A Changed Agent (22 page)

It didn’t matter to her who prepared the meal. What mattered most to her was that Will had gone to a great deal of effort on her behalf. Elsie couldn’t remember the last time anyone had done something so special for her. He finished dishing out the stew until everyone’s plates were filled.

“The china, the silver”—she gulped back the onslaught of emotion filling her—“it’s all so very lovely. Really.”

“I hope you don’t mind I bought the china. It was as close as I could find to the ones pictured in your travel book.”

“You read my book?” she asked, surprised.

“I did. I know you had your heart set on taking that big trip. I thought this might cheer you up—I mean to say, help you start to move past what happened.” He stopped speaking.

Elsie’s heart pounded in her chest. She realized he was trying to make amends.

He looked at her. His gaze was so intense, Elsie’s breath caught in her throat.

Quietly, he said, “I thought since we’ll be staying on here that it couldn’t hurt to have some finer things.”

She caught her lower lip between her teeth. He wanted to stay with the children. She didn’t know what to make of this. Then his gaze paused on Harry and then Minnie. He nodded. They all folded their hands and bowed their heads.

Following suit, she opened her mouth to begin saying grace, but then stopped when she heard the deep timbre of Will’s voice. Though she knew it wasn’t polite, she lifted her head in wonder.

“Dear Lord, I know it’s been a long time since you’ve heard from me. Even so I ask for your blessings on Harry and Minnie. I thank you for this meal set before us. Most importantly”—he stopped to clear his throat and then continued—“I want to thank you for sending Elsie to us . . . to me. Amen.”

He lifted his head and looked at her. She’d heard the emotion choking his words and now saw the rich brown color of his eyes deepening with emotion. She knew this prayer had not come easily for Will. He’d been battling his faith since the day she met him, and she suspected for a long time before that. She also knew he was seeking her forgiveness. Actions did speak louder than words, and Will had just shown her in both ways that he wanted to become a better man.

Elsie said, “Thank you for saying grace.” Looking at Harry and Minnie, she asked, “Shall we eat this delicious meal?”

Minnie waved her hand in the air. “Wait! Wait! I have to say grace, too.” Folding her hands beneath her chin, her tiny voice filled the room. “Lord, please don’t forget I asked you to make Uncle Will and Miss Elsie happy. And thank you for this food. Amen.”

Elsie dared to look at Will, who upon closer inspection did not seem at all surprised by Minnie’s prayer. Frowning, she wondered if he had anything to do with this.

He shook his head, saying, “I’ve been meaning to tell you about Minnie’s prayers.”

“Let’s discuss them later, shall we?”

They dug in to the stew, chattering away about the day. Every once in a while she would look up to find Will watching her. The intensity of his expression sent frissons of awareness through her. When the meal was over, the children wanted to know if they could go outside.

Elsie told them yes and then started to clear the table. Will stopped her, saying, “I’ll take care of this. You go sit out on the porch and look after them.”

“I want to stay inside to speak with you alone.”

Together they cleared the table, and then rolling up his sleeves, Will started to fill the sink with water, preparing to wash the dishes.

Gently, she held the fine china in her hands. “I’ve never held anything so fragile. We’ll need to store these out of the way so they don’t get broken.”

“Yes, we should do that.” He took the first plate from her hand. His fingers lightly brushed against the tips of hers.

She couldn’t stand being this close to him without touching him. Throwing caution to the wind, Elsie stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the lips. Will slid the dish into the water. His hands cupped her face as he returned her kiss with a passion she never knew existed. This kiss felt different from the others they’d shared. Her body responded differently, surprising her with the feeling that she needed more than just a shared kiss with him.

He ended the kiss first, gathering her in his strong, muscular arms. Wrapping her arms around his middle, she lay her head against his solid chest. She listened to his heart beating strong and steady. She felt their world shifting. The anger she’d been carrying around for the past week drained from her, leaving her feeling heady.

“Where do we go from here?” She wanted to know.

“Where do you want this relationship to go, Elsie?”

“I want this to work, Will. For us and the children.”

“I’ve left the Pinkertons.”

Pulling away from his hold, she gathered his face in her hands, feeling the smoothness of his skin where the barber had shaved him. He smiled against her hands. She smiled back.

“Are you happy with your decision?”

“I am.”

“What are you going to do now?”

“I’ve taken a real job with John Oliver.”

She took a minute to absorb this information. Elsie didn’t know if she could just give in to what she knew he wanted from her. “If things between us change in the way you wish them to, Will, I won’t be able to stay here.”

“Why not?”

“It wouldn’t be proper for me to live here.” She hesitated, not even sure what he meant and what she wanted. “It just can’t be, that’s all.”

“But it would be proper if I told you I loved you.”

“Oh, Will. I love you, too.” She laughed and kissed him again. “I still can’t live here. Not yet.”

“I want to make this right with you.”

“I know you do. I want you to be absolutely sure the decision you made to stay here in Heartston is the right one.”

“I promise you, Elsie, I made the right choice. I’ll prove it to you tomorrow at the church picnic.”

