The Pinkerton Matchmaker Page 5
“Are you done, Gordon? We really need to get to it. The train is leaving in a couple of hours and these folks need to be on it.”
“Yes, Judge. We can begin now.”
“But there are still a few of us back here,” a voice called from the rear of the room.
“Ah, yes.” Archie shifted his weight from one foot to another. “Well, the thing is, right now we don’t have any more agents. I dreadful sorry for the inconvenience. Please leave your name with my Secretary and we will make sure that you each get enough fare to get back home.”
“What if we don’t want to go home?” another cried.
Archie signaled to Marianne to take care of the situation. She quickly led the women to Archie’s office and proceeded to calm them down. The sound of Archie starting the ceremony with a prayer made her want to finish this task as quickly as possible.
She found the stack of papers for each and made notes on the top, promising to send word as soon as additional cases opened. Guiding the women out the front door, she closed it and leaned her back against it, trying to compose herself.
I guess this was harder than I realized, she thought to herself.
Smoothing her hair and then her skirt, she walked back in the room as Archie uttered the final words, “You may now kiss your bride, or shake hands, or whatever it is that you decide to do.”
From her vantage point she could see several of the agents lean in for a kiss. Many of the brides turned their head so the kiss landed on their cheeks. A few shook hands. Luke stood next to his new bride with a stiff expression on his face. Marianne recalled Regina whispering something to him before the ceremony.
Bronco whooped and pulled Claudette into his embrace, planting a shock-worthy kiss on her lips. Marianne turned away, embarrassed at seeing something so intimate. Claudette squirmed and pushed him away, knocking Bronco into the man standing next to them. Both lost their footing and fell into the table Pearl had so carefully arranged with the white cakes.
CHAPTER 10
Marianne looked on in horror as the table came down in a crash and the food slid to the floor. Bronco’s dark hair was littered with sugar icing.
Bronco scowled and grabbed a handful of cake and threw it at Luke, who returned the action, missing his target, hitting Stephen’s new bride in the process. Elizabeth yelped as the cake rolled from her jacket down her skirt and onto her shoes. She shrieked again as Stephen tried to wipe the frosting from the dress, further rubbing it into the fabric.
“Do something,” Elizabeth demanded, as cake flew by her head and hit Stephen on the cheek.
“I’m trying, Beth.” Stephen wiped the frosting from his face and flung it back at Bronco before allowing a growl to emit from his throat and tackling the dark-haired agent to the ground.
It didn’t take but a moment for Bronco to pin the young man beneath him. With a huge grin, he shoved a piece of cake in the young man’s open mouth and laughed.
Wyatt looked at them with a scowl and reached over to pull Bronco up, but his foot slipped on a bit of icing that had fallen on the floor. His arm frantically reaching for something to grab onto, he secured the thing closest to him and succeed in pulling Diana down on top of him.
Miss Smith, or Mrs. Jones, now, started hitting Wyatt with a small reticule, as she tried to pull Diana into a sitting position, but her foot got caught in the ridiculous amount of lace she was dressed in and she only succeed in toppling into the pile of growing bodies.
Maverick grabbed his bride from the pile and flung her over one shoulder before swiftly exiting the room. Marianne could still hear the yells of the woman beneath the veils as Mav carried her down the hallway.
Marianne tried to make her way over to where Archie was standing, but it was no use. She was pushed from one direction to another. The agents, it seemed were busy trying to cover each other with as much food as possible. The brides were attempting to pull the men apart while trying to avoid getting the icing on their clothes. It was a futile effort.
She could see Pearl crying in the corner – her magnificent wedding display in pieces on the ground.
Caleb, the only man with the wherewithal not to be involved in the melee, stood there with his bride Arielle, holding the platter with the ham in his hands. She was holding the plates of cheese. Marianne saw him say something to her and they exited the room through the side door that led to the kitchen.
