A Love All Her Own (2 page)

Two

The trip by train to Hot Springs was long, but Abigail was so relieved to get out of Eureka Springs she hardly noticed. It had taken longer than she expected—or wanted—to pack and close her home for an extended stay away, but finally she had left on the evening train on Thursday, August 5. From Eureka Springs, she’d gone through Fayetteville and on to Fort Smith. Arriving there late that night, she switched from the Frisco line to the Iron Mountain line, where her father had booked a sleeping berth for her. She’d thought she wouldn’t be able to sleep, but the rocking motion of the train lulled her into a deep slumber so that she woke refreshed and excited to finish the last leg of the trip. After freshening up and eating breakfast at Malvern, she switched trains for the last time and watched the scenery pass by, glad that she would be at Hot Springs that afternoon.

Abigail had been very busy ever since she agreed to go to Hot Springs instead of Europe. The relief she felt that she wouldn’t have to stay in Eureka Springs and be humiliated further by the gossip and speculation as to why Nate was going to marry Meagan Snow instead of her was huge. It energized her enough to decide what to take with her and arrange to have her home closed until she returned—if she ever did. At the moment, she couldn’t imagine wanting to go back to Eureka Springs, but she wasn’t about to voice that opinion to her parents.

As the train neared Hot Springs, Abigail looked out the window and could see the edge of the Ouachita Mountains getting closer. She wondered if Hot Springs was going to be that much different from her hometown and then decided that it didn’t matter. What did was that she didn’t know anyone here. There would be no one to know her background or to gossip about her.

She could feel both the excitement and apprehension of being on her own in a strange place begin to mount as the train slowed down and entered Hot Springs. The city seemed to be situated in a narrow valley between mountains, with pines scaling one mountainside while hickory, oaks, and other hardwoods covered the opposite mountainside. She caught glimpses of pink and purple flowers here and there. As the train eased to a stop and blew its whistle at the train depot, Abigail stood and shook out her skirts. She was glad she’d chosen a frock of brown and beige foulard. It didn’t show the dust and ash from train travel quite as badly as other colors.

Her papa had told her that there would be someone to meet her at the train depot, and as she gathered her parasol and reticule and made her way to the exit, she hoped he was right. Suddenly, the fact that she was alone in a strange place weighed down on her, and she realized that she wasn’t quite as brave and independent as she wanted everyone to think. She stepped off the train and looked around, only she wasn’t sure whom she was looking for or what he might look like.

❧

Over the last two weeks, Marcus had received a detailed letter and several telegrams from Jacob Connors. He’d found out that Miss Connors had been planning on getting married recently but that the marriage had been called off and she wanted to get away. She’d be checking out some business dealings for her father while she was there. The man didn’t expect her to be watched around the clock—he just wanted her safe. Although Jacob didn’t give Marcus any more information than that, they’d kept the telegraph lines busy while they came up with an elaborate plan to make sure Abigail Connors got
to Hot Springs safely—and hopefully without her suspecting
anything, at least while she was traveling. Jacob had told Marcus that Abigail knew someone from the Wellington Agency would be watching over her—whether she liked it or not—once she got to Hot Springs, but she wasn’t to know that she’d be watched all the way to Hot Springs.

From what Jacob had told him, Marcus had a feeling Miss Connors was quite independent and, if he wasn’t mistaken, quite a bit spoiled. Still, she was Jacob’s daughter, and he was going to do all he could to keep her safe and out of trouble during her stay in Hot Springs.

With most of his agents on assignment or on much-needed leave, Marcus had assigned Luke Monroe, a young man whom he’d been able to clear of a crime he didn’t commit but had served time in prison for, to see that Miss Connors reached Hot Springs safely.

At twenty, Luke had no living relatives and no place to call home. Marcus had found he just couldn’t let the young man fend for himself. Although his name had been cleared, Luke would have a hard time finding a job, and Marcus had wanted to help.

When he’d asked Luke if he wanted to join the Wellington Agency and learn the business from desk clerk up, Luke hadn’t hesitated a moment. “Oh, yes, sir! I’d love to help somebody one day the way you helped me,” he’d said.

