An Agent For Wilhelmina (The Pinkerton Matchmaker Book 2)
CONTENTS
An Agent for Wilhelmina
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Epilogue
A Note From Sophie
AN AGENT FOR WILHELMINA
Pinkerton Matchmaker Book 2
Sophie Dawson
A Ryder Legacy Book
Copyright © 2018 Sophie Dawson
Kindle Edition
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-63376-036-3
No part of this publication maybe reproduced or distributed in print or electronic form without prior permission of the author. Please respect the hard work of the author and do not participate in or encourage the piracy of copyrighted materials.
This is a work of fiction. Most of the places within the story are fictitious but some are real. You will most likely recognize those which are. Those you don’t are probably made up by me. The people, unless it is the name of a real historical person, are not real. They, too, have been created by me or by my friend and author George McVey. This is true of Nugget Nate and Penny Ryder, and Nathan Ryder who may or may not show up in this book. Even if real historical people are mentioned their lives may or may not adhere strictly to documented historical reference. In other words, what they do or say has little bearing in fact and they probably didn’t do or say it. This is a fictional story after all.
Description
Wilhelmina Cutler had wanted to be a Pinkerton agent ever since she moved in with her aunt and uncle who was an agent himself. Now’s her chance. They are hiring women in the Denver Pinkerton Detective Agency. Already trained in most of the skills needed, Mina is confident she can handle any case they assign her.
Reece Galway is a veteran agent who has worked from the Denver office since the end of the Civil War. When his boss tells him his future employment hinges on marrying a woman aspiring to be an agent he nearly quits. He’s never had a partner and doesn’t want one, especially some rookie woman who knows nothing about how to be a detective.
There’s something about his new wife. She seems to attract danger, yet is able to stave it off. She’s stiff and overly polite and sometimes rather sarcastic. And she doesn’t like his attitude.
Heading to San Francisco to solve an insurance fraud case, Reece and Mina butt heads. Can they work together to solve the case, or will their enmity make it impossible? Will this marriage continue once they are back in Denver or will either one demand an annulment?
CHAPTER ONE
MAY 1871
“What? I need to do what to keep my job?” Reece Galway failed in keeping the irritation from his voice. He couldn’t believe what his boss was saying. All the agents from the Denver, Colorado Territory office of the Pinkerton Detective Agency had to get married and train their wives to be detectives. His shoulders gave a violent shudder as the word wife moved through his thoughts.
Reece paced in front of Archibald Gordon’s desk as the man sat calmly with his fingers steepled in front of him. It was obvious he’d recently had his hair cut, as the previous week when Reece had returned from solving a case Archie’s hair was shaggy and sticking out in all directions. Today it was smoothed back with pomade holding it in place. His ruddy beard and mustache well trimmed.
“I believe you heard me the first time. I don’t want to repeat myself.”
“So, if I want to stay a Pinkerton Agent I have to marry some young lady who won’t know her…”
“Language, Reece. You know how I feel about you men and your speech.” Marianne Chapman, Archie’s secretary, came into the room scolding as she often did when any agent was expressing themselves in ways she didn’t approve of. She set a tray with a silver service for coffee on Archie’s desk. “I thought you men might enjoy a spot of coffee and cake. Pearl baked it this morning. It’s quite good, I must say.”
Reece flopped down in the chair across the desk from Archie. Tucking the silver dollar he was rolling around his knuckles into his steel colored vest pocket, he squinted one eye at Marianne as he took the cup of coffee from her. “Was this your idea?”
Marianne’s mouth dropped open. “Oh my, no. I argued against it most fervently.”
Reece swung his gaze to Archie. “So you thought this up on your own?” Archibald Gordon was somewhat addlepated, or he made out to be. Maybe he was cagier than Reece thought.
Archie studiously stirred his coffee. “The idea was put to me by a very respected person. One who knows all about the criminal element as well as society and its standards. As we discussed the issue it became clear that marriage, at least a temporary one, was the answer to maintaining the reputation as well as the safety of the ladies.”
That was true, Reece admitted to himself. Ladies of good reputation couldn’t travel unmarried with a man and maintain their standing within society. But that didn’t make the thought of marrying some young woman any more palatable.
“Why are you wanting to hire women agents at all?” Reece noted the new slits in the door of the cabinet behind Archie. Seems that Bronco Wauneka hadn’t liked the idea either. Bronco tended to display his displeasure by throwing knives. The door, as well as the wall, bore evidence of many blade strikes.
“That edict came from the main Pinkerton office in Chicago. They are wanting more women agents. Seems they can ferret out information in ways men can’t.” Archie cleared his throat when Reece shot him a smirk. “Not in those ways. They can infiltrate society as well as other places men can’t and have a different perspective than men. They can be more astute in some areas.”
“What do the other agents think of this cockeyed idea?”
“There have been a few discussions.”