“Enough,” Archie shouted. His shouts were ignored over the noise in the room. Marianne saw a cake headed for Archie and shouted out a warning, but it was too late. A moment later, Archie stood with cake and frosting clinging to the front of his expensive suit. His face was becoming as red as his hair.
“I said that’s enough!” The men broke apart and stared at Archie.
Bronco pushed himself off the floor and grabbed Claudette again, this time kissing her cheek before leading her out of the room.
“That’s it! Everyone out,” Archie demanded. “You’ll need to clean this mess up before you catch the train. I’m not having you leave it for Pearl or Marianne.”
Everyone looked to Marianne, who shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know what to tell you, but let’s move!” She handed the men a few napkins to clean the cake from their suits and from her look alone, she let them know she was not pleased.
The couples started filing out of the room.
“I need to change,” Claudette said. “Is there a place where I can change into something not covered in icing?”
“Me too,” Charity piped up, a bit of frosting still splattered on her glasses.
Soon they were joined by a chorus of other women requesting to change as well. Marianne pointed over to the foyer, where their travelling bags were lined up.
“Your bags are over there, however, the agency wants to offer travelling dresses for those that may need one. We had them especially made for you. If you follow me to my apartment upstairs, you can wash and change up there.”
Marianne walked with the women up to the third-floor apartment. There was a display of dresses and capes in various colors – chintzes, ginghams, florals, stripes and solids.
“I tried to pick out fabrics that I thought would complement each one of you. Unfortunately, we were limited by the selection the seamstress had in stock, so hence they are all different, but the same style.” She pulled one of the dresses out and held it up to herself, swaying from side to side, so they could admire the garment. It was a fitted traveling dress with jacket -- simple but elegant.
The dress had a high collar overcoat with loop closures. Lace trim adorned the sleeves and the bottom of the jacket, where it laid right below the waist.
A long skirt flowed in two layers, the top layer securing in a bustle in the back and the bottom just dusting the floor. These were again trimmed in lace or a small sewn ruffle.
Marianne placed the dress back on the rack and pulled out a second one.
She handed it to Charity. “I think this color will really make someone stand up and take notice. We just need to make sure it fits.”
Charity’s eyes twinkled behind her glasses. “Thank you. I don’t think I’ve ever had anything so fine.”
“Now, let’s get some water so everyone can quickly freshen up. If you wish to pick out a dress, I invite you to do so. You may leave your soiled dresses here and I’ll have them washed for when you return. We need to move quickly! Some of you have a train to catch!”
Marianne poured the tea.
Archie had just returned from walking Pearl home. He realized that there weren’t any agents left for the task, so he insisted on escorting her.
“Well, today was interesting.”
“Yes, it was Archie.”
“I cannot believe grown men would engage in such shenanigans.”
“Boys, Archie. They are overgrown boys. Besides, they don’t display that behavior outside the house. I think they just needed to let off a bit of steam.” She blew on her tea before taking a sip.
Caleb and Ar
ielle saved the ham and cheeses, so Pearl packed thick sandwiches, apples and jars of lemonade for each couple. Everything else was a loss. Marianne swore she heard Pearl sniffle as she was preparing the cold meal for the departing couples.
Archie took a sip of his tea and looked at the ceiling. “I am so glad I wasn’t one of the ones getting married today.”
“Why is that?”
“It seems that marriage is a whole lot of trial and error. I’m not sure I need that in my life.”
“Perhaps you haven’t met the right woman?”
“No. I don’t think that is it. I know what type of woman I would want.”
Marianne held her breath. “What type would that be, Archie?”
Archie thought for a minute, before looking at her.
“Someone who is demur, kindhearted, beautiful.” Marianne sat a little straighter in her chair. “Someone who I can confide in and know the words I say wouldn’t be misunderstood. Who knows when to be quiet and when to speak. Who will allow me to pray for and with her and does the same for me. Someone who doesn’t want to usurp my place as head of the household.”
Marianne scoffed, “I don’t know anyone like that. Does such a woman exist?”
