“She’s got a nice ride, Miss Howland,” the groom said, smoothing a hand over Samantha’s neck. “But don’t let her get too close to Wyatt.” He shook his head. “He’s smitten with her, and that might make for an interesting jaunt to town.”
After Eunice sent the groomsman a smile, she swung into the saddle, Arthur, Ivan, and Cooper doing the same with their horses.
“We’ll be back soon,” Ivan said, nodding to Judith. “Remember what we discussed—you have to remain vigilant. Don’t let your guard down around Hazel, Raymond, or Clarice.”
Judith closed her sketchpad and sent Ivan a flirty smile. “I’m sure Ann and I are more than up for dealing with two eighty-year-old suspects and Hazel. We are inquiry agents, after all—not that anyone knows that since, surprise, surprise, Eunice didn’t blurt that out last night. And since the family thinks I’m one of Georgette’s artist companions and Ann is Eunice’s traveling companion, there’s no reason for anyone to go after us because we’re not a threat.” She gave a wave of her fingers toward the stable door. “So, off you go, but know that I wouldn’t mind a lovely piece of chocolate from Doris and Alice’s candy shop. It’s my very favorite treat.”
“Then chocolate you shall have,” Ivan said, returning the flirty smile. “And not just a piece, mind you, but your very own box.”
“Come on, Romeo.” Cooper nudged his horse into motion as he settled a grin on Ivan. “Time’s a-wasting, and besides, I thought you and Judith were supposed to be limiting your flirting until we catch our murderer.”
With Judith saying something about that being a difficult feat to maintain and Ivan’s cheeks turning somewhat red, Arthur urged Wyatt forward, keeping a firm hand on the reins when the horse kept trying to sidle up next to Eunice’s horse.
No one said much as they headed off for town until Eunice nodded to the Rocky Mountains rising up behind the town of Butte.
“I’d forgotten how lovely the mountains are,” she said before her nose wrinkled. “Although I’ve also forgotten the smell from the mines and the smoke that seems to have increased from the factories since I’ve been away.”
“The smoke can be overwhelming at times,” Arthur agreed, pulling Wyatt a good distance away from her. “But it’s a sign Butte is booming with business, that state certain to increase once Mason Mines begins mining operations at the old Green farm.”
“And when are those operations set to begin?”
“That depends on you. You are the majority owner of Mason Mines now.”
“But as we’ve discussed, and ad nauseum at that, I don’t want to run the mines. As president of Mason Mines, you will make all those types of decisions.”
Arthur stilled. “You never said you wanted me to take on the role of president.”
“I’m sure I mentioned it at some point.”
“You suggested it once, but we’ve not discussed it since and certainly haven’t discussed it ad nauseum.”
She tilted her head. “I didn’t realize there was much more to discuss because I assumed you’d want to be president. Was I mistaken about that?”
Arthur rubbed his chin. “Well, no, but there’s a lot left to discuss about the matter.”
“I suppose there is, so if you’ll present me with a written contract stating your terms, we can begin negotiating those terms.”
“We’re going to negotiate my terms?”
She grinned. “If you’ve forgotten, my grandfather forced me to learn everything there was about the mining business, including having Vincent instruct me on negotiation and contracts. As you pointed out to me recently, it would be a shame if I never put any of that education to use.”
The thought of sitting across a table from Eunice and arguing over contract points left Arthur with a sense of anticipation he’d not been expecting. He smiled and inclined his head. “I’ll look forward to that.”
“As will I, but for now ... to town.” She urged Samantha into a gallop, Wyatt straining against the reins as he tried to gallop his way closer to his ladylove.
After they left their horses at Mason’s Stables, Arthur took Eunice’s arm and began strolling with her down the planked sidewalk, Ivan and Cooper following a few steps behind. Amusingly enough, many of the Mason-owned shops were sporting blackbunting on their doors, which was only now being taken down by employees, suggesting word had gotten out that Eunice and Georgette had miraculously returned from the dead.
“Shall we go to Wagner’s Bookshop first?” Eunice asked, stopping in front of a brick building that was owned and operated by Vincent. Vincent hadn’t lingered the night before, rushing for the door along with his mother and everyone else when Cooper had suggested it was time to begin interrogations.
“I thought you wanted to see Doris and Alice first,” Arthur said.
“Since Vincent’s mother is Uncle Raymond’s personal secretary and may be privy to family secrets, some of which she could have shared with her son, it wouldn’t hurt to stroll around his store and engage in light chitchat with him. He might let something slip.”
After following Eunice into the store, Arthur began browsing through a table of the latest history books, Eunice beside him, but only for a moment because Vincent came striding their way, smiling as he took hold of Eunice’s hand and placed an unexpected kiss on it.
“How lovely you look today, Eugenia—or rather, Eunice,” Vincent began. “I see you’re back to wearing your preferred style of trousers instead of skirts.”
“I wasn’t sure there would be any sidesaddles available in the stables when I got dressed for riding this morning,” Eunice said as she retrieved her hand from his. “But what a charming bookstore this is, although I don’t recall you ever mentioning during our lessons that you longed to own a bookstore.”
