have to imagine Gloria Beckett was more than successful with teaching her son tolerance for independent ladies. I’m sure Zayne wouldn’t be bothered in the least if you continued on with your writing, if you were to form an attachment to him.”
“Zayne’s a mess at the moment, and the last thing I need is more messiness in my life.”
“He’s an enticing mess.”
“ Anyway , since I still consider myself his friend, I’ll do whatever I can to help him recover. However, much to my disgust, he’s already figured out what I’m up to, which means it’s going to be remarkably difficult to get him to cooperate.” She smiled at Drusilla. “I think I’m going to need your assistance formulating a plan.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because the only way you’ll have the slightest chance of helping Zayne get better is if you somehow manage to convince him to go back to New York. He’s not going to agree to that, which means you’ll get it into your head to somehow drag him back there. Have you forgotten you’re not safe in the city?”
“Have you forgotten I haven’t exactly been safe out here ?”
“True, but at least out here the danger is random, while in New York there’s a very specific and troubling threat waiting for you.”
“Theodore’s certain to find some leads soon. Maybe he’s already run the culprit to ground and just hasn’t had a chance to send us a telegram.”
“I received a telegram from Theodore a week ago. There are no new leads.”
“Why would you receive a telegram from Theodore Wilder?”
“Did I say I received the telegram? How silly of me, I meant Mr. Blackheart received a telegram, and . . .” Drusilla’s voice trailed off as she looked past Agatha’s shoulder. “Hmm . . . Now that’s interesting,” was all she said before she startedrummaging through a satchel that was attached to her hip. She pulled out a pair of opera glasses and immediately began peering off into the distance.
“I know I should ask why you have opera glasses stashed in your satchel, but since that’s somewhat self-explanatory because you’re always so annoyingly prepared for anything, what are you looking at?”
“I’m not sure, but . . . Oh dear.” Drusilla passed the opera glasses to Agatha. “Take a look.”
Pressing the opera glasses to her eyes, Agatha frowned. “Are those women riding this way?”
“Indeed, and do notice the rifles attached to their saddles.”
Agatha took another look. “I’ll bet those are soon going to prove to be problematic.”
“Exactly,” Drusilla said crisply before she took the glasses back from Agatha and quickly stowed them away. “I think we’re about to be held up, and I swear, if we get out of this latest calamity alive, I’m going to strangle Zayne. Only an idiot would flaunt his finds in a silly sack hanging from his belt.”
“You saw that?”
“I’m very observant.” Drusilla reached back in her satchel and pulled out a pistol, holding it with what seemed to be a practiced hand.
“I didn’t know you carried that.”
“Forgive me, Agatha, but this is no time for a pleasant chat regarding what you do and don’t know about me. We need to get up to the mine and warn the gentlemen. Plus, if those ladies begin shooting at us, we’ll have the better advantage if we’re higher.” Taking a firm hold of Agatha’s arm, Drusilla began to prod her up the mountain.
Agatha slipped on some loose dirt, which had Drusillatightening her hold and hauling her upright. “I’ll bet Mr. Blackheart never imagined when he told us to avoid emergencies that one would really happen.”
Drusilla’s brows drew together. “He should have remembered you attract emergencies like honey attracts bees, but enough about that. You need to stop dawdling.”
“I’m not dawdling. I slipped, and I’d be able to move faster if you weren’t dragging me along.”
“Stop being difficult,” Drusilla said, even as she released Agatha’s
“Zayne’s a mess at the moment, and the last thing I need is more messiness in my life.”
“He’s an enticing mess.”
“ Anyway , since I still consider myself his friend, I’ll do whatever I can to help him recover. However, much to my disgust, he’s already figured out what I’m up to, which means it’s going to be remarkably difficult to get him to cooperate.” She smiled at Drusilla. “I think I’m going to need your assistance formulating a plan.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because the only way you’ll have the slightest chance of helping Zayne get better is if you somehow manage to convince him to go back to New York. He’s not going to agree to that, which means you’ll get it into your head to somehow drag him back there. Have you forgotten you’re not safe in the city?”
“Have you forgotten I haven’t exactly been safe out here ?”
“True, but at least out here the danger is random, while in New York there’s a very specific and troubling threat waiting for you.”
“Theodore’s certain to find some leads soon. Maybe he’s already run the culprit to ground and just hasn’t had a chance to send us a telegram.”
“I received a telegram from Theodore a week ago. There are no new leads.”
“Why would you receive a telegram from Theodore Wilder?”
“Did I say I received the telegram? How silly of me, I meant Mr. Blackheart received a telegram, and . . .” Drusilla’s voice trailed off as she looked past Agatha’s shoulder. “Hmm . . . Now that’s interesting,” was all she said before she startedrummaging through a satchel that was attached to her hip. She pulled out a pair of opera glasses and immediately began peering off into the distance.
“I know I should ask why you have opera glasses stashed in your satchel, but since that’s somewhat self-explanatory because you’re always so annoyingly prepared for anything, what are you looking at?”
“I’m not sure, but . . . Oh dear.” Drusilla passed the opera glasses to Agatha. “Take a look.”
Pressing the opera glasses to her eyes, Agatha frowned. “Are those women riding this way?”
“Indeed, and do notice the rifles attached to their saddles.”
Agatha took another look. “I’ll bet those are soon going to prove to be problematic.”
“Exactly,” Drusilla said crisply before she took the glasses back from Agatha and quickly stowed them away. “I think we’re about to be held up, and I swear, if we get out of this latest calamity alive, I’m going to strangle Zayne. Only an idiot would flaunt his finds in a silly sack hanging from his belt.”
“You saw that?”
“I’m very observant.” Drusilla reached back in her satchel and pulled out a pistol, holding it with what seemed to be a practiced hand.
“I didn’t know you carried that.”
“Forgive me, Agatha, but this is no time for a pleasant chat regarding what you do and don’t know about me. We need to get up to the mine and warn the gentlemen. Plus, if those ladies begin shooting at us, we’ll have the better advantage if we’re higher.” Taking a firm hold of Agatha’s arm, Drusilla began to prod her up the mountain.
Agatha slipped on some loose dirt, which had Drusillatightening her hold and hauling her upright. “I’ll bet Mr. Blackheart never imagined when he told us to avoid emergencies that one would really happen.”
Drusilla’s brows drew together. “He should have remembered you attract emergencies like honey attracts bees, but enough about that. You need to stop dawdling.”
“I’m not dawdling. I slipped, and I’d be able to move faster if you weren’t dragging me along.”
“Stop being difficult,” Drusilla said, even as she released Agatha’s
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