They’d chosen to ride in a parlor car. The seats were individual wing-backed chairs, upholstered in green velvet. There were only a few others in the car, grouped together at the rear. Rilla chose to sit near the front.
Morgan came and placed the carpetbags on the racks above the seats. “Horses aren’t happy, especially Jack, but they are secure. Our things are in the baggage car. Now, all we need to do is relax until we get to Pueblo.”
As the conductor called, “All aboard,” Morgan looked out the window and saw the sheriff of Cañon City ride by. Seems he either trailed men following them, or came to be sure they got onto the train.
Morgan sat across the aisle and studied Rilla as the train pulled away from the water tower. Even disguised as an older woman, she was still beautiful. As she aged her comeliness would not diminish.
He wanted to watch it happen with her beside him, with their children growing around them. If he asked her to stay married to him. Wanted it more than he’d wanted anything other than to be rescued from the Mississippi River after the steamboat exploded.
The thought struck that since he’d told Rilla about his experience, he’d not had one of his nightmares when it stormed. Being spring, thunderstorms were common and there had been several. He smiled to himself. Sharing had certainly had a positive effect.
“What are you smiling about?” Rilla asked, leaning over the arm of her chair.
Morgan moved his chair so he was closer to her. There was no reason to have to yell over the noise of the train. “I just realized, I haven’t had a nightmare since we talked about them. Thank you.” He took her hand and gave it a squeeze.
Rilla smiled back at him. “I’m glad. My mother gave me very good advice.”
Morgan didn’t let go of her hand. He was heartened when she didn’t pull it from his grasp. He sat watching her as she looked out the window. The short night caught up with both of them and they soon dropped off to sleep.
~~~~~
Morgan helped Rilla down the steps of the railcar. They’d arrived in Pueblo. There were several hours before the train to Denver would arrive. He paid a porter to tend the horses and guard their baggage. It would seem odd for them to carry some of their carpetbags across the street to the café, so they left them on the platform. They would go eat and come straight back to keep an eye on it.
Rilla leaned on her cane as they crossed the platform. When a porter offered to help her down the steps, she smiled and, with a raspy voice, accepted. When Morgan took her arm to cross the street, he leaned close to her ear. “Him, you sweetly let him help you. Me, I get whacked with a cane.”
Rilla giggled. “I didn’t whack you. I only threatened.”
They ate and purchased some box lunches to take with them on the train. Though some trains had begun having dining cars, Denver and Rio Grande hadn’t begun the service yet.
Morgan noticed that no one gave them a second glance, accepting they were what they appeared, an elderly couple. People were polite and offered help with doors and stairs. Rilla was able to change her voice to sound frail, with a slight quiver to her speech. He knew there was no way he could do so successfully, so he simply lowered the pitch he spoke with. That seemed to be sufficient.
When they went back to the station, Rilla excused herself and went to the lady’s retiring room. She’d whispered that she was going to repair her face and that he was going to do the same when she came back. Morgan scowled at her back as she walked away.
When Morgan looked in the mirror in the men’s retiring room, he was astonished at what he saw. Morgan hadn’t truly believed that Rilla could make him look convincingly old, but she had. The mirror didn’t lie. He looked like his grandfather. The mustache and beard weren’t the style the man wore, but that didn’t change the familiar face looking back at him.
Rilla had whispered instructions on what to repair and how. He quickly did as she’d instructed and left the room. Rilla wasn’t where he’d left her. His heart skipped a beat. Where was she? Had someone grabbed her?
Morgan ran out of the station onto the platform. Relief flooded him. She was standing beside their baggage, petting the horses. “Don’t do that. I nearly blew my cover.” He grabbed her shoulders and pulled her against him.
“What?” Rilla looked up at him, ignorant of his concern.
