An Agent for Charity: Pinkerton Matchmakers, #9

By Patricia PacJac Carroll

Charity's escapades have only been between the pages of books. Seth is a man with a temper. Together, they just might discover the love they've been looking for.

Charity found the ad to become a Pinkerton detective and knew it was her chance to break out of the pages of her books and live a life of adventure. She knew all about being a detective. She'd read countless books about it. After all, how hard could it be?

 

Seth is a good Pinkerton detective, but a little rough on the outlaws that he brings in. It's his temper. When lead detective, Archie Gordon, demands his agents are to be paired with new recruits, Seth is disgusted. When he finds out they're women, he's ready to quit. Except he's broke. And then when he finds out he has to marry her–well, there just aren't any words, just the hope she'll quit.

 

Thrown together on a case with a secretive client, a mysterious stranger, and mail order brides present a harrowing adventure with surprises.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Barr26 Publishing, LLC
• Release date: Oct 22, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223248675

Book preview

image-placeholder

April 1871 Going to Denver

Charity Lawford reread the letter. It was her ticket to escape her lonely existence. Working in the library with her father in Poughkeepsie, New York, had acquainted her with books and numerous exploits through words but sheltered her from finding true friends. She closed her eyes.

What she really missed was the romance that young women her age were experiencing. Oh, she’d read books about love, but that was as close as she ever came to finding the perfect man. She hugged the letter to her. At least, being a Pinkerton agent held the promise of true adventure in real life.

She pushed the dark thoughts from her mind and chose a smile as she looked at the bright day. All was right with the world. She glanced at the letter and giggled. Make that write with the world. Puns and word games sharpened her wit, and she enjoyed playing with words, although few others appreciated her talent.

Charity sent a last look at her home and continued to the depot to board the train. The first stop on her lifetime of adventure would be Denver. That would be a journey in itself as she’d read about the nearby mountains and how they reached to the heavens.

Finding a seat by a window, Charity shoved her bag underneath. That her belongings would fit into one traveling satchel did not speak well of her father’s inheritance. However, after the medical bills and paying the rent, she only had enough for the ticket and one story. Edgar Allan Poe’s, The Murders in the Rue Morgue.

Charity grinned. She was on her way to becoming a Pinkerton agent and vowed to become their best detective. She’d read all the books she could find on the art of searching out the truth and finding clues and answered all the questions the agency had sent. The lead agent, Archibald Gordon, had written back that he was impressed.

She sat back in her seat and glanced at the city. It was the only place she’d ever known in her twenty-one years. A mere six months ago, her father had been taken ill and then died suddenly. Acknowledging her sadness, she wiped a tear and then opened the letter for the thousandth time.

Charity Lawford, you are accepted to the Pinkerton Agency to become an agent in the Denver office. Signed Archibald Gordon.

Short and to the point. Well, that would be how she would think a chief detective would write. She’d read every book she could find on everything she would need to know. How to ride and take care of horses. How to recognize and shoot pistols and rifles. She’d considered buying a derringer, one of the little guns that women could hide in their pocket or reticule. Then she decided to wait and get the proper issue approved by the Denver detectives.

Then she’d read every book she could find on being a detective. That included all the novels she could find. Even articles by Allan Pinkerton himself. She was also well acquainted with the story of the first woman detective, Kate Warne. The woman had practically ordered Mr. Pinkerton to hire her.

Charity adjusted her glasses. She would make Mr. Pinkerton himself glad that they had hired her. Of course, she did fancy the idea of meeting the perfect man somewhere along the way. Maybe even on this train. Or he might be the best Pinkerton agent. He’d be smart and able to deduce facts and clues to find the guilty party, and he would do it by being educated, well-read, and always in control of his emotions.

The train blasted its horn, scattering her dreams and the people on the platform. Yes, she was more than ready. She was shedding no tears for leaving Poughkeepsie. Her only regret being she had to leave the excellent library, but there was no one sorry to see her go. No relative. Few friends, as most, found her too bookish. There was no young man to pine for her. Apparently, men found her too bright, while her glasses and plain features weren’t enough for them to overlook to admire her intelligence.

So, with little fanfare, she waved the city goodbye and set her sights on Denver.

image-placeholder

Seth Warren rode into Denver, his quarry tethered behind him on a mule. He sneered back at the man. Your way of life has caught up to you, Jack.

As soon as I get free, I’ll come after you and kill you.

Seth laughed. Not likely. You shouldn’t have shot the banker. You might have gotten off with ten or twenty years for robbery, but you added murder to your crime, and now you’ll hang. The judge will see to that. He pulled the rope to the mule, jerking the animal and causing the embezzler turned bank robber to struggle to stay astride.

Seth dropped the man off at the jail and rode on to the office. Archie would be happy to see him. Should be anyway. He’d recovered most of the money from the bank robbery. Jack had lost a little in the card game before Seth had caught up with him.

