by Laura Beers
He furrowed his brow. “Why would that surprise them?”
“Do you remember how I told you that I received over a hundred marriage proposals?”
“I do.”
“Well, the proposals came from these men,” she hesitated, her eyes scanning the boardwalk, “most of them.”
A wagon pulled up next to them and a dark-haired cowboy shouted down, “Looking for a ride?”
“No, thank you,” Darcy replied coolly, keeping her gaze straight ahead. “We don’t take rides from strangers.”
The cowboy laughed and pulled the break on the wagon. In a quick motion, he jumped down from the bench and pulled Darcy into a tight embrace. “Welcome home,” he said, picking her up and spinning her in a circle.
Porter cleared his throat. Now he was seriously considering pulling his weapon, but Darcy’s laugh gave him pause.
The cowboy stepped back and tipped his Stetson at him. “It is nice to finally meet you, Porter.”
Darcy smiled at him. “I would like to introduce you to my brother, Michael Spencer.”
Porter extended his hand and shook Michael’s as relief washed over him. “It is nice to meet you as well. I was worried you were one of her former suitors.”
“You couldn’t throw a rock in this town and not hit one of her admirers,” Michael teased.
Darcy placed her hands on her hips. “You failed to mention that I did not encourage any of them.”
“It’s good to have you home,” Michael said, putting his arm around Darcy’s shoulders. “Are you staying long?”
“For a week,” Porter answered.
Michael dropped his arm. “Anna has been going crazy since we first received your telegram.” He lowered his voice. “Does Porter know what you did yet?”
Darcy shook her head as her eyes darted towards him. Interesting, he thought. His wife was keeping a secret from him.
Porter stepped closer to her and asked, “Are you keeping a secret from me, Agent Shaw?”
“A secret?” she repeated back, feigning shock. “I couldn’t possibly keep a secret from the greatest Pinkerton agent of all time.”
He laughed. “Flattery, really?” He placed his hands on her hips. “I approve,” he said before kissing her firmly on the lips.
A collective cheer went around the town. Porter looked around and saw all the men were whooping and howling at their display of affection. Darcy tucked her face into his chest, and he grinned down at her.
Michael leaned closer. “Perhaps it might be best to finish,” he smiled, “whatever this is back on the ranch.”
“Good idea,” Porter agreed as he assisted his wife up to sit on the wagon bench next to her brother.
As they drove towards the ranch, Michael shared one story after another about Darcy’s antics before she went off to finishing school. Darcy would periodically interrupt and contest the validity of the story. It was clear that Darcy and Michael shared a close bond.
His heart started to mourn the loss of contact he had with his brothers. It had been more than eight years since he had last seen them. Perhaps he would make some inquiries and discover where they were working now.
Coming over a hill, Porter had his first good look at the Shadow Ridge Ranch outfit. Buildings were scattered around the yard and fenced green pastures went as far as his eyes could see. “Your ranch is enormous,” he remarked in awe.
Darcy nudged his shoulder. “You seem to forget that half of this ranch belongs to us, husband.”
He shifted in his seat. “I had no idea you were an heiress.”
“Heiress.” Darcy chuckled. “Far from it.”
Michael adjusted the reins in his hand. “So, I take it that you didn’t marry my sister for her money.”
Porter leaned closer and kissed his wife’s cheek. “I married her because she is the bravest woman that I’ve ever met.”
“Or was it because you were assigned to marry me?” Darcy teased.
Michael smiled over at them. “I can’t wait to hear this story, but first…” His words came to a stop when the wagon pulled into the yard. “Why don’t you show him the new cowhands that we hired a month ago? I believe I saw them walk into the barn just now.”
Darcy’s eyes held a glimmer of mischief as she replied, “I think that is a fine idea.”
Porter jumped down and reached back up to assist his wife. As he lowered her to the ground, Darcy went back up on her tiptoes and kissed him. “Come,” she said, grabbing his hand.
“Is it a tradition on your ranch to meet all the new cowhands?” Porter asked curiously.
“Oh, yes,” she replied, smiling.
The barn door was wide open as they walked in. Two men were brushing down the horses, their backs towards them.
“Gentlemen,” Darcy announced. “We are so excited that you are here with us.”
The two men put down their brushes and turned around. Porter’s eyes grew wide when he recognized his brothers. “Ben? Shawn?”
Ben, his older brother, smiled widely. “It’s good to see you.”
The next few moments were filled with hugs and much back-slapping. “I can’t believe you’re here,” Porter murmured in awe. “How is this possible?” Except for a few wrinkles on their weathered faces, his brothers were exactly as he remembered them.
“Ask your wife,” Shawn replied. “She offered us a large sum of money to come work at this ranch.” He smirked as he corrected, “I guess it’s your ranch as well.”
Porter turned his grateful but puzzled gaze towards his wife. “How did you manage this feat?”
Darcy’s eyes held unshed tears. “Our ranch always needs experienced cowhands.”
“How did you even find my brothers?” he asked, approaching her.
“I asked Archie to make a couple of inquiries.” She pressed her lips together. “Did I displease you?”
Porter stopped in front of her and reached for her hands. “Nothing you ever do could displease me. I can’t believe you did this for me.”
“I would do anything for you,” she responded, her eyes full of love.
“I love you,” he murmured before he kissed her. “One day you are going to realize that I don’t deserve you.”
“Never.” She stepped back but kept hold of his right hand. “I have another surprise for you.”
“There’s more?” He turned back towards his brothers, and they just shrugged. As they walked towards the main house, Porter asked, “Are you happy?”
“So much that I feel my heart might burst,” she answered.
“You have caught counterfeiters, murderers, embezzlers,” he listed, “and that was only in your first six months of being an agent. Imagine what cases we will be assigned in the next six months.”
“I can’t wait.” She stopped and turned to face him. “But I have a different adventure in mind after that.”
He grinned. “Would you prefer to go after bank robbers?”
“Sounds delightful, but after that…” She took his hand and placed it over her stomach. “What about a baby?”
His eyes widened as his gaze lowered to her stomach. “Are you sure… I mean…?” he stammered out.
With a bright smile on her lips, she bobbed her head up and down. “The doctor confirmed it before we left.”
He pulled her into a tight embrace and let out a whoop of joy as he twirled her in a circle. When he placed her down, he asked in a concerned voice, “Did I hurt you or the baby?”
“You could never hurt me,” Darcy said.
Tears came to his eyes as he cupped his wife’s cheeks. “You have made me the happiest man in the whole world.”
She placed her hands over his. “Now you know how you make me feel every single day.”
A bell started ringing from the main house, drawing his attention towards the porch. “I take it that’s the dinner bell?”
“It is.” She stepped back. “Let’s go share the good news with my brother and his wife.”
Porter offere
d his arm as they strolled back towards the house. He couldn’t believe how drastically his life changed the day he married Darcy. Every day he was with her was a blessing. He loved her more than he ever thought it was possible, and she showered affection and love on him without restraint. Together, they had become two of the best agents that the Denver office had to offer.
Whatever he’d done in his life that led up to finding Darcy, he must have done it right. He was a better man and a better agent with his wife by his side. And with a baby on the way, their adventures had only just begun.
The End
Coming Soon by this Author:
An Agent for Rosalie
The Pinkerton Matchmaking Series
Release Date: May 2019
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About the Author
Laura Beers spent most of her childhood with a nose stuck in a book, dreaming of becoming an author. She attended Brigham Young University, eventually earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management.
Many years later, and with loving encouragement from her family, Laura decided to start writing again. 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]