An Agent For Lydia Read online

  She didn’t try and keep the bitterness and anger from her voice. “Did it occur to you to let me know you were alive? Did it occur to you I’d be worried sick wondering what had happened? Did it occur to you that you owed me an explanation?”

  He turned his body away as much as the carriage allowed. “Like I said, I figured you’d be married by the time I was up and around.”

  So she was right and he’d been unable to attend the wedding because he was hurt. “How were you injured?”

  “Aw, what does it matter? Let’s just move on and let the past be just that.”

  “Jake—”

  “Jack,” he snapped as he turned toward her. “Don’t ever call me anything but Jack. Immerse yourself in the story we’ve created. Never slip up or you could get us killed. Listen, I mean this. We are who we say we are. Can you remember? If not, let me know right now.”

  “All right, I get your point and I’ll remember.” She laid a hand on his arm. “Jack, are you as heartless as you act?”

  He pulled away from her hand. “This is not an act and I have no heart, Lily. Get used to that fact.” His jaw clenched as he stared straight ahead.

  She gave up talking to him. Competing with his current attitude was beyond her. No matter how much she hurt inside, she’d show him she could act as indifferent as he appeared.

  Denver didn’t have a large train station. The Denver-Pacific Railway and Telegraph ran between Denver and Cheyenne, Wyoming. Disregarding the snubs and gasps her appearance caused, she chose a window seat. He stored their bags then sat beside her. He tipped his hat over his eyes and leaned back as if he dozed.

  Fine, darned if she was going to talk to him and have him snap at her. She took a book from her tote, one she’d started reading last night in the boarding house.

  He pushed his hat up far enough to look at her. “I doubt saloon girls read books.”

  “This one does.” She opened the tome and resumed reading.

  “You remember you’re being trained and are supposed to defer to me?”

  “I remember I’m paired with you. I don’t intend to be your handmaiden and wait for your command so don’t expect otherwise.”

  “Huh, might have known that’s how you’d react.” He pulled his hat brim over his eyes and dozed.

  She was certain he was pretending sleep. Besides, he was supposed to be observant, wasn’t he? What did she know? Perhaps he wasn’t supposed to act the part until they reached their destination.

  The rocking of the train lulled her until she had trouble remaining awake. Excitement and worry combined to keep her from sleep most of last night. Giving in to the train’s motion, she put her book back in her tote and leaned back in her seat.

  Chapter Five

  Jake cast furtive glances at Lydia. Even with that ridiculous paint on her face she was pretty. In fact, she was even more beautiful than he’d remembered. And, he definitely remembered every detail of how she fit in his arms during their few chaste kisses. Even without the photo he treasured, how could he forget?

  Thank goodness her photo had been in his room with his belongings and not in his jacket when the Uptons attacked him. Knowing those brothers were in prison reassured him they wouldn’t track down Lydia. But, there would be others who sought revenge. He vowed he’d keep Lydia from being cast as a woman who meant something to him.

  Their train traveled at twenty miles an hour. Sure was more comfortable than stage or horseback. The five-hour trip to Cheyenne meant they arrived at half past eight o’clock that evening.

  He retrieved their bags and handed hers to her. “We’re booked at the Traveler’s Hotel.”

  “Gentleman Jack, you should offer to help me. At least let me take your arm.”

  He offered a mock bow. “Of course, my dear. I apologize for being remiss in my duty.” He had forgotten the “gentleman” part of his pretend moniker.

  The hotel’s sign was visible from the train platform. He slowed his steps so she could keep up with him. The hotel sign needed fresh paint. So did the door and window frames.

  Once they were in the lobby, he scanned the surroundings. Nothing special but sufficient. They registered as Mr. and Mrs. Jackson and secured their room key.

  In their room, he set his bag on the floor by the bed. “Not too bad.”

  She scanned the area. “A little on the seedy side.” She set her carpetbag and tote on the coverlet. “I don’t know where you’ll sleep but I get the bed.”

  He turned to her and smiled. “We share the bed. Don’t go missish on me. We’re married and don’t think for a second I’m sleeping on the floor. Remember, I have rights.”

