A Matter of Heart

by Tracie Peterson

  He was glad that the two men had learned of his plan and followed him. He’d worried they might not have received the news or had chosen not to follow him. It was good to know they wouldn’t be pestering the Wythes or the Barnetts. When the train stopped in the next town to refuel, it allowed the passengers time to disembark for a short while. Austin took advantage of his time off the train to send a wire to Robert to let him know that the men were following him. He knew the information would help Robert to relax his watch and get back to the tasks at hand.

  January in northern New Mexico made Austin realize his suit coat was hardly heavy enough to ward off the cold. By the time they reached Raton, he felt numb from the winter winds. There had been a blizzard just hours before, and the trains were delayed in getting through until the snowdrifts could be plowed from the tracks. This took a special rotary snowplow, the likes of which Austin had never seen. The huge machine was put on the front of the locomotive engine and pushed forward to remove the snow with its whirring blades.

  Austin sat shivering in the poorly heated passenger car while one plow was used on the tracks about twenty yards to the east of them. He saw the blades cuts through the snow, which was blown out a chute over the top of the engine. It was quite interesting to watch, but it only served to make Austin feel all the more chilled.

  Once they were finally on their way, it was slow going and caused Austin no end of anxiety. He wanted to see this investigation through, and do so quickly. He was anxious to return to Jessica and make plans for their marriage. If she’d still have him.

  By the time they rolled into Colorado Springs, it was the following evening. Austin made his way to the nearest hotel and settled in for his first good night’s sleep in a week. The delay on the train had given him a sore neck and backside. He could sit in a saddle for days on end, but the hard seat of the train car made him miserable.

  He saw Morgan and Smith momentarily in the depot but had no idea where they might have decided to stay. Austin wasn’t concerned that they might lose track of him, so rather than expend his energies keeping an eye out for them, he would let Morgan and Smith worry about keeping Austin under surveillance. After all, this was just as important to them as it was to him. For now, all he wanted was to sleep in a bed.

  The following morning Austin awoke to even more snow. He felt chilled to the bone and longed for Texas . . . and for Jessica. He reminded himself over and over that there was a job to be done and it shouldn’t take him long to retrieve the box and see if it held what they were looking for. If it did, then they could finally put this case to rest.

  Dressing, Austin gave serious thought to buying a heavy coat. He quickly decided against it, however. The extra money he’d brought was going toward a wedding ring for Jess. He could bear a little cold. Besides, he’d have no need of a heavy coat in Texas.

  But Texas seemed like a million miles away. Austin went to the window. The shop roofs were covered in snow, as was the rest of the town. At least it seemed that it had stopped snowing, and for this Austin was grateful. Hopefully he could accomplish everything in just a few hours and be back on the next train headed south. Then again, he might have come for naught and would find nothing in Mr. Chesterfield’s box. He quickly shook off that thought.

  “I can’t let myself borrow trouble,” he said aloud, noticing his breath fogged the window.

  Dropping the draperies back in place, Austin checked his pocket watch. It was too early for the bank to be open, and he was hungry. A good meal seemed most important at that moment. Just then there was a knock on the door.

  He frowned. No one knew where he was—not exactly. Unless, of course, they had managed to get the clerk downstairs to reveal his room number.

  With great stealth he moved closer to the door. He was about to question the person on the other side when a youthful male voice called out. “Morning paper?”

  Austin opened the door and nodded. “I’ll take one.” He flipped the kid a coin and told him to keep the change.

  The boy’s eyes lit up. “Thank you!” He hurried to the next room and began the routine again.

  Austin tucked the paper under his arm and made his way to the hotel dining room, where the temperature was much warmer. He supposed it was because of the busy kitchen and the room full of guests. Despite the fact that he was still chilled to the bone, Austin chose a table by the window in order to keep an eye on both the entrance to the hotel and the street.

  “Would you like to order?” A young serving girl smiled at him most generously.

