“I can transfer wherever I please.”
“But I have to approve that transfer and I refuse to do that.”
A crowd started gathering in the foyer, beckoned by the yelling.
“Why ever not?”
Archie’s brain swirled with things to say.
“Because the agents will revolt if you leave again.”
“I doubt that, Archibald.” Before Archie could rebut, Marianne grabbed Connor by the arm.
“Leave your bag there. We’ll figure out what to do with it shortly. Let’s go somewhere private to talk.”
“Marianne…” Archie warned.
She put her hand up. “Not now, Archie. I’ll deal with you later.”
As she escorted Connor through the house, Archie turned and looked at the expressions on the faces of his agents. It shamed him that he reacted so forcefully. But she couldn’t leave. He wouldn’t let her.
He raised his cane in the air. “What are you all staring at? Don’t you have work to do?”
Without waiting for a response, Archie hobbled back to his office and slammed the door.
Marianne found Archie fuming in his office several hours later. She had taken Connor to the garden, away from prying ears and told him the truth. That she couldn’t marry him because she was in love with someone else. It didn’t take long for him to figure out the object of her affection.
Connor was naturally upset, but when Jacqueline offered him a cup of coffee and a piece of Pearl’s famous coconut cake, his jovial mood returned.
Perhaps his attention could go towards someone more suitable for him. She grabbed two cups of coffee and walked into his office without knocking. Because her hands were full she didn’t close the door when she entered.
“Are you pouting?” she asked, setting one cup in front of him; as she took the other cup and sat in the seat across the desk.
She gave a half-laugh as she recalled the last time she sat in this chair; she was telling Archie that she was leaving for Chicago. Now she needed to tell him she was leaving to go back home.
“Is that whippersnapper still here?”
Marianne laughed and Archie’s frown deepened. “Whippersnapper? How old are you? Eighty?”
Archie growled. “Is he?”
“Yes. He is probably eating cake in the kitchen with Jacqueline and Pearl.”
“Harrumph. I said I forbid you to leave.”
“You have no choice.”
“When are you leaving?” he asked.
“In a few days. I said that I’d be here until you recovered. It looks like you recovered.”
“You might as well leave tonight. There is nothing here for you.”
“Ouch, Archibald. There is no reason for you to sulk like a child.”
“I’m not sulking.”
Marianne sipped her coffee. “Whatever you say, Archie.”
“The office isn’t going to function without you. I can’t even find my ledger.”
“You keep it in the top drawer of the credenza.”
“The reports are in terrible shape.”
“Then you’ll have to spend more time with Jacqueline.”
“The office has fallen apart without you.”
“It hasn’t. You have a new group of agents that you can marry off, and everything seems to be working as it was before.”
“Everything will fall apart without you.”
“You want me to leave. You want me to stay. Which is it?”
Archie didn’t respond for a moment. “I’m falling apart without you.”
Marianne gave a little gasp, succeeding in sloshing her coffee over her hand. She placed the cup on the desk and shook her hand trying to alleviate the burn.
Archie handed her one of his handkerchiefs, which she used to blot up the coffee. When she looked back at Archie he looked as if he had just been told his puppy ran away.
As Marianne balled up the napkin, she had hope for the first time. “You should know, I’m not going to Chicago,” she whispered to him.
“Where are you going then?”
“I’m headed back to Great Plains.”
“Nebraska?”
Marianne nodded. “I need to go home. I need to reconnect with my family. It has been too long.”
“But your sister is here.”
“And my other sister, and brothers are at home.” Marianne shifted in the seat. “I’ve not seen my parents in nearly nine years.”
“So, this isn’t because of that Irish fella coming to take you back to Chicago?”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “As flattered as I was from his proposal, I knew it wouldn’t work in the long run. Not when I have feelings for someone else.”
Archie sprang from his chair and he ran around the desk. Grabbing her hand, he curled it in his and lifted her from the chair. “Then why are you doing this? Why are you leaving?”
Marianne lifted her hand and stroked Archie’s cheek with her free hand.
“I can’t do it anymore, Archie. I’m living a lie. Every time I see you it is like my heart is being pulled out of my chest and stomped on by a thousand feet.” His eyebrows shot up. “I’d love to look at you and not notice everything about you. I’d love to go to bed at night and not have you be the last thing on my mind; or wake up and you are the first thing I think of. I love you, Archie. I realize now that you will never return that feeling, but I had to tell you before I leave Denver for good. I deserve someone that will love me. Will marry me. Have a deep abiding love that never ends.”
