Inwardly, he chuckled. He’d have to change that fact about her during their trip to Denver. Knowing he’d be riding next to the little spitfire, made his day that much better.
FOUR
Evelynn kept her gaze out the window for the next hour. Inwardly, she boiled. She would have to spend two and a half days with this man on the train. Thankfully, her cousin and Cecily were here to keep her sane. Evelynn didn’t think she could tolerate the rude Agent Morgan. At least he smelled better than he had when he smacked her with his elbow. And thankfully, he looked better, too. Of course, she’d heard him telling her cousin about his miserable journey on the crowded stagecoach, so perhaps she could forgive him for smelling like he’d been sleeping amongst the dirty laundry.
As she listened to him talk with her cousin, she realized that every time he laughed, his voice sent shivers over her. But, funny enough, they weren’t disgusting shivers. They were more like waves of awareness. After a while, she became accustomed to the deep timbre of his voice, and she actually enjoyed hearing it.
Soon, her body relaxed, helping her to sit more comfortably in her seat. Graham Morgan and Rick were discussing past cases they had worked on. She was interested in her cousin’s cases because this was what she’d soon be going through. Mr. Morgan, however, didn’t have many hair-raising cases from what he talked about.
When Cecily began talking about when she met Rick and the excitement they had butting heads, Evelynn turned toward the group as she listened intently. Soon, she was grinning and laughing with Mr. Morgan.
She loved watching the way her cousin gazed upon his wife as if he’d never seen anything more beautiful than the woman sitting beside him. Evelynn’s heart melted. Would she ever find a man who felt that way about her? And more importantly, would she find a man to feel that way about?
As the conversation waned down, Evelynn became restless. It was hard for her to sit for so long. Rick was trying to doze while Cecily’s head rested against his shoulder as she snoozed. Beside her, Mr. Morgan read the newspaper.
She stood, and immediately, Mr. Morgan stood. Perhaps there was a gentleman in that body somewhere.
“If you’ll excuse me,” she said softly as not to disturb her cousin or his wife, “I need to stretch my legs.”
Mr. Morgan nodded and moved aside. As she scooted past him, the train must have hit something bumpy, because the jerking motion made her fall against him. She placed her hands on his chest, and he gripped her arms to keep her steady.
Good grief! Why did that have to happen? Again!
“Miss Tanner,” he said in a low voice, “you must refrain from touching me so personally every time we’re close. People might begin to talk...”
Growling, she pushed him aside and stomped past him. She could hear his chuckle echoing in her head. He was nothing but a mule’s backend!
Since she’d never been on a train before, she wasn’t certain where she could walk, but she’d seen other passengers move from one railcar to the next, so why couldn’t she? Letting her irritation guide her steps, she moved through the cars without really looking at anyone. Her mind buzzed with Mr. Morgan’s insulting words, but her heart still ached from her father’s rejection. How could he have gotten rid of his own daughter like that? It hurt to know that he’d put his congregation above her as if they were more important than his own flesh and blood.
It wasn’t until the wind blew against her when she realized she’d reached the last railcar and was standing on the platform at the very end of the train. She cautiously stepped to the railing and clung to it tightly. The wind whipped her hair, tugging some strands from the long braid. It was interesting to see where the train had been. Nothing but flat plains and tumbleweeds as far as the eye could see was in view – besides the tracks, of course.
She had no idea how far they’d traveled, or even what direction the train was heading. It was as if she was in a whole other world. It fascinated her and made her want to see more. She’d been born and raised in San Francisco. Her parents had traveled to other states before, but not her. She’d always stayed with close friends of her parents.
Frowning, sadness came over her again. If only her mother was alive, the wonderful woman she had the privilege of calling Ma wouldn’t have allowed Pa to toss his only daughter out of the house and into her cousin’s hands for safekeeping.
Evelynn closed her eyes and leaned against the railing, letting the wind swirl around her. She hated to be a burden to anyone. Perhaps she’d sneak away from Rick and Cecily and go off on her own. Then again, Rick had the money. Apparently, Pa had paid Rick to take her off his hands.
How pathetic. How humiliating!
Her heart wrenched again and tears filled her eyes. Had she really been that bad of a child? Growing up, stubbornness was part of her character, so her father should have been used to that. Perhaps Pa had spoiled her too much after Ma died. But then he’d become so involved with the church that he devoted all his time to the Lord and the congregation. She’d tried several times to get her father’s attention, but then over the years, she realized she could do whatever she’d wanted and nothing terrible would happen.
Except for this time.
The noise of a door closing snapped her out of her thoughts. She quickly dried her eyes before turning around to see who had come out with her. When she looked into the worried brown eyes of Graham Morgan, she gritted her teeth. Why did he have to come out here anyway? Didn’t he know she wanted to be alone?
“I wondered where you had wandered off to,” he said, raising his voice over the noise of the wheels on the steel tracks and the wind whistling around them.
“I’m outside sulking if you must know. So kindly turn around, go back inside, and leave me alone.”
“Why are you sulking?” His brows creased. “Don’t you want to go to Denver?”
“Of course, I do.”
“Then why are you upset?”
