by Lori Wick
“Callie?” Camille said with surprise when Pup stood in the doorway of her dining room. She had come in through the kitchen and passed Miranda, not answering any of her questions.
“Is Nick here?”
“No, of course not. He’s at the office. Callie,” she tried again while taking in Pup’s white features. “What is it? Are you ill?”
“Tell Nick when he comes home that I’m waiting for him in his office.”
“But it’s early, Callie, he won’t be home for hours.”
“I’ll wait for him.”
With that, Pup moved through the room. Camille’s mouth opened and closed but no sound came forth. Pup looked horrible. What in the world had happened? She looked back to see that Miranda had come to the edge of the room and witnessed the scene. The two exchanged a look. Camille knew then that she had to get word to Nick. Even if she had to go herself, she had to let Nick know.
The dull, lifeless eyes that Camille had seen were long gone by the time Nick arrived. After his wife’s summons, he let himself quietly into the study to find Pup pacing with irritation before the desk.
“Did you know?” she shot at him even before the door could completely close.
“Did I know what?” Nick asked cautiously as he went to stand behind his desk.
“Did you know he would be at the bank?”
“Who, Pup?”
“Don’t play games with me, Nick!” her voice was a lash as her hand slammed down on the wood surface. “I saw Jubal! I saw him with my own eyes. How could you set me up?”
The room was utterly still. Nick had never seen her this way. Carlyle had reported to him that Jubal had been spotted, but with Duncan Phipps nearly on the hook, he had given it little thought.
“I wouldn’t do that,” Nick finally said softly. “I can see how it would look that way, Pup, but I swear to you, I would never set you up.”
“I don’t believe it, Nick. Even McKay was acting oddly the other night. How could you do this?”
“I didn’t,” he spoke firmly now. “With Duncan Phipps so close, I hadn’t given Jubal Hackett any thought.”
“You didn’t know that Jubal would be at the bank today?” she questioned softly.
“No.”
Pup saw the truth in his eyes, and her own slid shut.
“I just gave him away,” she whispered. “I just gave my brother away to you.”
Pup’s hands went to her mouth, and tears slipped out from between her lids. Harsh sobs broke from her throat, and she was barely aware of Nick’s hands and the way they gently led her to a chair. The pain was more than she could take. First Govern and now Jubal. They were awful men, but they were her brothers.
She tried to calm down, but it took some time. Nick had not set her up, but the pain of believing that he had had been too much to bear. And then her own stupidity. How could she have barreled in here and given her brother away? She knew that Jubal would be caught someday and probably killed just like Govern, but she could not be the one to do it.
She opened her eyes now and found both Nick and Camille bending over her. She looked into their concerned faces and felt shame. How could she have thought they would ever do anything to hurt her?
“How are you, dear?” Camille whispered.
“I’m okay.”
“I want you to go home, Pup,” Nick said.
“Home?”
“Yes, to Boulder. This assignment is over for you.”
“But we’re so close,” she began.
Nick was shaking his head. “It doesn’t make any difference. I don’t want you this upset, and I don’t want to use you to get Jubal. You know I will nail him if ever I have the chance—I’ll nail everyone involved in this. Go home, Pup.”
“You’d do that, Nick? You’d let me go in the middle of an assignment that means this much?”
Nick nodded without hesitation. “The work you’ve already done has been invaluable. No one else could have pulled it off. You’ve earned a rest. Go home.”
It took a little more talking, but Nick’s mind was made up. Pup didn’t know what she wanted right now, but she did as she was told. She pitied the people at the bank and at Mrs. Meyer’s since they would all be told that Bryan Daniels had met with an unfortunate accident. His things were collected at Mrs. Meyer’s that afternoon, but the man who took them could not tell a stunned Mrs. Meyer when the funeral service would be.
As for Pup, she put a hat on her head and lost the flashy vests and stutter. She stayed at the Wallaces’ until it was time to leave for the station. Peter Crandall boarded a northbound train for Boulder that very afternoon, having not seen McKay Harrington or anyone else.
That night the men gathered around Mrs. Meyer’s dining table were very subdued. Mrs. Meyer had tearfully filled in the other boarders concerning Mr. Daniels, and then tried to make the meal as normal as possible. The men were naturally quiet, but only one tenant was broiling inside. His appetite was affected just like everyone else’s, but for an entirely different reason. He knew very well that no one had died, but that was not good enough. He wanted to know where Callie Jennings was, and he wanted to know now. It took great restraint on his part to finish the meal, but he didn’t attempt to pretend over dessert. He excused himself as soon as it was possible and headed to Nick Wallace’s home.
“Where is she?”
Nick and Camille had dined late that evening, so McKay caught them at the table.
“On her way home,” Nick answered, not worrying about Camille’s presence in the room.
“Why?”
“She spotted Jubal at the bank today and thought I set her up. When she realized I hadn’t, she fell apart, sure that she’d given him away. I sent her home.”
“All by herself?”
Nick sighed, but he answered patiently.
