“You wouldn’t mind?”
Without answering, he pulled on the lines, bringing the wagon to a stop. “Hold on. I’ll help you down.” Reaching her side of the wagon, he held up his arms. “Put your hands on my shoulders.”
Bending down, she did as he asked, his touch setting off a stream of memories. The feel of his hands on her, even through the dress she wore, made her shiver, remembering when they’d been intimate. How she’d missed him stroking her back and arms as he peppered kisses across her cheeks and down her neck.
Although she’d loved her husband, welcomed their time in bed, she’d never realized until Beau how heated and passionate making love could be. He’d fulfilled her in ways she never imagined possible, taking his time, giving her pleasure before taking his own. She swallowed the heat burning within her, forcing her thoughts to the present.
Taking his time setting Caro on the ground, he felt her body tremble, his own responding. He’d been a fool to believe being so near wouldn’t affect him.
“Cold?” He didn’t let go of her waist as he waited for her response.
Her legs shook, unsteady after being in the wagon so long. At least that was what she told herself as she tried to ignore her body’s reaction to Beau. It took all her willpower to fight the urge to wrap her arms around his neck, tell him she loved him and had made a terrible mistake walking away. The assurances of Isabella and Noah raced through her mind. Still, she couldn’t summon the courage to confess her true reason for coming back.
“No, I’m fine. A little stiff.” She rubbed her back and moved away, breaking his hold. “I just need to walk around a few minutes, then we can continue.”
Beau’s gaze hooded, chest tightening at the brief contact. “Take your time.” He did the same, trying to calm the desire pulsing through him. After so long, he’d been certain the passion he felt for Caro would’ve burned out, his constant need for her evaporating as pools of water on a hot day. Instead, the longing intensified to an almost painful level.
“I’m ready to go.”
The voice at his back had him shifting to face her, forcing himself to gain control. Nodding, he walked to the wagon and helped her up. Without a word, he climbed up beside her, taking the lines.
“Thank you for stopping.”
Again, he nodded, not taking a chance of looking at Caro and letting her see the desire he knew would be clear on his face. Over the years, he’d learned to control his reaction to almost any situation. The skill failed him when it came to Caro.
Continuing on the trail, he willed himself not to look at her, almost wishing he’d asked someone else to drive her to the Murton’s. But this was his battle. With her being his neighbor, he had to fight it sometime. Besides, he’d been the one to push her, forcing Caro to accept his help. Now he had to see it through.
“Is that the Murton’s?” Caro pointed to a house up the trail.
“It is.”
Within minutes, he pulled to a stop and jumped down.
Ty strolled out of the barn, extending his hand to Beau. “Mr. Clausen said you might be coming out. Didn’t think it would be this soon. I hear you’re doing a good deal of work getting ready to build your house. Now it appears you’ll have a new neighbor.”
Gripping Ty’s hand, Beau glanced over his shoulder at Caro. “I won’t start until spring, but Mrs. Iverson is going to need help as soon as she can hire the men.”
Ty walked over to the wagon. “I’m Ty Murton. May I help you down?”
“Yes. Thank you.” Once on the ground, she turned to Ty. “I know we’ve never met, but I’ve heard so much about you and your family. I’m Caroline Iverson. Are those your children?”
“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Iverson.” Turning at the sound of laughter, Ty grinned. “Yep. We have two children, but Tilly says she wants more.” The glint in his eyes indicated how much he agreed with his wife. “So you’re looking to hire some men?”
“Yes. Mr. Clausen said you have a couple who might be in need of more work.”
“Merritt and Augustus.” Ty glanced at her. “He goes by Gus. They’re brothers. Moved out here when they couldn’t find jobs after the war.”
“Did they fight for the South?”
“No, ma’am. The Union. I have to say, they’re right handy. There hasn’t been a job I’ve given them that they couldn’t finish.”
“Are you sure you’re ready to let them go, Mr. Murton?”
“Call me Ty, and yes. They’ve finished all I have for them. Although I would like to have them back in the spring.”