Marianne coughed but it sounded more like a scoff as she cut the cake and placed a piece on each plate. Reece noted that there were three plates as well as another cup of coffee. It seemed that Marianne was staying in the office with he and Archie.
“Well? What do the others think?”
“They are coming around to the idea.” Archie still wouldn’t look him in the eye.
“So they don’t like it any more than I do. How many have quit when they heard of this cockamamie idea?”
“We haven’t had any of the agents quit.” Marianne took a sip of her coffee. She was sitting sideways at the end of the desk with her cake on top of a pile of papers.
“At least not yet,” Reece muttered.
“So you think you will be the first, Reece?” A bite of the chocolate cake slipped into Marianne’s mouth.
“We still have agents out on assignments. I expect them all back by this time next week. We should know by then. I’ll expect your answer as to whether you’ll be staying as a Pinkerton agent or not as soon as you decide.”
“I want to understand exactly what this all entails. Let me know if I’ve got this right. I have to marry some woman who thinks she wants to do a man’s job by being a Pinkerton agent. I need to train her to do that job, and I’m stuck with this stranger for the rest of my life. You’re asking a lot here, Archie.”
“You won’t be stuck with her. The marriage can be annulled once the case is s
olved, provided that you and she don’t…” Archie’s ruddy complexion turned ruddier and, when Reece glanced at Marianne, her cheeks were red and she was studying her empty plate with great concentration.
Reece looked away focusing on the plant that stood in the corner. It looked a little worse for the wear. He wondered why. Marianne diligently kept the plant watered, even talking to it as she did so. It was one of those quirks some people had. Plants couldn’t hear. Why would anyone talk to one? Shaking his head, Reece brought his focus back to the topic at hand, as distasteful as it was.
Reece set his fork down after taking the last bite of cake, then he drained his coffee cup. “I’ve got some thinking to do. I’m not sure detective work is suitable for women.” He held up his hand to stop Archie from interrupting. “I know. There have been female Pinkerton agents before. Mostly during the war. But we aren’t in a war anymore. Most of the cases we deal with now have even more elements of danger to them. Rough, immoral men we are trying to apprehend. How can I focus on them when I have to keep a clueless rookie, and a woman at that, safe?”
Reece stood and leaned over to give Marianne a peck on the cheek. “Tell Pearl thank you for the cake. It was delicious as always. Thank you for the coffee and your lovely company. Please forgive my unpleasant demeanor. I’m not pleased with this turn in my career, but you needn’t suffer for it.”
“Think nothing of it, Reece. I’ve known you a long time and know your character. Please think this over carefully before you make a decision.” Marianne smiled wanly up at him from her chair.
“No apology for me?” Archie asked giving Reece a one-eyed squint.
“No, old man, I think not. You’re the one forcing me to decide the future of my career.” Reece turned on his heel and marched out of the office. When he exited the building it was all he could do not to slam the front door.
Get married or lose his job? What kind of an order was this?
Reece stomped down the porch steps and walked around the house, thinking of heading to the dormitory where agents could stay when they were in Denver. Reece, liking his privacy, kept a small apartment in the city above a shop downtown. Sometimes he slept in the dormitory when he was at the office late or the weather was too bad to walk or ride to his apartment.
On second thought, Reece passed the building behind the Pinkerton office, a converted home with offices, meeting rooms, as well as two suites, one for Marianne and another for Archie’s sister, Victoria. He needed to walk off some of his irritation. Talking with the other men in the same situation didn’t appeal to him, at least not until he decided what he was going to do.
Reece pulled the silver dollar from his vest pocket, rolling it over his knuckles as he strode away from the Pinkerton Agency of Denver office.
Wilhelmina Cutler’s eyes gazed at the Nebraska plains as the train headed west without seeing either the buffalo or the wagon train they were passing. She’d closed the curtain of her seating section of the Pullman car to maintain her privacy. Fortunately, no one was occupying the other seat in this section. Keeping the curtain closed went a long way to keeping it that way. She was traveling without an escort so discouraging male passengers from choosing that seat was high on her priority list.
The flat land they were traveling over was gradually rising. In the distance she could have seen the purple shadow of the Rocky Mountains, but her mind’s eye saw the discussion she’d had with her Uncle Dan Cutler who’d raised her since she was a teen. They were in the parlor of their small house, she seated on the settee, he standing in the sunlight shining through the window.
“Mina, this is the best opportunity for you to become a Pinkerton agent.”
“But I’d be so far away. Why should I move all the way to Denver when I know everyone at the Pinkerton Agency here in Chicago?”
“That’s precisely why. Most of the men here have known you since you were thirteen when you came to live with us. There’s no way they’d allow you to take any cases that might be dangerous in the least way. That means you’d be stuck in the office doing secretarial tasks rather than the detective work you want and I trained you for. I know that’s not what you want.” Dan took out a tobacco pouch and began packing the chopped leaves into his pipe.
