An Agent For Wilhelmina (The Pinkerton Matchmaker Book 2) Read online

  Archie cleared his throat and made the announcement that the women would all be married within an hour to a stranger and then they’d all set out on the train to begin their cases. Reece drew his eyebrows together, frowning. They weren’t even going to have a day to begin the training? This was going to be a royal mess. Send a woman out on a case with no training, but what could be done on a train? Madness, pure madness.

  “Reece Galway?”

  Archie had begun pairing the couples while he was thinking, complaining in his mind really. Now it seemed it was his turn to see which of the addlepated women would become Mrs. Galway.

  Reece stepped forward. “Let it go on record that I am not happy about this and I don’t believe that this is the best way to move forward. With that, I’m ready to meet my partner.”

  Not listening to Archie’s reply, he scanned the women waiting to hear their name called. At least not until his boss said the name.

  “Wilhelmina Cutler.”

  The woman who moved to the front of the room from the far corner was stunning. Reece nearly allowed his mouth to drop open but caught himself. She wasn’t one of the ladies he’d seen socializing over the past few days.

  Deep red hair was crowned with a large bright purple hat adorned by three jewels tucked into the folds of fabric. The gown she wore was the same shade as her hat. It fit her frame well. By the way she moved he could tell her narrow waist wasn’t made by tightly lacing her corset.

  As she approached, his eyes were drawn to full bowed lips that were pulled into a slight smile. Her wide eyes reminded him of lapis lazuli, they were so deep blue. Tiny specks of gold added to the confidence within them. Her nose turned up just a tiny bit and she had a shallow cleft in her chin. She was just above average in height and slim but with curves in all the right places. She moved with grace, her steps not creating any sound. The expression on her face was pleasantly neutral.

  Wilhelmina Cutler slipped a white gloved hand around his forearm. “I’ll try to not make this too painful for you, Galway.” She drew him along with her as she moved back to the corner she had come from.

  Reece couldn’t understand why she would want to be a Pinkerton agent. As beautiful as she was some man should have snatched her into matrimony long before now. Maybe the sweet confident woman she presented was all for show. She could be a shrew for all he knew. He’d find out soon enough. They were leaving together after this farce of a wedding.

  Somehow she managed to maneuver him to stand in the corner behind her, making it impossible to study her further. He’d have to wait until they were alone to continue his inspection of this woman who would be his wife within the hour.

  Being alone with her. What an intriguing thought.

  Pompous… boar. Mina bit off the thought not wanting to curse even in her mind. Publicly objecting to these marriages. Not that Mina was enthused about the prospect of marrying in order to become a Pinkerton agent. She definitely was not. However, she would maintain her ladylike demeanor, not descending to vocal denouncements of the requirement.

  Mina had seen the agents interacting with the ladies who came for interviews over the last couple of days. Some seemed to accept the idea and openly courted, getting to know the candidates. She had stayed in the background observing. She’d learned quite a lot about both the men and the women.

  Other agents went around with scowls and their bodies indicated their displeasure of the concept. Reece, of course, was of this latter group. Mina had known whomever was chosen as his bride would have an uphill battle in gaining the respect of Mr. Reece Galway. She straightened her shoulders. Wilhelmina Cutler was up to the challenge. If it turned out she wasn’t, she could always just shoot him to get him to annul the marriage.

  “Ladies and gentlemen,” Archie called out once all the couples were paired and the leftover women were led out of the room. “We’ll begin the weddings now. Please line up in front of Judge Hotchkiss, who will officiate. These will be legally binding marriages and if you decide to annul them that will also be handled by his Honor.”

  It didn’t take long for the twelve or thirteen couples to take their vows. Mina was surprised that Reece had a ring for her finger. It was a plain gold band, but since she hadn’t expected one at all she was pleased at his thoughtfulness. It raised him on the mental ladder she’d created to assess his actions toward her. He was maybe one step up from the bottom where she’d placed him for his statement before she was announced as his partner. It was a very long ladder.

  “You may now kiss your bride, or shake hands, or whatever it is that you decide to do.” The judge closed the small book he’d read from.

  Mina leaned slightly back. There was no way she was going to kiss this stranger who obviously didn’t want her as his wife. If they kept a barrier of impersonal civility between them, maybe they could solve the case, get an annulment, and she could continue as a Pinkerton agent on her own.

  She stuck out her hand encased in its white leather glove. Reece fixed his eyes on hers and clasped her hand, giving it two stiff shakes.

  That was over now. There was the reception to get through and then they’d get their envelope explaining the case. She hoped Reece Galway didn’t want to stay long. She’d rather be focusing on the case than joining in the farce of a celebration for these weddings.

  Reece didn’t know how they managed it, but he suspected Wilhelmina had something to do with it. They’d escaped from the madhouse of the wedding reception with their clothing and dignity intact. He glanced sideways at his new wife and drew his eyebrows together. She stood with him in the foyer a little to his side, adjusting her gloves. Her spotlessly clean gloves. That in itself was a minor miracle.