  Her eyes widened and her mouth opened.

  Before she could protest, he bowed. “Don’t worry, my dear, I can resist your charms and have no plans to assault you.”

  She sniffed. “I should think not. Apparently you can survive without me enough to skip out on our wedding and go two years without a word or thought.”

  If only she knew he’d thought of her every day since he’d come out of the coma. He turned back the cover. “I’ve no intention of enduring a tirade on my past sins. We need to get to the local saloon for your first lesson.”

  “W-What sort of lesson?”

  “Am I correct that even Kit didn’t take you to a saloon?”

  Beneath all that paint, a red flush crept across her face. “I might have dressed in his clothes once and gone with him for a lark.”

  Shock nailed him in place. “Kit actually took you to such a place?”

  “Don’t look so surprised. The woman singing was one who had traveled across the country and was hailed as a golden-voiced nightingale. I threatened to go alone if he didn’t accompany me. She was wonderful but the opening acts were pretty bad.”

  He shook his head. “Poor Kit, I’ll bet you led him a merry chase all your life. No matter, tonight you actually need to see what the average western saloon is like, sad as it will be.”

  “Should I change clothes? You’re too tall for me to wear yours.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “You’ll finally be dressed appropriately as you are. You’d better stick so close to me we look like Siamese twins.”

  She muttered, “You don’t need to worry about that.”

  They returned to the sidewalk then strolled a couple of buildings up the street to a saloon. He pulled her to a stop in the shadows before they reached the swinging doors. He’d thought of more instructions. Raucous sounds emanated from the patrons. Standing close, he figured they would appear as if they were petting or talking intimately.

  “Don’t look disapproving when we get inside. Keep your expression neutral. Fluff your hair or something women usually do.”

  “As if I know how saloon girls act.”

  “Women are women. Use your imagination. If anyone gets too friendly, don’t overreact. A calm put down will work best.”

  She squared her shoulders and linked her arm with his. “All right. Let’s get this over with before I run for the hotel.”

  Once inside, he ambled to the table where a card game was in full swing. He watched for a few minutes until the round ended. When one of the men threw his cards on the table in disgust and left, Jake took the vacated seat. The others at the table stared at him. No one smiled.

  He flashed a grin, hands in plain view and flat on the table. “Anyone welcome to play a round?”

  The dealer, a man who Jake figured worked for the saloon owner, nodded. “If you have cash. We don’t want an IOU.”

  “Neither do I. Shall we get a fresh deck of cards?”

  The dealer signaled the barkeep. “New deck.”

  Jake raised two fingers. “And, two beers.”

  Beside him, Lily cocked her hip in imitation of a girl across the room. He had no idea if she’d ever tasted beer. With her escapades with Kit, she probably had.

  A burly cowboy swaggered over and put his arm around Lily. “Haven’t seen you around here before, little lady. What say you and
me go upstairs and make some magic?”

  Jake held his breath.

  “Well… that is tempting—” she drawled. “But, I’m with Gentleman Jack Jackson here.” She switched to a stage whisper. “You see, I’m darlin’ Jack’s good luck charm. He thinks he can’t win without me so I promised to stick right by his side for a cut of his winnings.”

  Jake exhaled.

  The cowboy shot Jake a glare. “Yeah? If his luck runs out tonight, remember my offer.”

  “Why, I sure will, sugar.” She wiggled her fingers in a small wave before she laid her hand on Jake’s shoulder.

  Jake kept track of cards, something he’d learned at an early age. He figured it was a gift, just like it had been with his daddy. With good fortune, though, he wouldn’t end up like his father.

  Relying on careful calculations, he managed to win just enough to stay ahead without arousing the other players’ anger.

  After a couple of hours, Lily yawned. “Jack, darlin’, how much longer are you gonna sit there? I’m plumb tuckered.”

  Jake picked up his winnings. “Sorry, Lily, my love. I lost track of time.” Shoving the cash into his pockets, he stood. “Goodnight, gentlemen, and thank you for letting me join you.”