She fisted her hands. How dare he act as though he cared about her? He didn’t even know her. And she wasn’t going to start telling her troubles to a stranger – a cocky, handsome stranger, no less.
“I’m upset because you’re out here bothering me.”
One corner of his mouth lifted in a sideways grin. “Don’t lie. You said I’d interrupted your sulking, so I cannot be the reason you’re upset.”
Sighing, she folded her arms, but then the jerking of the train made her stumble, so she quickly held onto the railing again. He’d even jumped like he was going to catch her. Hopefully, he wouldn’t do that. The last two times he’d tried to catch her, had ended poorly.
“However,” she said, “the longer you stay here, you’re slowly becoming the problem.” She shook her head. “Can’t you see I want to be alone?”
He shrugged. “Pardon me – again. I’d thought you would want someone to talk to. You’ve been mighty quiet since we were introduced.”
She held in a grin. So, he noticed. Perhaps he wasn’t as stupid as she first thought. “I have much on my mind, and I’d rather sort through my thoughts in silence.”
“Fine.” He carefully moved beside her, holding onto the railing.
He peered across the desert land, just as she’d done. She scowled. What was he doing? Why hadn’t he honored her wish to be alone? Maybe he was stupid after all.
She gave him an impatient glare, but he didn’t look at her. Instead, his attention moved over the land. After a few moments, she had returned her focus to the flat land around them. Not too far from the tracks was a creek, reminding her of the little bed of water that had been by her grandmother’s house when Evelynn was a young girl. She and her cousins – Rick included – had loved to splash around the water. Their mothers didn’t like it, of course, but on hot summer days, there wasn’t anything better to do.
Life had been so simple back then. Why was being an adult so difficult?
“You know, Miss Tanner,” Graham leaned on the railing, keeping his eyes on the landscape, “where I’d b
een living these past ten months, there weren’t many people I could confide in. I had to keep my thoughts and feelings to myself.” He shook his head. “That’s not a good way to live. The pressure builds up inside of you until you feel like screaming. And then when you finally let out your frustrations, you can be hurtful to those around you.”
She tightened her fingers around the steel bars and leaned closer to him. “What part of being silent don’t you understand?”
He cocked his head lazily and peered at her. “As I’d said, if you bottle up your feelings for so long and they finally come out, you might be rude to some people.”
She huffed. “What makes you think I’ve been holding in my feelings?”
“So, you are naturally hot-tempered and stubborn?”
“With strangers, I am.”
“I take it you don’t have many friends, then.”
She scowled. “You have no right to judge my actions. You don’t even know me.”
“Then why don’t we get to know each other? After all, being with someone for two and a half days on the close proximity of a train is a long time to stay silent.”
Breathing slower, the anger began to build inside of her. What was wrong with this man? Did he think his handsome looks and sweet-talking was going to sway her?
“Mr. Morgan,” she asked tightly, “have you ever been pushed off a train?”
He laughed, flashing a dimple in his right cheek. “Why? Are you going to push me off?”
“I’m sorely tempted.”
“Well, to answer your question, no I haven’t. However, I have jumped off a runaway stagecoach.” He turned toward her, still leaning on the rail. “The key to not getting badly hurt when your body hits the ground is to cover your head and roll. Don’t try to stop the motion, because that might break something.” He shrugged. “That’s what I’ve been told anyway, and when I had to jump from the stagecoach, I was able to stand right up and walk away.”
This man was unbelievable. “Mr. Morgan... do you ever shut up?”
He chuckled. “You’re being humorous, Miss Tanner. Usually, that’s a question I would ask a woman.”
“Quite shocking, is it not?”
“But, you must admit that you’re enjoying the light banter between us, aren’t you?”
She gasped. “I’ll admit no such thing.”
“Ah, that’s right, because you can never admit when you’re wrong?”
“Pardon me?” She lifted her voice as her irritation grew in leaps now. “You don’t think I can admit when I’m wrong?”
He nodded. “It’s quite obvious, Miss Tanner. I can read people pretty well – which is one of my skills at being a Pinkerton Agent – and you were easy to read.”
“Oh, really?” She folded her arms as she leaned against the railing to help hold her up. “Enlighten me to your thoughts, Mr. Morgan, because I’m certain they are far from the truth.”
Studying her, he tapped his finger on his chin. “You are the only child. One of your parents died when you were young and the other one has raised you poorly because they’ve given you things just to shut you up.”
She gasped again, bringing her hand to her throat. Rick must have told him. That’s the only way Mr. Morgan would know this.
“Not only were you spoiled as a child, but you have been a trouble-maker most of your life.” His gaze narrowed on her. “In fact, I believe that you are a very pushy person. You always have to be right, because Heaven help you if you’re wrong. Admitting you are wrong would probably make you insecure, and that’s one emotion you don’t ever want to feel again – because having a parent die when one is young makes one insecure.”
Her heart hammered faster than the train’s wheels were turning. Part of her wanted to argue with him, and yet the other part of her wondered how he’d guessed that about her insecurities.
