Chapter 34

34

Philip sprinted down the hall and rounded the corner in time to see the assassin abandon the study door and race for the exit. Thank you, God! Philip gave chase, contorting his body around vases on pedestals and decorative hall trees in an effort to catch his quarry. The man slowed as he reached the closed front door, and Philip pushed harder, intending to tackle him against the wood and prevent his escape. But at the last minute, the intruder turned, gun in hand.

Philip dove sideways as the pistol fired. The bullet meant for his chest grazed off his arm as his body crashed into the entryway wall. As he struggled to gain his feet, the would-be assassin yanked open the front door and fled. Philip pursued, determined to apprehend the man who could testify to Drake Radcliffe’s guilt, but the villain must’ve had a partner, for the moment Philip rushed onto the porch, a volley of gunfire erupted from across the street. Wood slivers and plaster dust exploded around him, sending him scurrying back inside to shield himself with the house.

The report of a rifle interrupted the revolver fire. Carter, bless him. With the cover fire, Philip might just have a chance.

Staying low, he darted outside. Shots ricocheted wildly around him with no particular aim, giving him a chance to sprint down the porch steps and find cover behind one of the large oak trees that shaded the front of the house. He pressed his back against the bark and steeled himself for his next mad dash. Yet even as he pushed away from the tree and spun into the yard, retreating hoofbeats echoed in his ears like the banging of coffin nails.

He ran into the street anyway and spotted two assailants fleeing. He made note of the few distinctive details he could pick out to report to the local law, but the weight of failure pressed onto his shoulders.

In minutes, Radcliffe would have confirmation of Letty’s location. They needed to lock the house down and bring in reinforcements. Clenching his jaw, Philip pivoted and jogged back to the house.

Carter ran up to meet him, rifle in hand. “The folks inside?”

“Unharmed, I think.” Philip slowed so Carter could come alongside. “I’m fixin’ to check on them. I need you to send a wire to my employer.” He halted, pulled his billfold from his pocket, and extracted a card carrying the Pinkerton logo. “Have him send any agents in the area to this address as reinforcements. Fetch the law, too. I’ll need to give a statement.” A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Secrecy is no longer a viable strategy. We need to make this place a fortress until Miss Radcliffe can sign that will tomorrow.”

“I’ll head out right now.” Carter took the card and hurried back to the stable.

Philip jogged around the house’s perimeter to confirm that no attackers remained behind, then ran into the house, shouting an all clear as he made his way toward the study. He reached for the knob on the still-closed door, then opted to knock instead. “It’s Carmichael. Everyone all right in there?”

The door cracked a few inches. Stefan Anderson’s face showed in the opening. “Is it over?”

Not even close. But Philip kept that thought to himself. “For now. Are the ladies well?”

Could the man not get out of the way? It took all the restraint Philip possessed to stop himself from pushing past the lawyer and searching for Letty inside. He needed to see for himself that she was all right.

“Philip?”

Letty’s voice. Stefan turned his attention back into the room, and a few heartbeats later, the door flew wide. Letty stood before Philip, her stylish green dress wrinkled, her coifed hair untidy, and her hazel eyes misty with unshed tears. But she was alive and unharmed.

And now in his arms.

He wasn’t quite sure how it happened. If he reached for her or if she lunged for him, but in all honesty, he didn’t care. He could have lost her today. If he had his druthers, he’d never let go of her again.

He rubbed her back and pressed his cheek against her hair as he thanked God and reveled in the feeling of her heart beating next to his. He longed to touch his lips to her forehead, to murmur words of love in her ear, and to caress her arms and back until every fearful tremor ceased. A discreet cough reminded him of his audience, however, and had him stepping back instead of tugging her closer.

Raised male eyebrows and wide motherly eyes met his gaze when he found the courage to face Letty’s guardians. But before he could think of something appropriate to say, Letty grabbed his wrist and gasped.

“You’re hurt!”

“It’s just a graze.” He tried to shrug off her concern, but she proved unshruggable.

She ran her fingers up his arm to the spot above his elbow where the bullet had creased his skin, her frown deepening as she eyed the blood staining his sleeve. “We need to clean and bandage this right away.”

