An Agent for Scarlett Read online

  Grinning, she nodded. “Indeed, it did.”

  “Are you going to tell me, or are you waiting for me to torture you first, because I promise you, Miss Scarlett, I’ve had quite enough of your teasing this evening.”

  She gasped. “Me? Teasing? On the contrary, Agent Hancock, it is you who has been teasing.”

  As she waited for him to argue or concur, his expression softened, as well as his smile. Her heart flipped crazily. What had just happened? First, he was looking at her as if he wanted to throttle her, and now he stared at her as if... as if... She gulped. Oh, heavens! What had she done? Could he think she wanted something more personal from him?

  Slowly, he moved toward her, and just as she’d done earlier this afternoon when he’d done this, she took backward steps to retreat. Unfortunately, no wall was stopping her... and stopping herself would just be ridiculous at this point in their playful dance.

  “Scarlett,” he said teasingly, “you’re doing it again.”

  “I’m not doing anything to you, Travis.”

  In a flash, he reached out and grabbed her arm, tugging her toward him. She stumbled from the sudden movement and fell against him. She rested her hands on his chest... and his chest wasn’t exactly like she’d thought it would feel. When had he gained so many muscles?

  His grin stretched as he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer. “My dear, Scarlett, you know exactly what you’re doing, but now it’s my turn to take charge. You either tell me what initials were on the handkerchief or...”

  When his gaze dropped to her mouth, she lost her breath. A different form of dizziness entered her head, and heaven help her, she wanted to sway toward him just to see if he would kiss her. However, her unforgiving injured heart fought the urge the whole time.

  “Or what?” she whispered in a voice that was entirely too deep to be hers. Yet, nobody else was in the barn with them.

  He glanced up at her eyes for a moment before his gaze dropped back to her mouth. “Are you sure you want to test me?”

  Her mind was saying yes, and yet her heart was leaning toward no. If only she could make up her mind. Unfortunately, he might make the decision for her, because his head began to drop and tilt.

  Even as her nerves shook her with uncertainty, she held her breath, waiting in anticipation...

  His warm breath touched her lips before his mouth did. It was much softer than she had imagined a man’s kiss would be. It surprised her that it would feel so good, too. Yet, he wasn’t really kissing her – just brushing his lips back and forth against hers. His mustache also brushed against her, and it was also smooth.

  After a few moments of him brushing his mouth across hers, she grew impatient. Was he really going to kiss her or was this just his way of teasing? It was like old times... in a way.

  “Travis,” she sighed against his mouth.

  “Yes, my sweet Scarlett?”

  “I believe... you are now the one who is torturing.”

  He chuckled ever so softly, she wasn’t sure she heard him, but his body shook, so she figured he had.

  “Do you want me to stop?” he asked in a whisper.

  What a ridiculous question! Why would he ask that? He was an experienced man when it came to kissing women. He would know. Unless... Maybe that was why he wasn’t kissing her passionately yet. Perhaps he waited for her to give him the right encouragement.

  Knowing he was a true gentleman, made her knees weak and she pressed against him, sighing, offering her mouth to him for his taking. The moment his whole mouth covered hers, a heady sigh rattled from her throat and she grasped his vest and a section of his shirt.

  Just then, worried voices from outside grew louder as the people who were making the noise came toward the barn. Travis gasped and broke the kiss. As they stared at each other in panic, she saw her life passing before her again. Her name would be ruined for sure!

  FIVE

  Travis grumbled under his breath as he hastily pulled Scarlett toward the back of the barn. There was a higher stack of bales of hay that would hide her. As soon as they reached the spot, he helped her scrunch down before releasing her hand.

  “Stay right here and don’t make a sound,” he said before whipping around and hurrying back to the front of the barn to greet the unwelcomed guests. Someone must have heard Scarlett’s scream, just as he figured would happen.