“Don’t you, Marianne?” His eyes softened, almost pained as he looked at her. “More the pity then.” He finished his tea and placed the cup back on the tray. “And that m'eudail, is why I’ll remain single. When are the next group of lads due back?”
“In a few days. The house should be quiet until then. I gave Pearl the next few days off as she put so much effort into the wedding dinner today. Shame we couldn’t enjoy it.”
“Good. Good then. I’ll finish up a few things here and tomorrow we can start on the report to send to Chicago.”
“Of course, Archie.” Marianne finished her tea and rose, taking the tray from the corner of the desk. “Good night, Archie.”
“Good night, Marianne.”
She headed towards the door, silently chastising herself.
There was a perfect opportunity for her to tell Archie that she was the woman who fit all those qualities, and she missed the chance. She could be peppering his face with kisses, but instead she was carrying the teapot and cups through an empty house.
“Marianne?”
She quickly turned, hope in her voice. “Yes, Archie?”
“Close my door on the way out, please?
“Anything else?”
“Yes,” he said, turning back to the papers on his desk, “When the lads arrive, remember who is in charge.”
“Of course, Archie. I remember, you are.”
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Series starts October 19, with new releases weekly
An Agent for Lucy – Amelia Adams
An Agent for Claudette – Christine Sterling
An Agent for Regina – Marianne Spitzer
An Agent for Wilhelmina - Sophie Dawson
An Agent for Audrey - Laura Beers
An Agent for Victoria - Kate Marie Clark
An Agent for Elizabeth - Julia Ridgmont
An Agent for Cecily - Marie Higgins
An Agent for Charity - Patricia PACJAC Carroll
An Agent for Diana - Rebecca Connelly
An Agent for Belle - Nerys Leigh
An Agent for Ada - H.L. Roberts
An Agent for Arielle - Parker J. Cole
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About the Authors
CHRISTINE STERLING
Christine Sterling lives in a pre-civil war farm house with her husband, three dogs – Morgan, Brandi and Samson, and about a dozen rescued barn cats. She has been writing since she was eight years when her grandparents gave her a Sears & Roebuck typewriter with a hard-plastic cover for Christmas in 1977.
She spent her teen years crafting stories to include all her friends and then she discovered her true love -- romance when her beloved grandmother, Gigi, brought home a free promotional book from the Second Chance at Love Collection.
She was hooked and began to write and read every single romance book she could get her hands on. She has since authored and published many short stories, magazine articles, and the occasional novella. She has also ghost-authored and collaborated as a writing coach on many books.
She is passionate about writing, cooking, gardening, teaching others to write and publish their first book. She straddles the line between fiction and non-fiction, not only writing historical and contemporary romances, but personal development books as well.
One of her big goals is to grow a 150lb pumpkin and feature it in the county fair.
She loves hearing from her fans and will answer every email personally. You can write her at christinesterlingbooks@gmail.com.
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MARIANNE SPITZER
Marianne Spitzer was born and raised in Wisconsin until she spent eight years between Washington state and California before deciding to return to her home state. She is a mother of two and a grandmother of two.
An avid reader, she grew up on Nancy Drew books and then H.P Lovecraft, Edgard Allan Poe, Agatha Christie, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, among others. She began writing at the age of twelve emulating the books she loved to read.
Her debut novel, Gypsy Spirits was published in 2011 and is the first in a series of three "spirit" books. Since then she has added nine Kellie Conley mysteries to her author list. Deciding to try her hand at cozy mysteries, she released "Heavenly Corners," the first in the Annie Ryan series, before stepping outside the box with her first thriller, Kathryn's Justice.
She has recently started writing western historical romance and her mail order bride books have been greatly received by fans all over the world. When she is not writing, she spends her time reading or watching sunsets.
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Table of Contents
A Note to Our Readers
The Pinkerton Code
The Denver Tribune Editorials
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Christine Sterling
Marianne Spitzer
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