A Changed Agent Read Online Free

tomorrow.”

    The door closed behind Miss Mitchell with a hollow sound. Will settled the twins on a bench in front of the window, safely out of the way, so he could continue his conversation without the children overhearing. His boss spoke in a hushed voice. “How’s the shoulder wound?”
    “I’m on the mend. Care to explain why you made these arrangements without consulting with me first?”
    Agent Oliver stroked his clean-shaven chin. “I understand about family, Will, but I’m not sure how you thought you were going to provide for them and do your job. Having the schoolteacher help you out is the only thing to do.”
    Moving to the far side of his desk, the man leaned against it and continued, “Now you’ve brought them here promising them what, exactly? Not to mention you may be bringing them into a situation that could prove dangerous. Miss Mitchell agreed to do the job, and she’ll do right by you and the children.”
    “I agree with what you’ve said, Agent Oliver. But there has to be a better way to make this work for everyone.”
    It was clear to Will that the young schoolmarm had not taken to him. Her wariness of him could present problems down the road if she couldn’t put her trust in him. Will needed her to believe he was the new foreman for the Oliver Lumber Company. On the brighter side, he could tell by the way her gaze softened when she looked at Harry and Minnie that she would be kind to them. He figured that had to count for something.
    “Right now,” his boss said, “all you have are some trunks and a promise of one room for you to sleep in tonight. I can tell from the set of your jaw that handing them off to another family for safekeeping isn’t going to be an option.”
    Drawing himself up to his full height, Will replied, “No, sir, it is not.”
    Leaving his perch on the desk, his superior walked around to the back of it. “My grandmother’s house is two streets over. It will need to be cleaned up and there are some sparse furnishings, enough to keep you and the children comfortable. Miss Mitchell can furnish her apartment as she sees fit.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    Will worried that once she’d had some time to think about what she would be getting into, she might have a change of heart. He needed another plan in case this one didn’t work out. “Is there anyone else in town who can help out in case the schoolteacher backs out?”
    Raising an eyebrow, Oliver replied, “Have you seen the size of this town, Will? There aren’t all that many females of an age who can tend to your children. I assure you that the teacher will do a just service for you.”
    “I need to be clear about one thing. I am not going to use the children as part of my cover.”
    “The children by default will be a part of this, Agent Benton. I trust you will keep them safe.”
    John Oliver’s comment didn’t leave any room for argument.
    “What about Miss Mitchell? Once she moves into the apartment, how will I keep her from finding out who I really am? I don’t need to put anyone else in danger.”
    “I suspect you’ll find a way.”
    Pulling out his chair, Oliver sat down, shuffled through a stack of papers, and said, “I imagine the children must be tired and a bit hungry. You can use the one room we spoke about earlier for tonight, since it’s clean and the bed’s made up. Settle in, and then the three of you can come to my house for supper. Tomorrow will be soon enough for you to see about the other quarters for your family and Miss Mitchell.”

    Though he was thankful to Agent Oliver for offering up the spare room at the back of his office, the one thing Will hated was to have a cold nose, and when he awoke to bright sunlight flooding through the only window in the narrow room, his nose was cold. Rubbing his sleeve across it, he slowly opened his eyes to find two matching sets of blue-green eyes staring down at him.
    “Good morning, Uncle Will.” Harry’s breath was a thin vapor in the chilly