by Lori Wick
“Because I don’t want to.”
“Yes, you do; you just don’t know it.”
“No, McKay,” she said again, wondering why she even bothered. She moved closer to the lake, hoping he wouldn’t follow.
“Come on, Callie,” he tried again, still staying very close. “What are you afraid of?”
McKay watched her start suddenly and wondered if he’d finally gotten through. He was still talking when she sat on a fallen log by the lakeshore and stared across the water. McKay’s tirade had gone on for at least a minute straight when Pup quietly said, “All right, I’ll go with you.”
McKay blinked.
“Just like that?” he asked, but she didn’t answer. “Well,” he said slowly, some of the enthusiasm leaving him in the midst of his surprise, “I know you’ll have a wonderful time.” But when she still didn’t look at him, he moved close enough to really see her face. She looked pale, and there was a small strip of moisture over her upper lip.
“What is it, Callie?” he whispered softly. “What have I done?”
She finally looked at him. “I’ve stepped on something, McKay.” Her voice was breathless. “It’s in my foot.”
“Which foot?” he asked, but she couldn’t answer.
McKay looked down and noticed for the first time that she was in stocking feet. Grasping her ankle he lifted her right foot carefully and checked the bottom. Seeing nothing, he reached for the left. Protruding from the tender flesh of her arch was a fishhook. Her stocking was already stained with blood. McKay felt a chill go over him at the thought of her pain.
“Okay, Callie,” he said quietly, carefully letting go of her ankle. “I’m going to lift you now and carry you back to the cabin.”
She didn’t answer or protest once she was in his arms, and McKay, a rush of protection filling him, thought she weighed little more than a child. It wasn’t two minutes before he was placing her on the well-worn sofa, careful not to bump her foot against anything. Pup rested her head back the moment he laid her down, so she missed the appearance of his pocketknife. She felt a pull at the stocking around her ankle and then the cool air as he cut it free and tried to bare her foot.
“I’ve got to take it out, Callie. I can’t remove the stocking unless I do,” she heard him say, but the pain was making her sick. Her hand went over her mouth as he grasped the hook and removed it. She felt the pressure of a dry cloth against her sole, but she was too busy gasping for air to move or speak. Her whole frame trembled with the intensity of the pain, but she never spoke or cried out. She felt more movement down at her foot just before a cold wet cloth was placed against her face. McKay tenderly wiped her face and then folded the cloth to place across her brow. Pup opened her eyes to find his face close above her.
“Hi,” he said softly.
“I lost that hook,” she said in a small voice, “but I was certain it was in the lake.”
McKay nodded and adjusted the cloth on her face. “It’s out now, but it tore quite a bit.”
Pup took a shuddery breath. “It hurts.”
“Yeah.”
There didn’t seem to be anything else to say. McKay pulled a kitchen chair close to sit by her. Her foot throbbed, but in time she fell into a light sleep. He then took the stew from the stove and ate a little, barely tasting it. He lit the lanterns and went back to the chair next to the sofa, sitting down again until she woke up. When she didn’t want anything to eat, he carried her to her bedroom.
“Can you manage?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll be in the stable tonight. Just tap on the window if you need me.”
“You can sleep in the spare room, McKay. The bed’s made up.”
“No,” he answered, even as he was reminded that they came from different worlds. “I’ll be outside. Just holler if you need me.”
McKay moved toward the door.
“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Callie. I’m sorry about your foot.”
“It’s all right.”
“Don’t try to do anything in the morning. I’ll be in and make you some breakfast.”
McKay watched her nod. He carried the other lantern out with him and settled in the stable for a long, cold night.
Denver
“He’s gone where?” Nick asked Carlyle, his face showing frank disbelief.
“Longmont.”
Nick licked his lips. The two men stared at each other.
“I can’t believe it,” Nick finally whispered. “What made you—” but he couldn’t go on.
“Have him checked out?” Carlyle finished.
“Yes.”
The younger man shrugged, his face filled with concern. “I just didn’t like what I was seeing. It was all just a bunch of little things, but then I thought he might be a little too close to the situation, you know, emotionally. Now reports have come back.”
“From someone you trust?”
“Yes.” Carlyle’s voice told of his regret. “I checked him out myself.”
Nick’s eyes closed before his hand scrubbed over his face. He looked weary and hurt, and then angry.
“We can’t take usual channels with this; he would recognize anyone we sent.”
Carlyle didn’t interrupt; his boss was clearly thinking.
“I need Pup,” he finally stated. “Send word for me.”
“I’m not certain she’s in Boulder.”
Nick looked at him.
“McKay’s plans were to ask her to go with him to Longmont.”
Nick was thunderstruck. Then a steely glint entered his eyes.
“Who’s our contact in Longmont?” his voice was hard.
“Barnes. Charlie Barnes.”
“Of course. Get word to him. Don’t go so far as to say one of our men has turned, but stress the importance of standing by.”
“So you don’t want to move right away?”
“No, but he must be ready. Duncan Phipps and Jubal Hackett may be on hold for the moment, but I won’t let this one get away.”