  He silently scolded himself for attempting to kiss her in the first place, especially since he knew someone would come running to find out who had screamed. Yet, she was teasing him... luring him to take her in his arms and kiss her passionately.

  Cussing softly, he shook his head. Why couldn’t he say no to her unspoken request? What happened to his restraint around beautiful women like Scarlett? Somehow, he’d lost it after seeing her again after ten years.

  He moved to his horse, hoping to look like he had been with the animal the whole time. Groaning inwardly, he raked his fingers through his hair. Just then, one of the barn doors opened and Mrs. Pettingill and two men from the boarding house rushed in. When they saw Travis, they stopped.

  “What’s wrong?” Travis asked, trying to keep his voice a neutral tone as he walked away from the stall.

  “We thought we heard a woman’s scream,” Mrs. Pettingill said in a high-pitched voice.

  “Oh, that.” Travis flipped a hand. “It was Mrs. Lucas next door. I scared her when I was bringing my horse into the barn.”

  “Thank the Lord,” the older woman sighed and placed her hand on her chest. “We thought something horrible had happened.”

  “Nothing here.” Travis shook his head. “However, I’m sure if you wait a few minutes, Mrs. Lucas will scream again. Anything that moves in the shadows scares that woman.”

  The other two men laughed and nodded. Travis sighed heavily, thankful that he was convincing enough for them.

  “Are you coming in?” Mrs. Pettingill asked as they moved toward to barn door. “I’ve made some chili tonight for supper.”

  “Yes, I’ll be in, but I just realized I needed to run one more errand. Save some for me.”

  “Of course, Agent Hancock.”

  As soon as they left, Travis sighed again, scrubbing his hands over his face. He moved to the window and watched until the three had gone inside the house. Closing his eyes, he shook his head. He needed to get Scarlett out of here now. They couldn’t wait another moment. He wasn’t used to almost getting caught with a woman and ruining her reputation, and he wasn’t going to start now. He was more respectable than that.

  “Are they gone?” Scarlett whispered.

  He turned to see her sneaking out of the shadows. Once again, her face was pale, but thankfully, not as pale as it had been when he pulled a gun on her.

  “Yes, they are gone, and we will be going, as well.” He moved to the stall where his horse was eating, and started to saddle the steed.

  “Thank you for hearing them coming... and thinking so quickly.”

  He glanced over the horse’s back at her. She stood next to the wooden gate, her wide-eyed gaze focused on him. “Scarlett, we really need to get you home, and you should never do this again. I don’t want people gossiping about you in a scandalous way.”

  She snorted a laugh and rolled her eyes. “It’s too late for that.”

  Frowning, he narrowed his gaze. “Why?”

  “Because the town’s biggest gossiper has seen me wearing men’s breeches and riding astride... by myself.” Dramatically, she placed the back of her hand to her forehead and sighed heavily. “Oh, the horror of it all.”

  He chuckled from her overdramatic scene. “Being seen riding astride is so very different than being caught alone with a man after dark.”

  “Yes, I know.”

  He paused in tightening the straps on his horse. “Promise me you won’t do it again.”

  “I promise.”

  He smiled and proceeded to finish saddling the horse and led the animal out of the stall. “We need to be careful about leaving.”

  “I know.”

  “See that side door over there?” He pointed to the direction he wanted her to look.

  “Yes.”

  “Leave out that way. I’ll meet you there in a moment... and do not leave the shadows.”

  Nodding, she turned quickly and hurried to the door. He pulled the reins and led the horse out of the barn. It didn’t take long to find her. He took her by the hand and walked a little way into the shadows before he mounted the steed.

  “Take my hand.” He reached for her and she grasped his arm. He pulled her up and set her in front of him so that both legs hung over one side. She leaned against him as he urged his horse into a faster trot. The farther they were away from prying eyes and gossiping tongues, the better off she’d be.

  After a few minutes of riding, he glanced down at her. She shivered.

  “Are you cold?” After the words left his mouth, he could have kicked himself. Of course, she was cold. The weather had turned chilly once the sun disappeared on the horizon.

