“Mr. Benton? I’m Roy Wells. John Oliver sent me to fetch you and the youngsters.”
Will shook the man’s hand, then gathered the children to wait for their trunks to be unloaded. Out of the corner of his eye he watched for Miss Mitchell, wondering if this would also be her stop. Then he saw her step down from the car onto the platform. Wells approached her, too, tapping her on the shoulder to get her attention. Pulling his hat low, Will observed them, listening in on their exchange with interest.
“Miss Mitchell, we were hoping you’d be on this train!”
“Good afternoon, Mr. Wells. And who might this we be that you’re talking about?”
“Mr. Oliver. He needs to see you straight away.”
Will knew he was expected to report in to Agent Oliver, but why did he need to see Miss Mitchell?
“Can’t he wait until I’ve had time to settle in?”
With a fervent shake of his head, Wells replied, “No, miss. He said you are to come as soon as you’ve arrived.”
“I have to wait for my trunk.”
“I’ll fetch yours and Mr. Benton’s and bring them over to Mr. Oliver’s office. You have to go now.”
Will looked up to find Miss Mitchell standing with her hands gripping her reticule, watching him with those clear violet eyes. He knew she had the same questions he did: What was so urgent that John Oliver required both of them? What did they have in common other than being on the same train? And the most troublesome question for him was, would she somehow become a part of his mission? He hoped not. Will preferred to work alone. He began to formulate a plan in the event Agent Oliver suggested Miss Mitchell become part of his assignment.
“I guess we’d best get moving,” he said, keeping his thoughts to himself. With a gentle nudge of his hand, Will urged the children forward, following Miss Mitchell down the planked walkway.
The train station was at one end of town, which had been settled in the midst of thick pine forests and craggy mountains. Drenched in thick gray clouds, the distant high peaks of the Adirondack Mountains were barely visible. The pungent scent of freshly milled lumber mingled with the acrid coal smell coming from the train and made his nose itch. Trying to keep pace with the young woman who was charging down the main street as though a pack of wolves were nipping at her heels, Will hurried the children along.
Abruptly turning to the right, they continued down a narrow alleyway where a black sign with an arrow and gold lettering hung off to one side of a two-story building, pointing the way to the lumber company’s office. They stopped in front of a door bearing the markings of the Oliver Lumber Company. Feeling the tingle of unease creep between his shoulder blades, Will sensed whatever was about to happen hadn’t been a part of the original arrangement. But then again, nothing in the past few days had gone accordingly, so why should this meeting be any different?
Squaring his shoulders, Will let the children and the young lady go ahead of him into a dimly lit room, an annex housing a small desk, some barrels with “Nails” stenciled in black on the lid, a stack of crates, and a rough-hewn counter area. No one was there, so he moved toward a closed door on the opposite side of the room. He knocked once.
“The door’s open.” A man’s rich baritone voice sounded from behind the door.
Removing his hat, Will ushered the children and Miss Mitchell into a smaller room that served as the office. The space was sparsely furnished. Pausing in front of the oak desk, he said, “I’m William Benton.”
“John Oliver.” Rising from his chair, Will’s superior came around to the front of the desk with his hand outstretched. They shook hands.
“It’s a pleasure to finally meet my newest employee. And I see you and Miss Mitchell have already met.”
Will glanced at the young woman who stood with her hands folded in front of her. He saw movement beneath her skirt and realized she’d begun tapping her toe.
Taking a wide-legged stance, John Oliver folded his arms across his massive chest, looking from one of them to the other, sizing them up. Will thought himself to be tall at just under six feet, but this man had to be at least two inches over that in height. Because Agent Oliver’s dark hair was graying at the temples and wrinkles fanned out around his sharp blue eyes, Will guessed him to be about thirty-five years old. He’d heard of John Oliver’s adventures as a Pinkerton agent and knew the man could be a force to be reckoned with.
A feeling of unease worked its way along his spine.
“How was your trip?” Oliver asked.
“My trip went well, sir.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” Now he looked at the young woman. “I don’t know if you’re aware, Mr. Benton, but Miss Mitchell is Heartston’s schoolteacher. And a mighty fine one she is. I take it your trip to Albany was restful, Miss Mitchell?”
“I had a lovely visit with my aunt and uncle. But, Mr. Oliver, why did you need to see me in such a hurry? I would have liked time to freshen up from my trip first.” She managed to put a smile on her face. And though her smile seemed sincere enough, Will noticed her toe kept right on tapping.
“I beg your forgiveness for my ill manners, but I’ve a proposition for you involving Mr. Benton and his charges.”
The foot hidden beneath the skirts stilled. “I can’t imagine, other than the schooling of the children, what Mr. Benton and I would have to do with one another.”
“Hmm. That makes two of us,” Will mumbled, even though he knew full well where this conversation seemed to be heading as he watched Oliver grin from ear to ear.
“You see, Miss Mitchell,” Oliver said, “I’ve come up with a solution that will solve both of your problems!”
“I don’t have any problems,” she quickly countered.
