A rustling of skirts beside her reminded Elsie that they were not alone in the barn. The woman who’d been caring for the children stood. She gestured for Elsie to take her spot. Elsie sat on the edge of the hay bale next to the children. Slowly, it dawned on her that she’d seen this woman before, only the last time it had been at the saloon, and she had been standing in front of the swinging doors yelling for Will.
Their eyes met. There was no wariness in this woman’s eyes, only the same alertness she’d seen in Will’s upstairs minutes before.
“Let me guess, you’re one of them, too?”
“Yes.”
Tilting her head to one side, Elsie pondered this development. “You look different. Your face has changed.” She remembered seeing pockmarks and a mole near her nose.
“The saloon girl is one of my disguises.”
“Oh.” What else could she say?
Sighing, she concentrated on the fact that Minnie’s silence had been broken. It almost didn’t matter how it had happened. Almost. Elsie’s heart began to beat faster as she thought about all the lies and deceit they’d been living with.
“I’m Lily Handland.” She extended her hand to Elsie.
Though she preferred not to accept her kindness, Elsie knew how to act politely even in the face of adversity. She shook Miss Handland’s hand, surprised to find strength in her grip.
“My name is Elsie Mitchell.” It seemed silly to be introducing themselves like they were attending an afternoon tea rather than being involved in the apprehension of a much-sought-after criminal.
Elsie released the woman’s hand. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw movement on her parents’ front porch. She watched Will bringing Virgil out of the house. Mr. Oliver came out behind them. Even from here she could see the hardness in Will’s face. Virgil looked almost relieved to have finally had his burden lifted, though she still had no idea why he’d stolen those railroad bonds. Mr. Oliver came up behind Will and said something to him. Nodding, Will released Virgil, handing him over to Mr. Oliver, who took him to a waiting wagon. In all the excitement, she hadn’t even noticed there was an extra one in the yard. Will looked straight ahead at her. She shivered, and then Lily laid a hand on her shoulder.
“Elsie, are you all right? You’ve been through quite an ordeal. Perhaps I could bring you a cup of water.”
She tore her gaze away from Will, fully aware that he was coming to talk to her. Looking at Lily, she replied, “I’m fine.”
Will’s shadow fell upon her. Elsie wanted to pull the children close to her; she wanted to keep them near where she could touch them, to reassure herself that they were truly unharmed. She didn’t know what was going to happen to them now. What would become of the family life they’d worked so hard to build?
Harry ran to Will, throwing himself into his arms. “Uncle Will!” he shouted. Will swung him up into a bear hug.
“Harry.” His voice was muffled against Harry’s neck.
Elsie blinked back tears.
Minnie sprang from her seat next to Elsie and joined her brother. “Uncle Will. Pick me up, too.”
He scooped Minnie up so he was holding a child in each of his strong arms. Elsie felt her world shift.
Will spoke softly: “Minnie, your voice sounds like music to my ears.”
Her face beamed. “I thought that terrible man wanted to hurt Miss Elsie. Is he gone now?”
“Yes. He won’t be able to hurt anyone ever again.”
Setting the children on their feet in front of him, he said to Lily, “Would you mind taking the children back to town?”
“I’d be happy to do so. Shall I wait for you at your house?”
He nodded. Harry and Minnie ran to give Elsie a hug and then left with Lily. Will stood about halfway between her and the door. She thought about fleeing but then realized he probably wouldn’t let her leave, so she sat on the hay bale with her hands folded neatly in her lap. The sun’s rays slanted through the open doorway. Dust motes danced in the air. Outside, the land looked fresh and clean from the recent storm.
She heard a woodpecker pounding its beak into a nearby tree. She felt Will watching her. Pressing her lips together, she finally lifted her eyes to meet his. From this distance she could only imagine what his thoughts were. Meanwhile, hers were swirling around and around in her mind like a tornado. So many thoughts, and not one of them made any sense.
