An Agent For Judith
Pinkerton Matchmaker Series
Book 79
By
Caroline Clemmons
Copyright © 2020 by Caroline Clemmons
Cover design by Virginia McKevitt
Black Widow Cover Designs
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.
Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, businesses, events, or locales is purely coincidental because this book is fiction.
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
About Caroline Clemmons
Chapter One
Cheyenne, Wyoming 1878
Judith McAdams had lost count of how many times she’d reread her brother’s letter.
“You’re wearing out those papers as many times as you’ve folded and unfolded them,” Abigail said. She stood with hands on her slender hips and a frown creasing her face. Like a mother, the cook and housekeeper had come to take care of Judith when her mother died at her birth.
Judith sensed herself growing tenser by the minute. “I can’t stop worrying. He’d never willingly skip this long unless something was terribly wrong.” He’d been writing to her every Sunday afternoon without fail.
Abigail patted Judith’s shoulder. “Remember, there was that time he missed two weeks. Let’s hope and pray this is like that and you’ll hear soon.”
Abigail might be trying to reassure Judith, but Abigail appeared as worried as she was.
“No, Abigail, it’s been four weeks since this arrived and nothing since. If we don’t hear something soon I’ll shatter into a million pieces.” She unfolded the two letters once more.
Dear Sis and Abigail,
I’ve been nursemaid this last week. I was out riding Tuesday and found an elderly rancher, Farley Corrigan, half dead beside the road. I took him to his Rafter C Ranch and nursed him. We were closer there than to town. When I checked, all Corrigan’s cowboys had been run off and I couldn’t leave him alone longer than to ride for the doctor.
Farley was beaten by henchman of his neighbor, Beau Lawson, and I’m sure it was at Lawson’s orders. He wants this ranch for access to the river. Farley never denied him access but Lawson wants to be the sole rancher to own land on each side of the water’s source. The ranch is the prettiest place I’ve ever seen. Mr. Corrigan’s wife died years ago so it needs a good cleaning. Abigail, you would box our ears if we let our home get this dusty. Otherwise, the large hacienda is in good shape.
Love,
Josiah (Mac is what they call me here)
Los Perdidos, New Mexico
Judith unfolded the second letter and reread it.
Dear Sis and Abigail,
Sorry I missed writing last week but a lot has happened. Poor Farley died in spite of everything the doctor and I could do. Yolanda Ramirez from the boardinghouse where I stayed came and helped me care for Farley. Before he passed, he signed the deed to his Rafter C Ranch and all his possessions over to me with the promise that I would never sell to Lawson!
Sis, the deed is registered and I’ve signed it over to you. I’m sending it to you for safekeeping. I have a handwritten will witnessed by Yolanda and Dr. Greer and I’m enclosing it also. You can bring these with you when you come.
If something happens and Lawson wins, bring in the cavalry. The local marshal is worthless. I suspect he’s afraid of Lawson and is probably on his payroll.
Be excited for me! This is my dream ranch—the best ranch I’ve ever seen with the prettiest scenery you’d ever hope to find. The Sangre de Cristo Mountains are visible from the front. A lot of Farley’s cattle have been driven off but there are still enough left for me to make this place pay and I can buy more. I haven’t touched my inheritance yet.
The house is a grand two-story adobe you are both going to love. It’s nicer than anywhere we’ve ever lived or even seen the inside of. You’ll feel like queens here.
I can hardly wait to show you the ranch once this Lawson is out of the picture. Don’t worry about me. I’ll write you when it’s safe for you to come.
Love,
Josiah, Mac
Los Perdidos, New Mexico Territory
P.S. Below is a drawing of how to reach the ranch from Los Perdidos. I’ve also drawn Beau Lawson’s brand and that of Farley Corrigan. I’m deciding what I’ll use. Judith, I figured you would have a suggestion that’s different from these two.
J.
Abigail put an arm around Judith’s shoulders. “I hate to see you like this. I can’t stand the thought of you or your brother in trouble. There must be something you can do from here.”
“I’ll wire the marshal in Los Perdidos and see if he’ll go check on Josiah. I guess we’ll have to call him Mac now.”
“My boy’s always gonna be Josiah to me. Honey, wire that marshal. We’ll both feel better if one of can do something.”
“You’re right. I simply have to act in a positive way.” Judith crossed to her dresser, tucked a few strands of