“But you do. Mr. Benton needs someone to help him care for his niece and nephew while he begins his new job at my lumber company, and you”—he paused to point a finger at her—“you have made no secret of the fact that you suffer from a bit of wanderlust. Why, just the other day our friend Miss Amy Montgomery mentioned how you were going to be helping her out at the bakery so you could plan your next trip. This, in addition to the extra tutoring you’ve taken on. You’ve been scrimping and saving for months. I can’t imagine how you have any spare time at all, Miss Mitchell.”
He leaned closer to her, setting the snare. “I know how you yearn to expand your traveling horizons for the benefit of your students, and I’ve found a way for you to do just that.”
Will could all but see the wheels turning in her head as she put two and two together and came up with the four of them. Her delicate jaw, which only seconds ago had been clenched, dropped open.
And then she just as quickly snapped it shut and said, “You want me to help him care for his niece and nephew? I can’t imagine adding another job to my already full plate.”
“If you decide to help Mr. Benton with the children, it will enable you to drop one of those jobs. I’ve taken all of your needs into consideration. My grandmother’s house has been vacant for almost a year. Will and the children can live in the main portion of the house. There’s a small apartment attached that would be suitable for you to occupy. Really all you need to do is make sure the children have someone to watch over them when their uncle is working.”
“You have assumed an awful lot here, Mr. Oliver. I’m just not sure about taking on this extra responsibility.”
“The job comes with a decent salary, Miss Mitchell.”
Will could tell from the way she nibbled at her lower lip that she was thinking about taking the offer.
“I have been dreaming of a trip abroad,” she said.
“Imagine how much your students would love to hear about those travels!” Pouring on the charm, he ended with, “Taking on this job can help you get what you wish for.”
Her gaze settled on the children’s upturned faces. Will watched as her expression softened in sympathy. Then she turned to him. The look she gave him was clearly more cautious.
“You say th
ere is an apartment attached to your grandmother’s house?” she asked Oliver.
Oliver nodded.
“I’ll just need to be there to help when Mr. Benton is unable to?”
Again he nodded. “So you’ll take the job?”
Chapter Two
Elsie knew little about William Benton, but as she looked at his niece’s and nephew’s faces, she was certain these children needed someone other than just their uncle to care for them. They needed a woman’s touch. Mr. Oliver was correct. Having her help them would solve Mr. Benton’s problem and enable her to save money for traveling. She could see the urgency in Mr. Benton’s situation. Most importantly, Elsie felt in her heart that God was calling on her to do this.
Elsie answered Mr. Oliver’s question with a yes. And then realizing she hadn’t been introduced to the boy and girl, asked them, “And what might your names be?”
“The boy’s name is Harry, and this is his twin sister, Minnie.” Their uncle gently urged them forward. Minnie slid closer to her brother.
Elsie saw that they had similar oval-shaped eyes with the same blue-green hues. Minnie had a riotous head of curly blonde hair that begged to be tamed into a braid, while Harry’s, though the same shade, was a bit straighter and in need of a good trimming. Minnie stood half a head shorter than her brother. Elsie was struck again by his protective nature.
Using a soft tone, she said, “You’ve come to town at just the right time. We’re getting ready to start our next school session.”
Their uncle asked, “How soon would I have to enroll the children, Miss Mitchell?”
“Classes begin bright and early tomorrow morning.”
She saw Minnie take hold of her brother’s hand and whisper in his ear.
Harry in turn tugged at his uncle’s coat, craning his head to look up at him. “Uncle Will, Minnie doesn’t want to go to another new school.”
Elsie caught a flash of alarm in the man’s eyes. Bending down to Minnie’s level, she said, “You’ll love our school, Minnie. We have a lot of fun, and you’ll make new friends. I promise you’ll be happy there.”
Minnie hid her head behind her brother’s back.
“Ah, I see. You’re a shy one. Well, that’s okay. I was shy once, too.” Straightening, she looked at John Oliver. “I’ll have to make the arrangements for my move, so it will be a few days before I can be with the children. Will that be all right?”
He looked at his new employee for affirmation and then gave her a quick nod.
“Then I’ll be heading home.” Rearranging the bonnet on top of her head, Elsie prepared to step back out into the inclement weather. Pausing, she looked at Mr. Benton.
“About the school, Mr. Benton. Don’t wait too long to get them signed up. It’s best if they start with the rest of the class. That way it will be easier for them to form friendships and not be coming in when the others are all settled.”
Gathering the twins closer, he assured her, “We’ll be by tomorrow.”
The door closed behind Miss Mitchell with a hollow sound. Will settled the twins on a bench in front of the window, safely out of the way, so he could continue his conversation without the children overhearing. His boss spoke in a hushed voice. “How’s the shoulder wound?”
“I’m on the mend. Care to explain why you made these arrangements without consulting with me first?”
Agent Oliver stroked his clean-shaven chin. “I understand about family, Will, but I’m not sure how you thought you were going to provide for them and do your job. Having the schoolteacher help you out is the only thing to do.”
Moving to the far side of his desk, the man leaned against it and continued, “Now you’ve brought them here promising them what, exactly? Not to mention you may be bringing them into a situation that could prove dangerous. Miss Mitchell agreed to do the job, and she’ll do right by you and the children.”
