“Can we go get Alice now?”
Silas confessed to enticing Alice to leave with him. He knew that Morrison had a certain clientele that would appreciate a beauty like the youngest Chapman sister. In fact, Silas had managed to convince many women to travel west with him. Once they reached San Francisco, most of them were never heard from again. They were placed on ships bound for the Orient where they would be sold as concubines.
It was Shaun who told them that Alice was being kept in the house behind the tall gate. Inspector Harrison gathered up several of his best men and they went to the compound to see about rescuing any women that might be there.
When Brother Jonah, or Billy, saw the police, he surrendered peacefully. He was the victim of his father’s greed and treachery. He wanted to make sure that Hannah didn’t fall victim to the same fate as many of the other women.
What he didn’t count on was Penny’s persistence to find a way to escape. The police broke down the door to the gated building and what was inside broke Penny’s heart.
There were women with signs of abuse laying on the floor. The smell of opium lingered in the air. Penny stepped over the bodies as she made her way further into the house. She spied Deborah on a settee near a large stone fireplace. Her eyes were open and her head tilted to the side. She had large puncture marks up and down her. One of the detectives went over and touched her head. He shook his head at Penny.
Penny raced further into the room. “Alice!” she cried. “Alice! Where are you?”
She heard pounding coming from behind a door down the hall. Penny ran down and rattled the door handle. It was locked and the key was missing. “Alice! Are you in there?”
“Penny?” a small voice called from the other side. “Is that you?”
“It’s me, poppet. I’m here to take you home.”
“Penny! Get me out of here.”
“I’m trying,” Penny cried. She scraped at the door with her nails and kicked it with her feet.
“Move back, Penny,” Angus said. Penny complied. “Get away from the door,” he called to Alice. He stepped back and then kicked the door with his boot. The wood splintered, but it didn’t break through. He tried again. It took three tries before the door flew open.
Penny pushed past him and ran into the room. There were at least a dozen women in various stages of undress. Some were sobbing quietly. Others, Penny could tell were under the influence of opium.
As the police filed in the room and proceeded to assist the women, Penny spied Alice behind a sofa table. “Alice,” she cried, holding her arms out.
Alice ran into her arms and sobbed. Her sister’s once beautiful blonde hair was dirty brown. Her dress was torn in several spots and soiled. “Did they hurt you?”
“I don’t want to talk about it. I just want to go home.”
“Of course, poppet. Let’s go home.”
They left the room and Penny led Alice towards the main area of the house. There she spied Angus talking to one of the detectives. She wouldn’t have been able to rescue her sister without him.
Was it feasible to fall in love with someone in such a short time? Penny said she’d never fall in love, but right in front of her was a hero, more worthy than any that were in the novels she read. Yes, she loved him. And she would tell him as soon as they were alone.
When Angus saw her, he made his way over to them. “Is this Alice?” he asked.
Penny nodded. “Can you take us home? I know Alice wants to see her Marmee.”
“Of course, lass.” He put his arm around her, pulling them both close. For the first time in weeks, Penny felt safe once more. She knew her Pinkerton man would keep them both safe. After all, he was a fighter.
Epilogue
The Great Plains, Nebraska
It took three days to travel from San Francisco back to Penny’s homestead in Nebraska. The trip was rough on Alice, who spent most of her time crying on Penny’s shoulder or sleeping.
When they arrived, everyone was at the station to greet them. Alice was whisked away and taken home before anyone spied her.
Penny’s brothers all clapped Angus on the back and wanted to hear every detail of the rescue. Penny didn’t want to relive it.
“Nay, lads, it doesn’t deserve to be told. Alice and Penny are home safe now. That is all that matters.”
Father insisted that Angus come home and stay for a few days before heading back to Denver. The thought of him leaving made Penny want to cry. She hadn’t had a moment to spend with him alone. He had no idea how she was feeling.
When Marmee found out that they were staying together after Penny had escaped from the compound, she ended up taking to her bed with the vapors. Father was concerned that he had two daughters that had been ruined.
Penny put his fears to rest by telling him that Angus was not only a perfect gentleman, but her husband. He was disappointed he wasn’t there when they married, but Father was glad Penny found someone as honorable as her Scotsman.
It was after dinner when Penny finally had a moment alone with Angus. They had been at the Chapman ranch for two days. The family was sitting in the living room having coffee when Angus stood. “I need to stretch m’legs.”
“I do, also,” Penny said. “We can walk in the garden.”
“Sounds like a good night for a walk,” Oliver said. “What do you think, Caleb?” he asked, slapping his brother on the arm.
“No,” Penny said. “You stay here.”
Oliver gave them a grin and blew Penny a kiss.
She took Angus’s arm and walked out to the garden. It was hard to believe that just a few short weeks ago, she was walking the path with Silas Benson. She wanted nothing to do with the evangelist and now she was walking the same path with Angus.
“I’m headed back to Denver tomorrow, lass,” Angus said, leading her around the stone maze.
Penny stopped. “What do you mean? You can’t leave. We just got here.” Penny looked at him, searching his blue eyes.
