An Agent for Evelynn

by Marie Higgins

  She had no idea how long it would take the sheriff to gather some men together, and by the sounds of the outlaws’ temperaments, Graham was running out of time. Evelynn had to do something now! Not knowing much about a rifle, she might only wound one man once she fired the weapon. And then the outlaws would capture her, too... if they didn’t kill her first. So what use could she be to Graham right now?

  Suddenly, her cousin’s wife’s voice came into Evelynn’s head, and she recalled a conversation they’d talked about. Cecily was telling her why Allan Pinkerton thought women would make great detectives. Cecily had told Evelynn that nobody would suspect a woman of being an agent, and because of that, they would be able to hear things and talk to people without anyone suspecting their true purpose.

  “Just imagine all we could do as a Pinkerton Agent,” Cecily had said.

  Seconds later, an idea popped into Evelynn’s head and she snapped upright. Hope blossomed inside her chest. Finally, there might be a chance that she’d be able to help Graham. She may not be able to use the rifle or the pistol that the sheriff had given her, but she was for certain going to use her intelligence.

  GRAHAM’S BODY THROBBED worse than when he’d jumped from the train. Once the Farrington Gang had captured him, they’d used him as a punching bag as they tried to get him to tell the truth. Thankfully, Graham’s Pinkerton badge was lost when he jumped from the train, or these men would have had him roasting over the fire by now. And yet, he didn’t know what else to say to make them believe. He kept hoping Evelynn was able to get into town and round up a posse, but then, it might be too late. This gang was growing weary of Graham’s lies. They were going to kill him soon.

  Suddenly, the gang grew silent. Graham held his breath as he peeked out of his swollen eyelids at them.

  “Did you hear that?” Butch asked. “Sounded like a horse.”

  Graham didn’t dare breathe a sigh of relief yet.

  All five men withdrew their pistols and pointed them in one direction. Silence filled the air again, but then the loud grumbling of a woman ripped through the air.

  No! Graham silently prayed that he was hearing things. Evelynn was in town getting the sheriff. She couldn’t be here and by herself.

  He studied the men’s faces, and they all appeared perplexed as they zeroed their gaze toward the trees.

  “Is it a wild animal?”

  “Nah, it’s a woman,” Butch whispered.

  “You’re hearing things. Why would a woman be out here at this time of the night?”

  The bushes rustled, and the men steadied their weapons, aiming toward the sound.

  Finally, Evelynn came into view. Graham’s heart sank. What was she doing? And yet, the look she had on her face reminded him of the scowl she’d given him when they first met, and she had ran into his elbow.

  She glared at each man as she folded her arms across her chest and tapped a foot impatiently.

  “All right. Where are you hiding him?” she snapped.

  The men exchanged surprised glances.

  “Hiding who?” Butch asked, taking one step closer to her.

  “The dirty-rotten scoundrel that told me he loved me and then left me the day before our wedding.” She inhaled a shaky breath. “When I find him, I’ll...” Her foot tapped faster. “Where is he? I know you’re hiding him.”

  “Uh, Miss?” Butch said as his arm relaxed, lowering the pistol. “I’m not sure if you can see, but we all have a gun pointed at you.”

  “Augh!” She threw up her hands and marched toward Butch, stopping only inches away. “Stop trying to change the subject. That... skunk has trampled my heart for the last time. I want a piece of him just to ease my mind.” She blinked rapidly as her eyes glazed over with liquid. Her bottom lip quivered. “Don’t you understand?” Her voice broke. “He’s ruined my reputation. Shouldn’t I have some justice here? After all, I’m the victim.”

  Confusion filled Graham and he shook his head. What in the blazes was she doing this time?

  Jonah chuckled and bumped his elbow against Butch’s arm. “Come on. Let’s allow her see him. I’m sure it’ll be very entertaining.”

