An Agent For Magdala Read online

  Panic seized her when she recalled her jewelry—she had to recover that before Papá arrived. She had to vindicate becoming a Pinkerton agent—okay, a trainee—to Mamá. And, just how was she going to achieve that? Oh, and explaining her marriage would annoy both parents.

  Right now she was trapped and alone and cold. Gathering all her courage, she vowed she wouldn’t give up. She worked at the bindings on her wrists. If she could loosen those enough to slip her hands free, she could untie her ankles and escape.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Cloud left the sheriff’s office and strode toward the hotel. Sheriff Evans agreed to let him, as a Pinkerton agent, handle capturing the Ramblers and turning them over to the sheriff. He hated that he hadn’t been able to prevent the robbery but he intended to recover the stolen property.

  He rushed up the stairs to their suite. “Maggie?”

  Geneva curtsied. “Your Grace, Princess Magdala isn’t here. She grabbed her fur and rushed out without saying where she was going.”

  The news astonished him. “She’s gone? That’s odd because I specifically asked her to wait here for me. What was she doing before she left?”

  The maid gestured toward the window. “She was looking out at the plaza. Then, she whirled and grabbed her coat.”

  “Did she say where she was going?”

  “No, Your Grace. All she said was ‘Geneva, I’m going out’. I offered to accompany her but she declined. She was almost running.”

  “Thank you.” He walked to the window and peered at the view. His heartbeat increased and pounded in his ears. He knew he’d grown fond of her during their time together but hadn’t realized how deeply he cared for her.

  What had she seen that sent her scurrying? People walked among the vendors and on the plaza. Others rode a horse or drove a wagon or carriage. No auburn-haired beauty was visible.

  Why hadn’t Maggie waited for him? Knowing her, there had to be a valid reason. She must have seen something suspicious that required immediate action.

  He decided to check the plaza to see if he could find her. First, he checked with the reception desk. They hadn’t seen her.

  He strolled across the lobby. No point looking in the hotel. Something she’d seen from the window had sent her running outside. Her hair should make her easy to spot. He ambled through the vendors and people milling in the plaza. He saw nothing that would cause him to hurry and no Maggie.

  Señora Diaz beckoned, a frantic expression on her face.

  At the Señora’s cart, he stopped. “Señora, have you seen my wife today? I seem to have lost her. We were supposed to do something together.”

  “Sí, and I am relieved you look for her. She hurried into the Alamo mission maybe half an hour or so ago. I have been worried about her. I think she was following the man who goes there often. The man came out but she did not.”

  His stomach hit his boots. “What man is that, Señora? Can you describe him?”

  She gave a dismissive wave of her hand. “I don’t know his name. He is not as tall as you but taller than me and maybe forty years old. He wears a dark suit with a hat like that man.” She gestured at a man nearby who wore a derby. “Sometimes the man carries a bag like a doctor’s valise.”

  “Do you think he’s from the hotel?”

  “Sí, I see him go into the hotel many times. Also he takes things into the Alamo Mission.”

  “What kind of things?”

  “The bag like a doctor or the kind you would take on a short trip. He is not here all the time so I think he travels with the other two men.”

  Other two? That must mean Kennedy was connected to the Rambler brothers. Cloud knew the man was rotten.

  “Thank you, Señora. You have been very helpful.” Cloud hurried to the mission then slowed when two astonishing thoughts hit him. One, he was in love with Maggie. Two, somehow he knew she was in danger.

  At least Señora Diaz had seen where Maggie had gone. Did she have her gun with her? Had she been captured? Were the culprits waiting to overpower him? He had too many questions and no answers.

  At the entrance to the Alamo Mission, he paused. He leaned against the crumbling walls and closed his eyes against the bright sunlight. The interior would be dim and would require time for his eyes to adjust to the change. If he could slip in without attracting attention, he would be able to scan the chapel.

  Moving with stealth, he entered the mission chapel to discover the place contained only a couple of tourists. Near the rear, he saw an opening. Perhaps she’d gone through there.