Leah Radcliffe glided forward and placed a hand on Letty’s shoulder. “Why don’t you fetch Mrs. Krouse. She keeps a medical box in the kitchen.”

Letty nodded and ran off to find the housekeeper, unaware of the tension crackling in the air behind her.

Mrs. Radcliffe narrowed her gaze at Philip, her face hardening. “You saved our lives today, Mr. Carmichael, and for that, I am in your debt.” She laced her quiet words with steel. “But if you think to seduce my daughter to get your hands on her money, I will not hesitate to use the full force of my influence to see you discredited.”

Philip held her gaze as his gut churned. He could either win an ally or destroy his future with the next words that came out of his mouth.

“I care a great deal about your daughter, Mrs. Radcliffe, but I don’t care a hill of beans about her money. Letty is remarkable all on her own. She’s brave, kindhearted, willing to sacrifice for others, and handles adversity without blinking an eye. Any man who wins her heart will be gaining a companion whose worth is far above rubies. Truth be told, her money is the only thing about her I don’t like. I worry that the expectations it manifests will pressure her to put Letty Hood aside in order to become Scarlett Radcliffe.”

Leah Radcliffe’s forehead scrunched, but Philip plunged ahead, knowing he only had a minute or two before Letty reappeared.

“I’m aware that your daughter has led a very sheltered life. She’s not had the chance to meet men or experience much of the world. You have my word that I will not press my suit until she has had ample time to explore her options. I, on the other hand, have seen far too much of the world, and I know without a doubt that Letty is the best fit for me that I will ever find. So if she will have me after she decides what she desires from her future, I will spend the rest of my life honoring and cherishing her.” He shrugged. “If I’m no longer what she wants, then I’ll go on my way and not darken your door again.”

Stefan Anderson scowled. “I’ll be launching a full investigation into your character and your past, Carmichael. If you so much as cheated on a grammar-school spelling test, I’ll find it.”

Philip nodded, having expected nothing less. “Dig away. My parents are Dale and Rose Carmichael of Parker County. They can put you in touch with Miss Peterson, my grade-school spelling teacher, along with everyone else who knew me as a rambunctious kid.” He tipped his head toward Letty’s mother. “Mrs. Radcliffe can connect you with my employer and secure a copy of my work history. Like you, I want Letty to be protected, so please use whatever strings you have at your disposal to tie up her inheritance so her husband can’t touch it. I don’t want it anyway, and I don’t want a man who does to take advantage of her innocent nature. It’s a man’s duty to provide for his family. That’s how I was raised, and that’s what I aim to do.”

Mrs. Radcliffe stepped forward, her expression softer, her eyes shimmering. “I just got my daughter back, Mr. Carmichael. I’m not ready to lose her again.”

His heart pricked. “There’s no hurry for any of this, ma’am. You and Letty need time to get to know each other again. That ranks above any courtin’ plans.”

Approaching footsteps announced Letty’s imminent return. Philip glanced back at Mrs. Radcliffe. “I’m willing to wait for her as long as necessary.”

****

After allowing Letty to doctor his arm, Philip focused his attention on coordinating the household defense. A deputy came by to take his statement and those of Mrs. Radcliffe and Mr. Anderson. He took note of the bullet holes in the walls and the crease on Philip’s arm and jotted down their theory of Drake Radcliffe’s involvement but gave no indication that he found any validity to the supposition. He mumbled something about writing up his report and turning it over to the sheriff, but Philip didn’t hold out much hope that a thorough investigation would occur. Drake Radcliffe hadn’t risen to his position without being able to manipulate everyone in a position of power around him. He likely had dirt on law enforcement officers, newspapermen, and even judges.

Wendell and Harper arrived less than an hour after Carter sent the telegram. Philip brought them up to speed on the case, and while they weren’t exactly thrilled that Philip had been less than forthcoming with them at the start, they understood the secretive nature of the job and agreed to lend their assistance. One guarded the front of the house, the other the rear. After Rusty was brought inside. The wolf didn’t take too kindly to strange men in his territory. Having the animal inside did more than allow a trained guard to patrol the rear of the house, however. It gave Letty a personal bodyguard. Should anyone slip past their defenses, Rusty would keep Letty safe.