“I came out and found you gone. I was afraid someone had snatched you.” Morgan tried to still the tremors in his hands as he rubbed her back. He knew she couldn’t feel it because of her corset and money belt, but he simply had to touch her.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I never gave it a thought. I knew you were worried about the bags, so I came out to keep an eye on them. We still have some time before the train arrives. We can sit over there and watch them.” She pointed to a bench under the wide eve of the station building.
Morgan forced his distress down. It was clear she didn’t understand his concern. It was slightly depressing. He’d revealed his caring for her, but she’d not realized it. He had one more day to demonstrate he wasn’t like other men she’d known so she might want to stay married to him. That would be spent on a train, without any privacy.
They were traveling in one of the new Pullman Palace Sleeping Cars. The bench seats folded down into beds with an upper berth that folded down to create another bed above. A curtain would give them a little privacy but wouldn’t block sound.
Morgan escorted Rilla to the bench. “I need to go to the telegraph office and wire Archie that we will be arriving tomorrow. He’ll meet us at the station with a wagon. Will you be okay here?”
Rilla patted a pocket on her bodice. He knew it carried her Derringer. “I do believe I’ll be fine. The porter you paid to guard our bags and horses is right there. I’m sure he’ll guard me also.”
Morgan nodded and walked to the telegraph office next to the railroad depot.
ARCHIBALD GORDON 427 CHAIN BRIDGE ROAD DENVER COLORADO STOP
ARRIVING TOMORROW MORNING TRAIN STOP
BRINGING PARCEL STOP
WESTON STOP
He paid the fee and walked back to the depot wondering what he could do to convince Rilla to remain his wife.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
THE SCENERY WAS beautiful out the window of the Pullman car. The spring suspension made the ride quite comfortable. Rilla didn’t notice any of it. She was sitting next to Morgan who was reading a dime novel he’d picked up at a stand near the station, The Making of the Mountain Man Nugget Nate Ryder.
They’d found the gold and were safely on their way back to Denver with it. Archie would take them and it back to the office. The horses would be dropped off at the livery. They’d be done with their assigned case. The marriage would be annulled.
Although Rilla knew she and Morgan had successfully completed the case, she didn’t feel much sense of accomplishment.
Instead she was fighting conflicting emotions. Despair, loneliness, and doubt seemed to be the most prevalent. There were traces of success and triumph, but the other more negative feelings seemed to dominate.
Rilla wondered if she had what it took to be a capable Pinkerton Agent. She hated traveling by horse and sleeping on the ground. She’d become more proficient at both riding and camping, but much preferred the train. Even traveling in lesser well-appointed cars was better.
She also wasn’t sure what she’d been trained to do on this case prepared her for helping women in need. In Stones Creek she’d learned of Sanctuary House and the mission in Iowa, Sanctuary Place. They gave her a place she could direct women who wanted a safe place to live.
Rilla knew she could ask for more training and that Archie would make sure she received it. Morgan probably wouldn’t be the one to train her, however. The thought of not being with him anymore took her spirits down even further.
Reflecting on their time together, Rilla realized Morgan wasn’t like her father, Leroy, or other men she’d known. Yes, he thought he was in charge of everything, and he was. He was the trained and lead agent on the
case. She was just a trainee. He’d not listened to her suggestion on the president clue and they had ended up going to the wrong town, but after that, he’d considered her ideas.
There was no doubt he respected her as a person and a lady. He allowed her privacy to dress and tend to personal needs. He didn’t take liberties with her person when they shared a bed. She was as pure as the day they married. For some reason that thought made her lips turn down in a frown. Rilla didn’t examine that too closely.
What she did reflect on was her determination to remain unmarried. She’d always thought women gave up their freedom and became the property of a man when they married. Morgan hadn’t treated her that way.
Could it be that not all men acted as if they owned their wives? Could there be a marriage where the husband treated his wife with respect and equality? If she and Morgan were to remain married, would he change and become controlling?