  He drew his revolver from his shoulder holsters and slowly crept forward and through the doorway. He hadn’t gone far when pain shot through him and the world went black.

  ***

  Maggie’s wrists were on fire from her attempts to free them. The rope was no looser than when she’d started struggling what seemed like hours ago. She heard someone coming and hoped an Army soldier found her.

  Someone unlocked the door and she braced herself. The door opened and Cloud was shoved inside. He was trussed in the same way she was. In addition, blood oozed from a gash on his head. She focused on his chest and saw he was breathing.

  Kennedy kicked Cloud. “Here’s your husband to keep you company. We’ll be back for our valuables in a little while. We’re leaving for Galveston this evening and I am never coming back to this town. For all I care you two can rot in here.” He closed the door and turned the lock.

  Cloud lay on his back with his head turned away from her. She couldn’t reach the knots binding his hands but she could stretch to his gag. Her fingers struggled with the binging on his mouth because she couldn’t see what she was doing. Cloud groaned and roused. She succeeded in loosening the first knot and the second was easier.

  He spit the gag from his mouth. “Maggie, I was afraid something like this had happened. Man, my head is killing me. Are you hurt?”

  She shook her head.

  “Turn your back to me and lie down so I can reach your gag.”

  Losing no time, she did as he asked. He took less time with her gag and she suspected that was due to Dominic hating to hurt her. When she was free, she took deep breaths.

  “I’m so sorry they got you too, Cloud. I knew you’d find me but I hoped they wouldn’t see you. In one way, having you here reassures me that we have a chance to get away.”

  “Put your hands so my fingers can reach the knots.” He worked on the ropes binding her wrists. “Señora Diaz saw you go into the mission after one of the culprits. She was worried and on the lookout when she spotted me.”

  “I followed Johan. I saw him leave the hotel from the window of our suite. He carried a bag and walked across the plaza. If I’d waited, I would have lost him so I hurried after him. Unfortunately, I walked into him, Dominic, and that man Kennedy. The latter is vicious. He wanted to kill me but the Rambler brothers wouldn’t agree.”

  “Thank heavens. Ah, Maggie, what would I do without you?”

  She tried to look over her shoulder but couldn’t without moving her hands. “Do you mean that?”

  “I didn’t intend to gush but, yes, I do. I confess I’ve fallen in love with you.”

  “That’s wonderful because I’ve fallen in love with you. I was so afraid I’d die before I could tell you and you’d never know.” In spite of their predicament, hope blossomed in her heart.

  “Relax, Maggie. All we have to do is escape, capture the crooks, take them to the sheriff, and we’re all set. Nothing to it, right?”

  “Oh, Cloud, I’m surprised you can be humorous now. What if Kennedy has his way when they return for the jewels. They’re leaving for Galveston this evening.”

  “Then we have to get out of these ropes before then.”

  “If there’s a train, why didn’t we take that instead of the stagecoach?”

  “The train doesn’t go that far north. There’s one that goes back and forth between San Antonio and Galveston. From there, they can catch a ship or take a train to New Or
leans.”

  “Too bad for us then. Oh, I felt the binding loosen. You must be making progress.”

  “Whoever tied this didn’t do a great job.” The rope fell away.

  She shook her hands and arms to restore blood flow. “Now I can free your hands. My word, Kennedy must have tied these knots. Good thing I have a knife in my fur lining’s exclusive pocket.”

  She pulled the blade from its specially designed sheath and sawed the rope. “I was afraid Johan would sense there were things hidden in my fur jacket but he didn’t. He was nice enough to make sure my coat was pulled around me for warmth.”

  “Nice? If he’d been nice, he wouldn’t have tied you up in the first place.” He turned. “Give me the knife and I’ll free our legs.”

  When he reached for the knife he grabbed her hands. “Your beautiful ivory wrists are bleeding from those bindings. I swear I’ll make those men pay for hurting you.” Fury tinged his words.