  “Yes. I need to thaw out, and a hot meal might just do the trick,” Austin replied. “I wasn’t at all prepared for winter weather.”

  “You weren’t? Where are you from, mister?” She eyed him carefully. “Don’t you have a warm coat?”

  “I’m afraid not.” Austin gave her a grin. “I’m from Texas, and we’re not used to this white stuff.” The girl giggled. Austin figured her to be about seventeen.

  “Would you like some hot coffee?”

  Austin nodded. “Lots of it. Maybe a bathtub full.” He settled back against the wooden chair. “That might finally thaw me out.”

  She giggled again, but then appeared to get an idea. “I can seat you closer to the kitchen. Sitting here by the window is bound to be colder.”

  Austin appreciated her thoughtfulness but shook his head. “Nah, I’m all right. The coffee will do the trick. Oh, and I’ll need a nice big breakfast.”

  “We have two breakfast specials,” she declared. “Biscuits and gravy on one order, and eggs, bacon, and toast on the other.”

  “I’ll take both.”

  The girl’s eyes widened in surprise. “They’re really generous with the portions here. Are you sure you want both?”

  “Yup, I’m sure. I’m half starved.” He’d not eaten much on the train. The prices were high, and he’d heard from other customers that the food was not that good. Short of buying some jerked meat and apples during one of their stops, Austin had eaten nothing.

  The waitress disappeared into the kitchen. Austin busied himself with the newspaper he’d bought earlier. The Daily Gazette had very little of interest to Austin. Nevertheless, he forced himself to read the paper and sip the hot coffee his waitress brought. He didn’t want to appear anxious to anyone who might be watching—especially to Mr. Morgan. As far as he was concerned, Morgan needed to believe Austin completely clueless to his presence.

  When the girl brought two plates of breakfast with most wonderful aromas, Austin wondered if perhaps his eyes had been bigger than his stomach. Nevertheless, he thanked the young woman and put the paper aside. He offered a short prayer of thanks, then straightened and plunged his fork into the biscuits and gravy. A first taste revealed heaven on earth, and Austin quickly inhaled another two forkfuls. It wasn’t quite as good as he’d had on the Barnett Ranch, but very nearly.

  He continued to eat, pretending to be completely absorbed in the food while keeping an eye out around him. He wasn’t worried about Morgan or Smith actually presenting themselves, but he figured they’d hire someone for the job. Morgan had to know that Austin would recognize him, and Austin doubted that he’d allow his henchman to get too far away from him. They’d no doubt pay some dim-witted ninny to watch him and report his movements.

  By the time he’d finished the biscuits and gravy and started in on the eggs and bacon, Austin was fairly certain his hunch was right. At the far end of the restaurant, an older man, looking rather weathered, worn, and out of place, sat eating a huge meal as if he hadn’t had food in a month. The man was dressed in layers that he began to shed as time passed. Whenever Austin looked his way, the man quickly returned his gaze to his plate.

  Smiling to himself, Austin ordered more coffee and relaxed at the table. The bank wouldn’t be open for another half hour, and he still needed to make contact with the Secret Service agents who were to have arrived in town prior to Austin. They had agreed to send him word as to where they should meet before Austin ma
de his way to the bank.

  He picked up the paper again and nodded to the girl when she offered more coffee. Just as he started on his fifth cup, Austin noticed two well-dressed men enter the dining room. They were impeccable in their appearance and furtively studied the room from hooded eyes. Austin knew them immediately. Five years hadn’t changed them much. Marcus Kayler and Sam Fegel were two of the department’s best men. They would get a message to Austin without anyone being the wiser. It was exactly what he’d been waiting for.

  Austin decided it would be best to remain at his table, and when the waitress appeared to ask him if he wanted anything more, he decided on something else to eat. “Do you have any cinnamon rolls?” he asked, remembering how good Hannah Barnett’s had been.