“I thought you didn’t want to get married.”
“I didn’t. I was a young eighteen-year-old girl that finally had some independence. I didn’t want to give that up. But people change. I’ve changed. You’ve changed.”
Archie only hesitated a moment before wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her closer. Marianne heard him whisper, “A chiall Mo Chrìdhe,” before his lips touched hers.
She realized he had been holding himself back when suddenly the mood of the kiss changed as Archie turned her just enough to thoroughly capture her lips. Marianne felt the heat between them as her toes started to curl inside her boots. He took liberties that she never thought might happen, but secretly hoped they would.
She heard him groan, almost a painful sound. Afraid he would break the kiss, Marianne yanked her hand from his and lifted onto her toes, which allowed her to lean further into him. She slid her fingers through his hair and relished in the feel of his silky strands against her fingers. She closed her eyes savoring the feel of him. His free hand moved to her back and held her tighter. Marianne felt faint, as though she couldn’t breathe, but she didn’t want to break the kiss.
All reasonable thoughts flew right out of Marianne’s head as she poured eight years of hope, frustration and love into that kiss. She felt him pull back and his lips moved to her chin. He whispered to her in Gaelic, his brogue covering her like a warm blanket.
She felt his hand move up her back and rest in the middle. He lifted his mouth from its ministrations and looked at her. Marianne had never seen him look at her the way he was in that moment. His eyes were the color of the wild clovers that grew in the grass on a late spring day. He gazed at her intently, before whispering something low in Gaelic once more.
“What does that mean?” Marianne asked softly.
“My darling. My love. My wife.”
“Your wife?” Marianne squeaked.
“Aye,” he said brushing his lips against hers once more. “That is if you’ll have me.”
“Yes. Yes. A thousand times yes,” she said looping her arms around his neck once more.
He kissed her soundly and then pulled back once more. “I love you, Marianne Chapman. I never doubted what a treasure you are, I just didn’t know how much I needed or loved you until we were apart.”
“I love you, too.”
A sound from the foyer brought them out of their trance. Marianne turned and realized that several agents had pushed thei
r way into the office. Bronco stood by the side of the door looking at them with a big grin. “About time, old man,” he called, clapping his hands. Soon several agents joined in and yelled out their agreement. Some even whistled between their fingers.
Penelope stood next to her husband and wiped a tear away from her eye as Angus kissed her forehead. Marianne blushed and turned her head into Archie’s chest.
“What’s going on, Marianne? You’ve never been shy before,” Archie asked.
She lifted her head slightly. “Just a bit of embarrassment over being caught.”
Archie laughed. “Never be embarrassed by your emotions, Mo Chrìdh. Besides, as my wife they will see me kissing you a lot more.”
Marianne turned to look up at Archie. She returned her hand to his cheek, allowing her thumb to test the coarseness of the beard that was tickling her just moments before.
“Shall I get rid of them?” he asked. Marianne nodded. Keeping his arm around her waist he looked at the team that was more like a family to them than just agents. “Don’t ya have cases or something to get to?” he barked.
The agents’ laughter filled the room as they filed from the office.
“Does this mean you are staying?” Angus asked.
Marianne looked at Archie and nodded. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Thank goodness,” Pearl chimed in. “I couldn’t keep up with the cooking and everything else going on around here.” She pushed the rest of the agents from the room.
Once the final agent left the room, Marianne turned back to Archie. “What now?”
“Well, my love,” Archie said grinning down at her. “I think we go visit George Hotchkiss and get married this afternoon, and then take some time off for a honeymoon. Where would you like to go?”
Marianne thought about it for a moment. “Anywhere but Chicago or Denver.”
Archie laughed. “I can make that happen.”
He ran his fingers through her hair before cupping her chin to capture her in another kiss.
Marianne smiled as she thought that even though it had taken nearly eight years, she finally found her agent.
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See all the Pinkerton Matchmaker Series Books.
Coming Soon
An Agent for Pearl
Find out what trouble the Pinkerton’s lovely cook can bake up in Christine’s next Pinkerton Matchmaker story!
A quiet woman with no desire to become an agent; an agent with no intention of ever having a partner, and the case that cooks up surprises.
Pearl Bolton has enough on her plate, she doesn’t want to add anything else. She loves her job as a cook for the Pinkerton’s Denver office. At night she rushes home to help take care of her invalid father. The last thing she needs is a husband, no matter how temporary. What she didn't count on was a case that involved her two passions: baking and Pinkerton Agent Zeke Preston.
