An Agent for Josie (The Pinkerton Matchmaker Book 31) by P. Creeden

Author:P. Creeden [Creeden, P.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Published: 2019-06-28T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Billy

Normally, Billy did not drink alcohol at all when he was on the case. And that night, he did his best to avoid any spirits, but when he’d gotten to talking to the miners who were drinking and carrying on at the bar in the saloon, they too easily took notice of his abstinence. In order to keep from rousing their suspicion, he’d had to drink two shots of whiskey.

Now as he stumbled a bit heading back to his tent for the night, he regretted that action. Those miners had not one bit of information on the potential uprising. They were more interested in talking about the saloon girls in various state of undress and of how much they hated the boss at the mine. When Billy had tried to steer the conversation toward the local Indian tribes, the miners had looked at him like he’d sprung a second head.

A waste of time.

With a sigh, he stopped at the corner of the alley between the hospital and the post office. He leaned against the corner of the building. He’d always been too busy for drinking. Too busy taking care of his father and brother. Too busy saving lives as a fireman. Too busy working for the Pinkertons. So, he’d never learned to hold his liquor the way other men seemed able to. At least they said they were able to. Billy actually wondered if anyone ever did truly well while under the influence of spirits. It seemed nothing good came out of tucking back a bottle... or even a few shot glasses. He pulled out his pocket watch and checked the time. It was nearly one in the morning. He hung his head a bit and closed his eyes. He was good and tired. That was best. He wouldn’t spend his time thinking about how Josie smelled of lilacs and honey.

The world spun a little bit as he picked up his head. Too late. He’d already thought about how Josie smelled, and it awakened a desire that he thought he’d buried a long time ago. What would it be like to be married to a woman like Josie? Pretty, perfect, and smart—more than smart, a doctor.

He shook his head.

That was never going to happen. Josie was much to good for him.

He’d already decided a long time ago that he was never going to marry—never going to burden a woman with a dumb oaf of a husband. He couldn’t do anything right. Not even sticking to his own promise to himself. He’d not only gotten married, but the woman he’d ended up married to was much too perfect for him.

His heart pinched in his chest as he let out a slow exhalation. It didn’t matter. This marriage was fake anyway.

But what if it wasn’t? What if Josie would stay his wife? His heart leapt into his throat at the thought. She would make a lovely mother, and maybe their children wouldn’t grow up to be oafish like him.

He shook his head again.

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