Did she dare take a chance that he wouldn’t? Rilla blinked at the sudden realization that she wanted to find out. Why? Was she lonely? Well, to be honest, she was missing her friends in the troupe. That wasn’t a reason to stay married to Morgan. Rilla could make new friends once she was living in one place. She hadn’t since she left the troupe. First, getting to Denver, then going on the journey with Morgan. He was the only friend she had at the moment. But, was he truly a friend? She didn’t know.
So why did she want to stay married to Morgan? He was handsome. Even made to look like an old man, he was. Dignified was the word that came to mind. Get him out of the duster and Stetson and into a suit, and he’d definitely look distinguished. Someone she wouldn’t mind growing old with.
It wasn’t just his looks. He was kind, thoughtful, caring, funny. His quirk of pouting like a child at times tickled her. He was easily teased out of them, so she knew it wasn’t too much of a negative. Everyone had their disagreeable traits. She certainly did. His didn’t bother her too much. Not so much that she wanted to be rid of him.
Rilla had to admit, she liked sleeping next to him. Many nights she’d wake up and find herself nestled against him. Lately, her back would be against his front and his arm would be around her, holding her to him. It made her feel protected and cared for.
Could it be that he cared for her? Could he think of her as the woman he wanted for life? Could he want her as a man wanted a woman? Rilla realized she wanted him in that way. She wanted everything. A lifetime with him, children, growing old together.
Rilla stiffened in surprise.
“Are you all right?” Morgan touched her arm.
“Oh, yes. Just had a surprising thought.”
“Care to share?” The twinkle in his eyes made Rilla want to lean forward and kiss him.
“No.” Rilla smiled, hoping he wouldn’t take her rejection personally.
“Spoilsport.” Morgan chuckled and went back to reading.
Rilla watched him covertly for a few moments before turning back to look out the window. Her lips ached to say the words she’d just realized were true, ‘I love you.’ Fear that he’d reject her, or worse yet, laugh at her.
~~~~~
Morgan tilted his head and gazed at Rilla out of the corner of his eye. She’d been quiet ever since they’d left the Pueblo station. There seemed to be an aura of despondency around her. Almost sadness, futility. What was causing it? Dare he hope?
Morgan wasn’t looking forward to arriving in Denver. It would signal the end of their marriage. The end of any chance of revealing his love for her. He loved her deeply. Her dedication to their quest. Her willingness to learn. Her stubborn determination to ride and camp out without complaining. He’d noted that since he knew she hated it. He loved her mumbling to herself at things that irritated her instead of giving voice to them that could be heard.
For a woman who claimed all men wanted to control women, she took his instructions well. That he didn’t force the issue, but rather expected he be obeyed, might make a difference. So too, was him learning to explain why he wanted something done a certain way.
Rilla had handled her kidnapping so very well. Morgan was sure she would have escaped by herself if he hadn’t come along when he did. She was resourceful, that was for sure. She was even able to tease him out of his attitude about things he didn’t like.
Tonight he wouldn’t be able to hold her in his arms. Morgan hadn’t realized that last night was the final time he’d be able to do so. His life was going to be very empty once she left it and he didn’t know what to do about it. Didn’t have a clue.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
ARCHIE WATCHED AS an old man and old woman descended from the train. Where were Morgan and Rilla? It seemed that everyone who was going to had disembarked. His attention was turned to the cattle car. Condor, Biddy, and a very agitated Jack were led down the ramp and to a water trough nearby. The horses were there. He saw saddles and the carpetbags Rilla had taken being put in a pile at the edge of the platform.
“Excuse me, young whippersnapper, do you know where Archie Gordon is?” a low gravelly voice asked.
Archie turned, and his mouth dropped open. “Morgan?” His eyes shot from the old man to the old woman. “Rilla?” Recognition hit and Archie began to laugh. “Well done. I didn’t know it was you. I kept looking but you never appeared. I was getting worried something had happened to you.”
“We are here and safe, and so is the package.” Morgan tipped his hat and bowed slightly.
“The wagon is around front. I’ll bring it so we can load the baggage.” Archie looked around. “Where is the package?”
