“That isn’t necessary…” Rosalie attempted again.
Mrs. Tyson interrupted her. “Don’t fret about me, dear. I have plenty to keep me occupied.”
“If you change your mind, then you are welcome to join us,” Rosalie said before sitting in her chair.
Paden winked at Mrs. Tyson. “Thank you for the meal. It smells delicious.”
Once the proprietress left the room, Paden sat across from Rosalie. “You seem reluctant to share a meal with me. Is there a reason why?” he asked.
Rosalie shook her head. “I was just concerned for Mrs. Tyson. That is all.”
“You are a horrible liar, Rosie.”
Her lips parted, drawing his attention to her full lips. Lips that he had kissed before.
She laughed shakily. “It’s just been so long since I’ve seen you.”
“Four years and five days, to be exact,” he remarked dryly, unable to stop himself.
Rosalie lowered her gaze to her lap. “That’s what I recall as well.”
Paden felt like kicking himself. He hadn’t intended to play his hand just yet. For over four years, he had waited for Rosalie to come to her senses, to return home… to him. But with each passing day, he knew his chances of being with her were slipping away. He planned to bring Rosalie home. To be with him. He couldn’t do that if he turned her heart against him.
“Stick to the plan,” he muttered to himself.
“Did you say something?” Rosalie asked, bringing her gaze back up.
He swiped his hand over the generous helping of food on his plate. “I just said that everything looks delicious.”
“It does.” She picked up her fork, and then placed it back down. “Paden… I just want you to know…”
“Would you like some more potatoes?” he asked, cutting her off.
Rosalie glanced down at her plate. “I already have more than enough.” He extended the bowl to her anyway, and she set it next to her. “Um… as I was saying…”
Paden pushed back his chair and rose. He wasn’t ready to hear what she was about to say. “Where are my manners? Allow me to serve you.” He came around to her side of the table and reached for the spoon in the bowl of mashed potatoes. “Just tell me when to stop,” he stated, as he placed a large scoop of potatoes over her smaller portion.
“That is more than enough. Thank you,” Rosalie replied.
Paden placed the spoon back in the potatoes and returned to his chair. Taking control of the conversation, he said, “I understand that you have caught eight of the original members of Bill Garrett’s gang.”
“Nine,” she corrected. “I caught the last member of the gang today.”
“That’s impressive.”
Rosalie picked up her fork and started moving around the mashed potatoes on her plate. “The only person still eluding me is the leader, Bill Garrett.”
“Do you have any leads?”
She blew out a puff of air. “No. And I have been searching relentlessly for him.”
“I have a lead,” he announced, proudly.
“You do?” she asked, sitting straighter in her seat and placing her fork on the table. “What is it?”
Paden leaned back in his seat. “The Pinkerton National Detective Agency has been hired on a case and it revolves around Bill Garrett.”
“What is the case?”
“I’m afraid I can’t share the tip,” he hesitated, “unless…”
“Unless what?” she asked in an overeager voice.
This was it. The time had come for him to win back his betrothed. He winced, knowing this was the greatest gamble he had ever taken. “Unless you would be willing to become a Pinkerton agent and work the case alongside me.”
She drew in a sharp breath while her eyes grew wide with disbelief. “You want me to become a Pinkerton agent?”
“I do. Mr. Archie Gordon runs the Denver office, and he has already signed off on your hire.”
“But he doesn’t even know me,” she remarked in astonishment.
Paden grinned. “When I informed Archie that you single-handedly brought eight members of Bill Garrett’s gang to justice, he was quite impressed.”
“I don’t know,” she murmured. “I am not sure I would make a good agent. I don’t always play by the rules.”
“You are clever, quick on your toes, and a sharp shooter. All good qualities to possess as an agent.”
A mischievous gleam came to her eyes. “Are you sure I can’t tempt you into telling me the tip?”
“What are you offering?” he asked, his eyes darting to her lips.
“I could pay you,” she stated. “Bounty hunters are paid extraordinarily well.”
Paden frowned. This was not going well, he thought. “I don’t want your money, Rosie,” he said, attempting to keep the curtness out of his tone.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking clearly,” she replied, averting her gaze back to her plate.
An uncomfortable silence descended over them, and he did not like it. Paden rose, picked up his chair and repositioned it next to hers. He sat down and waited for Rosalie to look at him.
“I know how much you want to bring Bill Garrett to justice. Perhaps almost as much as I do,” he said, maintaining her gaze. “After you left town, I was heartbroken, but I know why you did it. It was the same reason I became a Pinkerton agent. We both have longed to bring your father’s killers to justice.”
Rosalie was watching him intently, making no indication she wanted to speak up.
Paden continued. “A tip about Bill Garrett’s whereabouts came into the Pinkerton Detective Agency, and it appears credible. That’s why Archie assigned me to this particular case and gave permission for you to become an agent.”
“Can’t I work alongside you without becoming an agent?”
He shook his head. “That’s not possible. Pinkerton agents have a set