  When they were free, Cloud opened the first of the two bags to find it filled with jewelry. “They didn’t take care with these. They’re just piled in as if they were worthless.”

  “I suspect they intend to reset the stones and melt down the gold.” Thank heavens, she spotted her grandmother’s tiara.

  “Reckon that’s right. Those pieces are too distinctive to leave intact.”

  Cloud tried the door but the lock held. “We’ll have to wait for them to return unless I can loosen some of these bricks. Although they’re the size of quarried stone they were probably made on site by the Indians who lived here.”

  He pushed against one after another with no luck. Not to be defeated, he continued his quest. After what seemed a long time, he gave a triumphant shout.

  “Didn’t mean to make so much noise, but this brick wiggled. Who knows what will happen if I can work this stone free?” He moved the jewels and her to the opposite corner. “Keep that handkerchief available to cover your mouth and eyes in case the wall falls.”

  She held the white cotton in her hands. “This handkerchief is clean. The one used on you looks as if it’s been dragged in the dirt.”

  “Tasted that way.” He kept working on the stone. When he’d worked it free, he pushed it outward. Nothing alarming happened so he started on the one above the space he’d made. She had no concept of the time except it seemed to her they’d been there for hours. Working steadily, Cloud created an opening large enough for a person to squeeze through.

  Tentatively, he peered out the space then came to help her stand. “You go out first, then I’ll hand you the bags before I climb through the opening. If you hear anyone coming, abandon me and the jewels and run.”

  She tugged at her skirts as she climbed through the window he’d formed. “Not a chance of that, dear husband. I have my trusty pepper gun and will use it.”

  He handed her the two bags of jewels and then climbed out. “Ah, there’s my Colt where I fell. That’s lucky.”

  He bent and picked up his firearm from the dirt. “Kennedy must have been in a hurry. Bullets are still in the chambers.” He used his handkerchief to wipe dust from the gun.

  She hefted one of the bags. “Now what do we do that won’t alert the Ramblers and Kennedy?”

  “We hide the jewels.” He surveyed their surroundings. “I believe there was a niche in the mission.”

  “That’d be better. I’d hate for someone in the Army to find them and take off with both bags.”

  “Since we aren’t supposed to be on the Army’s part of the grounds, they might be able to say the jewels belonged to the Army.”

  She gasped at the thought of losing the treasure they’d just secured. “That would be horrible.”

  Cautiously, he peeked into the mission. “No one in sight.”

  They crept into the Alamo and deposited both bags into a crevice.

  She spotted another crevice further down and moved one bag. “No point having them together in case the culprits find us here.”

  “I hope we see them first.”

  Her stomach rumbled. “I wish we’d had breakfast. By now it must be late afternoon. I’m starving.”

  He slid an arm around her waist and hugged her to him. “Of course you are. I wouldn’t mind a meal either. I’m afraid we’re out of luck for now.”

  “What if I used a petticoat to cover my hair and walked to the vendors?”

  In spite of the seriousness of their situation, he chuckled. “Wouldn’t fool anyone, Princess. You’d stand out in any group. Can you slouch like an old woman?”

  “Not with this corset squeezing the breath out of me. I think I’m going to stop wearing this thing even if Mamá is scandalized.”

  He turned her to face him. “How old are you?”

  “Twenty-two, but you should never ask a woman her age. How old are you?”

  “Twenty-six.” He grinned and his silvery-blue eyes twinkled. “You’re a grown woman now and can choose your own path, my love. Your parents have to accept that.”

  She rested a hand on his broad chest. “I know. After all, I applied to the Pinkerton Detective Agency. But, I don’t want to be a disappointment to my family.”

  He tucked a lock of unruly auburn hair behind her ear. “They couldn’t possibly be disappointed in you.”

  She thought he was going to lean in and kiss her but the sound of footsteps alerted them to someone’s approach. Two tourists entered and looked around. She exhaled and pretended to be a tourist as well.