He broke the silence. “Are you certain you’re not hurt?”
“I’m fine.”
Walking through the sun’s rays, he came to where she sat. She noticed the mud caked to his boots and staining the lower portion of his black pants. His long duster coat rested loosely over his muscular frame. She looked at the lips that had kissed her. The hands that had held her face. She sighed, closing her eyes, blocking out his image.
Kneeling in front of her, he made an attempt to take her hands in his. She curled them into fists in her lap.
He dropped his hands to his thighs. “Elsie,” he spoke her name so softly she had to strain to hear it.
He tucked a hand under her chin, lifting her face, forcing her to look into his eyes. She fought the urge to cry. She would not cry now.
“I’d like to go home.” The words came out before she realized she was referring to their home in town. And now that would all change. The place was never her home. The past months had been nothing more than a ruse. Will had used her for his subterfuge. John Oliver had knowingly played a part in the deceit. The only ones who remained innocent were the only ones who mattered. Harry and Minnie.
Whatever had been growing between Will and her had never really existed. She didn’t want to believe that all they’d shared, all they’d built, had been nothing more than some part of a scheme set in motion the minute she’d met him at the train station in Albany. And even before that—from the time Virgil had spotted her in that restaurant, begging her to let him come see her. She’d taken his package, offering up her forgiveness to him. She’d been nothing more than a fool. Not once, but twice. Her stomach twisted in knots. Sorrow filled her.
Will leaned in, resting his forehead against hers.
“I never intended for any of this to happen.”
His breath warmed her cold cheeks. “I’m sure you didn’t.” Her lips trembled. “Oh . . . Will . . . How could you lie to me?”
“Elsie, I’m sorry.” Wrapping his arms around her, he tried to pull her against his solid chest.
She pushed against him. “Don’t.”
He released her. Rising slowly, he said, “This is who I am. I am an agent with the Pinkertons. I’ve been with the organization for over five years now.”
“All those late nights when you told me you were working at the lumber camp, where were you?”
“Tracking the bond thief.”
“Virgil?”
He nodded. “Only I didn’t know it was him. We had no idea who we were looking for until yesterday, and then all the pieces fell into place.”
“I don’t understand how you could profess to love those children and yet you had no problem putting them in such grave danger. How could you do that?” Her heart ached for them. “How could you put me in danger? Until today I had no idea the kind of man Virgil had become. But you suspected him all along, didn’t you?”
She watched him set his mouth in a grim line, swallow, and take in a deep breath. She wondered what lie he was fixing to tell her now. She stood.
“I had to be positive Virgil Jensen was the man we’d been hunting. I didn’t want him coming around you. But I had no choice.”
Folding her arms across her chest, she replied, “You could have told me the truth.”
He stepped in front of her so they stood toe to toe. “And you could have ended up dead if I had.” He raked a hand through his hair.
Poking him in the chest, she said, “Maybe I could have helped you. And then this might not have happened.” She waved a hand through the air in frustration.
“Elsie, how can
I make you understand how dangerous my job is? You can’t just help me.”
Not knowing what else to do, she shook her head and turned away from him.
She heard him blow out a breath, and then he said in a voice filled with resignation, “We should head back to town.”
“Lily took the wagon.”
“I have a mount here.”
Walking out into the sunshine, she said, “I’d rather walk, thank you.”
“Elsie, don’t be so stubborn. You take the mount, and I’ll walk beside you.”
Straightening her spine, she pushed him aside and strode past the horse, following the pathway that led to town. She knew the way by heart. Every twist and turn along the way. The walk would do her good, give her time to get control of the anger brewing inside her. She stepped into a puddle, the soft earth giving way beneath her feet, sending squishy, muddy water over her shoes.
Yanking her skirts higher to save them from further ruin, she let out a frustrated yelp. Behind her she heard Will growl.
“Elsie, get on the horse,” he ordered.
