Chapter 3
“I have decided against marrying you,” Rosalie declared to her reflection in the mirror of the dressing table in her room.
No, that will not do, she thought. She straightened her shoulders and tried again. “I thank you for your kind offer, but I will find Bill Garrett on my own.” There. That will suffice.
She placed the last pin in her hair, knowing she was making the right choice. Paden didn’t want to marry her. He was doing this only out of guilt and their shared history together. Most likely, he didn’t think she could find Garrett on her own, and he extended this offer out of pity.
Deepening her voice, she did her best impersonation of Paden. “This is only a business deal. Nothing more.”
“Well, I don’t want to be your partner,” she proclaimed in her own voice.
She deepened her voice again. “That’s preposterous. Look how handsome I am. Who wouldn’t want to partner with me?”
A loud pounding came at her door, followed by Paden’s urgent voice. “Are you all right in there, Rosalie?”
“I’m fine,” she answered, rising. In two strides, she reached the door and opened it, revealing Paden holding a gun in his left hand.
He stormed past her into the room, his eyes taking everything in. “Who were you talking to?”
“No one,” she insisted.
Paden’s eyes narrowed as he tucked his pistol into the back of his trousers. “I heard a male’s voice.” He walked over to the closed window and opened it. He looked out. “Where is he?”
Fidgeting with the lace along the collar of her maroon dress, she replied, “If you must know, I was talking to myself.”
He glanced over his shoulder at her in disbelief, slowly lowering the window. “You were talking to yourself?” he repeated. “But I heard a male’s voice.”
“I deepened my voice to impersonate you,” she admitted, ignoring the smug look that appeared on his face at her words.
Paden chuckled as he approached her. “If I understand this correctly,” he paused, clearly enjoying this moment, “you were having an imaginary conversation with me.”
Rosalie placed her hand on the open door. She was definitely finished with this embarrassing conversation. “It is entirely inappropriate for you to be in my room. You may go now.”
“Hold on,” he said, stopping in front of her. “Did you have these ‘imaginary conversations’ with me while we were courting? Or is this a new quirk?”
“Are you enjoying yourself, Paden?” she asked sarcastically.
A cocky grin came to his lips. “Immensely, darling.”
“Can I help you with something?” she asked, keeping her hold on the door.
“Mrs. Tyson sent me to escort you down for breakfast.”
“Oh, good,” she replied. “I am famished.”
Paden extended his arm toward her. “Did you not eat last night?”
“No, I had too much on my mind,” she replied, accepting his arm. “I ended up taking the cold food down to the kitchen late last night.”
As they started walking down the hall, Paden asked, “Did you come to a decision?”
“I did.” She held her breath for a moment, then answered, “I am going to pass on your offer.”
Paden bobbed his head. “I understand.”
“You do?” she asked, louder than she had intended.
He shrugged. “Being a Pinkerton agent is a great responsibility and not everyone can handle the pressure that comes along with the position.”
She pressed her lips together. “That is not why I have decided against it,” she declared.
Paden glanced over at her. “I recognize your reservations.”
“You do?” she asked again, only this time she was hesitant to hear his answer.
He stopped at the top of the stairs and turned to face her. “The Pinkerton Detective Agency is comprised of mostly men, and you are afraid you don’t have the mindset to compete against them.”
Her mouth gaped at his ridiculous statement. “That is most assuredly not the reason. I can outwork and outthink any man.”
“Then what’s the issue?” he asked, his eyes searching hers.
Nibbling her bottom lip, she met his gaze. “I am unsure about the marriage requirement.”
Reaching into the pocket of his black vest, Paden pulled out a piece of paper and a Pinkerton badge. He extended the badge toward her. “This letter is signed by Mr. Archie Gordon. It confirms that you are the newest agent, assuming you follow the marriage rule.”
Rosalie ran her fingers over the brass badge. For the first time in a long time, it felt like she was being directed toward something. Or was it because her heart wanted her to choose Paden, even if he didn’t want her?
“Rosie,” Paden began in an achingly tender voice, “marry me, and together we can stop Bill Garrett.”
There was a time when those words would have caused her heart to leap with joy, but now they filled her with dread. It was only a matter of time before Paden would recognize that she was not the carefree woman he remembered all those years ago, and he would reject her. She was sure of it. For she was not the same woman that she was four years ago, last week, or even yesterday.
Paden stepped closer to her until there was no distance between them. He leaned closer to whisper in her ear, “Say yes, and I promise you won’t regret it.”
Making the mistake of tilting her head toward him, their lips were merely inches apart. “Yes,” she found herself saying.
The warmth of his breath brushed against her lips, and she silently hoped that he would kiss her now that she agreed to be his wife… er… partner.
A smile emerged on Paden’s face as he stepped back, seemingly unphased by her nearness. “That’s great news! After breakfast, we will go to the sheriff’s office