  The girl grinned. “I can’t believe you’re still hungry, but yes, we have cinnamon rolls. My mother made them, in fact, and they’re as big as plates.”

  “Sounds good.” Austin delayed her just a moment longer. “So is this your family’s restaurant?” He continued to glance toward his two friends.

  The girl nodded. “My uncle owns the hotel. He’s my pa’s brother. They set this up when the Cripple Creek Mining District was formed a few years back, and the family’s been here ever since.”

  Seeing the men move his way, Austin decided he’d give them the perfect opportunity. “Well, it’s a mighty fine place. I can’t remember ever eating this well on the road. I do believe I’d like to have a cinnamon roll and some more coffee. And if you could hurry, that would be great.”

  The girl seemed amused by his order. She whirled on her heel to head toward the kitchen and ran headlong into Marcus Kayler, just as Austin had planned. In the flash of a moment, Kayler steadied the girl while Fegel slipped a note to Austin. It happened so quickly that Austin was sure no one was the wiser.

  The girl flushed in embarrassment, giggled nervously, then hurried for the kitchen. Austin thought of Jessica and imagined her in the same position. His Jessica would have probably berated the men for not watching where they were going. Austin couldn’t imagine Jessica being nearly as giggly as this young woman. He frowned. The last time they’d been together, Jessica had been anything but giggly.

  The thought of her still holding a grudge was most disconcerting, but Austin had prayed she would receive the letter and understand his heart, even if she couldn’t accept his actions. He missed her so much, and had it not been for his promise to the Barnetts, Austin might have given up the job, turned the key over to the Secret Service agents, and headed back to Texas. He let go a heavy breath.

  I gave my word.

  Austin didn’t have a lot in this world, but he still had that. He had his fledgling faith, as well. He knew God was with him, but the old memories fought against him like some kind of plague. How was it that he could lay Grace to rest and learn to love again, but he couldn’t free himself of the guilt he felt over his brother’s death?

  “Here you go,” the girl announced, putting a plate in front of him. On it sat the biggest cinnamon roll Austin had ever seen.

  He stared at the roll for a moment and then looked to the server. “This is just one roll?”

  She giggled. “I warned you. Ma believes in filling folks up. She said for me to tell you that this one’s on the house.”

  “How come?” he asked. It seemed most unusual for a restaurant to give food away.

  “Ma said that if you were hungry enough to eat both of her specials in one sitting and still want more, then you deserve to have it on the house.” She picked up some of his empty dishes. “I’ll be back with the coffee. Should I leave your check?”

  “Yes, thank you.”

  The girl shifted the dishes with one hand and reached into her pocket with the other. She glanced at the check and then handed it to Austin.

  “If you’ll wait,” he called loud enough for everyone to hear him, “I’ll pay for this now.”

  The girl took his offered payment as well as the paper on which she’d written his total. “Now, you keep the change,” Austin told her. The girl’s eyes widened at the generous tip. He could see that she was more than pleased.

  “Thank you, mister.” She hurried away, as if needing to show someone her good fortune.

  With the girl gone, Austin raised the newspaper and retrieved the note he’d slipped under there earlier. He kept the paper folded and pretended to read an article, all the while working to open the note Fegel had slipped him. After several attempts he managed the task and read the content of the message.

  Will meet you in alleyway behind jewelry store across the street from bank. There’s a place we can meet without being seen. We’ve arranged with the store to allow you access to the back from inside the store. Just go into the place and ask for Mr. Mitchell. Tell him you’ve always wanted to see his famous gold nugget but you haven’t the nickel for a ticket. He’ll show you to the back.

  It was signed Kayler and Fegel.

  Austin managed to tuck the note into his vest pocket before the girl returned with more coffee. She asked if he needed anything else, but Austin assured her he was fine. He looked across the room to where the man who’d been watching him sat. Again the man quickly looked away. This gave Austin a moment to look at the two agents and nod. The game was now afoot.

