Pink Angel: Old Friends

By Bev Magee

A case gone wrong sends Devon on a drunken ride to Nitikas side. Unwilling to accept the possible death of his partner, Devon spends his time at the ranch remembering the cases the he, Raven, and Nitika were involved in. Hunter didnt know about Nitikas life as a detective and was very interested in the stories.

From her hiring by Allan Pinkerton himself to her own kidnapping, Nitika Brodie proved she could handle herself in any situation. Not only did she gain the respect of her fellow detectives, she proved a woman could do the job just as good as a man. If not better.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Apr 9, 2014
• ISBN: 9781496904225

Bev Magee

This is the fifth and final book in the Pink Angel series. This one highlights the growing relationship that emerges between Nitika and her mother. It shows how no conflict can break the bond between mother and daughter.

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© 2014 Bev Magee. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 04/07/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4969-0423-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4969-0424-9 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4969-0422-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014906718

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Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 1

About the Author

Chapter 1

Henry, the telegraph operator, handed Nitika a telegram as she and Hunter were about to return home. It had been three weeks since either one had been out to the ranch and they were anxious to see it. Hunter settled back in the seat and took his daughter from Nitika’s arms so she could climb aboard.

Who’s the telegram from, he asked as the small bundle squirmed in his embrace.

It’s from Allan, she said a frown creasing her brow.

Don’t tell me he wants you to work. Because if he does, I’ll personally go up there and give him the beating of-.

It’s not that at all, Nitika said stopping his tirade. He congratulates us on Tehya’s birth. But he also says to expect a drunken friend too. I wonder who he means.

How many Pinkerton detectives do you know that he would call your friend?

Two, and I don’t see Devon getting drunk enough to still be drunk when he gets here.

Hunter handed the baby back to his wife. So Raven’s drunk. Why would he warn you about that? He’s gotten roaring drunk here before and never caused problems.

Something must have happened and Raven wants to hide out at our place.

You don’t think that something bad happened to Devon do you?

Nitika shuttered. I was trying not to think of that. But that’s the only thing that might push Raven over the edge. He and Devon have been partners for a long time.

Well, there’s no use worrying about it until Raven gets here.

Nitika was heading out to the barn when she saw a rider top the hill two days later. The way he was swaying in the saddle, she knew he was drunk. As he got closer, she saw it wasn’t Raven’s big black. Instead it was Devon’s bay, with Devon barely hanging onto his seat. Now anxious, Nitika had to resist the urge to run out to him. He would get to her soon enough.

The only reason she could think of for Devon’s drunkenness was that Raven was dead. Tears threatened to fall as she thought of the times she was his partner. She thought of how hard it was to resist him. Every time he touched her, whether it was incidental or planned, she just melted into him. But being the professional that she was, she never let it show how she truly felt about him.

Hunter came out of the forge and walked toward her. Nitika watched her husband’s approach. The feelings for Raven disappeared and were replaced with ones that were much stronger. Ones that had made her fight as hard as she did to bring him home from Savannah. No, her love for Raven never went that deep.

Nitika’s stare was unnerving as Hunter came up to her. By now, he could see the rider was Devon. He knew Nitika had been thinking about Raven. But the look on her face said she wasn’t thinking about the detective anymore. What he saw at the moment was the same intense hunger he felt for her. It was a passion he had never seen Nitika show so openly before. Hunter grinned inwardly. Raven never had a chance against him when it came to winning this woman’s love.

Devon had entered the yard and was angling over to them. Hunter felt Nitika stiffen in his embrace as she steeled herself for the worse. The detective gave her a lopsided grin as he all but fell from his horse. Caesar shied and sidestepped his master at the awkward dismount. He obviously wasn’t used to Devon drinking either.

From his saddlebag, Devon pulled out a half full bottle of whiskey. Howdy Nitika, Hunter.

Devon, Nitika said coolly watching him upend the bottle and guzzle half the contents. What brings you out here?

Now, is that any way to greet an old friend, he asked in a voice badly slurred.

Nitika snatched the bottle from his hand as he went to take another drink. She smashed it on the ground at his feet. Devon dumbly looked down at his boots and the mud now splashed on them. He staggered around to the other side of his horse.

I got another anyhow, he declared opening the flap on his other saddlebag.

Nitika managed to beat him to the bottle. I will not allow you to drink another drop while you are on my property, friend or no friend.

Have a heart, Darling, Devon pleaded. It’s the only way I can forget what’s happened.

It’s about Raven isn’t it, she asked pouring out the whiskey. He’s dead.

