An Angel in the Mail (23 page)

“Maybe you better tell me what you want, lady.”

Lucy took a deep breath. “There is a woman in town I want investigated.”

When he didn’t answer, or change expression, she wiped her hands on her dress, and continued. “She hasn’t been here long, but I have reason to believe she has something in her background that may be criminal.”

“Criminal, huh? You mean like she might be wanted by the law?”

Hmm. A genius. “Maybe, I’m not sure. I want to know everything you can find out about her.”

Mr. McNeil took out a piece of paper and pencil and made scrawling marks at the top of the page.

“Give me the information.”

Lucy leaned forward and lowered her voice. “Her name is Angel Hale, but her maiden name, I understand, is Hardwick.”

She smiled with satisfaction at the pencil moving over the paper, as the investigator took down all her information.

Matt and Mark raced up the street toward Nate as he turned the corner.

“Papa, guess what? Angel’s mama is here,” Mark gasped.

Nate frowned. “Her mama?” Her mother was dead, and he was pretty sure the stepmother had gone to Virginia. Sylvia planned to enjoy the hospitality of her sister, who’d had no room for Angel.

Thank God.

“She has a headache.” Mark pushed his brother aside, not to be outdone in the purveyor of information.

Nate frowned as he opened the gate. “Who has a headache? Angel?”

“No, Angel’s mama. She came ‘cause she has a headache.”

“And needed a cup of tea,” Matt finished.

What the devil had happened in his absence? He opened the front door and headed toward the kitchen where Angel worked. As he passed the parlor, he stopped abruptly and stared at the room. Trunks were piled everywhere. One of them lay open, and frothy feminine things spilled out. He frowned, and continued on to the kitchen.

Angel wiped her hands on her apron, and gave him a tentative smile.

“What’s going on, honey?”

Her cheeks were flushed and she chewed her lower lip.

“Um, why don’t you sit down, and I’ll get you a cup of coffee.” She busied herself at the stove.

“I don’t want coffee, just information.” He kissed the back of her neck and turned her so she faced him. She stood, wringing her hands, her face pale, as she stared at him.

“Come here.” He took by her hand, and led her to a chair. Nate sat, and tugged her into his lap.

“What’s wrong? You’re a nervous wreck, and your hands are cold.” He tucked a strand of hair that had escaped from her bun behind her ear. “The boys said something about your mama.”

Angel took a deep breath, and lowered her head. “My stepmother Sylvia is here. She’s had a bad time since she left me, and she plans to stay here with us.” She mumbled the last part of the sentence, so Nate placed his finger under her chin, and raised her head to look her in the eyes.

“Would you mind repeating that last part?”

She cleared her throat. “She plans to stay here with us?”

“Are you asking me or telling me?” He questioned.

“Is that all right?”

“Suppose you give me a bit more information before I answer that.” He shifted her on his lap, and slid his arms around her waist. “If I remember correctly, she’s the woman who gave you no choice about traveling across country, by yourself, to marry a stranger. She left you so she could make a comfortable home for herself with her sister in Virginia, and she’s here expecting to be welcomed with open arms?”

“I know.” Angel ducked her head again. “From what Sylvia told me, the war came to their front door, and they were tossed from their house by the Yankees. She and her sister relocated to Richmond to stay with friends, and while staying there her sister contracted scarlet fever and died. Not having anywhere else to go, she came here.”

“To her beloved stepdaughter.” Nate smirked.

“Please, she’s really in a bad way. For Sylvia to come to my doorstep, with all her belongings, I know things had to be terrible for her. Even though she has her faults, I can’t turn my back on her. She’s my papa’s widow.”

“Darlin’, you are too soft hearted, but then I guess that’s why I love you.” He said softly.

Angel looked up abruptly, a slight smile tugging at her lips. “You love me?”

He watched her carefully. Did she return his feelings? Should he have waited before speaking? He ran his knuckles across her cheek. “Oh, yes. You have turned my life upside down, and taken over my heart.”