  The other gang members had lowered their pistols as their heads bobbed in agreement. Butch shrugged and stepped out of her way. The other men parted like Moses separating the Red Sea in the Bible, giving Evelynn the chance to see him.

  She kept in character as she marched toward him. “How could you?” She stopped near him sprawled on the ground and kicked one of his boots. “I thought... you loved me.”

  He switched his gaze back and forth between her and the other men. “I... I...”

  “Oh, come on, you scoundrel,” Levi said. “Tell her the truth.”

  The men in the group laughed.

  Graham swallowed hard, but the movement made him wince. He doubted there was a place on his body that these men hadn’t kicked several times. “I wanted to love you, Rosie. Really, I did, but... well, the truth is...” He noticed the men leaning closer in order to hear. “Your family isn’t rich enough. I need to marry a girl who has a wealthy family.” He shrugged. “How else can I support my gambling debts?”

  Evelynn’s gasp was louder than the gang’s snickers. She moved closer to him, crouching down to him.

  “Robert Franklin, you are a worthless, miserable slip of a man who slithers lower than a snake. I hope you never find happiness. You don’t deserve it.”

  She smacked his chest a few times, which of course, only hurt because the other men had bruised him up pretty good. Finally, making a dramatic ending, she slumped over him, pressing her head against his chest as she pretended to cry.

  Slowly, her hand moved toward his as she slid him something long and metal...

  A gun?

  He quickly curled his fingers around the butt and pushed it underneath his arm to hide it from the others.

  Suddenly, she snapped upright and glared at him. Her eyes were filled with tears, and it amazed Graham how well she could act.

  “You don’t deserve my tears. I’m done crying for you.”

  She jumped to her feet, raised her chin, and squared her shoulders as she looked at the Farrington Gang. “Men, you are free to do with him whatever you wish. Robert Franklin is no longer my concern and I wash my hands of him.”

  Another surprise for Graham was to see Butch and his gang grin at Evelynn and give her nods of approval. She had literally won over these outlaws. Amazing!

  “Miss,” Butch said, tipping his hat toward her, “it’ll be our pleasure, and let me say how much my men and I enjoyed watching you put your beau in his place.”

  She shook her head. “He’s no longer my beau. I have hardened my heart against him – and any other man who thinks he can treat me like yesterday’s leftovers.”

  With her head held high, she marched away, but then she suddenly tripped and fell against Butch and Jonah, knocking them both to the ground. Graham didn’t know if she’d done it on purpose, but he knew this was the only chance he could get.

  Mustering up all the strength he had left, he rolled to his knees. He pointed his pistol at the nearest gang member and shot. As the man hit the ground, Graham pointed toward another man and shot.

  By this time, the other members of the gang were alerted, and scrambled to withdraw their weapons. Graham had always been fast with a gun, and he shot the man before he had the chance to remove the weapon from his holster.

  Graham whipped toward Evelynn. Butch lay on the ground, unmoving, with a bloodied skull, and in her hand was a large rock. Levi had pulled out his revolver, but before Graham had the chance to pull the trigger again, Evelynn threw the rock, hitting Levi’s hand, and the gun dropped to the ground. Graham quickly stepped toward the weapon and kicked it out of Levi’s reach.

  Within seconds, three more men had entered the outlaw’s camp. Each man wore a gold star on their brown vests. They moved from one outlaw to the other, checking for injuries. From what Graham could see, he hadn’t killed anyone, but th
ankfully, he’d wounded them enough to remain on the ground.

  Evelynn sobbed and ran toward Graham, falling into his arms. He sat back on his bottom, holding her tight. He gritted his teeth against the pain, but the love filling his soul overrode everything. He kissed her forehead and tightly hugged her against him.

  “Oh, Graham... I thought they were going to kill you.”

  He shook his head. “You are an amazing woman who has saved my life twice now.”

  Tilting her head back, she smiled at him. “It was the least I could do since I haven’t learned how to shoot a pistol, yet.”

  He chuckled and kissed her lips, but the pain in his cracked lips made him stop. “Evelynn?”