  Cloud spoke quietly about the Alamo—facts that Finnegan had told them. The other couple walked around a few minutes then left.

  She leaned against the wall. “This is hard on the nerves, isn’t it? Do you always have tense moments waiting on a case?”

  “Usually.” Cloud took out his pocket watch. “Not long now before they catch their train. I don’t fancy standing here.”

  “What choice do we have? This is a lot better than being tied up and gagged.” She couldn’t help fidgeting. She pulled the little pepper gun from her pocket. Thank goodness her many skirts and petticoats concealed the gun.

  She knew they’d seen the train depot on Finnegan’s tour, but she couldn’t recall where. “Do you remember where the train station is?”

  “Across the street from the stage station. I wish there was a train that connected to Denver instead of only from here to Galveston.”

  She rolled her eyes and sighed. “That would have been easier and much faster.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Cloud wished he could take Maggie and leave her safely tucked in their suite with Geneva and Alec to watch over her. When they’d started their journey, he thought she would complain and want special treatment.

  Instead, she had never complained. Oh, she was worried about her parents’ reaction to their marriage and about capturing the Ramblers and Kennedy. That was different. She had never grumbled or whined over travel conditions or complained when being tied damaged her wrists or about anything to do with their case.

  He pulled her into his embrace. “Let me kiss you before they arrive.”

  He lowered his head to her upturned face and pressed his lips to hers. Her mouth was soft and sweet. For a moment she was passive then she leaned into his embrace. She wrapped her arms around his waist.

  When he broke the kiss, he kept her close and tucked her head under his chin. “That was worth the trip, my princess.”

  “I must agree.” She sighed against his chest. “Cloud, do you have a plan?”

  “If they come together, that will be easier. If they arrive one at a time, it’s riskier. I plan to wait here in the shadows until they enter. Then, I’ll tell them they’re under arrest.”

  “And if they show up one at a time?”

  “We’ll have to gag them as they arrive and we restrain them. We don’t have enough handcuffs with us unless you have them hidden in your coat.”

  She held up her forefinger. “One pair only. We’ll need three.”

  “I have my pair. I should have bro
ught the ropes from your wrists.”

  She shuddered. “They were bloody and I didn’t want to see them ever again.”

  “Can you tear a strip off your petticoat?”

  “Why don’t I do that now with the flannel one? I’ll make sure whoever we tie can’t break free. I’d hate to ruin the silk one but I will if needed.”

  Maggie leaned against the wall and ripped the ruffle from her petticoat. The strip was at least six inches wide. She tore the long ruffle into three lengths then braided them together. With her pair of hand cuffs and his, the braided fabric would complete their restraints.

  “Give me your pair of handcuffs. You have the more powerful gun and can keep them covered while I slip these on them.”

  He whispered, “Barely in time. I hear Johan’s voice.” He pulled his dusted off revolver from his shoulder holster.

  The three men entered together. They appeared to have been arguing.

  Dominic spat, “I refuse to harm them. You’re crazy to even suggest such a thing.”

  Johan paused and blinked. “You’re blood thirsty, Carl. If we’re caught burglary gets us jail time, murder is hanging.”

  “You’re caught, men. Hands up where I can see them.” Cloud stepped from the shadows in front of the three.

  Kennedy yelled, “I told you. If we’d finished them off we’d be long gone before anyone was the wiser.”

  Maggie held a pair of the handcuffs. “Hands behind your back, Dominic.”

  With a groan, he complied.

  She clicked the cuffs closed. “Thank you for not harming me. I appreciate that and will tell the sheriff. You’re next, Johan.”

  He held his hands behind him. “Carl, this is your fault. I told you we were being greedy but you had to have Princess Magdala’s jewels.”

  At that moment four tourists entered the mission chapel. Carl Kennedy darted behind them and out the door.

  Cloud glanced at Maggie.

  She had her pepper gun in her hand. “Go.”