“I know, lass,” he said, caressing her cheek. “But I have to finish my report, and Archie needs me to watch the office while he goes away.”
Penny turned her head and pressed a kiss to his palm. “Away?”
“I think he is headed to Chicago to bring back Marianne.”
“That’s wonderful,” Penny said. Then she sobered. How wonderful that her sister had a man that would travel all that distance just to fetch her.
“Well, Penelope, what do you say?”
Penny looked at Angus. Had he asked her a question. “About what?”
“I said I can complete our annulment when I get back to Denver. Unless that is something you don’t want to do.”
Penny’s breath hitched. “Do you?”
“N’ay, lass. I don’t wanna do that at all. I want to stay married to you, Penelope Hightower. That is if you’ll have an old Scotsman like me.”
Penny squealed and jumped into his arms. “Yes! Yes,” she said, planting kisses on his cheeks. “Yes, I want to stay married to you. I love you, Angus Hightower.”
“I love you too, lassie,” he said, leaning down to capture her lips. Penny wished the kiss would go on forever, but soon they broke apart to the whistles and calls from her brothers.
Penny was alright with that, as she knew her forever with Angus was starting right now.
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The End
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Sneak Peek – An Agent for Marianne
Check out the story of Penny’s Twin Sister, Marianne!
A beloved secretary, the Pinkerton dete
ctive she’s been secretly in love with; the event that will force them to confront their feelings for each other.
Marianne Chapman has been in love with her broody boss for years. Unfortunately, he doesn’t seem to return her feelings. Determined to squash her infatuation, she leaves Denver, CO for the Pinkerton home office, convinced time and distance will cure her of her traitorous feelings toward Denver's lead agent.
Archibald Gordon doesn’t know how to deal with the desire he has for his fiery redheaded assistant. He has always treated their relationship strictly professional, regardless of how she consumes his every thought. When Marianne suddenly leaves to help the Female Detective Bureau, Archie must admit that he can’t survive without her. When Archie’s best friend is kidnapped, he asks her to help him solve the case.
Will Marianne help Archie solve the one case that is too close for comfort? When a disaster threatens, will Archie be able to overcome his reservations and convince Marianne to give them a chance?
Grab your copy of An Agent for Marianne.
Sneak Peek – The Pinkerton Matchmaker
Take a look at the first book in The Pinkerton Matchmaker Series!
Pairing prospective lady Pinkerton detectives with rough and ready agents? What could possibly go wrong?
Head of the Denver Pinkerton office, Archie Gordon, has been tasked with hiring female agents.
The problem? They need to be trained by existing agents while solving cases. Alone and unchaperoned. In 1871.
The solution? Have each pair marry temporarily, for the duration of the case. If Archie can convince his reluctant agents and the even more reluctant women to agree, that is.
One thing is certain, it won't be dull. And the couples might even find love on the road to adventure. If they don't kill each other first.
This is a sweet romance that ends on a cliffhanger.
Grab your copy of The Pinkerton Matchmaker.
Read all of Christine’s Books
Read all of Christine's Black Hill Brides Romances:
1. Her Secret Past
2. Her Secret Baby
3. Her Secret Shame
4. Her Secret Love
5. Her Secret Husband
6. Her Secret Arrangement (coming soon)
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1. Wanted: Medicine Man
2. Wanted: Gravedigger
3. Wanted: Redemption
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2. Snowbound
3. Changing Seasons
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1. A Bride for Jeremiah
2. A Bride for Elijah
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2. An Agent for Claudette
3. An Agent for Penelope
4. An Agent for Marianne
5. An Agent for Pearl
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3. Tempting the Tailor
4. Married by Midnight
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2. The Homecoming
3. A Matter of Marriage
4. The Barn Raising
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About Christine
Christine Sterling is the creator of the wildly popular Pinkerton Matchmaker Series and the Proxy Bride Series. She is an author in multiple collaborations, including: The Belles of Wyoming, Cowboys and Angels, The Widows of Wildcat Ridge and Silverpines, where her book Wanted: Medicine Man won best historical novel of 2018. She recently joined Sweet Promise Press as a historical romance author, writing for the Pioneer Brides of Rattlesnake Ridge series.
She writes sweet and wholesome historical western novels and published her first book in 2017. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, a spoiled Shih Tzu, two German Shepherds and an energetic Border Collie, that keep her on her toes, and too many rescued barn cats to count. She has been writing stories since she was 8 years old.
She spends her time writing, helping others to write and publish their first book and weeding her half-acre organic herb garden. Her favorite things are a good cup of tea, puppy snuggles, a movie that will make you cry and hearing from her readers.
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Penelope
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are all products of the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblances to persons, organizations, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
The book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. All rights are reserved with the exceptions of quotes used in reviews. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage system without express written permission from the author.
Scriptures quoted from the King James Holy Bible.
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An Agent for Penelope ©2019 Christine Sterling
Cover Design by Virginia McKevitt
Editing by Carolyn Leggo and Amy Petrowich
An Agent for Penelope Page 9