  “Yes?”

  “Remind me later to ask you about Robert Franklin.”

  She laughed. “He’s nobody worth speaking about, I assure you.” She buried her face against his chest and sighed.

  Finally, he could put a name to the emotion filling his heart. He loved Evelynn. The words were on the tip of his tongue, but he stopped them before they fell out. When he confessed his feelings for her, he didn’t want so many people around.

  He promised himself that when they were alone again, he’d tell her he loved her... and nothing was going to stop him.

  ELEVEN

  Evelynn sighed and cuddled next to the warmth beside her as she slowly came awake. Without opening her eyes, she knew it was Graham who was sharing his body heat with her. The sweet man insisted on playing the part of her husband in front of the sheriff and the other men from the town who’d come to help them last night. One of the men, Mr. Oaks, had room in his barn for her and Graham to stay the night. Unfortunately, they weren’t as lucky to get an actual bed this time.

  Doctor Healy had examined Graham once they returned to town after the arrest of the Farrington Gang. Thankfully, nothing on Graham’s body was broken, not even his ribs. But by the cuts and bruises all over him, Evelynn knew he’d be very sore today.

  The sun shone through the windows of the barn, brightening the loft immensely. Even if she was still tired, there’d be no sleeping now.

  She blinked and focused on her surroundings. Graham lay still, his breaths were deep and even. The doctor had offered to give Graham some whiskey to help with the pain, but Graham turned it down. He’d told the doctor that he’d sworn off alcohol since it didn’t agree with his body and mind.

  Leaning up on an elbow, she stared at his scratched face. He was still very handsome, even though his lips were cut, and his left eye was swollen and bruised. Her heart went out to this wonderful man who tried his darnedest to uphold the law, and at the same time, try to protect her. He was a Pinkerton Agent completely, and she was proud of him. And her heart swelled with love the more she thought about their time together. Although it had only been a few days, she’d never felt this way about any other man.

  She reached up and gently stroked his cheek. He hadn’t shaved since they were thrown from the train, and a nice mustache and beard coated the lower half of his face, making him look that much more rugged.

  The first day they met, she’d tried to find fault with him. Now, after all they’d been through, she realized that he was the perfect man for her. All she wanted to do was take care of him and love him for the rest of her life. But if he wasn’t going to be a Pinkerton Agent any longer, would he approve that she still wanted to be one? After her part of taking down the Farrington Gang last night, she realized how much she’d enjoyed doing the right thing. She loved using her quick wit to fool the outlaws into lowering their defenses enough to capture them.

  Graham slowly stirred awake, blinking open his eyes. When his gaze met hers, he gave her a small grin.

  “How long have you been watching me sleep,” he asked in a cracked voice.

  “Only a few minutes.”

  He cleared his throat. “You couldn’t find anything that interested you more?”

  She chuckled. “Actually, no I couldn’t.” She shrugged. “After all, we’re in a barn and in the loft. What else would interest me?”

  He lifted his hand and cupped her face. The movement made him grimace. Her heart softened, knowing he still wanted to touch her even though he was in pain.

  “Then I’m very relieved you find me more interesting than the hay,” he said.

  She placed her hand over his, holding it against her cheek. She turned her face only enough to kiss his palm, before staring back at him. “To be quite honest,” she smiled, “you’re the only thing I see, because nothing else in this barn matters more to me than you.”

  His green eyes darkened as his gaze dropped to her mouth. Knowing that he wouldn’t have the strength to lean up and kiss her, she decided to make the first move. She bent lower, and his hand that still cradled her cheek, helped to bring her down to his mouth.

  The moment their lips touched, she sighed and melted against him. A pleasurable moan escaped his throat as his arms slowly wrapped around her, holding the top half of her body against his chest. His hands rubbed her back, intimately. She threaded her fingers through his hair and answered his passionate kisses.