The house was a rather dim and dreary place with all the windows shuttered, but Mrs. Radcliffe had extra lamps brought into the front parlor, and she and the servants did their best to distract Letty with games of charades and singing around the upright piano. Letty didn’t know many of the words to the songs they chose, but she caught on quickly, joining in on the choruses. It made him smile from his position on the porch, taking his shift guarding the front of the house. Made him long for a future where he would join her in a parlor of their own, singing and playing games and laughing until their sides ached.

As night descended, Philip shifted to the rear guard for the first watch. Harper relieved him for a few hours so he could catch some shut-eye. As much as he hated surrendering to sleep with Letty still in danger, he knew he’d do a better job protecting her if he wasn’t dead on his feet.

Thankfully, the night passed with no further attacks. The sun rose, full of promise and hope as Letty’s twenty-first birthday dawned. Philip joined the small group gathered around the breakfast table, sipping coffee and tea as they attempted to ward off the effects of a poor night’s sleep. Even Rusty looked tired, his body stretched across Letty’s feet under the table.

Philip’s gaze met Letty’s from across the table, both of them with cups raised halfway to their mouths. She smiled at him over the brim of hers, and immediately, the fancy furnishings disappeared from his view along with the papered walls and glittering chandelier. Only he and Letty remained, sitting at a campfire, sharing a cup of coffee at the start of a new day. His chest ached as he longed for a return of that simplicity and the intimacy of being alone together.

Her mother slid a small box tied with a bow in front of Letty and drew her attention away from Philip.

“Happy birthday, darling.”

Letty set her cup aside and placed her hands on either side of the box, as if afraid to actually touch it but clearly wanting to do just that. “What is this?”

Mrs. Radcliffe smiled. “I know today is a big day for other reasons, but it is still your birthday. The first one I’ve been able to share with you for far too long. I wanted to give you something. I’ve been holding on to this particular gift for over a decade.”

Curiosity won out over trepidation. Letty took hold of the box and drew it to the edge of the table. Delight sparkling in her eyes, she pulled the bow loose and unwrapped the decorative paper surrounding a box that looked like it came from a jeweler.

A cramp hit Philip’s gut. Nothing he could give her would be able to compete with the jewels and finery her family could provide. Yet as she peeked up at him, including him in her excitement, he realized that he’d seen that same giddiness in her eyes when she’d discovered wild onions growing in the woods or a pair of moth-eaten trousers from a bunkhouse rag bin. It was the surprise and the knowledge that someone had thought of her that brought her joy, not the expense of the gift.

She pried open the clasped lid of the velvet box and sucked in her breath at the simple gold locket shining in the lamplight.

“Open it,” her mother urged, the look on her face nearly as giddy as that of her daughter.

Letty pried it open and found two photographs nestled inside. One, a younger version of her mother, and the other, a man who could only be Lowell Radcliffe.

Tears filled Letty’s eyes as she stroked the edge of the locket with her fingertip. “Daddy,” she whispered. In a blink she was out of her chair and wrapping her arms around her mother’s neck. Her mother laughed softly.

“I wanted a way for both of us to be with you all the time. I only wish I’d have thought of it before you left.”

Letty returned to the box and removed the locket from its velvet bed. “I love it! Put it on me?”

“Of course.” Leah Radcliffe dabbed at her eyes for a moment, then rose and gracefully crossed to where her daughter stood bouncing in anticipation.

Once the chain was fastened, Letty turned and gave her mother another hug. “Thank you, Mama.”

Mrs. Radcliffe reached for a thin chain she wore around her own neck, one that had been hidden by her high collar. She drew out a similar locket from inside her dress. “I’ve one to match.” She opened it. The same photo of Lowell Radcliffe sat on the left, but on the right was a face Philip would recognize anywhere. “Each time I received a photograph from your grandmother, I had a miniature made so that I could keep you close to my heart. Just like I promised.”

Now both women were dabbing their eyes. Shoot, even Philip’s were growing misty.

A throat cleared, and all gazes turned to Stefan Anderson. “I’m sorry to interrupt this lovely moment, but the sooner Scarlett signs the will, the sooner she’ll be out of danger.”