Caro nodded as Beau walked up next to them. “The work I have should only last a few weeks.”
Beau considered her comment. “You might want to plan for a little longer. From what I saw the last time I was on the property, my guess is it’ll be at least eight weeks before you can move in, especially with the cold weather setting in.”
Caro stopped, staring up at Beau. “I can’t possibly wait that long. Christmas is only seven weeks away and I will not spend it in a hotel room.”
Ty looked between them. “It’s none of my business, but it might be best to have Merritt and Gus look at what you want done, Mrs. Iverson. Maybe they can finish what’s needed for you to at least move in before Christmas.”
“Good idea. When can I meet them?”
“They’re behind the barn, finishing some repair work to the walls. Come on. I’ll introduce you.” Taking a path around the barn, he stopped next to the two men, who quickly removed their hats when they saw Caro. “Mrs. Iverson, this is Merritt Teal and his brother, Gus.”
“Ma’am,” they said in unison, drawing a smile from Caro.
“Gentlemen, it’s nice to meet you. Ty says you’re looking for more work.”
“Yes, ma’am. We can do just about anything you want done. Right, Gus?”
“That’s a fact, ma’am. We start at sunup and don’t stop until after dark.” They fidgeted with the brims of their hats.
She smiled. “Would it be convenient for you to follow us to the property and let me know what you think?”
Both glanced at Ty, who nodded.
“Yes, ma’am. We can do that.” Merritt pushed his hat back down on his head.
“We just need to saddle our horses.” Gus started to follow his brother into the barn.
“Hold up.” Ty crossed his arms. “My brothers, Gil and Mark, will be riding in to eat. Tilly will skin me alive if you all don’t join us. She has a big pot of stew on the stove and is baking biscuits.”
“Sounds good to me, Ty.” Beau wanted more time to get to know Merritt and Gus before Caro made a decision.
“Tilly will love spending some time with another woman. Besides my ma, she’s the only female. My brothers aren’t married. It’s always good to know people who can help you out when needed.”
Sitting on the hard seat of the wagon, Caro thought about the last couple hours. The meal had passed in a blur. Listening to the Murton brothers banter back and forth, Beau, Merritt, and Gus joining in, Caro couldn’t recall the last time she’d laughed so much. Tilly did her best to keep them in line while watching the two children, never complaining or raising her voice. At least she allowed Caro to help with the dishes.
Caro marveled at the ease with which the young woman worked, wondering how she’d cope if she were ever blessed with two beautiful children and a man who obviously adored her. Once her house was in order, Caro vowed to have them all over for supper…although she’d have to learn to cook first.
“When you come from the Murton’s, this is the fastest way to your property.” Beau nodded to a turnoff on his right. “Coming from town, take the trail I pointed out before.”
“Will either trail go by your ranch?”
His head whipped toward her, his eyes wide. “I didn’t know you realized the properties were so close.”
“Don’t you remember bringing me out to your land? You showed me where you planned to build your house.”
He wanted to set he
r straight, tell Caro it was their house he planned to build. “I remember.”
Pursing her lips, she wondered if she should say more or stay silent. Clearing her throat, she continued. “When Mr. Clausen brought me out to the Miller place, I recognized the trail to your property. I hope you don’t mind that we’re neighbors.”
Hell yes, I mind, he thought, knowing there was no use complaining over something he could do nothing about. “Your money, your decision.”
It wasn’t the answer she had hoped for. “Once I move in, you’re welcome to come over, have supper with me.” She could sense the instant the air shifted, like a cloud falling over them.
Easing back on the lines, Beau stopped the wagon, turning toward her. “I won’t be coming by for supper, Caro. When you left, you made it clear I’m not the man you want to spend time with. I’m sure you’ll find someone else to fill that spot.” The instant the words were out, he wished he could pull them back. His response was honest, needed to be said, but the look on her face made him feel as if he’d punched her. Reaching over to touch her arm, he drew back when she flinched. “I’m sorry…”
“No, you’re right. Besides, it wouldn’t be right with you courting Sarah Murton.”
