in pitch suddenly - changing subjects.
“Of course - but I think your husband might decline me dancing with his lovely wife,” with that, James McKenna suddenly disappeared into the people walking around like nothing had ever happened. Cade was suddenly there at her side, his eyes questioning.
“Would you like to dance again or head home?”
“Let’s dance,” she said firmly, taking
his hand. “We can always talk later.”
Chapter 10
Gillian found that as the evening wore on, the punch flowed a little more freely and the dancing got a bit livelier. She was being swung around by not only Cade, but several other men who were tapping in and dancing about. She could see that Cade was not happy to have his dance interrupted repeatedly, but it seemed that Rourke was having to endure the same thing. Feeling another tap on her shoulder, Gillian sighed and simply turned, ready to be whisked away by another faceless person. Instead, she was facing the coldest set of eyes she’d ever seen.
“Mrs. Malone,” he said coolly before smiling. The simple gesture gave her chills and reminded her of a wolf bearing his teeth. “The name is John Kehoe and I understand you and your husband are new in town?” Gillian instantly stumbled, bumping into the man.
“My apologies,” she stammered, trying to calm her racing pulse. “My feet are getting quite tired and I’ve been dancing for a bit now.”
“I will let you return to your husband in just a moment, but first you are going to do something for me that will make everyone’s time in town just a bit happier. Does that sound agreeable?”
“Of course,” she smiled brightly, feigning happiness to cover her growing fear that was swamping her.
“I know you’ve met some of the ladies here in town, maybe even my own wife, but I am searching for someone who might be a threat to our very existence.”
“That’s terrible,” she breathed, scandalized.
“I agree, which is why I need your help,” John said smoothly, watching her carefully. “I want you to find out all you can about a stranger who’s arrived in these parts pretending to be one of us. His name is James McKenna.”
“McKenna sounds like a good Irish name,” she questioned, feigning ignorance. The smile he gave her chilled her blood.
“Aye, just like Jameson or Jakoby is – the only difference is that I can verify your family name in a town within a day’s ride of here and now know all about you whereas Mr. McKenna just seems to have appeared from thin air. Very strange, don’t you agree?”
“Very,” she squeaked nervously. The man researched her name and history? Did he know she was now a Pinkerton agent? McKenna was right- this man was beyond dangerous and hot on his tail.
“I don’t deal well with those that seek to betray what I am trying to accomplish. I remove problems that get in my way. I’ve got a good feeling about you, Gillian Jameson Malone. I feel like we shall be friends and work together very well, right? That won’t be a problem, will it?”
“Not at all,” she confirmed, feeling ill but still trying desperately to play the roll she’d adopted when they first arrived into town. Something in her knew deep down inside that if she let on there was a hint of deception, they’d be next on this man’s list of enemies. “Family and heritage are everything.”
“Good girl,” he agreed wolfishly.
“We’ll talk again soon,” he promised at her silent stricken stare. John released her there in the middle of the dancers before fading away in the crowd. She was positive her legs wouldn’t hold her up as her knees shook with what had just happened. Cade was suddenly there at her side, wrapping an arm around her protectively.
“Are you okay?”
“I think I’m going to be sick,” she admitted faintly.
“Let’s go home,” he crooned, whispering against her head as he leaned towards her. She didn’t balk or pull away; rather, she turned into his arms as she desperately clung to the feeling of security she suddenly felt being with Cade.
Behind the barricaded door of the home they rented from Fallon, Gillian repeated the entire incident to Cade - as well as what McKenna told her. His face paled as he stared at her. She knew that look and he was trying to think of a way to get them out of this problem alive. John Kehoe wasn’t just dangerous – he was a lethal threat to both of them and it was only a matter of time.
“You have to go back to Denver,” Cade finally said softly in the silence.
“I can’t leave,” she protested, gripping the cup of hot tea in her hands. “If he thinks I’ve betrayed him, we are both in trouble.”
“Gillian – you are going to betray him,” Cade snapped, surging to his feet and then lowering his voice to a hushed whisper. “We are going to turn in enough information to Archie to have the man put away for life. I won’t have you in danger.”
“I’m not helpless.”
“I never said you were.”
“I can take care of myself. I won’t ever be helpless again.”
“This isn’t a matter of you being helpless – your life is in danger.”