That was all it took. Marcus owned the building that housed his office and his own apartment, and he happened to have a vacancy
and
a need for a building manager. He offered the apartment as part of Luke’s pay, along with a salary. In the meantime, he’d train the young man to be a good agent.

When he offered Luke the position, he’d thought he’d seen the sheen of tears in the young man’s eyes. “Sir,” Luke had said, “I’ll never make you sorry for helping me. I promise you. I want to be one of the best agents you have, and I’ll work hard to become just that.”

“I can’t ask for more than that, Luke. You can move in the apartment today—it’s furnished. And you can start work tomorrow.”

That had been six months ago, and although this was Luke’s first real assignment, Marcus didn’t have one doubt that Luke would do all he could to do the job right, to see that Abigail Connors got on the right trains and that she was not bothered by anyone on her way, all without her knowing she was being watched.

Marcus had sent Luke to Eureka Springs two days before Abigail was to leave. Jacob had met him, and they’d arranged for him to be at the train station when Jacob and his wife took Abigail to catch her train so that he would know exactly who it was he’d been hired to keep safe.

Afterward, Jacob had sent Marcus a telegram letting him know that Abigail and the agent were on their way. All Marcus had to do was meet her train when it came in that afternoon.

Normally, Luke did a lot of the mail and telegram sorting from the desk across the room. Then he’d give it to Marcus in order of importance. Marcus had gotten used to the young man sharing the office with him but knew that since he’d put him in the field, the young man would be wanting another outside assignment soon. Marcus read the other telegrams he’d received that morning and decided what needed to be answered right away, keeping an eye on the clock so that he wouldn’t be late to meet the train. When his telephone rang one quick and two sharp rings, he jumped and hurried over to the wall where it was installed. He still wasn’t used to the modern convenience, but his parents had convinced him that if he was planning to expand his business, he really should have one put in at his office. It stood silent most of the time, and when it did ring, most times it was his mother—making sure it worked.

Marcus wasn’t the least bit surprised to hear her voice on the line now. “Marcus dear, what time is it that Jacob and Georgette’s daughter arrives today?”

“She’s coming in on the afternoon train, Mother.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to bring her by this afternoon, dear?”

“Jacob said she would most likely be tired from travel and that she would probably want to get settled into the hotel.”

“I do wish he’d just have sent her here. We have plenty of room and—”

“Maybe you can convince her to stay with you and Papa once she gets to know you, Mother.”

“Perhaps. When your father telegraphed Jacob, though, it sounded as if he thought she’d want to stay in the hotel. But we’ll see what we can do to change her mind.”

Marcus smiled, knowing that his mother would do just that. “I’m sure you will, Mother. I’ll bring her by tomorrow as planned, all right?”

“That will be fine, son. I have a nice dinner planned. Will you be over for dinner tonight?”

“Not this evening, Mother, but thank you. I need to make sure the arrangements I’ve made for Miss Connors will work out.”

“All right then, son. I’ll see you tomorrow. I am so glad you had a telephone put in.”

Marcus couldn’t contain his chuckle. “Yes, I know. I am, too, Mother.” He replaced the receiver and looked at the clock. He’d finish the schedules he made each week for his agents and then head down to the depot. He was anxious to meet Abigail Connors and try to figure out what he’d be requiring the agents he assigned to her to do. He prayed that she wouldn’t be too much of a handful, but in reading between the lines of Jacob’s correspondence, Marcus had a feeling she would be.

❧

Abigail stood at the bottom of the steps for only a minute or two before a man whose size alone was slightly intimidating approached her. He was broad shouldered and dressed impeccably. . .and he towered over her. He took his hat off and addressed her.

“Miss Connors? Abigail Connors?” He looked down at her with a smile that brought out a dimple in his cheek and made her catch her breath.

He must be the man her father had arranged to meet her, Abigail thought. She found herself looking into the bluest eyes she’d ever seen, and they seemed to be looking right into her soul. “Yes, I’m Abigail Connors.”