16
McKay pressed a mug of coffee into Pup’s hand and then went back to the kitchen. Pup eyed him from the sofa, her look wary; he was a little too quiet.
“So, when can we leave?” he asked a moment later.
It was just what she dreaded. Her sigh could be heard across the room.
“I know I said yes, but I don’t want to do this, McKay.”
“Why not?”
Pup remained silent.
“Give me a reason.”
“You’re not going to start that again, are you, McKay?”
“Yes, I am,” he said calmly. “Why don’t you want to come with me?”
Pup took a deep breath. Yesterday he hadn’t said a word about the trip until he was leaving to go back out to the stable for the second night. She’d been in pain all day, and he’d waited on her hand and foot, not nagging her once. But right before he left he’d turned and said, “I still want you to come with me.”
It would have been easy to pretend she didn’t know what he was talking about, but she didn’t do that. Instead she didn’t answer, and he’d had no choice but to let the matter drop.
Now, first thing this morning, he was back on the trail. Pup was strongly tempted to throw her coffee mug at him. Without even looking at her, he cracked eggs into a pan and spoke. His whole manner was relaxed.
“I want to head down the mountain within the hour and catch the train for Longmont this afternoon.”
“Have you forgotten my foot?”
“No. You’ll be on horseback, then on the train, and finally in a wagon to my folks’ place.” He now turned to look at her, his eyes amused because it wasn’t like her to complain. “No walking at all.”
Pup shook her head no again, her look remaining stubborn.
“Give me a reason.”
He heard her sigh. “I don’t want to dress as a man again, McKay. I’m tired of that.”
“You don’t have to dress like a man.”
He was still so calm.
“McKay,” now Pup’s voice was patient. “With my hair this short I can’t go anywhere in a dress. I wear a hat every time I even walk outside.” She would have gone on, but McKay cut in with one quiet statement.
“Camille sent you something.”
If Pup had been wary before, she was now downright tense.
“Camille can be rather busy,” she said cautiously, watching as he walked toward the saddlebags. A moment later he lifted a curly, black-haired wig and positioned it on his hand. He held it carefully, looking at it and then at her.
“It even looks like your hair.”
“It is my hair,” she admitted quietly. “Camille had it made up for emergencies.”
McKay nodded. “She also sent a few dresses; she said the things you wear at home are all too short.”
“So you’ve talked this over with Camille.”
McKay shrugged. “I hadn’t planned to, but I had some papers to drop off the day before I left. Carlyle wanted them given to Nick, and he was at home. Mrs. Wallace and I got to talking. When I told her of my plans, she got rather excited.”
Pup stared at him. Why had she thought this had all been on the spur of the moment?
“Why, McKay?” she had to ask. “Why must I do this? If you’re trying to make up for the loss of my brother, it’s not going to work.”
“I’m not, Callie, but I’m glad you said something. My motives are pure. My family is wonderful, and Longmont is beautiful. You never have a break here. You’re either working or on some job for Nick. At my parents’ home, you can relax.”
He saw her vacillate.
“There’s a lake,” he coaxed her.
She wouldn’t look at him.
“The windows in your room overlook the mountains, and my sister says the bed is soft.”
Pup could not believe she was being swayed by his sell-job. She looked over at him and asked herself how anyone could be so charming and good-looking.
“Right after breakfast I’ll go saddle the horses,” he responded as if she’d agreed, his eyes on her face. “You can take time to pack then. Oh,” he stopped before turning back to the stove, “that’s the package Camille sent.” He gestured to a parcel on the small table in the corner. Pup hadn’t even noticed it.
When McKay turned away, Pup reached for the bundle. She left the string in place and tore the paper back just enough to see which dresses were there. Two of them were her best, and the third was a simple day dress. Pup sat for a moment longer, her eyes at first seeing nothing and then focusing on her wig; it still lay on top of McKay’s saddlebags on the chair. She couldn’t believe she was actually going to do this.
From the moment he put her on the horse to the moment they took their seats on the train, McKay’s treatment of her could not be faulted. Pup was still not certain his concern wasn’t over her brother, but she realized that even if it was, she would have to let this man get it out of his system. She didn’t think he was being untruthful in any way, but not everyone saw things as they really were. He wanted her to meet his family because they were kind and wonderful. She was glad he thought so, but a family as loving as McKay spoke of was just too good to be true.
“You have just one sister?” Pup asked as the train picked up speed. They had done nothing but talk about the Harringtons since leaving home, but Pup hadn’t always been listening.
“Yes, but lots of cousins. In fact, one of my cousins is getting married next week.”
“Will you go all the way back for the wedding?”
“I won’t need to; I’ll still be there.”
Pup’s head whipped around to look at him.
“Don’t you have to go back to work?”
“Not for almost two weeks.”
Pup stared at him.
“Your hair looks nice,” he said simply, but Pup barely heard him.
“Why don’t you have to work?”
“Because I needed some time off.”
“You weren’t planning on my staying for two weeks, were you, McKay?”
“No. I think it’ll be just over a week.”
“I can’t even stay that long. My garden will be a dried-out mess.”
“Mud will see to it.”
“Why would he do that?”
“Because I went up and asked him.”