“You’re correct, as usual. The agents look at me as a daughter to be protected from all the outlaws of the world, not a well-trained agent capable of capturing them myself.” Mina sighed. “I’ll just be so lonely without you.” She stood and hugged the man whom she’d lived with for ten years.
Already a Pinkerton Security Agent at the time, Dan had asked his brother if one of his girls could move to Chicago to help with his ailing wife. Thirteen-year-old Wilhelmina had jumped at the chance to leave the mountains of Kentucky even if it meant leaving her beloved family behind.
When her aunt passed away Mina stayed in Chicago to tend his house while he was away on a case. She had loved every minute she could be with him, especially when he took her to the office or on a case.
Dan taught her how to observe and listen. Few people noticed a child and fewer thought they were listening or noticing what was going on around them. Mina learned how at an early age.
Dan also made sure she was able to defend herself, both with weapons and without. Though she was smaller and weaker than a man, she was able to stop them long enough for someone to come and help.
Never was Mina without a weapon or multiples stashed around her person. Of course, every woman had at least one hat pin. Mina normally had two or three keeping her hat firmly connected to her head. She loved the jeweled pointed sticks and had a vast collection suitable for each of her outfits no matter the time of year.
The train lurched, jerking her thoughts back to the present. Mina was applying to become a Pinkerton Agent at the Denver office. In her satchel was a letter of recommendation from Mr. Allan Pinkerton himself. Mina called him uncle just as she did all the agents working from the Chicago office. He’d outlined her background and experience, how she’d been trained by one of his best agents. Mr. Pinkerton indicated strongly that Mr. Archibald Gordon, who headed the Denver office, was to hire her and Mr. Gordon was responsible for keeping her safe.
The curtain screening her from view by other passengers was yanked open. A man with an unlit cigar tucked between his teeth flopped down onto the rear facing seat across from her.
“Greetings, dear lady. I’ve seen you in the dining car and thought you might enjoy the company of a gentleman.”
Noticing he failed to introduce himself, Mina stared at him. “And you think you are that gentleman? Not that I am confirming your supposition.” She slipped her hand into a pocket in her skirt.
“You are traveling alone, are you not?” The man’s eyes were mocking, telling Mina he considered her less than the lady he’d pronounced her to be.
“That may be the case, but I see no reason for you to approach me whether I am or not.”
He rose partly and moved to sit next to her, placing his arm on the back of the seat behind her shoulders. “I thought we might spend the time getting to know each other better.”
“I think not, sir.” She pulled her Derringer from her pocket, pointing it at his chest after she cocked it. “I know how to use this and am not afraid to do so. Now, if you’ll remove yourself from my section, I won’t have to damage that good-looking suit you are wearing. Please leave before I call the conductor. That will be after I fire my weapon. At this close a range I’ll have to be moved to a different section. The blood and gore resulting would make this section less appealing to sit in.” She waved the pistol slightly indicating he should get up and leave.
The man stood, a frown marring his features. “I shall leave you to your solitude.” With a slight bow, he turned on his heel and left.
Mina put her Derringer back into her pocket. This was part of what had nearly discouraged her from going to Denver. Men seemed to think unescorted ladies were fair game for a different sort of game. One she wasn’t willing to play. r />
There was one more night before they arrived in Denver. Mina was glad she had taken the Kansas Pacific Railroad rather than the Central Pacific Railroad as the train went all the way to Denver without making her change trains in Cheyenne, Wyoming Territory.
She opened the window curtain again. The sun was setting, highlighting the mountains in the distance. Mina had asked the conductor to bring her supper to her in her section. She didn’t need any other man thinking she was approachable. Once she finished eating, the conductor converted the seats into the berth she’d slept on since she boarded the train a few days ago.
Tomorrow, Mina would meet with Mr. Archibald Gordon, present her letters of recommendation, and hopefully become the Pinkerton Agent she longed to be.
CHAPTER TWO
REECE LOOKED OVER the room filled with women as well as his fellow agents. He wasn’t happy about any of this. Marrying a woman simply to get it annulled when the case ended made no sense to him. Plus he’d have to train her to be a detective while on said case. It took years to properly train an agent. It was sure to take longer for a woman.
They stood in the dining room which had been rearranged to facilitate the proceedings that would be commencing shortly. The table was against the wall rather than in the middle. It was loaded with cold meats and cheese, other finger foods and small frosted cakes. At least they would have something good to eat and Pearl’s cakes were always delicious.
Some of the agents wore frowns like himself. Others were grinning at the various women huddled in small groups or standing alone. They were a varied lot, different in shape and coloring. He wondered who his blushing bride would be. More importantly, what the case they were to handle was. How he was going to train her in the short time before they arrived wherever they were going crowded in on the previous thought.