His nostrils flared at the assumption. He knew that was what she believed at the party, still believed, yet he’d done nothing to change her mind.
He slapped the lines, his gaze focusing on the trail ahead. “I’m not courting Sarah. Fact is, I’m not courting anyone.”
Caro sat silent, a thread of relief wafting through her. She had no right to feel a sense of satisfaction at his confession, but she did. Now if she could just convince him to give her a second chance.
Chapter Five
Montgomery, Alabama
“It’s time, Eddie.” Julius Eldridge placed a hand on his older brother’s shoulder. “She wouldn’t want us to be late.”
Edmond Eldridge let out a bitter laugh as he set aside the bookkeeping, which seemed to take less and less of his time. “Even in death, Mother still influences what we do.” Standing, he took his black coat off a hook and slipped it on.
Julius shook his head, letting out a ragged breath. “It happened so fast. I still have a hard time believing she’s gone.”
“I know, Jules. First Father, then Perry, now Mother.” Clutching his hat in one hand, he opened the door to the study and stepped into the entry. Their younger sisters, Prudence and Alma, stood by the front door, their expressions reflecting the loss. Ushering them to the waiting wagon, Eddie took a moment to stop at the edge of the large covered porch and look around.
Groups of former slaves, now sharecroppers working Eldridge land, nodded as the four settled onto the wagon. The same as their father, Adelaide Eldridge had been loved by most everyone, including those standing around today. She’d woken earlier in the week with a high fever, chills, and a rash that spread quickly, making her skin feel as if covered with sand. Within a few days, the severe case of Scarlet Fever had ended her life, leaving an emptiness in her children, as well as the former slaves who called the Eldridge plantation home.
Slapping the lines, Edmond guided the wagon up a sloping hill to the family cemetery where their father and other brother already rested, along with a younger sister who’d died at birth. He pulled the wagon to a stop, jumped down, then helped Prudence and Alma to the ground.
Already crowded with mourners, the four siblings stopped to talk with those they knew before making their way to the freshly prepared grave. Taking off their hats, Edmond and Julius stood shoulder to shoulder, each holding the hand of one of their sisters.
The minister’s remarks hit everyone hard, sealing the reality Adelaide Eldridge had truly left this world. When the service ended, the brothers draped their arms over the shoulders of their grieving sisters. No one spoke as they returned to the wagon and their eerily quiet home.
As the afternoon wore on, their former slaves brought food, insisting they take it. Moving from a system of slave labor to sharecropping hadn’t been easy. After more than a year, newly freed men, croppers under the sharecropper arrangement, and struggling landowners were beginning to see improvement. Since few croppers owned equipment, animals, or the tools required to farm cotton, they made a living based on labor only. In many cases, it amounted to thirty percent of the crop. The Eldridge family hoped to pay more, depending on the market for cotton.
By evening, everyone had left, leaving the four siblings to their own private grief.
“We need to talk, Eddie.” Although low, his voice carried across the room where Prudence and Alma sat huddled together.
Edmond knew what Julius wanted to discuss. The same topic concerning both of them ever since their brother, Perry, a lieutenant in the Confederate Army, had died during the Atlanta Campaign.
Edmond let out a weary sigh, sending his brother a warning look. “Not now, Jules.”
Crossing his arms, he felt the frustration roll through him at being put off again. “When then?” He turned his head at the sound of footsteps behind him.
Lowering his voice, Edmond scowled at his brother. “Not in front of the girls.”
“What are you whispering about, Edmond? I hope it isn’t another discussion about Perry’s death.”
Julius cringed at the look on his sister’s face. “Mother’s funeral would remind us of Perry’s death, Prudence.”
“I hope that’s all it is. Mother would not have wanted you to continue with this, Jules. She made it clear it was time to let it go and move on. He died during battle. A hero. There’s nothing more to it.” Prudence’s voice shook, although her shoulders were square, chin jutting out. A year younger and a few inches shorter than Julius, she could still be a formidable presence when arguing a position.