Chapter Twenty

Sunday dawned bright and crystal clear with pockets of mist dotting the landscape where springs and streams flowed. Will found he’d grown accustomed to the chilly Adirondack mornings marked by this light mountain fog, which would later burn off to make room for the afternoon warmth.

Today was the annual Lord’s Acre Picnic. Harry and Minnie had been talking about all the games they would be playing. Harry told him last night at bedtime that he’d already picked out his teammate for the three-legged race.

Minnie informed him that she would be having a tea party under the branches of the big maple tree in the back corner of the churchyard. He felt honored that they were sharing their plans with him. However, his plans for today were of a different slant. Standing in front of the hall mirror, he worked at getting the knot on his string tie just right.

Bustling into the hallway, Elsie saw him struggling and came to him, batting his hands away. “Here, let me do this. Honestly, why men don’t know how to tie their own ties is beyond me.”

Crooking his mouth up into a grin, he responded with, “Maybe we just don’t care enough about wearing these darn fool things to worry about learning how to put one on properly.”

She let out a harrumph, finished tying the tie, and gave his chest a quick pat. “There, all done. Now where have the children gotten off to?”

“Last I saw of them, they were heading outside. I told Harry to wait for us on the porch.”

She started to move by him, but Will put a hand on her arm, stopping her. He wanted a minute more to admire her beauty in peace and quiet before she became too busy to be with him. Because she was part of the committee, he knew he might not see hide nor hair of her until the end of the day. The woman had a way of becoming absorbed in whatever project she put her mind to.

“You look lovely.” He told her, admiring the soft blue color of the gown she wore. He’d never seen this on her before and wondered when she’d found the time to purchase it. The cut of the dress hugged her curves. The top of the dress swooped down, exposing her fair skin. The sleeves were trimmed in delicate lace, the fabric skimming her delicate wrists.

He caught her hand in his, feeling her silky-smooth skin inside his calloused hands. He turned her hand so her palm faced up. And then he bent his head, kissing the tender underside of her wrist. Her quick intake of breath brought a satisfied smile to his lips.

“Mr. Benton!” she exclaimed.

Looking up, he could see the blush skimming her cheeks. He caught the smile she battled to hide from him. “Miss Mitchell, I hope I didn’t offend you.”

She shook her head. “You know you didn’t. Come on, Will. I can’t be late.”

Bending his elbow, he placed her hand inside the crease, escorting her out the door. He retrieved the picnic basket, which contained a large pan of apple crisp. The scent of the warm apples mixing with the cinnamon and sweet brown-sugar topping set his mouth to watering, making him wish they didn’t have to sit through what was sure to be an overly long outdoor sermon before the picnic.

They proceeded through the town of Heartston, looking for all the world like any other family on their way to church. And for the first time, Will felt like that was exactly what they were. A family. His family. And if he got his way, after today Elsie Mitchell would soon officially become a part of it.

The churchyard had been transformed. A huge tent had been erected in the center of a field next to the church. Outside were tables lined up in long rows. One section had been set aside and was already being filled with the food for the potluck picnic. Gaily colored streamers hung from the tree branches. Elsie took the basket with the apple crisp from him and set it on the far end of the table with the other desserts.

She’d gone as far as the oak tree when Reverend Finley’s wife stopped her.

“Elsie! Elsie!” She called out her name, practically falling over her skirts as she rushed to crush her in an embrace.

Elsie disappeared in the fleshy folds of the woman’s beefy arms. “My, if you aren’t a sight for sore eyes! I was so distressed to learn of your run-in with that nasty excuse for a man, Virgil Jensen. Why, I knew that man was a good-for-nothing thief all along. Thank the Lord above you were unharmed.”

The woman was as wound up as a top. She prattled on, telling Elsie how happy she was to see her here and how everyone had been praying for her. Then she released Elsie and set her sights on Will.

“And you! Well just look at how handsome you are. All cleaned up and dressed proper. We can’t thank you enough for saving our Elsie.” Mrs. Finley caught hold of his hand and shook it for all it was worth.

He smiled politely at her, catching Elsie’s eye over the top of the woman’s bonnet. She rolled her eyes. Will bit back a laugh.

“I have to get back to my duties. Doesn’t the yard look divine? The committee did a wonderful job.” Her attention shifted to another parishioner. “I have to run along now.”

Elsie was now flanked by two more women. From the gist of the conversation, Will guessed they were mothers of some of her students. They were talking about what had happened and giving her hugs. By the time she managed to pry herself away from them, the church bell was ringing, signaling that the service was about to begin.

Will called to Harry and Minnie to come join them. They entered the tent, where wooden benches had been set up in two rows. In the front of the tent was a makeshift pulpit. A din of voices mingled with the sound of children’s laughter. The room quieted as Will walked Elsie down the aisle to the last remaining empty seats near the front of the tent.

He felt a tingling at the base of his neck and fought the urge to itch it. Everyone was looking at them. Elsie put her hand in his, squeezing it. He squeezed back. He let Harry and Minnie enter the row ahead of them. Then, letting go of Elsie’s hand, he ushered her into the seat. The pastor appeared at the front of the tent. He opened with a prayer welcoming everyone to the service.