Devon nodded his head, watching the whiskey darken the ground. It’s all my fault, Sugar. I was supposed to his backup, but that black hearted whore kept me preoccupied. I didn’t know she was working with them.

Nitika opened her mouth to ask him what happened, but Devon was beyond hearing as he collapsed in the dirt in a drunken heap. Hunter called Dandy over and the two of them carried the unconscious man to the main house. Keeping her emotions in check, Nitika stripped Devon down to his trousers before leaving him to sleep off the liquor.

Hunter was in the office waiting for her. I’m so sorry, Sweetheart. I know you and Raven were close.

Nitika nearly knocked him over as she rushed into his embrace. Tears soaked his shirt and he recalled the first time they met. Then, it had been her uncle that had been killed. He smoothed her hair as she cried, his heart breaking for her. Soon, she pulled away and turned her reddened eyes to him.

I have to wire Allan and find out what happened. Devon’s certainly not in any kind of shape to talk.

Whoa now. I’m sure Devon will tell you when he sobers up. Although, it’s hard to tell how much he’s drunk over the past week. We might be waiting here for a couple days before it’s all out of his system. Besides, the doctor said for you not to travel too much right now.

And you’re barely healed yourself. Alright, I’ll wait for Devon’s explanation.

Tehya’s whimper woke her up late that night. She carried the baby into Devon’s room to check on him. In the moonlight, she could see the sweat streaming down his face as he shivered under the covers. Nitika took her daughter back to her crib before getting a damp cloth. Devon woke when she sat on the bed beside him.

I could really use a drink, he stuttered.

That’s the last thing you need or will get from me.

I can’t stop the shaking, he said showing her his hand.

That’s the price you’re going to have to pay for your drinking binge, she said covering his hand back up.

Just a small one, he pleaded. I just need something to calm my nerves.

What happened Devon? You’re not one to drink like this.

She waited for an answer, but Devon was too far gone to have even heard her. Nitika spent the rest of the night keeping him warm. By morning, he was sleeping peacefully, the alcohol having been sweated out of him. Hunter caught up with her as she was carrying fresh linens into the guest room.

Any luck with him?

Not yet. He mumbled all night, but nothing made any sense. Can you help me change the sheets?

Sure, then you’re going to go get some sleep yourself.

Devon opened his eyes and was confused at seeing the white ceiling. He sat up and quickly closed his eyes against the dizziness. Something scraped the floor and Devon reached for his gun on the bedpost.

You won’t need that, Devon, Hunter said leaning forward in his chair.

How’d I get here, Devon asked looking at Hunter.

You rode in here. Although, I don’t see how you stayed on the horse as long as you did. Now Raven, I could see him getting that drunk.

A dark cloud lowered over the detective’s face. It’s my fault he’s dead.

So you told us yesterday. Mind telling me how?

Chapter 2

To be honest, I don’t know that he really is dead. I left before the doctor performed surgery. If he lives, he’ll probably never walk again. I just don’t know what went wrong.

How about starting from the beginning?

"We were going after a gang that was kidnapping young men. These greenhorns were seen going into this saloon and not coming back out. Several of their bodies were found a couple weeks after they disappeared. No one knew who was involved.

Since we were going into it blind, we didn’t ride in together. Raven got there the day before me. I almost blew our cover when I saw Raven in his disguise. I’d never seen him in anything but black or brown since the day we met. He had on one of the brightest shirts I’d ever seen him wear. This woman came up to him and practically wrapped herself around him. He acted all shy and innocent.

Hunter snorted. Must have been a real stretch for him.

Devon grinned. Yeah, his acting skills were quite good. Except when Nitika was involved, then he didn’t quite hide how he felt about her.

How badly did he want Nitika?

The time he was down with a fever, his delusions got to be quite graphic. I think he’d even have the most seasoned sailor blushing. His fantasies were nothing a classy lady like Nitika would agree to.

I wouldn’t be too sure about that. She’s got some pretty erotic ideas herself, Hunter confessed, crimson creeping up his neck.

Devon raised his hand in protest. I don’t want to know. I like my Nitika the way I see her. Don’t spoil her for me.

Alright. Go on with your story.

"Well, this woman took Raven up to her room. I stayed downstairs to see who went up or came down. We didn’t know how these men were being shanghaied or even why. After about ten minutes, this little thing slithered up next to me. She rubbed all over me and I missed her dropping something in my glass.

"Next thing I knew, I woke up with a splitting headache in the back of a wagon. Raven was tied next to me but he was still out cold. He came to about the time the wagon came to a stop. When they pulled the tarp off, we were greeted by two women