Angel’s eyes filled with tears, and she swallowed. “Good.” She leaned her forehead on his, and lowered her voice. “Because I love you, too, and I didn’t want to be alone in my feelings.”

He pulled her close and took possession of her mouth in a hungry kiss. A wave of happiness washed over him. This wonderful woman returned his feelings.

Nate reluctantly released her sweet mouth. “Honey, this is your home, too. If you want to let her stay, then it’s fine with me. Where is she, anyway?”

“Um, that’s the other thing. She’s resting upstairs on our bed.”

“Our bed!”

“Shush,” Angel said. “She was distraught when she arrived, and had a headache, so I offered her our room to rest for a while. You do remember the shape I was in when I reached Oregon City?” She winced. “I must admit, she looked much better than I did, though.”

Julia-Rose picked that moment to bang on the floor with one of her brother’s wooden soldiers. “Mama! Up.”

Angel rescued the child from her play area and returned to the kitchen.

Nate took the baby from her, and stretched his arms up so Julia-Rose dangled over his head. “Hello, my sweetie. Have you been a good girl today?”

Julia-Rose smiled as a line of drool fell from her mouth to his nose. “Thanks, honey. Now I won’t need to wash before supper.” He studied her forehead as he handed her off to Angel before he washed his hands and face. “What happened to her head this time?”

“She fell down the stairs.”

Nate blew out a breath. “Where are we going to put Sylvia?” He rubbed his face with a cloth.

“I thought maybe the bedroom downstairs?”

“You mean my library?” He raised one eyebrow.

“We can move the bookcases into the parlor, and pretend that’s a library.” She considered him with hope in her eyes.

“That’s fine, we can do that. We’ll have to buy another bed, and move things around. I won’t be able to do that until Saturday. Where will she sleep in the meantime?”

Angel peeked at him under thick, dark eyelashes.

“No.” He rested his hands on his hips. “I’m not back on the settee, again?”

Sylvia had requested a tray in her room instead of eating with the family. Angel fixed a plate of the chicken and buttered a slice of fresh bread. She added a tall glass of cold milk, and had Matt bring it up. He returned a few minutes later. “Angel’s mama wants to know where her tea is.”

“Tell her I’ll send it to her when supper’s finished.” Angel spoke over her shoulder as she tied Julia-Rose into her chair.

Matt came back down, wide-eyed. “Angel’s mama wants her tea now.”

Nate looked up from filling Julia-Rose’s bowl. “Tell Angel’s mama that Angel’s
husband
said she’ll get her tea when supper’s over.”

When Matt returned this time, he didn’t say a word, but slid into his seat and grabbed his fork.

Nate’s eyes flashed. “I won’t have that woman turning you into a maid.”

“I wonder, what did happen to her maid?” Angel thoughtfully chewed on a piece of bread. “It just now occurred to me. She accompanied Sylvia to Virginia.”

“She probably begged the enemy to take her with them.” He wiped his mouth with a napkin. “As long as she doesn’t think you’re her maid now.”

Angel sent Mark to get Sylvia’s tray, and she and Nate cleaned the kitchen. The usual confusion reigned as the boys settled at the table to do homework. Angel spent time helping Luke and John copy their letters on a slate, and then devoted a half hour to Mark’s reading, before the boy grew restless.

Nate got Julia-Rose ready for bed, and since the baby couldn’t keep her eyes open, he carried her upstairs with her rag doll clutched firmly in her chubby hands.

It was well past suppertime when Angel arranged the tea things, and carried the tray to Sylvia herself.

“Oh, thank goodness.” Sylvia smiled brightly at Angel.

“I’m sorry it took so long, but I had to help the boys with homework.”

“Dear, I think you work much too hard. Why doesn’t Nathan hire some help?”

“Nate’s not in a position to hire servants, Sylvia.” Angel placed the tray on the bed and poured tea for both of them. She’d added a small plate of sugar cookies from the bakery.

