Page 23 of Cloaked in Beauty

He grinned. “My pleasure, miss.”

“Fix our guest a breakfast plate, Letty.”

Mrs. Anderson’s suggestion set Philip’s stomach to growling with embarrassing volume. Miss Hood ducked her head, but not before he caught a flash of amusement play across her face. It utterly transformed her, erasing her worries for a heartbeat and giving him a glimpse of the carefree young woman she should have been. One she could have been were it not for Drake Radcliffe’s greed.

“Don’t go to any trouble,” Philip said.

“It’s no trouble.” She waved away his meager protest. “We finished off the eggs, but there’s half a pan of biscuits left. I’ll fix up a couple with butter and jam for you.”

“That sounds wonderful. Thank you.”

It tasted even better. As did the fresh milk she’d brought to help him wash it all down. He felt a little awkward eating in front of them, though, so he didn’t take the time to savor the tender biscuit and sweet strawberry jam in a manner befitting the level of scrumptiousness the treat possessed.

While he ate, a silent conversation took place between the two women seated before him. More of an argument, if the sharp looks and stiff body posture were any indication.

“So, Mr. Carmichael, tell us about yourself.” Flora Anderson—Or should he think of her as Iris Hood?—broke the silence first. “If I’m to entrust you with my granddaughter’s safety, I need to know something more than your Pinkerton reputation.”

Philip swallowed the last bite of biscuit and glanced from one woman to the other, both expressions rather guarded. “I’m not sure what you want to know, ma’am. I hail from Tennessee, but I’ve been working in Texas for the last several years. I’m familiar with the terrain and the dangers inherent in traveling cross-country. Your daughter believes Drake Radcliffe has men watching the railroads. He’s also posted rewards with your granddaughter’s likeness in depots and law offices between here and Houston. I saw several of them while I searched. We’ll need to avoid towns and as much human contact as possible. I started plotting a course last night after meeting Miss Hood yesterday.”

Flora shook her head, cutting off Philip’s explanation.

“While I’m glad that you’ve been giving this expedition significant thought, I’m already prepared to trust your capabilities when it comes to protecting Letty’s physical person. My daughter would not have hired you without ensuring your skills. But my daughter expected that I’d be making the trip as well. My health won’t allow that at the moment. So what I need to know from you, Mr. Carmichael, is not how well you can protect my granddaughter’s life, but how well you will protect her honor.”

10

Letty’s cheeks flushed so hot, she could have used them to reheat the tea kettle. Until this moment she’d always appreciated her grandmother’s plain speaking, but with a handsome Pinkerton agent sitting two feet away, she had to fight the sudden urge to use her apron as a gag to keep her grandmother from blurting out anything else humiliating.

Her honor? Good heavens!

She snuck a peek at Mr. Carmichael and found him shifting uncomfortably in his seat, his tan taking on a ruddy undertone. He’d shaved since she’d seen him last. Yesterday, he’d looked rather untamed and rugged when she’d come upon him in the forest. He looked more civilized today without the whiskers. And significantly more handsome. Not that she should be noticing such a thing when her grandmother was quizzing him about protecting her honor.

Mr. Carmichael cleared his throat and rubbed his palms on his dark-brown trousers. “Well, ma’am, my mama and daddy raised me to follow the Good Book. I don’t have any character references to offer you, but I can give you my word as a man who has made a commitment to follow the Lord that I’ll treat her with utmost respect and consideration. She will not suffer any harm or . . . dishonor at my hands.”

His gaze shifted to her, and Letty was struck by the sincerity shining in his gray eyes. Perhaps she was naïve to trust a man she’d just met based on nothing more than her mother’s recommendation and a worn Bible she’d found in his coat pocket, but when his gaze met hers, trust blossomed in her heart.

“You have my word, Miss Hood, that you’ll be safe in my care.”

A tiny frisson shivered through her at his words. She found herself trapped in his eyes as she absorbed his vow. It took a moment for her to recover, but she eventually tugged her attention away from him and turned it on her grandmother.

“I don’t understand why we have to be in such a hurry. Uncle Drake’s men haven’t found me in fifteen years. Surely, we can postpone a few days until you’ve had a chance to recover. Then we can all go together.”

“If we had the luxury of traveling by train, that might be an option,” her grandmother said, “but train travel would expose you to too much risk.” She thumped her palm against the chair arm. “No, Mr. Carmichael is correct. You need to leave as soon as possible. You’ll be safest traveling cross-country, and I just don’t have the stamina for that type of trip.”

Letty’s heart squeezed. She couldn’t do this without her grandmother. She was the one who remembered Mama, who remembered Houston and the life they’d left. More than that, she was the only person who truly knew Letty. Perhaps the only person who truly loved her. Mama’s letters said she loved her. Missed her. But those were just words. Grandmother had been the one at Letty’s side every day after Mama sent her away. She could have come with them. But she’d chosen to stay behind. Had it really been necessary, as Grandmother claimed? Or had Mama chosen to sacrifice her daughter in order to hold on to her businesses? Either way, Letty needed Grandmother to bridge the gap. To smooth away the rough edges of a relationship that had deteriorated with disuse. She’d never find her place back in her mother’s life without Grandmother to lead the way.

“We can take the wagon.” A straw-grasping idea if ever there was one, but Letty tried it anyway. “You can lay in the back. I can make you a bed of pillows and quilts.” Shoot, she’d go pluck every chicken they had right now to make a feather mattress if it meant her grandmother could accompany them.

Grandmother shook her head. “My bones are too old for that kind of rattling day after day. Besides, a wagon will slow you down. After your foray into town yesterday, we can’t delay. I know you were careful, but it’s possible someone saw you. And if Drake is posting pictures of you in town, an innocent telegram sent with good intentions could result in a swarm of men descending on Queen City.” She rocked forward and clasped Letty’s hand, her weak grip a ready reminder of her condition. “I’m not going to leave you alone, sweet girl. As soon as you are safely delivered to your mama, and she and Stefan work their legal magic to tie Drake’s hands, all you have to do is wire Mr. Darby. I’ll put myself on the next train to Houston. I’ll be there for you, Letty. Just like we planned. I promise.”

Mist filmed Letty’s eyes, but she blinked it away and nodded, holding tight to Grandmother’s hand. She was right. The trip would take an unforgiveable toll on her. The note Mr. Darby left after the doctor visited made it clear that rest was essential to her recovery.

“But who’s going to take care of you?” Letty lowered her voice. “What if you have another spell?”

Grandmother smiled in the way she did whenever she had a plan in mind and wouldn’t be dissuaded. She patted Letty’s hand, then leaned back in her chair. “Mr. Carmichael’s going to deliver a note to Mr. Darby for us when he goes back to town. Stewart offered me the use of a room in his home for my recouperation. I intend to accept. It will give me a chance to catch up with Charlene and the kids. Might even make it to Sunday services.”

Her eyes lit, and guilt stabbed a hole in Letty’s chest. Grandmother had given up her entire life to protect her. She’d made the sacrifice willingly and had told Letty on several occasions that she harbored no regrets. Loving someone meant putting their needs ahead of your own. Still, Letty hated that someone she loved had been forced to pay such a steep price for loving her in return. But perhaps, it was her turn to feel the sting of sacrifice. To forfeit the security of having her grandmother near in order to ensure her beloved mentor received the care she needed. Maybe she’d even restore some of Grandmother’s freedom in the process.

Letty straightened in her chair and lifted her chin, determined to make her grandmother proud. They’d been preparing for this day for over a decade. She’d do what needed to be done. Just as her grandmother had fifteen years ago.