“You’re afraid to love anyone,” he continued, “because you fear they won’t return your love and that will only leave you broken and unsure. And of course, you can’t have that sensitive feeling. You need to be strong in order to keep all forms of weakness out of your life.”
Her jaw hurt from gritting her teeth. Yet, at the same time, she felt like crumbling in front of him and crying. Well, she would not do that. She was stronger than that, she was... Inwardly, she growled. Why had he read her so well?
She straightened her shoulders. “Just as I thought. You don’t have the slightest idea what you’re talking about because I’m nothing like that.” She took in a couple of deep breaths. “Now, if you don’t mind, Mr. Morgan, I’d like to be alone.” She pointed toward the door. “Please leave.”
He shook his head. “I’d rather stay. It’s quite pleasant out here. If you want to be alone, then you leave.” He turned back to look at the landscape.
Growling, she spun around, but the bottom of her dress caught on the bottom railing, pulling her back. She grasped the gown and yanked. As the material came free, it ripped, leaving a portion of her dress on the hook. But because of the jerking motion and the swaying of the train, she lost her balance and fell backward toward the opening of the railing.
Panic shot through her and she cried out, grasping onto the railing, but her hands weren’t strong enough. Her feet slipped off the platform.
In one swift movement, Mr. Morgan grabbed her wrists. As her feet whipped out behind her, blowing as easily as a kite in the wind, she screamed and tried to hold onto Mr. Morgan’s arms. His feet were sliding on the platform toward the edge, too.
“Evie,” he said loudly, “try not to move and I’ll pull you on.”
“I’m going to fall,” she cried out.
“Remember what I told you about falling.”
“I... don’t want to fall.”
“If you do, I’ll follow.”
“No!” She struggled again, but that only made her slide out of his grip faster. “Graham, help me!”
Just then, she flew out of his hands. Screaming, she covered her head. As her body hit the ground and rolled, pain beat through her with every movement.
If she lived through this, she was definitely going to have some broken bones, no matter what he tried to tell her.
FIVE
Graham’s body ached all over, but he couldn’t take time to see if anything was broken. Instead, he had to check on Evelynn. Women weren’t used to getting injured in such a way, and he prayed she’d followed his advice.
Once his body had stopped rolling, he pushed himself off the ground and searched for her. Thankfully, there were not a lot of trees that would block her fall, and only a few rocks littered the ground.
The pink material of her dress captured his attention – as did the still form curled in a ball. He cussed and dashed toward her, falling on his knees beside her. Gently, he touched her shoulder. The material of her dress was ripped, and a small amount of blood coated the garment, but her body moved with her breaths.
Sighing, he pushed the hair out of her face. Her eyes were closed and only a few scratches marred her pretty face. “Evie? Can you hear me?”
She groaned and crinkled her forehead. He knew her body ached worse than his.
He slid his arm under her neck as he helped her sit up. “Tell me where you hurt.”
“Everywhere,” she muttered irritably.
“Can you move your arms and legs?”
She blinked open her eyes and met his gaze. Slowly, she moved her arms and then her legs, releasing little groans each time.
“What about your back and neck?”
She arched and rolled her head on her neck, grimacing. But she nodded. “I’m fine.”
Relief swept over him and he released a deeper sigh than before. “Thank the Lord.”
She finished sitting up on her own as she rubbed her forehead. She peered in the direction of where the train had been, and frowned.
“Do you think anyone knows we fell off?”
He glanced in the same direction. “I’m sure someone heard you scream. If not,
they probably heard me scream your name when you fell.”
She looked at him and arched her eyebrow. “You screamed?”
“Yes, right before I jumped.”
“Why... why would you do that?”
“Because I had to make certain you were all right.” He pushed a glob of dirt from her chin and she flinched. It was scratched, and the skin was already darkening into a bruise. He hoped she didn’t look in a mirror anytime soon. She’d blame him for that mark on her skin, too. “Are you all right?”
“Well, my head is pounding and my body hurts, but at least I’m alive.”
“I’m glad you see it that way because we both need our strength for the journey ahead.”
He stood and stretched out the kinks in his body, then reached down and took her outstretched hand to pull her up. She grimaced a few times, but then stood beside him. She ran her hands over her dress, dusting off the dirt.
“Do you know where we are?” she asked.
“No. I was hoping you did.”
“We’re probably still in California.”
He glanced around them and couldn’t see any nearby towns. “Then let’s follow the tracks. That will eventually get us to a town.”
“All right.”
Together they started walking. She limped slightly on her left leg. He took her elbow, stopping her.
“You’re limping.”
“I’ll be fine. I just twisted it when I landed.”
“Let me know if it gets worse.”
“Why?” She tilted her head and met his stare. “Do you plan on carrying me?”
He shrugged. “If it helps, yes.”
She rolled her eyes and continued walking. “I wish you’d stop acting like you care. Besides, I can take care of myself.”
He gritted his teeth. Inconsiderate woman! “I’m happy to know that about you.” He quickened his step, moving past her. “You don’t know how relieved I am not to have to play the gallant knight to some simpering female.”
She snorted what almost sounded like a laugh. “You? Gallant?”
An Agent for Evelynn Page 3