Fervently she shook her head, stomping onward.
“Woman!” he roared.
She stood stock-still.
His voice softened. “Please, get on the horse.”
Turning around, she found herself staring up at both him and the horse. Will rested an elbow on the saddle, leaning in, leveling a steely gaze at her. She weighed her options. She could continue to be stubborn and walk through the ruts and dodge the mud puddles all the way to town, thereby ruining a perfectly good dress, or she could get on the horse and save what she had left of her pride.
Setting her jaw, she asked, “I assume you’ll be dismounting?”
Doing just that, he helped her up into the saddle. She hadn’t been on a horse in years, and because this wasn’t a sidesaddle, she had to sit astride with her skirts bunched up and showing off her calves. But she soon discovered that was the least of her worries because Will quickly remounted the horse to sit right behind her. She let out a gasp as his body settled against hers.
“Elsie, I’ve had a long twenty-four hours and I’m not going to be a gentleman and let you have this horse all to yourself. There are things I need to tend to in a timely manner.”
His arms stretched around her as he gathered the reins in his hands. He nudged the horse into a quick gait. Elsie hung on for dear life. The movement sent her back against Will’s chest. She squirmed, trying to find a comfortable position on the hard leather.
“Settle down or you’re going to spook the horse.”
“You could just set me back on the ground.”
“I could, but I’m not going to.” His chin touched the top of her head.
Being this close to him soon proved to be unbearable. “Please, Will,” she begged him, “put me down.”
Chapter Seventeen
“I can’t let you go.” Will couldn’t give in to her request. And knowing how much pain he caused her today made holding on to her that much more important. He thought that if he let Elsie down, she would run from him without ever looking back. And he wouldn’t blame her if she wanted to do that. He couldn’t bear the thought of her leaving him.
Her being in harm’s way this afternoon had been all his doing.
In front of him Elsie shifted her weight. Fighting the urge to pull her closer, he adjusted his body in the saddle so she would have a bit more room. Except moving against her made him want to kiss her again and again just to prove that she really was safe in his arms.
Not one to question his deeds, Will wondered if he could have done anything differently. Over and over the scene played out in his mind. Virgil holding Elsie to his side with a gun against her rib cage. Then the look in her eyes . . . She’d been angry and frightened. Though he suspected her fear wasn’t for herself. No, she had put Harry’s and Minnie’s well-being before her own like she’d done every day from the time they’d first met.
Helping her at the train station in Albany. Then her agreeing to take the job of live-in caregiver for complete strangers. All the little things she’d set about doing to make the old Oliver house a home. Caring for and loving the children like they were her own flesh and blood. Hadn’t she been the one to make sure they’d said their prayers and attended church every Sunday? Elsie had shared her faith and trust in the Lord with such pride and conviction.
And in one moment of clarity, Will knew Elsie had given him all the things she’d so freely given to the children. And what had he done? Handed all those things back to her, and on more than one occasion, even going so far as to scoff at her faith in something unseen.
She’d had faith in their relationship, enduring his absences at the dinner table and in the church pew. He remembered the kisses they’d shared. He knew she felt the same way he did, that there could be something more between them.
Sighing against her, Will knew he’d gone too far with his subterfuge. She would never forgive him for making their life a lie.
They rounded the last corner in the road. Up ahead the little town of Heartston, New York, lay at the foot of the great Adirondack High Peaks. The leaves on the trees glistened in the warm sunlight. As they grew close, he heard voices chattering excitedly.
“Will, put me down right now.”
Elsie did her best to squirm out of his hold by jabbing her elbow into his ribs. He sucked in a quick breath of pain. She was stronger than she looked.
“I told you, I don’t want you walking when there’s a perfectly good horse for you to ride.”
Craning her neck to look up at him, he met her turbulent gaze. He saw the raw panic on her face and the stark fear in her widened eyes.
“Don’t you understand? Please, Will, I can’t let anyone see me like this.” She let out a sob.
