Page 2 of Mail-Order Millie (A Mail-Order Mystery #1)
Two
“ H ave you got everything you need?”
Bramford Joseph Henry met the eyes of his boss, Jules Monroe. He and Dr. Rueben Newell led one of the biggest presidential spy operations in the country and did it all from a nothing little town in Montana. It was the perfect set up, and Bram was moving up the ranks quickly. “Yes, sir,” he said.
“Now remember, you and our man from Boise are to capture Bill Krantz, turn him over to our other operative at the appointed place and time, and then you take Krantz’s place. You and Krantz look enough alike that his new boss won’t notice. He’s also new to Baker City, so no one else should notice either. Our man keeping an eye on Krantz said he sent off for a mail-order bride. She’s to meet Krantz in Baker City, so it’s the perfect cover.”
Bram rolled his eyes. “I’m not sure about this part. Do I have to marry some poor girl?”
“She’ll be none the wiser,” Jules said. “Besides, you won’t really be married. Don’t register the license. And she’ll be well compensated when it’s all over.”
“And she won’t be in danger?” Bram asked.
“She’ll be fine. Remember, you’re just gathering information. I want to know if the Double K Ranch is a cover for something else. If our old enemy Salim “Sal” Abiqua has anything to do with this, then this is bigger than we first thought.” Jules paced to the other side of the church office and back. “Krantz just got hired on as the Double K’s bookkeeper. If there’s anything crooked going on, they’ll try to butter you up right quick.”
“Bribery, fine. I can handle that. Does this Krantz have a residence in town?”
“He does. Krantz rented a small house on a dead-end street.” He slapped Bram on the back. “Don’t worry, you’ll be back dining in the finest restaurants and enjoying your townhouse in Washington soon enough.”
“I understand sir,” Bram said. “And don’t get me wrong. I enjoy working in the field. If anyone on the Double K is up to no good, I’ll find out what it is.”
Jules patted his shoulder. “I know you will. Now, go to the hotel, get some rest, and be ready to leave for Bozeman at first light. Your train departs in two days. Once you get to Baker City, get to work. It’s our guess that Krantz’s bride will arrive a week or so after you do, so you’ll have to move quickly.”
“Understood.” Bram shook Jules’ hand. “May I ask a question, sir?”
“Of course.”
Bram smiled. “Do you like living in Apple Blossom?”
“I do. And I like my cover as the town preacher. Just like Rueben likes being the town doctor. We get to do what we love and spy for the president all at the same time.”
“But… do your wives know what you do?”
“They do now. One can only keep our line of work a secret for so long. But as far as the rest of the town is concerned, they haven’t got a clue. Except for Captain Merriweather of course.” He grinned.
Bram’s eyes widened. He met him only once, and Captain Merriweather almost speared him with a harpoon!
“Best get going,” Jules advised.
Bram put on his hat and left the church. He’d come to town posing as a distant relative of “Preacher Monroe’s” and had been there a few days. Apple Blossom was a quaint little place and surrounded by apple orchards. It also had an odd history.
A little over ten years ago, outlaws came to town, robbed the bank and took off. A posse was formed to go after them but was ambushed. Only one of the posse members escaped the massacre. After the tragedy, the women had to fend for themselves. Which they did, and quite admirably too. The sheriff’s daughter became the sheriff. The general store owner’s daughter took over the store. The blacksmith’s daughter took over his business, widows took over for their husbands and on it went. But the town struggled and would fade if they didn’t get more people to move there. Lucky for Apple Blossom, six Englishmen came to town, stayed to help some of the women out, and wound up marrying them!
He sighed when he reached the hotel and trudged up the stairs to his room. Phileas Darlington—one of the Englishmen—and his wife Dora were wonderful, and he enjoyed listening to their stories of the town and some of its more colorful residents.
He packed and had some letters to write and should get them done so he could mail them when he got to Bozeman. He thought of his upcoming assignment and how to transport Bill Krantz to the meeting point. Once he handed him over, he was the other agent’s problem.
“But what about his mail-order bride?” he mused aloud. “What am I going to do about her?”
Bram paced the room, thinking. The last thing he wanted was a woman underfoot. She’d get in the way for sure and probably get hurt. Women were curious creatures, and their curiosity often got them into trouble. What was Jules thinking telling him to go ahead and take Krantz’s bride?
His eyes lit up as he got an idea. “I’ll tell her I want to court first.” He paced some more. “I can put her up in a hotel in town. Then she’d be out of my hair.” He went to the window. “And I wouldn’t have to go through the hassle of getting an annulment later.”
He smiled and clasped his hands behind his back. It was a good plan, and he didn’t think Jules would mind. After all, the last thing he needed was some poor woman following him around. A new bride often tried to please her new husband, and Heaven forbid she be pretty and tempt him.
Bram closed his eyes against the thought. It was best not to marry at all. Obviously, Jules Monroe didn’t think this through. Unless he thought it a good way to get Bram a wife. Everyone figured he’d be married by now. But he enjoyed working in the field, and he couldn’t have a wife while doing a lot of field work. It was too dangerous, and he didn’t want to make some poor woman a widow.
He sighed, stepped away from the window and looked at his carpetbag. He should buy some extra ammunition before he left. If he was watched in Baker City, he didn’t want anyone questioning why their new mild-mannered bookkeeper was buying up bullets. They especially didn’t need to see a woman with him while he did it. She’d have a target on her back after that, and there were no guarantees he could protect her.