He dropped his horse at the livery and wondered if he should get some sleep and clean up first. Thinking of Archie, Seth changed his mind. He needed some good points with the boss and showing how quickly he’d caught the thief ought to buy him some favor.

As lead detective, Archie had been on his case for the last four months to refrain from being unduly aggressive. Seth had grown tired of being told to get control of himself. He didn’t have patience for outlaws or little else.

Be kind to criminals? Seth snorted to himself. To go after society’s evil meant you had to be tough and offer no quarter to the guilty and dangerous ones. His first duty was to protect himself.

He entered the headquarters and saw Marianne standing at Archie’s open door. The woman was an eye-catcher, but she was all business. And from time to time, the way that he’d seen Archie look at her, well, she wasn’t worth a fight with the boss. Seth nodded at her. I caught Jack Waggoner and brought back most of the bank’s money.

Archie met him at the door to his office. Scratching his eyebrow, he put his other hand to his waist where his pocket watch rested. Is he alive?

Of course, he’s alive. Seth resented the remark. So, he was a little quick with the gun. He always figured action was better than allowing one of the scoundrels to shoot Pinkerton’s best detective.

Good. As you know, we’ve had complaints about your temper. You really need to keep it in check.

Seth shook his head. What do you want, a detective or a nursemaid for outlaws?

Marianne took his arm and pulled him back from the boss. He’s only concerned about your safety. We don’t want you to wind up on the wrong end of a rope because you acted too quickly.

Don’t worry about me. I know what I’m doing.

Archie twisted his mustache. A sure sign that a lecture was coming. Seth, you solve the cases assigned to you, but too many of your prisoners require a doctor’s care before the hangman gets to them—

So, you don’t want their little hides hurt before you hang them! Crazy. He stopped when he saw Archie’s eyes narrow. All right. Whatever you want me to do is fine.

His boss actually smiled. I’m glad to hear that. I have new recruits coming in, and I’m pairing them with my experienced agents.

Ah, come on. I don’t want to be a nursemaid to a beginner. The last one you stuck me with was yellow. He ran whenever a gun fired and couldn’t even ride a horse. Hope this time you at least have qualified men.

With a raised brow, Archie glanced at Marianne. Ahem, well, we will see. I am in the process of matching the recruits with the agent that I think will complement them.

Seth wasn’t sure, but he detected a conspiratorial glance between the two. Well, he’d gotten rid of the last recruit easy enough. Seth had started a brawl, and the kid ran out of the saloon faster than a hungry coyote after a chicken.

Rubbing a hand through his hair, Seth groaned as he felt the lump that Jack had given him. I’m tired. I’m going to clean up and get some sleep. Jack Waggoner kept me in the saddle two days straight.

Archie cleared his throat. Does Jack need a doctor?

No, no, I don’t think so. Needs a preacher, though. The sheriff said more than likely he’d hang within the week. Seth tipped his hat to Marianne and left.

On the way to his room, he ran into Luke. Hear we’re getting more recruits. About time. The workload is getting heavy, and I could use a few days off.

Luke shrugged. I guess. Hope Archie found better ones than the last time.

Well, I can hardly stand myself. I better get cleaned up. I don’t want to run off a recruit because I stink.

Taking a sniff, Luke nodded. Good idea. Besides, you want to be sweet-smelling for the ladies. I think later tonight, we might want to go to the saloon and delight a few with our fine dancing.

Seth laughed. You are a lady’s man, but after chasing Jack and being around him, I am ready for some time with a sweet lady. Yes, sir. It’s time to change the scenery.

We better. I saw the boss get a handful of orders the other day. We need more agents, that’s for sure.

Stretching, Seth started up the stairs. Hope I get an easy assignment this time. I could use a break. Besides, he’s still after me to be gentle to the outlaws.

Luke shook his head. You have a way of beating your charges into submission. And that’s if they’re lucky and don’t get a bullet.

I brought Jack in with only a few scratches. Fortunately, he was more afraid of getting shot than fighting.

Your reputation goes before you. I’d say that’s good, except it just might make others fight when they may have come in peaceable.

Seth rubbed his beard. Don’t you go soft on me.

Luke held up his hands. Not going soft. Had to take my prisoner to the doc before the jail, but you have to admit, you have a temper, and it runs on a short fuse. Seth, you need to cool down some. You’re always running hot and angry.

Seth stared at him and was, for once, at a loss for words. There was truth in what he said. He shrugged. Guess you’re right.

Might try the chapel. I’d sure hate to see you get in trouble. The men we pick up aren’t worth a stint in jail.

You’re right. I’ll try.

You do that, Seth. You’re too good a man to lose.

After making it to his room, Seth soaked in the tub and let the hot water cover his aching joints and old wounds. Yet, there were a few buried deep in his heart, if not soul, that the water couldn’t reach. Thinking of Luke’s talk had dredged them up.

Seth had been ten when the Comanchero had attacked his home in Texas, leaving him an orphan. He tried to blot out the images, but they were seared into his mind, ready to come forward at any