He felt an ache growing deep in his chest because he did understand. Being a proud young woman, he knew it would be hard for her to let anyone see her in such a fragile state. He tugged on the reins, pulling the horse to a stop at the edge of the village. Dismounting, he reached up, putting his hands around her waist. She pressed her hands against his shoulders as he gently lifted her to the ground.
Wrapping his arms around her trembling form, he stroked her back, hoping to give her some comfort. Immediately, she stiffened beneath his touch. Straightening her spine, she struggled to push his arms aside. He held firm.
“Elsie, don’t leave me like this.” He knew his words were born of hopelessness, of his selfish need to make her stay by his side.
Wrenching her body away from his, she shook her head, the force of the movement sending strands of her dark hair flying about her face and shoulders. He started to reach out to catch those silken locks between his fingers. Her fierce look stopped his movement.
He let her go. Standing in the brilliant sunshine, with the birds chattering merrily around him, he let the only woman he ever loved walk away. A hollow feeling settled deep inside him, working its way into his heart. Leading the horse, he walked the rest of the way to the village.
Pausing at the edge of the yard, Elsie took a moment to pull herself together. She ran a hand through her hair, trying to neaten the mess. She pressed her hands down the front of her dress, trying to smooth out the wrinkles. She frowned at the dried mud staining the hem of her dress, caked to the heels and toes of her shoes. Her clothes were in ruins. She forced herself to hold back her sobs. It wouldn’t do for the children to find her like this.
Using the backs of her hands, she wiped her eyes dry. She made her way to the front porch. She could hear the sound of the children’s voices coming from inside the house. Pausing just for a minute longer on the bottom step, she took in the sweet sound of Minnie’s voice. She didn’t think she’d ever grow tired of hearing her.
She opened the front door. There they were in the parlor, sitting on the settee, looking through one of their favorite storybooks. Their faces looked freshly scrubbed.
“Miss Mitchell! I’m so glad you’re home.” Lily Handland
came out of the kitchen with a dish towel in her hand. “I’ve just finished making a snack for the children.”
She peered at Elsie. Taking in her tear-stained face, she said, “You look like you could use a good warm bath.”
Sucking her upper lip between her teeth, Elsie did her best to keep her emotions at bay. She simply would not fall apart in front of the twins. Though they looked peaceful and serene right now, she suspected that later, after Lily had gone and they were left alone, things might take a turn.
The screen door creaked on its hinges. Turning around, she’d never been so thankful to see her mother.
“Oh!” Rushing into the welcoming arms, she wept.
“I’ll take the children outside.” Lily moved by them.
From over her mother’s shoulder, Elsie caught sight of Harry’s concerned face. She attempted to smile at him, but she was sure it came off looking more like a grimace.
“Elsie. My poor dear. There. There.” Her mother patted her lovingly on the back. Ushering her into the kitchen, she helped her sit at the table.
She watched her mother take the simmering kettle off the back burner and pour the steamy water into the basin sitting alongside the sink. Then she pumped a bit of cold water into it. Finding a clean cloth, she dipped it in the warm water and placed it in Elsie’s hands. When Elsie sat there unmoving, her mother picked up the cloth and began to gently wipe her face.
“The town is bustling with activity.”
Laying a hand over her mother’s, she stopped her from continuing the ministrations. “Mama, you can tell me what’s being said.”
Pulling a chair beside hers, her mother sat down. “They’re saying that Virgil is a criminal. Is this true?”
“Yes.”
“And somehow Will is a part of all this.”
“He’s an agent for the Pinkertons.”
“Who are they?”
“They’re a detective agency.”
She nodded, although Elsie knew her mother had no idea who Will worked for. It really didn’t matter. Suddenly she felt bone-weary, as if she could lie in her bed and sleep for days. But she couldn’t do that. There was so much left to settle.
A Changed Agent Page 18