“Our lives are in danger,” she corrected quickly, “Where are you going?”
“I’ve got to talk to McKenna.”
“You can’t - didn’t you hear what I said? They are watching us, Cade!”
“And we need to let Rourke, Fallon, and James know so they can get out of town too. You can leave with Rourke and Fallon on the next train home.”
“I’m not leaving without you.”
“I can’t go yet – but I will be right behind you, Gillian.”
“I won’t bury another husband,” she snarled stubbornly, “and it’s unfair of you to ask me to leave you behind. I’ve been robbed of saying goodbye once, I won’t do it again.”
“Then say goodbye now because I can’t watch the life drain from your eyes like it did Madeline’s. I can’t and I won’t! So - this is not up for discussion anymore, Gillian. You are leaving as soon as I can make arrangements.”
“You are coming with me then,” she snapped vehemently, seeing Cade kneel down beside the chair she was sitting in. He took her hands in his and stared up at her before kissing her knuckles tenderly.
“If I get word to McKenna right away - yes. We’ll both make the next train, I promise you,” Cade said softly, his eyes watching hers. She could see the truth in his gaze and the fear of what was happening in his eyes. He was worried about her and it hurt her very soul to think about saying goodbye to someone she was growing to admire.
“When is that?”
“Friday.”
“Today is Saturday,” she whispered painfully, staring at Cade in disbelief. “Do we just go on like nothing has happened, watching over our shoulders constantly? If you miss that train, when is the next one?”
“A week after that.”
“Then you had better get things done quickly because I will not be on that train unless you are with me, partner,” she vowed.
“I hear what you are saying, wife,” he corrected with a smile. She didn’t have the heart to argue with him – especially when the term no longer sounded like a jab at her, rather more like an endearment.
“Good.”
Chapter 11
The days were dragging by painfully slowly. Gillian was keenly on edge – torn between a sense of impending doom, the rush of adrenaline from fear, and the overwhelming desire to talk to Cade. It seemed like he was putting distance between them on purpose, making her extremely wary of what was rolling through his mind and how it would affect them. Cade had assured her repeatedly over the last few days that he would leave town with her when it was time, but had made no move to pack his things yet.
They’d spoken with Fallon and Rourke regarding the dangers and barely veiled threats. Part of Gillian wondered if maybe it was simply her overactive imagination that was running away with her – because surely someone couldn’t be so vile a person… could they? Rourke had confirmed that they would be leaving as well, as soon as possible – but that simply started an argument between the tender couple.
“If we leave with the Malones, then I can apply for a Pinkerton position as well and we could work together,” Fallon said excitedly in a hushed whisper. Rourke’s eyes got as round as saucers as he looked at Gillian in utter shock.
“Have ya’ been putting my wee wren up to this?”
“Don’t look at me like that!”
“She d
oesna need to be running off after people!”
“I think your wee wren,” Gillian said pointing at Fallon, “Can think for herself if you ask what she wants.”
“My job offer is in Chicago, no’ why on earth would she want ta’ go to Denver?”
“We could see if they would take both of us in Denver.” Fallon said gingerly, her dark eyes sparkling with mirth as she glanced at Gillian. She realized that Fallon was now teasing Rourke, and the man was quickly getting incensed as he jumped to his feet. Cade slowly stood up and loomed over the table, causing both women to grab hold of their arms, tugging them back into their chairs.
“Now, ya take hold of yer woman and tell her ta quit putting ideas in her head! I’ll no’ have my bride endangering herself. If it works for ya, so be it…”
“It doesn’t.”
“He doesn’t have a say in what I do.”
“Oh yes, he does,” Cade corrected, his head swinging towards Gillian.
“No, because you know I’m going to do whatever I want anyways – and I know you will be there to back me up. Right?”
“Sweet Mary and Joseph! Do ya’ here that, Fallon?” he balked, pointing at Gillian. Her eyes widened and she smothered a laugh as Rourke’s face turned bright red with anger and his lips turned bright white around the edges where they were pinched. “She hasna a care for what she does and depends on Cade to fix her messes.”
“Wouldn’t you help me or protect me? I thought this was something we could do together,” Fallon asked softly, and you could have heard a pin drop in the room as Rourke’s bluster suddenly deflated visibly. He sat down hard in his chair and Gillian almost felt sorry for the man.
An Agent for Gillian Page 9