Marie Higgins [Higgins - An Agent for Frances

An Agent for Frances

The Pinkerton Matchmaker Series

By Marie Higgins

Copyright 2019 by Marie Higgins

Edited by Teresa Pearson and Veronica Mesia

Proofreaders Debbie Turner, Linda Hillman, and Deanna Dent

Cover Art by Virginia McKevitt

Edition License Notes

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Pinkerton Agent Vincent Brooks wants only one thing to stop the southern rebels from uprising and creating another war. His assignment is to be the temporary sheriff of Bonham, Texas, which seems easy enough... until he runs across a woman hed met eight months earlier, Frances Carlton, sneaking around in the dark, spying on the bank. Not only is the confounded woman following him around and prying into his Pinkerton business, but she has a strange way of filling his mind with desirous thoughts that shouldnt be there. He cant be distracted, and yet she seems to accomplish being his greatest diversion quite well.

Frances Carlton is determined to show Agent Brooks that she would make an excellent Pinkerton agent. Eventually, shed make him a wonderful wife, too. However, the stubborn man refuses her help, and he reminds her of that every time she gets in his way. Its difficult to focus on catching the outlaws when Vincent is around since he seeks out her kisses almost on a daily basis. Now it is up to her to change his mind and his heart.

ONE

T EXAS, 1873

P INKERTON AGENT VINCENT Brooks stood behind the livery stable, peeking around the corner toward Bonham, Texas one and only bank. As temporarily appointed sheriff, Vince had caught wind of something going on down here tonight. He took his job seriously, especially if lives were involved. And they were. Someone could get hurt or die.

Walter Shipp, manager of the bank, was one of the men the Pinkerton agents suspected of being part of this whole south uprising mess. It had only been eight months since Vinces good friend, Agent Blake Bentley stumbled across a gang of men scattered across the southern states who were trying to overturn the Civil Wars decision that the north and President Lincoln had won. Allan Pinkerton sent some of his agents out to put a stop to the secret society before any further damage could be done.

Vince glanced toward the horizon. The sun would make its debut within the hour. Once the sun peaked in the sky, he doubted Walter would do anything of a suspicious nature. The man would be foolish not to keep up appearances within the town. But as much as Walter wanted everyone in Bonham to think he walked on water... Vince knew differently. Hed read the telegrams sent between the bank manager and Phillip Matthews from South Carolina. Both men had been up to no good. At least Pinkerton Agent Blake Bentley and his wife, Claudia, had put Phillip Matthews in jail for his crimes.

A shadow moved near the banks front door. Vince hovered his hand above his pistol, ready for anything. His gut told him something would happen soon... and his gut was rarely wrong. One of his skills as a Pinkerton agent was being a sharpshooter. Hed get his outlaw or die trying.

The shadow moved again, but this time it headed along the front wall to turn around the back. Vince darted from one tree to the next, trying to keep from being noticed. Of course, because the clouds continued to pass over the moon, there was very little light or none at all.

When he neared the bank, he hurried his steps until he was flat against the outside wall. He listened intently for any sounds. Crickets still created their annoying chirping, but so far, thats all he heard.

Slowly, he peeked around the corner and peered down the long, back wall of the bank. It seemed even darker than in front, so he used his other senses to try and detect if someone was out there.

Nearby came the crunching of leaves, and seconds later, a twig snapped. It sounded as though the person sneaking around the bank was coming his way.

In the nights light breeze, he smelled something... almost like flowers. But he couldnt tell if there were any flower bushes nearby. And then suddenly, someone ran right into him. The startled umph that came from the other person was a much higher tone than he figured a man would make.

Vince grasped the woman by her arms just as she swayed. She struggled to get out of his clutches and kicked him hard in the shin. He grimaced, biting back the stinging pain. He was as determined not to release her as she was fixed on getting away.

Let me go! she whispered roughly.

Calm down, he said in low tones, or youll cause a commotion.

She sucked in a quick breath. A commotion? Outside in the dark with nobody else around?

Shhh... he placed his hand over her mouth. Youre too loud.

She was a petite woman; the top of her head barely reached his chin, and from what he had felt of her arms when he stopped her from falling, she was slender. As he held his hand over her mouth, he could tell she had soft skin, too.

She yanked his hand away. Will you stop touching me?

His thoughts shifted, and he wondered what a woman was doing at the bank this time of the morning. Immediately, he concluded that she must be part of Walter Shipps gang because there were both men and women who were trying to reorganize the southern states to rebel and start a new civil war.

Suspicion rose inside of him and he clamped his hand on her upper arms again. Who are you and what are you doing out at this time... and in the dark... and near the bank?

She growled and tried pulling out of his hold, but he wouldnt budge.

Who I am and what Im doing is none of your concern.

I beg to differ.

You can beg all you like, but that doesnt mean I have to tell you.

Listen, little missy, he said sternly but still kept his voice lowered, if you dont tell me right now, Im going to haul you off to jail and lock you up until you start talking.

She gasped and her hand moved to his chest. At first, he wondered why she slid her palm over his shirt, but when her hand touched his sheriffs badge, she stopped and sucked in a breath.

Youre the sheriff?

Temporarily, yes.

Wh-whats your name? Her voice shook slightly.

Listen, missy, if anyone is going to give out names right now, itll be you. Now start talking.