Accidental Sweetheart

“And mustard.” Lydia fought to keep herself from wincing. “And a dash of bacon grease.”

Lydia could feel panic beginning to flutter in her chest like a flock of moths, but she fought to keep her expression serene.

“And it couldn’t wait until morning?”

“No. Not really?”

The man eyed her with those coffee-brown eyes, and she was sure that he could see the deceit hanging over her like a black cloud, but he finally sighed.

“Where are your guards?”

Locked up in the Miners’ Hall.

“Guards?”

“The Pinkertons who are supposed to be watching the Dovecote.”

“I... I’ve no idea. We haven’t seen them all day.”

Honestly, that should have been the last thing to admit.

Gideon lifted his hand to the crease between his brows and rubbed the spot as if he had a headache. For the first time, she noted the exhaustion that lined his features.

“Shouldn’t you be in bed, Mr. Gault?”

“I could ask the same question of you, Miss Tomlinson.”

She gestured to the door. “I was heading there now.”

“Then I’ll escort you home.”

She balked at the idea, sure that he’d somehow divined that the dormitory was missing half of its occupants, but for the life of her, she couldn’t think of a plausible reason for refusing his offer.

“That would be much appreciated.”

She reluctantly blew out the lantern, knowing that she would be leaving her friends in complete darkness. Unfortunately, that fact couldn’t be helped.

Gideon held the door for her, allowing her to step into the cool night air.

“Do you have your key?”

“Yes, of course.”

To her consternation, he snapped the lock shut, effectively imprisoning the women who were still inside. Then he made a sweeping motion with his hand.

“After you.”

They walked in silence for several minutes, but with each step, Lydia grew increasingly uncomfortable. There was something...companionable about having Gideon escort her home. Something sweet. And that was not something she wanted to feel about the tall Pinkerton.

“You mentioned you had five sisters.”

There was a beat of silence and she realized she hadn’t asked a question, but had offered a statement of fact. Thankfully, Gideon seemed willing to follow her lead.

“Anna, April, Addie, Adele, and Adelaide. All five of them are older by several years.”

Lydia couldn’t help laughing. “So why weren’t you named Alfred or Abraham?”

“I think my mother was expecting another girl. She’d chosen the name Augusta. When I was born, she named me after my father instead.”

“He must have been proud.”

Gideon shrugged. “Unfortunately, my father had already passed of diphtheria.”

So, Gideon truly had been raised in a house with nothing but women. No wonder he’d found the arrival of the mail-order brides such a trial.

“Then Bachelor Bottoms must have seemed like a masculine haven when you arrived.”

Gideon shot her a look, and to her surprise, he didn’t offer a pithy answer. “Actually, for a little while, I missed a bit of feminine fussing from my family. I’d spent years in the Army, so I’d had enough of an all-male environment.”

His expression became strangely tight, his eyes shuttered.

“Then why did you come to the territories? Why not stay at home for a little longer?”

He shot her a glance, seeming to weigh whether or not he should confide in her. “By that time, my mother had died as well and my sisters had all married and scattered. I managed to visit them, but... I couldn’t bring myself to be a burden.”

“Family is never a burden, Mr. Gault.”

He eyed her curiously. “That’s not a response that I would expect from a woman fighting for...how do you put it? Female equality and emancipation?”

She sniffed. “Neither of those issues rule out the possibility of a family, Mr. Gault. I believe that women should be given the same rights and opportunities as men. But I also understand that most ladies feel a keen need to be wives and mothers.”

“Most ladies? Does that mean that you have no designs on ensuring such a fate, Miss Tomlinson?”

She opened her mouth, then closed it again. Somehow, they had strayed into perilous territory.

“That is neither here nor there.”

“Mmm. So, you’re afraid to commit one way or the other?”

They’d reached the end of the boardwalk at the edge of town and when Gideon stepped into the lane, she stayed where she was, needing the added height so that she could meet his gaze. Eye to eye. Man to woman. Equals.

“I have committed myself wholeheartedly to the Cause, Mr. Gault. In doing so, I spend most of my time traveling and lecturing. Neither activity lends itself to a happy marriage or family life. Therefore, I have chosen to remain...unfettered.”

He seemed to consider her statement. “An interesting choice of words. Unfettered. Is that how you see marriage and motherhood? As a punishment or an impediment?”

“You’re purposely twisting my words.”

“No, I’m merely trying to understand them.”