“I agree with what you’ve said, Agent Oliver. But there has to be a better way to make this work for everyone.”
It was clear to Will that the young schoolmarm had not taken to him. Her wariness of him could present problems down the road if she couldn’t put her trust in him. Will needed her to believe he was the new foreman for the Oliver Lumber Company. On the brighter side, he could tell by the way her gaze softened when she looked at Harry and Minnie that she would be kind to them. He figured that had to count for something.
“Right now,” his boss said, “all you have are some trunks and a promise of one room for you to sleep in tonight. I can tell from the set of your jaw that handing them off to another family for safekeeping isn’t going to be an option.”
Drawing himself up to his full height, Will replied, “No, sir, it is not.”
Leaving his perch on the desk, his superior walked around to the back of it. “My grandmother’s house is two streets over. It will need to be cleaned up and there are some sparse furnishings, enough to keep you and the children comfortable. Miss Mitchell can furnish her apartment as she sees fit.”
“Yes, sir.”
Will worried that once she’d had some time to think about what she would be getting into, she might have a change of heart. He needed another plan in case this one didn’t work out. “Is there anyone else in town who can help out in case the schoolteacher backs out?”
Raising an eyebrow, Oliver replied, “Have you seen the size of this town, Will? There aren’t all that many females of an age who can tend to your children. I assure you that the teacher will do a just service for you.”
“I need to be clear about one thing. I am not going to use the children as part of my cover.”
“The children by default will be a part of this, Agent Benton. I trust you will keep them safe.”
John Oliver’s comment didn’t leave any room for argument.
“What about Miss Mitchell? Once she moves into the apartment, how will I keep her from finding out who I really am? I don’t need to put anyone else in danger.”
“I suspect you’ll find a way.”
Pulling out his chair, Oliver sat down, shuffled through a stack of papers, and said, “I imagine the children must be tired and a bit hungry. You can use the one room we spoke about earlier for tonight, since it’s clean and the bed’s made up. Settle in, and then the three of you can come to my house for supper. Tomorrow will be soon enough for you to see about the other quarters for your family and Miss Mitchell.”
Though he was thankful to Agent Oliver for offering up the spare room at the back of his office, the one thing Will hated was to have a cold nose, and when he awoke to bright sunlight flooding through the only window in the narrow room, his nose was cold. Rubbing his sleeve across it, he slowly opened his eyes to find two matching sets of blue-green eyes staring down at him.
“Good morning, Uncle Will.” Harry’s breath was a thin vapor in the chilly morning air. “We’re hungry . . . and cold.” His teeth chattered.
In her arms Minnie held tightly to Hazel the doll.
Will pushed aside the blankets he’d made a bed out of on the floor last night. He walked over to the small stove and added some wood to the fire he’d banked.
The children sat on the edge of the single bed, watching him.
“I’ve got to go use the necessary,” he grumbled, not used to having an audience.
Minnie giggled and Harry said, “We already went.”
That meant they’d been outside without him knowing they’d left the room. He must have been more tired than he’d thought. Pausing with one hand on the doorknob, he glanced over his shoulder and warned, “I don’t like you wandering around without telling me where you’re going.”
“We didn’t want to wake you up.” Harry shrugged, adding, “I remembered where it was from last night when you took us.”
Angry with himself for sleeping through their movements, Will said, “From now on you tell me when you’re leaving.”
“Sure, Uncle Will. When you get back can we eat?”
Nodding, Will left the
m to attend to his business.
He returned a few minutes later to open the basket containing blueberry muffins that Oliver’s housekeeper had sent them off with last night. Handing one to each child, he took the last one for himself, longing for a cup of strong black coffee to accompany it. Biting into the muffin, he worried how they were going to react when he told them they would be going off to school today.
There was no sense putting off the inevitable. “Harry and Minnie, I’m going to be taking you to school today.”
“Why can’t we stay with you?” Harry asked.
Minnie stopped chewing to look up at him. Her round eyes widened, and he could see the tears starting to well. There was no other choice. They couldn’t stay with him.
“I can take care of Minnie while you work, Uncle Will.”
He knelt in front of them. Will suspected that over the past months Harry had stepped up to take care of his sister many times. But he didn’t need to do so now.
“You can’t be here alone. Besides,” Will tried to reassure them, “Miss Mitchell is looking forward to seeing both of you today.” He didn’t know whether this was true, considering he hadn’t decided to do this until this morning. It seemed the children had taken a liking to the schoolteacher. So a little bit of coaxing couldn’t hurt.
Throwing his half-eaten muffin on the floor, Harry choked back a sob. Then he tried to push past Will, who grabbed the lad before his feet could hit the floorboards, setting him back on the bed. Harry sat with his arms folded tightly across his chest, scrunching his eyes together.
Will saw a small tear form at the corner of one of Harry’s eyes. He didn’t know what to do to make the situation better for them. He wasn’t a parent. He was a spy. He could track and catch the worst criminal, but he had no idea how to handle heartbroken children.
Softly, he said, “Listen, I know this has been hard for you. But right now I’m all the two of you have. And today I have to take you to school because I need to get our new house together.”
A Changed Agent Page 2