“Several places. Rilla came up with a good idea to be sure we got at least some of it here, even if the train was robbed.”
“How?”
“I’ll show you when we get back to the office,” Rilla said, her voice sounding just like an elderly woman.
It wasn’t long before they were in the wagon, riding to the office. The horses were turned over to the stableman. They seemed to know they were home and began heading into the stable as soon as they were unhitched from behind the wagon.
“Ho,” Archie chuckled. “Marianne is going to be as surprised as I was at your appearance. Let’s get a move on. I can’t wait.” He slapped the reins and the wagon started down the street again.
When he pulled up into the driveway between the house and carriage house dormitory, Marianne came running from the house. “You’re back. You succeeded. Any other news you want to share?”
Archie twisted his mouth sideways in frustration as he jumped down. “How did you know it was them?”
“You were going to get them, so even though they don’t look that much like Morgan and Rilla, it has to be them or you wouldn’t be back.”
Archie just shook his head and began unloading the carpetbags, pleased at their weight.
Morgan had helped Rilla down who was now in Marianne’s arms, receiving a hug. “Come, let’s get you out of that get-up. I’m sure you’ll want a bath.” As Marianne led Rilla up the path to the house, she called over her shoulder. “Morgan, you get cleaned up and back to yourself. Pearl is serving lunch in one hour.”
“Help me get these bags to the house and the other things into the storerooms in the carriage house,” Archie said. “Then you can bathe. We don’t want to keep Pearl waiting.”
~~~~~
Morgan told about the days since they’d been in Denver with Rilla inserting comments and explanations periodically. He was glad to be rid of the false facial hair and putty he’d had on his face. A warm bath and shave made him feel much more himself.
When Rilla had come down the stairs in a day dress of sprigged muslin, her hair in a softer style than she’d worn since their wedding, her loveliness stole his breath. Morgan wanted to take her in his arms and kiss her senseless. He clasped his hands behind his back to keep from doing what they ached to do.
“So, where is the rest of the gold?” Archie asked, sipping his coffee as they finished their pie.
“I put what I carried in th
e parlor,” Morgan said.
“I’ll go get mine. I need some scissors to do a little snipping. Mine are packed under the gold in the carpetbag.” Rilla stood and left the room, Marianne going with her to get some scissors.
“You think Rilla will make a good agent?” Archie asked. “We’ll talk about it more later in private. Just give me your general impressions before Marianne gets back.” They went to the parlor to wait on the women.
“Rilla did very well. She still needs training. This case wasn’t typical, and we didn’t face some of the challenges a normal case presents.” Morgan grinned. “Don’t give her a case that involves camping for her next one. It’s not one of her favorite things to do.”
The women came in, Rilla carrying a bundle Morgan knew was the money belt and petticoat pockets she’d sewn. His money belt was sitting on the floor next to the settee he was sitting on. He wasn’t going to tell about them, as it was her idea.
Rilla sat next to him with the bundle of fabric on her lap. Morgan picked his up and laid it out on his lap. She looked at him and he nodded that she should explain. The smile he received told him he’d made the right choice in giving her the right to tell of her idea.
“When we knew it was all gold coins, we needed a way to transport it without revealing what we had. The bags were going to be too heavy in the carpetbags. They were heavy enough even with these.” She held up her money belt.
“I sewed these so we could wear quite a lot of the coins on our persons. Each little pocket has a coin in it.”
“Ingenious,” Archie said. “Where did you wear them?” He leaned forward intrigued. Marianne did too.
Morgan held his up. It was wide enough to reach from his armpits to his waist. Shoulder straps had kept it from slipping down.
Rilla held her belt up too. It was like his, though smaller in size. Then she held up the petticoat pocket. “I sewed this to the waist of a petticoat. I had to add an extra waist tie to make sure it didn’t break and the petticoat fall off.”
An Agent for Rilla (The Pinkerton Matchmaker Book 32) Page 12