“Much as it’s hard to believe, McKay, Pup is used to taking care of herself. I could have offered to go with her, but she would have refused.”
McKay was clearly not happy with this answer, but Nick felt no guilt. This was not the first time he’d put his love and concern for Pup ahead of a work issue. But holding her hand all the way home was simply not necessary. He would wire her in a few days, and if she didn’t answer within several weeks, he’d go and check on her. They’d been doing business this way for over 13 years.
“Did she want to leave?”
“I didn’t ask her, but I could tell it was time. It would have given me a stronger case to have more from her, but what she’s already supplied will be sufficient. As upset as she was, I felt the only wise thing was to send her home.”
Not accustomed to explaining himself to underlings, Nick wondered at his own words, but something in McKay’s face wrung his heart with pity. For the first time he thought about his wife’s words. Could McKay be falling for Pup? He certainly hoped not. Romance did not mix well with business.
“I’m sorry to have disturbed you, sir,” McKay was now saying, effectively breaking back into Nick’s thoughts, “and you, Mrs. Wallace. Goodnight.”
Both husband and wife bid the young treasury agent goodnight and even spent some time talking about Pup and the case. Nick didn’t tell Camille everything that was on his mind, but he was not the least bit surprised to learn from Carlyle the next day that McKay had been to see him. Nick wondered if the recently wounded agent had come back on the job too soon; he had requested a few weeks off as soon as he finished his present assignment.
15
Boulder
Nothing ever felt so good to Pup as returning to her cabin. Compared to the elegance at Nick and Camille’s, it was like a sod hut. But for Pup it was home. She loved the feel of her own bed and the smell of her own sheets. She arrived home from Denver too late to make the trek all the way up the mountain, and since she’d camped in the woods, she climbed into her bed as soon as she could change into her comfortable nightgown.
She woke sometime early Sunday morning, knowing she’d slept for over 18 hours. Even at t
hat she was in no hurry to get out of bed. She lay there, her eyes on the trees out the window, and thought about Jubal and her own guilt of seeing only what she wanted to see. Her brother was six years younger than she was, which would make him 22 right now. From what she could see of him in the bank, he didn’t look that young. It was probably the life he’d lived. They’d had very little contact for years, but word about his activities had come to her from time to time.
Govern had come up the mountain more often. He was always out of money and running from someone. Pup found herself wishing that Jubal had come home a little more. He’d never been as hard as Govern; maybe she could have reasoned with him. It now looked as though it was too late. Even if he completely changed his ways, he was wanted for past crimes. Govern had clearly thought nothing of starting a gunfight with a treasury man in order to escape. Was Jubal as desperate?
Pup knew that such a line of questioning was pointless. She had no answers and each thought only raised more anxiety. However, before she could push Jubal completely from her mind, she wondered what she would do if she were ever expected to aid in his arrest. Such action could save his life, but she wasn’t sure she could live with herself when it was all over and her brother was behind bars. But could she live with herself knowing that he was running loose and causing no end of pain for the people he helped to rob and cheat?
Enough! Pup suddenly thought. Determined to put Jubal from her mind, she threw back the covers. Her garden was probably a mass of dried stalks, but she’d never find out just laying in bed. She was also in the mood for trout. The chances of her finding a fresh one to jump into her pan were slim to none; she’d have to get out her pole. It was time to go back to work, but Pup didn’t dread it—she was home and that was all that mattered.
Thirteen days after McKay was told that Bryan Daniels was dead, he rode up the mountain on a rented horse yet again. Things had cooled slightly with Duncan Phipps. McKay had been assigned to two other banks for spot checks. The last one was a job that had not required many days’ work, and from there he’d packed his things, paid Mrs. Meyer a few weeks’ rent, and headed for the train station. His last conversation with Carlyle played on his mind with every rocking sway of the passenger car.
“What’s really going on here, McKay?” the older man wanted to know.
“I’m not sure I know what you mean.”
“Only that this is all rather sudden.”
McKay had been quiet for a moment. “I don’t mean any disrespect, Carlyle, but it’s easy for the men who work in the home office to look at agents as work animals.” Carlyle had looked so surprised that McKay had stopped and tried again.
“Do you know how many years it’s been since I took a vacation, Carlyle?”
The other man paused to think and then shook his head no.
“It’s been at least two years, if not longer. I go home for the weekend from time to time, and even take an extra day now and again, but it’s not the same.”
“So this doesn’t have anything to do with Callie Jennings?”
“Yes, it does,” McKay admitted, surprising the older man, “but not the way you think.”
Carlyle still looked confused, so McKay tried again.
“I always go home through Boulder, and on the way I’m planning to stop and see how she’s doing. She’s accustomed to being on her own, but where I come from a woman gets tender care and nurturing. The first time I met Callie she was a woman, not a man. I can’t get that image from my mind. Nick Wallace had no problem sending her away on her own. I’m not comfortable with that. I don’t know if she needs anything or not, but the last few months have been rather rough on her. I was the cause of some of her problems, and since I care about her well-being I’m going to check on her. If my sister had had a rough time and had no close family, I would hope someone would check on her.