Zeke Preston has a crush on the shy cook, and he has the extra ten pounds to prove it! He wishes he could get her to open up to him, but Pearl doesn’t appear to need anyone or anything. Every time Zeke comes around, it’s as though Pearl avoids him. He knows exactly what to do to get her attention. Someone has sabotaged a national baking competition and he needs her to help solve the case. The fact he must marry her is just a bonus!
Does Pearl assist Zeke in finding the saboteur? When Pearl is the victim of a crime, will Zeke be able to protect her and solve the case? Will their marriage end at the case’s conclusion, or will they bake up something new together?
An Agent for Pearl releases January 24, 2020!
A BRAND-NEW Series for 2020
Meet the Chapmans
Find out how Marianne and Penelope’s siblings find love in the most unusual ways.
All books are available on pre-order and they release monthly April – August 2020.
Releasing April 20 - OWEN
Owen Chapman has dreams as big as the Nebraska sky. What happens when a dead body turns up on the ranch and the man’s bride comes calling demanding answers?
Available for pre-order on Amazon.
Releasing May 18 - OLIVER
Working with his twin brother on their ranch is the best life Oliver can imagine. That is until a frightened and bruised woman shows up on his doorstep. What is she running from and can Oliver protect her?
Available for pre-order on Amazon.
Releasing June 15 - Caleb
Caleb has never recovered from his brother’s death. He blames himself since he wasn’t there to protect his brother in a gun fight. When a woman is found on the plains, she doesn’t remember who she is or how she got there. Caleb wonders if this is his chance for redemption.
Available for pre-order on Amazon.
Releasing July 20 - Everett
Everett is the peacemaker. Even though his family has been fighting with the ranch closest to them for years, Everett has always had a sweet spot for the daughter who lives there. When he comes up with a crazy idea to get their families to listen, will it bring the families closer together or tear them apart?
Available for pre-order on Amazon.
Releasing August 17 - Alice
Tired of four older brothers scaring off every suitor, Alice decides to take matters into her own hands. What she didn’t expect was the family’s childhood friend to notice how grownup she was, and vow to protect her; even if it is from her own family.
Available for pre-order on Amazon.
Read all of Christine’s Books
Writing contemporary romance as Christi Bortner
1. Dancing to the Altar (Holliday Islands Resort #2)
2. The Mountain Rescue (Disaster City Rescue #6)
Writing historical romance as Christine Sterling:
The Silverpines Series:
1. Wanted: Medicine Man
2. Wanted: Gravedigger
3. Wanted: Redemption
The Silverpines Companion Tales:
1. The Coffin Maker
2. Snowbound
3. Changing Seasons
The Proxy Bride Romances:
1. A Bride for Jeremiah
2. A Bride for Elijah
3. A Bride for Benjamin
The Pinkerton Matchmaker Romances:
1. The Pinkerton Matchmaker
2. An Agent for Claudette
3. An Agent for Penelope
4. An Agent for Marianne
5. An Agent for Pearl
The Cowboys and Angels Romances:
1. Bride in Blue
2. Beauty and the Baker
3. Tempting the Tailor
4. Married by Midnight
The Matchmaker’s Ball Romances:
1. Eloping with Emmylou
2. Dancing with Danielle
The Belles of Wyoming Romances:
1. Wynter's Bride
2. The Homecoming
3. A Matter of Marriage
4. The Barn Raising
The Black Hills Brides Books:
1. Her Secret Past
2. Her Secret Baby
3. Her Secret Shame
4. Her Secret Love
The Christmas Books:
1. A Cozy Mitten Christmas
2. A Cowboy for Christmas
3. A Mother for Christmas
Read Christine’s Other Books:
1. Gwyneth (Widows of Wildcat Ridge)
2. Moving from Maryland (Pioneer Brides of Rattlesnake Ridge)
Click here to visit Christine’s Amazon page.
About Christine
Christine Sterling published her first book in 2017. She is the crea
tor 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 under the name Christine Sterling and sweet contemporary novels under Christi Bortner (you can see both on her Amazon page). 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.
She spends her time writing, thinking about writing, and dreaming about writing. Her favorite things are a good cup of tea, puppy snuggles, a movie that will make you cry and hearing from her readers.
If you like this book, please take a few minutes to leave a review now! Christine appreciates it and you may help a reader find their next favorite book!
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