  He took Lydia’s elbow and guided her from the establishment. “Too bad there was no stage show. Maybe next time.”

  “I watched people. That was a show in itself.”

  “You handled that Romeo really well.”

  “Why, thank you, Jack darlin’. Did you notice a wanted poster with your name on it was nailed to the wall?”

  “Glad they’re in circulation.”

  Once they were in the room, she stood wringing her hands.

  “If you’re as tired as I am, you’ll quickly get into bed and close your eyes. I’m sure I’ll sleep like a rock.” He unbuttoned his shirt and removed his boots.

  She stared at him as if she were frozen. When he unbuttoned his pants, she came to life and whirled. “I’ll be glad to get out of this blasted corset.”

  He climbed under the covers. “Ugly and unflattering color of dress. Couldn’t you choose something more suitable for travel?”

  There was no chair in the room and she sat on the mattress to remove her shoes and stockings. “This is what Marianne chose for me. It’s hideous but I guess it’s supposed to be. I’m grateful there’s that dust coat to wear for travel.”

  He stretched out as much as possible for his height and faced the wall. Married they might be, but he didn’t dare let himself watch her disrobe further. Being close was torture enough. How he’d survive the assignment was beyond him.

  The lamp went out, the mattress dipped, and she slid into bed. She must be so close to the edge she was in danger of falling onto the floor.

  “Don’t worry, Lily. I can resist your charms so get comfortable. No point falling out of bed during the night.”

  She squirmed enough to let him know she’d moved closer to the center. “Goodnight, Jack.”

  He smiled to himself. She’d remembered. “G’night, Lily.”

  He woke with a start at the unfamiliar sensation of a person beside him. Slowly, yesterday’s memories surfaced and he turned to gaze at his wife-in-name-only. She’d cleaned the paint from her ivory skin before turning in last night. As much as he’d enjoy watching her sleep—or waking her with a kiss—they had to get moving.

  Swinging his legs to the floor, he sat and reached for his pants. He pulled them up and reached for his shirt. “Sleeping Beauty, better wake and get dressed. We have a lot to accomplish today.”

  She pulled the cover up to her eyes.

  “Sorry, Lily, we could have ridden straight through but I figured you needed to rest. There’s no train or stage where we’re headed.”

  Blinking, she sat up and pushed her hair from her face. “Oh, of course, you explained that yesterday.”

  “I’ll return for you in a few minutes. Please be ready.”

  Chapter Six

  Lydia gazed out the window at Wyoming’s desert landscape, recalling how terrified she’d been last night in the saloon. The man who’d wanted to take her upstairs was huge and smelled as if he hadn’t bathed in months. He carried a bottle of whiskey in one hand, some of which he had spilled on his shirt.

  Thank goodness she had a gun and her knife. Would her little gun have stopped such a large man? With any luck she’d never have to learn the answer.

  Forcing herself not to snuggle up to Jake for comfort had been almost impossible. His presence reassured her. He’d had several years experience at Pinkerton’s and knew how to deflect and defeat combatants.

  One other couple faced them on the passenger car. Lydia avoided eye contact with the prune-faced woman across from her. The woman had snubbed her and Jake as if they carried leprosy.

  Prune-face ceased staring long enough to tug on her husband’s sleeve and whisper, “Horace, doesn’t he look like the man on that wanted poster we saw in Cheyenne?”

  Horace frowned at her. “Hush, Mattie.”

  Did those two think she and Jake couldn’t hear them?

  Lydia gestured to the window. “I’ve never seen so much sand and scrubby bushes. Barren as it is, it emanates a serene beauty.”

  “Wait until you see where we’re headed. I’ve heard it’s picturesque as well.” Jake flashed his bone-melting grin.

  No, thank you, she couldn’t weaken now. She’d had the vaccination for that grin’s affect. Too bad the inoculation hadn’t proven very effective.

  The man traveling with the prune-faced woman looked at Jake and leaned forward. “Where you folks headed?”

  Jake squeezed her hand. “We’re headed for Evanston. You?”

  She wondered why he’d lied.