“I’m Marcus Wellington of Wellington Agency. Your father—”

“Yes, I’m aware that my father hired you to watch over me. I tried to tell him that your services weren’t needed, but he insisted.”

“He just wants to make sure you are safe while you are here.”

“Yes, well, I’m sure I will be.”

Marcus chuckled. “I know you will be as long as I’m responsible for seeing that you are.”

How dare he laugh at her! “You are quite confident of yourself, aren’t you, Mr. Wellington?”

He irritated her even further by grinning at her. A dimple appeared near his mouth. But his tone was serious when he answered, “My business depends on me being able to do what I say I will, Miss Connors. And I’ve promised your father that you will be safe while under my agency’s watchfulness. Now, let’s get your bags, and I’ll see you to your hotel.”

It appeared Mr. Wellington was as bossy as he was confident. There was no point, however, in arguing with the man. Her father had hired his agency, and she really couldn’t do anything about that. Besides, he was the son of good friends of her parents, and she’d given her parents enough to go through lately. She would put up with him if she had to, but she didn’t like his cockiness one bit—even if he did try to cover it with the most beautiful smile she’d ever seen.

Marcus led her into the train depot, where they waited for her baggage to be unloaded from the train. Once it was brought over and he saw the trunk and bags she said were hers, Marcus arranged for the luggage to be sent over to the Arlington Hotel, where she would be staying. Then he hired a hackney to take them to the hotel. That he knew how to take charge couldn’t be disputed—he seemed to command respect without demanding it.

He helped her into the cab and then took a seat beside her. “I do hope you enjoy your visit to our city, Miss Connors. Your father said you would be taking care of some business for him while you are here.”

Dear Papa.
“Yes. He’s thinking of investing in a bathhouse venture and wants me to look into the ones here in Hot Springs.”

“The hotel where you are staying is on what we call Bathhouse Row. You’ll see that there are a few new bathhouses
under construction. You do have them in Eureka Springs, don’t
you?”

“Just a few, although our hotels are built near the springs for the guests’ convenience.” Abigail glanced about as they rode through downtown and noticed that Hot Springs seemed to be way ahead of her hometown in some ways. The boardwalks that were only talked about in Eureka Springs were a reality here and were uniformly wide. Her mother would love them. She’d be sure and write her parents about it. Perhaps they could nudge the city leaders to move a little faster.

Mr. Wellington pointed to the buildings they were passing by. “Here are the bathhouses. There is the Palace Bathhouse, and the one right next to it is the Independent. Then there is the Hale Bathhouse and the Big Iron.”

As he pointed them all out, Abigail was impressed with how nice they looked standing in a row with magnolia trees lining the street that ran in front of them. The huge white blossoms of the magnolias smelled wonderful. Pine trees grew up the mountain behind them, yet on the mountain behind the buildings across the street, there seemed to be mostly oak and hickory trees, leafy and green. It really was a beautiful setting, and Abigail looked forward to visiting each bathhouse to see what it offered.

“Here we are,” Mr. Wellington said as the hackney pulled up in front of a very nice hotel. “I think you’ll enjoy your stay at the Arlington. It’s one of the nicest in town. The Hays will be even nicer once they get through remodeling, but it isn’t due to open until next year. For now, you are staying at one of the best hotels in town.”

He paid the driver and helped her down from the cab. Abigail didn’t offer to reimburse him—she supposed it would be included in what her father paid the man. He did see her into the hotel, and she was impressed by the lovely interior. The desk clerk was very nice when she registered, and a bellboy came immediately to show her to her room.

“Her bags will be sent over from the train depot. Please see that she gets them as soon as they arrive,” Marcus said to the man at the desk.

“Certainly, Mr. Wellington.”

Marcus Wellington followed her and the bellboy up the stairs to the second-floor rooms she’d been given. When she looked at him questioningly, he bent and whispered in her ear, “I make it a practice to check out the rooms of my clients to make sure there are no surprises.”