  As the reception had proceeded with everyone enjoying the repast, the raised voices of some of his fellow agents drew his attention from Wilhelmina. One of the tiny cakes flew across the room into the cheek of Stephen Randall. A general melee followed as food of all types sailed from one hand to the face or body of another. Fists began flying too. That wasn’t too unusual but not in the presence of so many women.

  Somehow, Reece and Wilhelmina ended up in the foyer out of the line of fire. He hadn’t directed her from the room so how had they exited without his awareness? Not that he wasn’t pleased that his suit wasn’t stained.

  “My, are you agents here in Denver always such ruffians?” Wilhelmina patted her hair, smoothing a lock back into place.

  Reece chuckled. “Sometimes, but not normally where ladies can observe.”

  “Well, I certainly hope you are able to restrain yourself from participating while I’m around to observe. Thank you for escorting me from the room.” She gave him a small smile which, for some odd reason, caused his heart to clench. “Have you received the envelope with our case file? It would be nice to have some sort of idea as to what will be involved and where we are going. I need to decide what clothing to take.”

  “Not yet. I think Archie will be handing them out once the reception is over.”

  “That will most likely occur shortly.” She turned to better see into the dining room.

  “Enough,” yelled Archie just as a piece of cake splatted against his chest. “I said that’s enough!” Once the din of voices and fists died down he continued, his aggravation evident to all. “That’s it! Everyone out! You’ll need to clean this mess up before you catch the train. I’m not having you leave it for Pearl or Marianne.”

  As the men began cleaning food from the walls, floors, and furniture, the ladies complained about the harm inflicted to their garments. Questions about where and into what clean outfits they could change into followed quickly. Marianne pointed out traveling bags lined up along a wall in the foyer. Reece hadn’t noticed them before.

  “Your bags are over there, however, I do have traveling dresses specifically made for you, if you follow me to my apartment upstairs.” Marianne led the way and the women trailed up the stairs behind her.

  “Although I have no need to change, I will retur
n once I’ve received the traveling dress. You might want to participate in cleaning the dining room while I’m gone.” She turned away heading for the stairs.

  Reece tore his gaze from the sway of her hips and looked into the dining room. With a sigh he entered to help clean up the mess even though he hadn’t been one of those who made it.

  Mina entered the room filled with the young women as well as Marianne. She wondered how the woman stood being involved with so many men who didn’t seem able to restrain themselves from roughhousing.

  A selection of dresses and capes in various fabrics and colors – chintzes, ginghams, florals, stripes and solids hung against the wall. Several of the ladies oohed and ahhed over the outfits, several touching them as if they couldn’t believe such finery was for them.

  All the dresses were the same style. A fitted bodice with a high collar, frog closures marched down the front ending just above the pointed hemline. Lace edged just below the waist, as well as peeked from the sleeve cuffs. The underskirt was a practical length, and would barely brush the floor on most of the ladies. The overskirt, pleated up the sides so it fell in graceful folds, was trimmed with lace or a ruffle matching whichever style adorned the skirt.

  Mina stood back waiting for Marianne to hand out the dress she’d chosen for each woman. It was clear that several hadn’t had clothing this nice before. She enjoyed watching their delight as they were handed their traveling suit.

  When she was called by Marianne, Mina was pleased with the garment handed to her. The fabric was striped in navy blue, olive, and tan. It would travel well and not show the dust and grime associated with trains. Rather than lace, the trims were ruffles.

  “Thank you, Marianne. You chose well for me. I appreciate your care in deciding for each of the ladies.” As she didn’t need to change her clothes, Mina draped the pieces over her arm and stood by Marianne. “When will we be getting our case assignments?” she asked.

  “Archie will be handing them to the men as soon as they are done in the dining room. Shameful behavior, but not totally surprising. The men, at least some of them, were not pleased with the requirement to marry. I’m sure you could tell that Reece was one of those. Anyway, I believe their displeasure culminated in the release of tension fighting seems to bring to men.”

  “Yes, quite.” It was all Mina could think of to respond.

  It wasn’t long before they were all trouping downstairs to join their new husbands. They stood in a line with stained suit coats and trousers. All but Reece. His clothing was still pristine. Each man had a large envelope in one hand and a traveling satchel in the other. Mina moved to stand in front of him.

  “Are you ready to go? We won’t be leaving Denver until tomorrow, but I want to get packed and go over the case.” Reece handed her the envelope and took her arm.

  “Yes, I will need to go to my hotel. Also, I want to choose which other garments I will need to take.”

  Marianne and Archie neared, saying good-bye to each couple.

  “Is there somewhere I can store the trunks I’m not taking on the case?” Mina asked.

  Just as Archie started to reply, Marianne said, “Of course. Have them delivered here. They will be here when you return and can be moved to wherever you decide to live between cases while in Denver.”

  “Why thank you, Marianne, I do appreciate your thoughtfulness.”

  As Reece placed his hand on her back to guide her out the door, Archie mumbled, “I’m in charge here, Marianne, remember?”

  CHAPTER THREE

  THE NEW MR. and Mrs. Galway were not leaving Denver until the following morning, which suited Mina quite well. She wasn’t looking forward to spending much of the night sitting up on the train to Cheyenne. They weren’t getting a Pullman compartment until they boarded the westbound train that would take them to San Francisco.