Edmond shook his head. “We’ve heard more than one account of his death. We don’t know which is true.”
“Will finding out bring Perry back?” Prudence’s voice cracked. “We agreed to accept what the army told us, the same as all the other families who’ve lost loved ones. Why do you insist on continuing to question what we were told?”
Alma jumped up, her voice rising in emotion. “I don’t want to talk about Perry anymore. He’s gone and isn’t coming back.” She swiped a tear from her cheek, her eyes puffy and red. Alma and Perry had been close. The youngest at fourteen, she’d been ten when they got the news about his death.
Standing, Edmond walked to Alma, wrapping his arms around her. “You and Pru are right. Mother’s death caught us all by surprise, bringing back unwelcome memories of Perry. Why don’t you take Alma upstairs, Pru? I think we all need some time to ourselves.”
Taking her sister’s hand, Prudence started for the stairs. “Come along, Alma. You’ll feel better after a nap.”
Edmond motioned for Julius to follow him into the study, then closed the door, piercing his brother with an angry glare. “We cannot discuss our plans in front of the girls. You know it only upsets them.”
Running a hand through his hair, Julius nodded. “You’re right. I wasn’t thinking.” Slumping into a chair, he rested his arms on his legs, his head hanging. “What are we going to do?”
“I’ve contacted the Pinkerton Agency about locating Perry’s commanding officer.”
Julius sat up. “Pinkerton? All we have to go on is the story of a disgruntled ex-Confederate sergeant.”
“There’s no reason for him to lie about seeing the officer shoot Perry. He said the man did it to protect a group of deserters. If that’s true, the man is guilty, no matter what the army told us.”
Julius nodded. “Do we have the funds?”
“We have enough. It’s either hire someone or track the man down ourselves. With Mother’s death, we’re both needed here.” Edmond leaned his hip against the desk, crossing his arms.
“What do you plan to do once Pinkerton locates him? It’s my understanding the agency has no authority to arrest someone without a warrant.”
“Right now, all I want to k
now is where he’s hiding.” Edmond thought of Perry, his bright, energetic younger brother, and his enthusiasm to fight for the South’s independence. The memory brought a lump to his throat.
“And then?”
Edmond’s mouth turned up into a cruel smile. “Then Captain Beauregard Davis will face the same degree of mercy he gave Perry.”
Omaha, Nebraska
Finishing the last bite of his mediocre steak, Dutch McFarlin pushed the plate away. It was a celebration of sorts. He’d completed his current assignment for his employer, the Pinkerton Agency. As always happened, within a few hours of sending his final report to headquarters, a telegram came for him with another job. This one brought a smile to his face.
A few years before, he’d received an assignment to assist another agent, one he’d worked with during the war. He and Luke Pelletier met during their employment with the Confederate Secret Service, both ending up at the Pinkerton Agency—Luke for only a brief period after inheriting the ranch in Montana. They’d completed the job, then Luke returned to work the ranch with his brother, Dax. It looked like Dutch would now be heading to Splendor, confirming the man Pinkerton identified was the same person their client wanted to locate. A strange request, but no assignment was ever the same with the expanding detective agency. He planned to take the train as far as possible, then finish the trip on the horse he’d purchased in Omaha.
“Here’s your pie, Mr. McFarlin.” The server set down the plate, cocking her head, a question in her eyes. “I heard you may be leaving us.”
“Taking off for Montana tomorrow morning.”
“Well, that’s too bad. I’ll miss seeing you in here.”
“Thanks, sweetheart. You never know. With my job, I may be coming back.” A brief bit of melancholy hit him in the chest as she walked away. Having no real home worked well for most Pinkerton agents. It also resulted in a fair amount of lonely nights.
Finishing his pie, Dutch pushed out of his chair and strolled outside. Stopping on the boardwalk, he turned as a man hurried up to him, waving a telegram.
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