It was then that Pup understood how accustomed she was to being in control. She didn’t even go on the jobs Nick had for her if she still needed time off. McKay had come in and practically dragged her from the mountain—all the while smiling kindly and making her think it was just what she wanted.
“You’re not going to renege on me, are you, Pup?” He surprised her by using her nickname.
“I don’t know how my leaving early is reneging.”
“Because you’ll miss all the fun if you don’t stay the week.”
Again he found himself under her scrutiny. He wondered if she knew how often she just sat and studied him. She was so good at covering all emotion in her face. He’d have given much to read her mind or even her mood. He was tempted to rattle off the activities he had planned but refrained. If she wanted to know, she could ask. She didn’t ask.
After a few more moments, she turned her head and looked at the people seated in front of them. He was certain she didn’t really see them, but McKay remained quiet and let her be.
The train had a rocking motion to it that tended to soothe, and it wasn’t long before both of them were nearly asleep. McKay eventually laid his head back, and Pup’s went against the window.
“Wake up, McKay” was the next thing he heard. “You’re crushing me.”
There was laughter in her voice, but having gone out hard, McKay moved only slightly and blinked at his seat-mate in confusion.
“What did you say?”
“You fell asleep on me, and I couldn’t breathe. What do you weigh, for mercy’s sake?”
McKay smiled then, just before reaching up and adjusting her curls.
“Was it crooked?” she whispered furiously.
“Just a little.”
Pup snorted with anger and disgust. “You think it’s so simple,” she hissed at him. “Just put the wig on and wear a dress. Well, I’ll tell you, McKay Harrington, the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to me happened in this wig.”
“It looks fine now,” he assured her, no longer smiling.
“Yeah? Well, who’s going to shadow me this week and tell me if my hair’s on straight?”
“It won’t be that bad.”
“Won’t it?” She was still whispering furiously. “This thing is not made for sleeping in.”
“So you can take it off at night.”
“At the Wallace’s,” her eyes were glaring now, “Miranda comes in every morning unannounced; she doesn’t even knock. Who can I expect in my room, finding me in a woman’s nightgown and no hair?”
Her voice must have gone up because the man in front of them turned and glanced behind him. Pup turned away to the window, and McKay stared at the back of her head. He’d been completely honest. Her hair looked fine, but she was right. He really had no idea how difficult it could be.
“I’m sorry, Callie. I didn’t think about anything but wanting you to come.”
She turned and looked into his eyes, her head shaking in confusion. “I still don’t understand what that’s about either, McKay.”
“It’s not complicated. By the end of the week, I hope you’ll see my parents’ place as a second home. I hope you’ll be as relaxed with them as you are with the Wallaces. And the church family, too, if you want to come,” he added, having just thought of it.
Pup cocked her head to one side, her hair forgotten. “What church do you attend?”
“Longs Peak Bible Church.”
Pup nodded and looked off at nothing. “I don’t get to church much.”
“Why is that, Callie?” McKay asked with genuine interest.
“A couple of reasons, the first being tha
t I don’t like town much, and the second that I’d have to leave the cabin in the middle of the night to be there when the service started.”
“Couldn’t you stay with someone in town?”
She shook her head no. “I don’t know who it would be.”
McKay wanted to say, What if I found someone for you? What if I worked out a place for you? But he couldn’t do it. Just attending church was not what was needed here. It might help. It might be a start, but Pup needed to understand more about God and His Son. That was the place she needed to begin. They had both fallen quiet again and remained so for the rest of the ride, but McKay’s mind was on Pup. He wondered if there would be an opportunity to talk to her about his faith before the week was out.
Longmont
Laid out symmetrically with a splendid view of Longs Peak, Longmont, Colorado, was a beautiful town. Streets ran parallel to each other and bustled with activity. Pup tried to take in as much as possible from the train station, and from her vantage point she liked what she saw. Her foot brought some pain as she moved with McKay along the platform, but the boards were level and he kept a hand under her arm at all times.
No one had ever treated her as McKay Harrington did. Camille had never done anything but respect and treat her as a woman, but it wasn’t the same as McKay’s care.
“How’s that foot?”
“Just a little tender.”
“Well, sit here.” He led her to a bench that sat against the station office wall. “I’ll get some transportation, and then we’ll head for home.”
“I can come with you, McKay. It’s no trouble.”
“No.” He spoke with a hand to her shoulder, effectively holding her in the seat. “I’ll have the porter bring the bags over to you, and I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
He was gone before she could protest. She didn’t want infection to set into her foot, so she chose not to ignore his orders and follow him as she would have liked to have done. But the longer she sat, her neck craning slightly to see the town, the more she felt amazed by his kindness. The livery, from what she could see of things, was quite a ways down the street.
Yesterday, the day after she’d stepped on the hook, came rushing to her mind. McKay had risen early to chop wood for hours. The supply ended up overflowing her box and was stacked against the side of the cabin. After lunch he removed a strip of wood from her doorway and inlaid a piece in its place, telling her that this one wouldn’t trip her. He’d prepared three meals, one of which included fresh fish, and cleaned the kitchen until it shone. And again he’d slept out with the horses.