  Getting to his feet in a slow, methodical manner, Austin gave a bit of a stretch and headed back to the hotel lobby. He wasn’t surprised when the weathered old man followed him after a couple of minutes. Austin made it easy for him by heading up the lobby stairs slowly. He would return to his room, wait a few minutes, and then head down the back stairs, which he’d scouted out before coming to breakfast. Hopefully the old man would think Austin still in his room and continue to wait in the lobby.

  This, Austin hoped, would throw off anyone’s ability to keep him under surveillance. He didn’t mind that Morgan knew he was in the area, but he wanted him to only know as much as Austin deemed necessary.

  At the appointed time, Austin made his way to the jewelry store. He couldn’t see that anyone had followed him and breathed a little easier. No doubt Morgan had already snooped around to learn the whereabouts of the bank Austin had come to find. Still, Austin hoped he might have time to go to the bank and retrieve the box before he had to encounter Morgan and his man.

  The jewelry store owner looked up when Austin entered. There was no one else in the place, but still Austin felt it necessary to speak softly and maintain his cover. He browsed around the store for a minute before the owner approached.

  “Welcome to my store. May I help you, sir?”

  Austin rubbed his chin. “You’re the owner?”

  The man gave a tight smile. “I am.”

  “Well, I was hoping to see your famous gold nugget, but I’m afraid I don’t have a nickel to spare—for the ticket.” His voice was low, but nevertheless the man’s eyes widened, and he gave a quick glance around the room as if fearful that someone had overheard.

  “Come right this way,” the owner said upon ensuring they were alone.

  He led Austin through a door and into a small stockroom. He pointed out the back door somewhat hidden behind a stack of boxes. Austin made his way to the door while the owner returned to the front of the store.

  The two agents were awaiting his arrival in the alley. Austin gave each man a nod. “Did anyone follow you?” he asked.

  “No,” one of the men replied. “You?”

  Austin shook his head. “I took the back stairs and a nondirect way here. If anyone followed me they did it in a very skillful manner.”

  “Well, it would seem to me these folks are full of skills,” Marcus Kayler put in. He extended his hand. “Good to see you, Austin.” Austin ignored the hand and the two men shared a hardy embrace. After giving Austin a slap on the back, Marcus laughed. “Wasn’t sure we’d ever get a chance to work together again.”

  Sam Fegel likewise gave Austin a slap on the back. “I thought old Mr. Turner had gone daft when he told us we’d be working wit
h you again.” He shook Austin’s hand and gave him a brief embrace. “I thought you were done with us.”

  “Yeah, well miracles do happen.” Austin pulled out his pocket watch. It was nearly time for the bank to open. He shivered from the cold wind and snapped the lid shut.

  “What’s the plan?” Kayler asked.

  “I’ll go to the bank and retrieve the lockbox. If it is what I think it is, then I’ll hand it over to you at the hotel. You’ll be able to catch the afternoon train and head back to Washington.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” the man replied. “We can keep watch from the store. If you have the box when you come out, then we’ll know you have retrieved the contents. We’ll head straightaway for the hotel.”

  “If the box is too large or heavy for one man but is what we’ve come for,” Austin told them, “I’ll step outside the bank and walk away without putting my hat on.”

  “Got it. If you’re quick enough, a trolley will be there at half past the hour. It will take you on a route that passes the hotel. No one should try anything while you’re so clearly in the company of others. If you miss it, another will be by at the top of the hour.”

  Austin nodded. “I guess that takes care of it. I’ll see you at the hotel either way.” He gave the men his room number, then headed back into the jewelry store. The owner looked at him with a worried expression. No doubt he feared the stranger’s presence might bring problems for his store. Despite this, Austin paused for a moment at a case that held wedding rings.

  “Are you looking for something in particular?” the owner asked.

  Austin looked up with a grin. “A wedding ring. I promised to bring one back with me.”

  The man opened the case and pulled out the tray of rings. “We have many to choose from, as you can see.”