  Reece had rented a buggy, so when they left the office they went to his apartment. Mina was surprised that he had one. She’d noted that the agents lived in a dormitory building behind the main house.

  “I prefer my privacy. It can be extremely difficult to sleep when there are so many men who want to stay up until all hours of the morning. Most snore.”

  The apartment was small, just two rooms. The kitchen and parlor comprised one and the bedroom the other. There was a small table with one chair, an upholstered rocker with a little round table covered in water stained rings next to it, and a bookcase in the kitchen/parlor. A narrow bed, dresser, washstand, and bedside table was the sum total in the other. Books were piled on or next to each table.

  Mina looked around and hoped they weren’t staying here for the night. Her hotel room was larger.

  “I’ll get my trunk and carpetbag. I understand you have been staying in a hotel. We’ll stay there tonight.” Reece packed a few things into the carpet bag. It seemed the trunk was already packed. Maybe he kept it that way so as to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.

  “Here, would you carry this for me, please? I’ll get the trunk.” Reece handed her his carpetbag as well as his key. “Lock up for me, will you? Once I get this on my back I don’t want to set it down just to lock up.”

  Hefting the trunk, Reece left the apartment through the door Mina had opened. She carried the carpetbag and locked the door behind him, thankful he was wise enough not to expect her to stay there.

  They left his trunk at the hotel desk to be picked up the next morning on their way to the train station. Reece left to return the buggy to the livery as Archie would be driving them to the station the next day. Mina went to her room thinking about what to take with her to San Francisco.

  Planning on only taking one of her trunks, Mina chose carefully the garments and other supplies she thought might be needed. Archie would take the others to the Pinkerton office to be stored there until they returned.

  Mina answered the knock on the door, finding Reece standing there, the ever-present scowl on his face. She stepped back, giving a slight bow and waved him into the room.

  “I’m just decid…”

  “Are you taking all three of those trunks and your carpetbag?” Reece’s frown deepened.

  “Pardon me for your interruption. I was saying, I’m deciding what to include. I’ll be taking this single trunk.” She pointed to the one that was open. “I’ve arranged with Marianne for the others to be stored at the office. A bellboy will be here in about five minutes. He will take the trunks down and see that they are delivered to the office.”

  Reece grunted, which Mina took to be an apology. She knew he was not happy about this marriage. Well, neither was she. She had the skills and some experience since she’d gone on several small cases in Chicago when she’d expressed her interest in being an agent to her uncle.

  Within her letter of recommendation from Mr. Allan Pinkerton, himself, was a list of the cases as well as skills she’d been taught and developed. Since the men hadn’t known whom they would be marrying, it was doubtful Reece had any clue she knew how to gather information or her aptitude with weapons. He knew next to nothing about her just as she knew nothing about him. Except that he seemed grouchy and a tad bit rude.

  Reece sat on the settee, his feet on a straight chair he’d pulled close, and studied the case files. One hand held a silver dollar working its way around his knuckles. He was definitely a handsome man. There was a scar just in front of his right ear. Mina wondered if he’d gotten injured on a case or in the war.

  Dark hair, slicked back, crowned his rectangular face that was kept from being boxy by the fine slope of his chin. She couldn’t see his eyes, but knew they were a dark gray, the color of steel. No doubt they could be warm or quite cold depending on his mood. She’d only seen them cold. He was muscular but lean. A head taller than she, Mina wondered whether she’d fit under his chin if he held her. Where had that thought come from? And why did the notion seem so pleasing?

  The bellboy arrived and took the trunks. Reece gave him some coins which made the boy grin. At least her new husband
was generous.

  At least his new wife wasn’t taking way too much luggage. As a general rule, Reece took no more than his trunk and carpetbag. It depended on the case, often he only took the carpetbag. Pinkerton agents tended to travel light and swift. That wasn’t going to happen with a woman along.

  Wilhelmina was folding items into the trunk with single minded concentration. Reece decided to study the documents in the envelope.

  Looking around, he saw a settee and the bed. There was a washstand and a straight chair, as well as a dressing screen. Some lacy garment hung over the top. It took effort to tear his gaze away and push the image of Wilhelmina wearing it from his mind. Wilhelmina was far too long a name to call her. If they were in a tight situation and he needed to get her attention fast, that name simply wouldn’t work. Why couldn’t her name have been Jane or Fran?

  Her things were scattered across the bed, just where he’d like to lie while reading. Instead, Reece sat on the settee. It was too short for him to lie on comfortably so he moved the straight chair, put his feet up on it, and pulled the papers out.

  “That’s no way for a gentleman to sit in the presence of a lady.” Wilhelmina scolded.

  Not looking up from the document, Reece replied, “You’re not a lady, you’re my wife. Get used to it. I like to be comfortable when I study my case. I need to know it backwards and forwards before it starts. That’s something you have to learn to do. It takes practice to memorize the details you need to know.”

  “I’ll see if I can manage it.”

  Her dry tone made him look up. She was turned away from him, bent over placing something in her trunk. Her backside was in the air. Reece swallowed. Being alone with this woman was going to be a test of his fortitude.