Reverend Finley’s gaze settled on them. “I’d also like to add a special blessing for William Benton. The man who saved our schoolteacher’s life.”

A round of applause started and ended with cheers. Will didn’t quite know what to make of all this attention. His job as a Pinkerton agent had been one done in seclusion and subterfuge. No one ever knew what he did for a living. If everything went according to plan on his assignments, he’d enter a town, capture the criminal, and be on his way. No one the wiser. He wasn’t entirely sure how much the townsfolk here knew of him.

He supposed it didn’t matter. After today, his entire life would change. Or so he hoped.

The applause died down and the service continued. Reverend Finley read from the first Bible reading. Then he talked about forgiveness, quoting from the scriptures. Will couldn’t bring himself to look at Elsie, knowing how she’d told him she wasn’t ready to forgive him. He felt a hand on his and looked down to find it was hers. The service ended with the congregation singing “Amazing Grace.” They stood and waited their turn to exit the tent.

Before they were even out the door, Elsie leaned into him.

“Will. Come with me for a minute.”

He walked with her to the edge of the field away from prying eyes. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Everything. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about what happened. Oh, Will. I’ve been such a fool. I know you were only doing your job when you came here. I never should have allowed myself to be taken in by Virgil. It was my fault. I put the children in harm’s way.”

“Elsie Mitchell, you listen to me. None of what happened was your fault. Believe me when I tell you how much I wanted this assignment to be over. I’m not going to tell you I regret the decisions I made. I can’t say those words because finding the bond thief was my first priority.”

She started to speak, and he knew if he let her do so, he wouldn’t be able to say his piece. Laying a finger across her sweet, soft lips, he silenced her. “I never anticipated what it would be like to have the responsibility of being Harry and Minnie’s guardian. I never knew my heart could be so full of love for them.”

“Oh, Will.”

“I never knew my heart could be so full of love for you, Elsie Mitchell. You came into my life like a storm. All fired up and stubborn.”

“I didn’t know what to make of you, either, you know. You were so secretive, and even though you tried to keep your emotions in check, I knew you were falling in love with your niece and nephew. I hoped you were falling in love with me, too.” She wrapped her arms around him. “I love you, Will. I love those children. What do you say we give Minnie and Harry the family they deserve?”

Raising his eyebrows, he spoke the words he’d been rehearsing in his mind for the past two days. “I can’t promise you I’ll be perfect, but I can promise you that I will love you until the end of time. Elsie Mitchell, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

Throwing her arms around his neck, she cried, kissing him through her tears. “Yes. Yes. Yes. I will marry you, William Benton.”

Behind them, Minnie let out a squeal of delight. “I’m getting a mommy and daddy. Harry! Miss Elsie is going to marry Uncle Will. I heard her say yes!”

Picking Elsie up off her feet, he spun her around. Setting her back on her feet, he kissed her soundly. Then he picked Minnie up, her tiny arms holding tightly around his neck.

“You’ve made me so happy, Uncle Will.” Planting a big sloppy kiss on his check, she squirmed out of his arms. “I need to tell my friends.”

Will let her go. She ran through the field. Elsie stood beside him.

“There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you about.”

“Ask me anything.”

“Amy told me you donated a large sum of money to the church. Is this true?”

“Yes. I’m not sure you’re going to be happy with where the money came from, though.”

“No more secrets, Will, please.”

“There was a reward for Virgil’s capture.”

“I see,” she said.

“I decided to give the money to a good cause. I know how much you love your church.”

She threaded her fingers through his as they started to make their way back to the picnic. “I hope you know this is your church, too.”

“I do now. And one more thing, before I forget”—he pulled her to a halt—“I know you’ve dreamed of traveling abroad, and while we can’t do it right now, I thought perhaps you wouldn’t mind a honeymoon trip to New York City.”

She threw her arms around him again. “Thank you.”

“My pleasure if it means I’ll be getting more hugs and kisses from you.”

“You don’t need an excuse to earn those.”

It seemed Minnie had spread the word about their engagement, because by the time they reached the edge of the field, they were met by another round of cheers and applause. Pushing his way through the throng of parishioners, Harry joined them.

“I’m glad we’re going to be a family.”

Will ruffled his hair. “Me, too, Harry. Me, too.”

While they waited their turn in the food line, Will looked on as Amy embraced a tearful Elsie. Leaning close to her, he whispered in Elsie’s ear, “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

They spent the afternoon enjoying good food and the company of their friends and neighbors. They stayed to help clean up. By the time the celebrations were over, the sun was dipping behind the mountaintop. Will carried a sleeping Minnie, and Elsie walked with Harry back to the house.

As they went up the front steps, he heard Elsie say, “Welcome home, Will.”

Orange-and-red hues lined the skyline behind them, silhouetting his family in a soft glow. Together, Elsie and Will crossed the threshold of their house, ready to embrace a new beginning.