  The man relaxed against the seat. “We’ll be getting off at the next stop after the river. Been south to see our grandchildren.”

  Lydia tugged on Jake’s sleeve. “How much longer until we reach Laramie?”

  “You might as well try to doze, Lily, my pet. We’ve a long ride ahead of us. I’ll wake you when we get to Laramie. We can get off and stretch our legs there.”

  He’d complained about her garish dress but he was dressed in a flashy way that left no doubt he was a gambler. The dark gray suit had a red silk damask waistcoat. His watch chain was thick with a showy fob. She wondered if the watch was his or belonged to Pinkerton’s.

  The train was fairly full of passengers. Some stops allowed them time to walk around and use the facilities. Others were much too short. At least the other couple left and she and Jack had the conveyance to themselves.

  She tried to doze but couldn’t. With a smile, she recalled Pinkerton’s “We Never Sleep” motto. At least she had that part right.

  The scenery was monotonous and the car swayed too much to concentrate. She’d been able to yesterday, so she must be too nervous. She couldn’t imagine what awaited them in this barren land.

  All her life she’d scorned people who said they were bored. She’d thought any intelligent person should be capable of amusing himself. That theory was ruined because she considered herself smart and she was extremely tired of this trip.

  In addition, having Jake at her side created questions and resurrected longings. Working this closely proved to be an exercise in self-control. If they’d married on schedule, they’d probably have a child by now.

  She’d often dreamed of the small home they were to have in Denver. Their plans were for nothing extravagant, just a place where they could raise a family. He’d be home between assignments and they’d have a good life. With a mental slap, she pulled herself from daydreams. Concentrating on their assignment should be foremost in her mind.

  Jake moved to the seat across from her. Angling himself in the corner, he stretched out his legs toward the aisle. “What on earth possessed you to apply to… for your job?”

  She stared out the window and hoped she appeared bored with his question. “Perhaps I wanted to see what was so all-fired fascinating.
”

  “Why would you leave a safe, secure home in the city to face the unknown? This is a dangerous job, not a game.”

  She directed a glare at him. “For your information, Gentleman Jack Jackson, I’m not playing a game. I don’t know why you would think otherwise.” She leaned forward and whispered, “You aren’t the only person capable of choosing a career in law enforcement. I am an official agent for the Pinkerton Detective Agency, Denver office.”

  He rolled his eyes heavenward and moved back beside her. With his head near hers he spoke quietly. “Tell me the history of Lily LaBelle.”

  Matching his tone, she was certain the train’s noise kept anyone from hearing her, “Oh, yes, we need to discuss our stories. I was a happy person until age twelve when my father died. At least he left us with an income. When I was eighteen, my mother married a man I disliked. He couldn’t understand that I wasn’t part of the deal and wouldn’t keep his hands to himself. As the years passed, he became bolder. I saw what was in his mind and left home. I’d been given voice lessons so I got a job singing in a saloon.”

  “That should work. We met in a saloon in… what’s a place you’ve been?”

  “I visited my aunt and uncle in Wichita, Kansas three times.”

  “Okay, we met six months ago at the Silver Slipper in Wichita. I was playing cards and having lousy luck until you came and sat on my lap. I won the next hand and pulled up a chair for you. We’ve been together ever since.”

  “Tell me about the place.”

  “The bartender’s name is Mickey Riley. It’s a big place owned by Richard Dixon but he keeps a low profile. Mickey manages the saloon. Some of the girls take men to the rooms upstairs, but not all of them do. Can you remember that?”

  “Do you know the names of any of the girls who work there?”

  He sat as if trying to recall. “One was Roxie… no, she’s Ruby. I remember because her hair is dyed bright red. Nellie was a brunette. I don’t remember any others. Say you weren’t there long enough to get acquainted with them.”

  She nodded but hoped the question didn’t arise. “So what’s your story?”

  “My mother died when I was eight. I started traveling with my father who’s a gambler. He started drinking too much and refused to stop. A couple of years ago we fought and I left him. I don’t know if you understand what this means, but I can keep count of the cards and figure the percentage of who has the winning hand. Don’t tell anyone that, of course.”