  Love burst inside of her, stronger this time. Would it be proper to confess her feelings? Proper? When had she been proper at all around him? Because he knew what kind of temperament she had, and he still liked her and wanted to kiss her, she was quite certain he wouldn’t mind knowing that she loved him more than she’d ever loved any man before.

  Gradually, the kiss slowed, and she pulled away, lifting up as she leaned on his chest. She stared into his passionate green eyes, loving how they changed shades every time they kissed.

  “Oh, Evelynn,” he whispered and stroked her cheek with his knuckles. “Who would have thought that we’d end up like this?”

  “You know, I was thinking the same thing.”

  “Although it’s only been a few days, we’ve been through so much together.”

  She nodded. “And I’m very grateful I fell off the train with you. I’m sure most men would have left me in the desert to fend for myself. I know I have a quick temper and a sharp tongue when I’m upset.”

  He chuckled. “I actually enjoyed bantering back and forth with you.”

  “Really?”

  “Oh, yes. I loved seeing your face when you were riled.”

  She laughed. “So that’s why you kept teasing me.”

  “But I never would have guessed we’d end up like this.” His hand moved from her cheek and ran down her neck and over her shoulder before caressing her back.

  “It was definitely a shock for me.” She stroked his beard that was filling in nicely. “But a nice shock, nonetheless.”

  “I’m glad you think so, because I’ve come to a realization.”

  “You have? About what?”

  He took a deep breath before opening his mouth, but before he could say anything, her name was being called somewhere in the distance. Immediately, Graham’s forehead creased, and his expression changed to confusion.

  When Evelynn heard her name again, the man’s voice seemed very familiar. She gasped and pulled herself to a sitting position. Her heartbeat hammered out of control as guilt washed over her. Of all people to catch her in the barn with a man...

  “Evie?” Graham asked. “Who is calling you?”

  She crawled to the nearest window and peered out. The tall, lanky man wearing black trousers and a long jacket with a white turned collar ran toward the barn, calling her name while Mr. Oaks and his wife hustled behind.

  She released a shaky breath. “It’s my pa.”

  Seeing that her father was actually here to get her made tears sting her eyes. Hadn’t he washed his hands of her and given Broderick permission to become her guardian?

  “Your Pa?” Shaking his head, Graham struggled to sit up. “I thought you told me your father was dead.”

  “No, Graham. I just didn’t tell you that he was alive,” she explained quickly as she hurried toward the ladder.

  As she started to climb
down, her gaze locked with Graham’s. The hurt and distrust written across his handsome features made her stomach twist. She needed to tell him what had really happened between her and her father, but now was not the time. She just prayed Graham would understand and listen to her when she was ready to tell him.

  Just as she climbed down the ladder and turned, her father came running in the barn. When he looked at her, his eyes teared up and he held out his arms.

  Emotion strangled her throat and she wasn’t able to speak. Instead, she ran right into her father’s outstretched arms, buried her head against his chest, and sobbed.

  “Oh, my darling daughter,” he said in a tight voice. “When I heard you fell from the train, the news nearly killed me. I knew I had to find you and apologize for what I’d done. Will you ever forgive me?”

  She lifted her head and peered into his watery eyes. “What you did broke my heart, Pa, because you put the people in your congregation first, instead of your daughter.” She licked her dry lips. “But seeing you here, knowing that you put me first this time...” Her throat choked again and all she could do was cry with happiness as she held him tight.

  “I thank the Lord that you survived after falling off the train.” He stroked her matted hair.

  Nodding, she pulled away and wiped her eyes. “I did, thanks to a Pinkerton Agent.” Suddenly, a question popped in her head. “Pa? How did you know I’d fallen off the train?”

  “When Broderick discovered what had happened, he sent me a telegraph. He and his wife had to wait for the train to reach the station before they could start their search. Broderick thought that if I traveled this way, that one of us would eventually find you.”

  She sighed. “I’m so relieved. I’d wondered if Rick was looking for me.”