“I don’t care if I get paid,” she declared. “I just want to be there when Bill is arrested or killed.”
“I’m afraid I can’t allow that unless you become an agent.”
She reached for her glass of water. “I could follow you and have you lead me to Bill.”
“You may be good, but I am better,” he said, giving her a playful grin.
Smiling above the rim of her glass, Rosalie asked, “How would you know?”
Paden placed his right forearm on the table and leaned closer to her. “I have been tracking your movements for years. Did you truly believe I wouldn’t keep tabs on you?”
With an inquisitive look, Rosalie studied his face. “Nana,” she muttered as she placed her glass back down on the table. “My nana told you.”
Seeing no reason to deny who his source was, he shared, “Your grandmother would write to me, keeping me posted on your whereabouts, but I read the articles in the newspapers written about you. You are quite the infamous bounty hunter with interesting tactics.” He smiled. “And yes, she did wire me, informing me that you were in Silver Creek.”
“Did my nana share anything else with you?” she asked as she nibbled on her bottom lip.
Paden knew what she was asking. In every letter that Rosalie sent to her grandmother, she always inquired about what he was up to in a roundabout way. It had given him hope that she still cared for him.
“Yes,” he admitted. “She always kept me informed of the town’s festivities.”
She let out a relieved sigh. “She did the same for me.”
Carefully, he studied her oval face, taking in her high cheek-bones, flawless skin, and olive complexion. “What do you say, Rosie? Will you work alongside with me as an agent?”
Rosalie furrowed her brow as she sat in quiet contemplation. He wasn’t going to rush her answer. He knew all too well that she analyzed both sides of an argument before she came to a decision. That was one of the things he loved about her.
Her words started off cautiously. “If I go along with this preposterous plan, then I will become a Pinkerton agent… just like that?”
Feeling immensely pleased that she was at least considering the idea, he explained, “Since you are a new agent, I’ll be required to train you.”
“Then what?”
Paden shrugged, hoping his words sounded convincing. “You can continue to work as a Pinkerton agent, or you can quit.” He had no intention of ever letting her go, but he couldn’t admit that. At least, not yet.
“I’ll do it,” she said, suddenly. “I will do whatever it takes to see Bill Garrett hang for his crimes.”
“Excellent.” He hesitated, knowing what he was about to tell her would take considerably more convincing on his part. “There is just one more thing. It is a silly rule, to be honest, but it is designed for propriety’s sake.”
Rosalie eyed him with suspicion. “What’s the rule?”
It was getting overly warm in the room, and he had the sudden urge to tug on his collar. He cleared his throat to buy himself more time. “Since we are a man and a woman,” he began, gesturing between them, “it is required for us to be married to work as agents.”
Immediately, she shoved her chair back and jumped to her feet. “That is out of the question.”
“Just hear me out… please!” Paden exclaimed in a desperate tone.
Rosalie crossed her arms over her chest and lifted her brow. He heard her tapping her boot against the plush carpet.
“The marriage is only required while you are training to be an agent,” he spoke quickly. “Once we complete our assignment, then we can get an annulment.”
“An annulment,” she repeated, dropping her arms in a huff.
Paden rose from his seat. “Yes. I have been told that it is very easy to obtain.”
In reality, he had no idea if that was true or not. None of the training agents that married their partners had gotten an annulment. Not one. He was hoping the trend would continue with him.
Some of the anger left her features as she replied, “I don’t know, Paden. Being a Pinkerton agent, I can handle, but being married…” Her voice trailed off.
Reaching out, he placed his hands on her arms. “We work well together, Rosie. We both want the same thing. Who cares about the silly requirement of being married? We can go after Bill Garrett and both get closure.”
Her eyes roamed his face, and he detected a hint of vulnerability in them. “We won’t truly be married, will we?”
He wanted to shout yes, but instead he shook his head. “No. This is a business deal. That’s all. We will go our separate ways after this case.”
Rosalie’s eyes grew guarded and unreadable. “I need some time to think,” she said softly.
Did he detect a note of hurt in her voice? Or was he just being overly optimistic? Paden stepped back. “Of course.”
She turned to leave.
Feeling a little frantic, he picked up her plate. “You hardly ate.” Extending the plate toward her, he gulped as their fingers brushed. “Unless you would like me to leave so you can think in the dining room?”
“I would prefer to eat in my room.” Her expression was unreadable. Her tone was soft, but Paden couldn’t tell what she was feeling.
He watched her leave the dining room without glancing back. If she didn’t agree to become his wife, then he could resort to abducting her until she consented. No, that would never work. Rosalie was a stubborn thing, almost as stubborn as he was. She needed to come to the decision on her own.
He prayed