“It looks as though your marriage is working out well.” Sylvia took the steaming cup from her hand.

Thoughts of nights in their dark bedroom in Nate’s arms made heat rise in her face. “I would say it’s worked out quite well, actually.”

Sylvia closed her eyes as she savored the tea. “So, you’re not angry with me anymore?”

Angel shook her head. “I still think you played a dirty trick on Nate. He expected someone who knew how to run a home, with everything that entails. Instead he got me, who knew absolutely nothing about running a household.”

Sylvia covered Angel’s hand with her own. “Was it very hard?”

“You should have seen my first breakfast.” She smiled at the memory, and both women laughed.

“I can imagine. But it all worked out, and I can see you’re very happy. My faith in your ability to succeed was not misplaced.” Sylvia squeezed Angel’s hand.

They drank their tea in comfortable silence until a slight knock on the door caught their attention. Nate stood in the doorway for a moment, studying them.

“I assume you’re Mr. Hale?” Sylvia simpered, putting forth her best smile. She held out her hand as if Nate would come forth and kiss it. Instead, he walked slowly into the room, and shook it.

“Nice to meet you, ma’am.”

“Please, have a seat.” She seemed oblivious to the fact that this was Nate’s house, his bedroom, and his bed.

Raising his eyebrows, he took the chair from the fireplace, carried it next to the bed, and turning it around, straddled it, leaning his arms on the back.

“So tell me, Sylvia, what brings you all the way out here?”

“I don’t know how much Angel told you, but the situation with my sister disappointed me.” She shifted slightly and glanced at Angel. “Not long after I arrived, that nasty war started, and it didn’t take long for our house to be seized by the enemy. And I explained to them that I was
not
a southern woman. Needless to say, that was most distressing.” She fumbled in the blankets for a handkerchief, which she used to dab her eyes.

“Louise and I were forced to remove ourselves to Richmond where she had friends.” She stopped to delicately blow her nose.

“Continue,” Nate said, not unkindly.

“My dear sister caught the scarlet fever, and within days she was gone.” She grasped Angel’s hand. “She was never a strong person.” She sighed, obviously upset with her sister for dying and leaving her in dire straits.

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Indeed,” Sylvia sniffed. “Anyway, I knew the only one I could turn to in my time of need was my dear stepdaughter.” She inhaled deeply and flashed a brave smile.

Nate hesitated. “You mean the same stepdaughter you sent on a train to travel thousands of miles by herself to marry a complete stranger?” He pushed himself away from the back of the chair and stood up, hands on his hips, regarding her in stony silence.

“But,” Sylvia flushed as she looked from him to Angel, and twisted her handkerchief, “It all seems to have worked out. Angel tells me she’s happy.”

He grinned and ran his fingers through his hair. “Truthfully, I can’t thank you enough for sending my wife to me. And yes, I believe she’s happy, as am I. However, that doesn’t excuse what you did to her. After the shenanigans you pulled, I’m all for putting you on the next stage out of town.”

At her startled look, he softened. “But it seems my wife has a tender heart, so I’ve agreed to let you stay. But I want to make it clear that Angel is not a maid. You’ll do your share of the chores, and make no extra work for her. Is that clear?”

“Of course.” Wide-eyed, her hands fluttered to her throat.

“You are free to use this room for your purposes, but I’ll be readying a room downstairs for you that will be available shortly.”

“Thank you very much, Mr. Hale.”

“It’s Nate. And you’re welcome, ma’am. Have a good evening.” Nodding at the older woman, he winked at Angel and left the room, closing the door softly.

“My, he is certainly a handsome man, Angelina. And so forceful. I imagine you
must
be very happy.” Heat rose to Sylvia’s cheeks.

“Yes he is, but his handsomeness is as much inside as out.”

Sylvia squeezed Angel’s hand. “You must believe me when I tell you I am so glad things have worked out for you. In the years I’ve known you, I’ve never seen you look so happy and content.”