“From there I’m headed home to be surrounded by my family. I’d like to visit with them knowing I don’t have to leave in two days. I don’t get much of that anymore and usually that’s fine, but right now I’m tired and need a break. I’m also going to ask Callie Jennings if she wants to join me in Longmont. She doesn’t have much family left, and I know she’d enjoy mine. I think she needs to be nurtured even more than I do.”
McKay could see that he’d surprised Carlyle with this admission, but also that he appreciated the younger man’s honesty. The older man’s hand had come out in genuine friendship.
“Have a good trip, McKay. I’ll miss the hard work you put in, but more than that I hope you find everything you’re looking for.”
It was this last statement that lingered in McKay’s mind. What am I looking for? He didn’t really know, but that didn’t stop his climb up the mountain. He’d been this way twice before, but the foliage was thicker this time, and twice he had to backtrack. It was much later than he’d planned by the time he rode into the clearing in front of Pup’s cabin.
Pup sat down at the kitchen table and pulled the boots from her feet. She was tired and achy and couldn’t wait for sundown so she could bathe in the lake. She’d carried water for days to revive her plants, and they now looked like they were going to make it. It looked as if Mud or someone else had given them a little water, and most of them were going to survive. The potatoes were sure to be on the small side, but she would take what she got.
The boots finally off, it was time for dinner. Pup had just picked up the coffeepot when she heard the horse. Her gun, always handy, was in her grasp when someone called from outside. Pup opened the door and stared in disbelief at McKay as he stood in the clearing beyond her porch—tall and handsome—his saddlebags hanging from his hand, his rifle in the other.
“Bad time?” McKay asked quietly.
“No.” Pup remembered her manners and watched as he started forward. “Come in.” She backed up so he could enter. “I was just about to fix something to eat. Are you hungry?”
“Actually I am,” he said as he recognized the gnawing in his stomach.
He watched her turn away, and as she did, she tripped over a boot lying on the floor. It was then that McKay remembered what he might be letting himself in for.
“Can I help?” he offered out of self-preservation as well as a need to do something besides stand there.
“Sure,” she said with her back still to him. “I’ll start the coffee if you want to peel some potatoes.”
“Okay. I’ve got some salt pork in my saddlebags if you want that.”
“You should hold onto it. I have a rabbit that has to be eaten today.”
Her voice was completely normal, and McKay said only, “All right.”
He began to peel potatoes and for some reason felt oddly tongue-tied. She was so much the same, her dress was faded and stained, and other than her hair, still cut very short, she looked the same. Still McKay did not know what to say. He had not known who she was the last time they were in this cabin. Why that made a difference now he couldn’t say, but it did.
“What is this, a stew?”
“Yeah, I’ve got the meat ready, but the carrots need to be washed.”
“I’ll clean them up.”
McKay did this and silence again prevailed, causing McKay to be slightly uncomfortable. A glance out the side of his eyes told him Pup was busy and not noticing. They worked with little conversation for the next 30 minutes until the pot was boiling on the stove. Knowing it would need some time to cook, Pup put the lid on and finally turned to look at McKay.
“How have you been?” he asked her.
“All right. How about you?”
“Fine. I’m tired and headed home for some time off. You headed out on another job soon?”
“Not that I know of.”
“Good.”
Pup cocked her head. “Why is that good?”
“Because I want you to go to Longmont with me.”
Pup blinked at him. McKay had been planning to wait at least until they’d sat down to dinner, but suddenly saw that now was the
time.
“Why?”
“Because I think you need a rest, too.”
“I can rest here.”
“I want you to come with me.”
Pup shook her head. “Thanks, McKay, but I’ll stay here.” As usual, she thought this was the end of it.
“You’d enjoy it.”
Pup, who had been on the verge of setting the table, stopped and looked at him.
“My family’s home is not right in town.” His voice was persuasive. “It’s out a ways, at the base of the peaks. The setting is perfect.”
Pup never even blinked.
“There’s a lake.”
Still no response.
“Come on, Callie. Just say yes.”
“You’re a nag—do you know that, McKay?”
“I am not!” He was as indignant as the first time she had accused him, but Pup ignored him. Having heard enough, she moved toward the door, headed outside, and walked right past her boots. Not so easily put off, McKay was right on her trail.
“I wouldn’t ask you if I didn’t think you would have a good time,” he said as he followed her. “You’d love my parents. My sister lives close by with her husband, and they have a baby. The baby’s name is Marcus. Are you listening to me, Callie?” he now asked as he trailed her to the lake.
“No.”
“Well, at least I got an answer,” he went on. “Ask me anything; I’ll tell you all about it.”
“About what?” She now stopped by the water and looked at him, her brow creased in confusion.
“About Longmont,” McKay said simply.
Pup growled low in her throat and turned away from him.
“I know you’ll love it.” He continued to badger her.
“I won’t love it, McKay, because I’m not going.”
“My mother loves to cook, and you could sleep in my sister’s old room. It looks out over the mountains.”
“No, McKay.”
“Why not?”