  “Yes, a little.”

  He pulled back and shrugged out of his coat, wrapping it around her shoulders. “Better?”

  “Yes.”

  Nothing else was said during the ride, but his mind was full of questions – questions that were probably better off left unanswered. It didn’t stop him from wondering what would have happened if their kiss hadn’t been interrupted. Part of him wanted to pick up where they’d left off, but then he knew that was wrong. Kissing her was very wrong since he didn’t know if he wanted to have feelings like this for her. After all, this was Scarlett St. John, the little runt that had followed him everywhere as a young boy.

  Thinking about their short kiss made him think of other things – which wasn’t good i
n his frame of mind. He’d been a Pinkerton agent for a few years now, and although he enjoyed the life he’d chosen, he was also very lonely. He didn’t have time for a relationship, especially because his supervisor, Archie Gordon, had Travis going from one town to another every six months or thereabouts. That was no life for his wife because she would be left at home while he went out on assignment.

  But then... About a year ago, Archie had hinted to Travis about being paired up with a lady agent. He’d have to marry her before training her because any other way would ruin her name. Travis had pushed the idea aside, not wanting to marry a woman he didn’t know. He wanted a life with someone he loved and trusted – someone who made him laugh and enjoyed the thrill of life.

  Most women he knew only wanted to stay at home, cook, clean, and raise children. He doubted there was any woman who’d want to be his partner in life and as an agent.

  “R. J.,” Scarlett said softly.

  Her sweet voice brought him out of his thoughts and he looked down at her upturned face. “R. J.?”

  “The initials on the handkerchief.”

  “Does your grandfather know any woman with these initials?”

  “No. I asked him already.”

  “When was the last time he had women in his trophy room?”

  She was silent for a few minutes as she stared at the side of the road. He studied her profile. She was definitely one fine looking woman. She was also one fine kisser. It was most unfortunate that they were interrupted because now he’d never experience her passion again. Plain and simply put – he couldn’t get involved with her.

  “Four days ago, I believe. I think it was when Neil... um, I mean Mr. Maitland, and his grandmother, came to visit.”

  Travis slowed his horse, staring deep into Scarlett’s eyes. “The grandmother? Didn’t you tell me that the old woman is sweet on Marvin?”

  She gasped and her eyes widened. “Yes, I did.”

  “Did your grandfather show them into the trophy room?”

  “No, I don’t believe he did, only because he had shown her the room before, so she knows about it.”

  “Do you know what Mr. Maitland’s grandmother’s name is?”

  “No. I just call her Mrs. Maitland.”

  He dropped a hand to her arm and gently squeezed. “That’s all right. We’ll figure this out tomorrow. I think we’re both too exhausted to think straight tonight.”

  “Oh, look... I’m home.”

  He glanced up the slope. Her grandfather’s house was shrouded by the shadows. Travis’ heart sank. He really didn’t want to let her go. Having her on his lap as they rode together was quite enjoyable, and definitely more comfortable than he thought it would be.

  He brought the horse to a stop a good distance away. He didn’t want servants to see her riding with a man. “I’ll drop by in the morning. Maybe if we all think about those initials, we’ll come up with a name.”

  She nodded. “Yes. That’s a good idea.”

  He shifted on the saddle to climb off the horse, but she grabbed the front of his coat, keeping him from moving.

  “Travis, before you go, I want to apologize for teasing you.”

  He sighed, not really wanting to talk about this particular subject. “I’m sorry, too.”

  “I was just...” she shrugged, “caught up in the moment.”

  “The moment?”

  “Yes. You see, I was excited about what I’d found, and when you acted like I’d done something wrong, I wanted to prove to you that I knew what I was doing and that I could handle myself. And well... one remark led to another until we were both teasing each other.”

  He chuckled. “Rather like old times?”