Leah Radcliffe nodded. “Yes. Let’s get this business done, shall we? I’m eager to dispel the cloud looming over Letty’s head.”

The signing concluded in a matter of minutes. Anderson provided four copies of the document. One for Letty. One for him to keep on file with his records. One to file with the court should Drake attempt to contest it, and one to be delivered to Drake Radcliffe as proof that he no longer had anything to gain by hurting Letty. That one Philip intended to deliver himself. Not only to ensure Drake Radcliffe received it, but to give the man an extra few things to consider. Like the fact that the Pinkertons had opened a case on him and planned to see him behind bars before the year was out. Should he wish to avoid prison, he might consider an extended stay abroad.

Philip tucked the folded papers into his coat and headed for the front hall. Letty hurried after him and placed her hand on his arm before he could reach for the door.

“Philip, wait.”

He turned toward her, glad to see that no one but Rusty had followed. A piece of hair had fallen along her cheek, likely a casualty from the locket excitement. Tenderness welled inside him, and before he could talk himself out of it, he lifted a hand and tucked the stray strand behind her ear.

She reached up and covered his hand with her own. “Promise me you’ll be careful. Uncle Drake is ruthless. He’s not to be trusted.”

He smiled, partially to reassure her, but mostly because her concern touched the dark places inside that had been lonely for far too long. “I know. I’ll keep my wits about me.”

“You still owe me a conversation.”

He rubbed his thumb over her cheek. “I haven’t forgotten.” Though the longer he stood here, the harder it would be to remember that particular conversation wasn’t supposed to end in a marriage proposal.

Gently, he tugged his hand away from hers and pivoted toward the door. “I’ll be back soon.” He glanced over his shoulder. “And then you’ll be free.”

Free to bring Scarlett Radcliffe back to life and figure out who she would be.

Philip collected Steele and rode to a large estate on the edge of town. Dark-gray stone rose from the ground to form a house built to impress, not to welcome. The stone radiated no warmth, only cold superiority. A crushed-shell path crunched beneath his feet as he made his way to the front door after leaving his mount with a groom. Tall, imposing hedges barbed with long thorns surrounded the fortress.

What kind of a man surrounded his home with thornbushes?

Philip clenched his jaw. The same kind who hired men to kill his niece.

A stodgy butler showed him into a receiving room, then left to fetch Mr. Radcliffe. Philip expected to be left to cool his heels a good long while so was surprised when Drake Radcliffe made a prompt appearance.

“Mr. Carmichael! How pleased I am to make your acquaintance.” A middle-aged man who looked like he’d enjoyed too much wine and not enough exercise over the last decade strode into the room bearing a wide smile and cold eyes. “It’s good to finally meet the man responsible for bringing my beloved niece home safely.”

Philip wasn’t in the mood to play pretend. He reached into his jacket and pulled out the will he’d been tasked to deliver. He held it out to Radcliffe. “Your niece is no longer your concern. She has come of age, claimed her inheritance, and crafted a will that removes you as a beneficiary. In the event of her death, you won’t receive a single penny.”

Radcliffe clasped the edge of the papers, but Philip held fast to his end, not yet ready to relinquish them.

“You should know that the Pinkertons have opened an investigation into allegations that you hired assassins to eliminate Miss Radcliffe so you could claim her inheritance. It’s only a matter of time before we collect enough evidence to convict you.”

Philip released his end of the folded will, sending Radcliffe tottering backward a step.

The man’s face darkened as he quickly regained his lost ground and thrust himself forward. “How dare you insinuate that I would harm my niece! Did my lovely sister-in-law bat her eyes at you and get you to believe her lies? She’s a snake in lamb’s clothing, that one. I don’t know what my brother ever saw in her. I’m thrilled that Scarlett is home safe, and while I find it sad that her mother and grandmother have poisoned her against me to the point that she would write me out of this new will, I bear her no ill will. You see, Mr. Carmichael, I learned some very valuable lessons from my brother before his untimely death. The most important being ...” His false affability fell away to reveal a cunning smile. “Always have a contingency plan.”

A quiet shuffle sounded behind Philip. He reached for his gun, but before he could turn, something hard slammed against his head. The world went black as Philip crumpled to the carpet.