  She hesitated before shaking her head. “No, not like old times at all, because when we were children, you looked at me as a little girl, but today... well, you looked at me as a woman.”

  His heart leapt and a knot formed in his throat. What was she saying? Or was he overthinking this? Once more, here was another question that should probably not ever get answered. So, why then did he want to kiss her again? Why did he want to prove to her that he thought of her as a woman now?

  No, the best thing to do would be to tell her goodnight.

  “Well, woman,” he joked, “it’s time to get you inside before you freeze to death.”

  He dismounted and reached up to help her down. She held onto his shoulders. Helping her down didn’t go as planned, because her body pressed against his too intimately, and her stare locked with his.

  Taking a deep breath for courage, he fought the temptations filling him. He could not... would not kiss her again.

  “Thanks, Travis. Although you’re probably still upset at me, I did have a good time, even though we were almost caught in the barn.”

  He smiled. “I’ll admit that I enjoyed myself, too.”

  “Good. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She rose up and kissed him briefly on the cheek before pulling out of his arms and giving him his coat.

  As he watched her hurry up to the house, his heartbeat hammered. An unknown feeling grew inside of him, and he wished it would leave. He didn’t need these complicated feelings for her. Not now. Especially, when he had nothing to offer her.

  And just like what he’d done in the past when he was attracted to a woman, he would push those urges aside and finish his assignment so that he could move on to another town in another state.

  By himself.

  And lonely.

  SIX

  Scarlett stared at her reflection in the mirror on her vanity. Her stomach was in competition with her heart for wrenching with guilt and elation. Part of her wanted to sing with joy for finally getting her first kiss, but the other part was reminding her that she hadn’t changed at all from when she was fifteen. Although she was now a woman, she was still trying to get Travis’ attention, just as she’d done ten years ago.

  After discovering the woman’s handkerchief yesterday afternoon, she couldn’t wait to tell Travis. She had envisioned seeing him full of compliments as he told her how smart she’d been to find a piece of evidence that neither Travis or the sheriff had discovered. She had seriously thought he’d be proud of her accomplishment. Instead, all she saw was shock, disappointment, and ridicule for putting her reputation in jeopardy.

  Could she have waited until today to tell him about the handkerchief? Of course! Yet, right after she’d found it, all she could think about was showing Travis. Just as what happened when she was fifteen, she’d do all she could to make him pay her some attention.

  However, the kiss was something totally unexpected, and yet delightful... and oh, so very short. She’d wanted more. Even as she envisioned him coming to see her today, she wondered if he wanted to kiss her again.

  Recalling the way her legs had weakened and how incredibly nice it felt in his arms with his tender lips caressing hers made her heart flip crazily in her chest. Butterflies danced in her stomach, creating more excitement the longer she thought about it happening again.

  The knock on her bedroom door jerked Scarlett out of her hopeful dream. She moved away from the vanity to answer the door. One of her grandfather’s maids stood on the other side, smiling wide.

  “Good morning, Miss Scarlett. You have a gentleman visitor downstairs in the parlor.”

  Travis! Excitement shot through her. He’d mentioned that he would come by today to talk about the initials on the woman’s handkerchief, and she was thrilled that he didn’t wait until this afternoon to call on them.

  “Tell him I’ll be right down.” Scarlett closed the door and rushed back to her vanity, peering in the mirror. She patted her curly hair and the baby-blue bow affixed to the top section of her hair that she’d pulled back away from her face. She pinched her cheeks, even though she knew by just looking at him again her face would grow warm. She ran her palms over her blue dress, smoothing out the few wrinkles that had gathered from sitting at the vanity.

  Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she left the room. It wasn’t until halfway down the stairs when she realized she was practically running. She slowed her steps again and continued toward the parlor at a more ladylike pace.

  She couldn’t look too surprised to see him, because then she’d turn back into the pathetic fifteen-year-old again. On the other hand, she wanted him to know that she was happy to see him, and that last night’s kiss hadn’t embarrassed her.