Hutchins Creek Cache

by Deborah Garner

  He’d also made a mistake when he offered to buy it so quickly, especially for that price. Five hundred dollars? He should have offered fifty, a less dramatic amount. She would have been less suspicious then, especially if he’d just made a casual comment. If she’d fallen for it, he would have saved several bucks, too.

  He picked up the phone on his desk and dialed a number. As he waited for the other person to answer, he remembered the group of kids who’d made fun of his landline recently. He didn’t really care. Plain old phones had served him well his entire life. Why would he want one of those new-fangled devices you could carry around in your pocket?

  Tapping the eraser end of a pencil against his desk top, he waited for the call to connect. What was taking so long? How hard was it to pick up a phone and say “hello”? Five rings, six rings, seven rings…

  “Hello?”

  “What took you so long to answer,” Chancy grumbled.

  “Needed to get outside.”

  “Well, at least that was smart. Listen,” Chancy continued. “We may have a problem. There’s a reporter snooping around. I don’t think she’s on to anything in particular. But she came in asking about a coin. She had one with her, supposedly found it on the ground. Or someone did, I don’t remember. But she had one, all right.”

  “A 1926 Double Eagle?”

  “Yes,” Chancy said. “In excellent shape, too. Close to mint condition.”

  “Sounds promising.”

  “I couldn’t get any other information from her. She had a big guy with her.”

  “I’ll find out more.”

  “I can’t say where you’ll find her. You’ll just have to search around. She mentioned coming up from Durango.”

  “Don’t worry. I know where she is.”

  “Then you should have called me first!” Chancy barked. “See what you can find out, and let me know.”

  He slammed the phone down and headed next door to cool off with a Butter Pecan Silver Scoop.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  “Horses?”

  Paige took a sip of Chardonnay and leaned back, waiting for Jake to explain his plan. The cushioned booth and muted lighting at The Iron Horse comforted her after her afternoon of work. As much as she loved the Old West series she wrote for The Manhattan Post, she had to both weave and weed to pull the railroad article together. The western development of the railway system could fill several encyclopedia volumes. Still, she knew she’d find a good balance of history and general railroad nostalgia. Once she added a photo of an old steam engine, she’d end up with a reader-friendly piece. When Susan agreed via email, she’d closed her laptop with relief, knowing she was making good progress. She was ready to relax with her favorite cowboy.

  “Yes, Paige, horses,” Jake laughed. “I know you know what they are because you rode one when you were in Jackson Hole on your very first Old West assignment.”

  Paige reached across the table and gave Jake a playful slap, nearly knocking a basket of fresh sourdough bread over in the process.

  “Of course I know what horses are. I just didn’t know you were thinking about getting any, that’s all.”

  “I grew up around horses,” Jake said. “The Jackson property doesn’t feel like a real ranch to me without them.”

  “Them…as in how many.” Paige swirled her wine around in her glass, placing silent bets on the answer.

  “I think two, at least for now.”

  “To keep each other company?”

  Jake smiled. “I suppose that’s one reason. But it also means we can ride together when you come out.”

  The server placed two bowls in front of them and walked away.

  “You’re pretty self-confident, aren’t you, Mr. Norris?” Paige resisted the temptation to reach across the table again, deciding two overturned bowls of corn chowder would be far worse than an off-kilter basket of bread.

  “Confident enough,” Jake said, dipping a piece of sourdough bread in the chowder and taking a bite. He closed his eyes and sighed, content. “Delicious.”

  Paige reached for a spoon and tried the soup. He was right; it was delicious.

  “Why do I get the feeling you have other plans for these horses?”

  Jake finished a second bite of combined soup and bread, and then switched to a spoon. “Because you’re perceptive.”

  “Thank you,” Paige said. “But it’s not just that. I’ve watched you work to update the ranch. Slow and steady, as they say, without rushing.”

  “You’re right,” Jake said. “Part of that is because it needed work, and I wanted the renovations to be high quality. But I’ve also weighed ideas about what to do with the ranch. It’s a large property. Too large for one person.”

  “Jake…”

  “Wait.” Jake stopped Paige before she could continue. “I’m not talking about you moving out there.”

  Oddly, Paige felt her stomach flip-flop. Although she hadn’t committed to a move yet, she also hadn’t ruled it out. As it was, her desire to move to Jackson Hole continued to grow. For that matter, each time they saw each other, the appeal tripled.

  “What’s that look on your face, Paige? You already know I’d love to have you out there with me. I’m talking about something bigger.”

  “Bigger than having me move to be with you?” Paige said, calmly, but firmly.

  Jake sighed. “I’m kind of digging myself into a hole, huh?”

  Paige couldn’t hold back a giggle. “A little, but I’m teasing you. Go ahead. What plans?”

  “I’ve been thinking – just thinking now, don’t panic – about opening a guest ranch.”

  “A guest ranch?” Paige dropped her fork, which bounced to the edge of the table and landed in a side serving of au gratin potatoes, sticking out at an angle oddly resembling the Leaning Tower of Pisa. She hadn’t even noticed the server switch the soup bowls for the main entrées. She’d been too engrossed in the conversation.

  “I bet you couldn’t do that again if you tried,” Jake laughed.

  “I’m sure you’re right.”

  “Back to the topic. You think the guest ranch is a bad idea.” Jake frowned.

  “No, I think it’s a great idea!”

  “Really?” Jake looked half relieved, half shocked.

  “Of course,” Paige said. “You have a huge property that you’re not yet using for anything. Jackson Hole gets swamped with visitors in the summer, plus another blast in the winter. It’s tough to find lodging in the area during the main season. You’re thinking of those cabins, aren’t you? That’s why you replaced the floorboards?”

  “Yes and no,” Jake said. “They had to be replaced, anyway. The wood was rotten from neglect. But, yes, I did have it in mind that someday I might want to use them for guests. And the farmhouse would make a perfect lodge.”

  “True,” Paige said hesitantly. “But you live there.”

  “Then I wouldn’t. It’s simple. I can fix up one of the small cabins as a residence. Maybe add a room or two.”

  “And?”

  Jake took a bite of pork tenderloin as Paige nibbled on a salad. Her work on the article, combined with the mystery of the coin, had stolen her appetite. Soup and salad seemed like the safest bet. Now she also had Jake’s new plans to consider.

  “And,” he continued. “A fireplace, a partial fence for privacy, a back deck, some comfort additions like that.”

  “Sounds tempting, no question,” Paige said. “What about the guest cabins? You only have a handful.”

  “That’s enough to start. Better to begin small, anyway. Smooth out all the details and possible problems before expanding. I can build more later if I need to.”

  “I agree with that,” Paige said. “I’ve watched businesses expand too quickly. It’s not always pretty. My uncle opened a pizza shop in New York, an extremely popular business there, of course. But he took short cuts and didn’t do enough research on his competition. He was too stubborn to bother with a feasibility study. He had to close wi
thin the year.”

  Jake shook his head. “I’m sorry to hear that. I’ve watched people open businesses before, too. Some taking it slow, some rushing ahead. The advance legwork is crucial.”

  “When are you thinking to open it?”

  “Not until late next spring. Summer’s already winding down, and I have plenty of planning and research to do, not to mention acquiring remodeling permits and all that. I’m thinking of this as a seasonal business – late spring to early fall, since I won’t be involved in the winter’s ski season. A lot of guest ranches focus on a single season. Plus, I need time to get it ready, and construction is next to impossible in the winter, as you know.”

  Paige finished her salad. Jake still worked on the last few bites of his larger meal.

  “So you’d wait to get the horses? This is part of your advance planning?”

  “Actually, no.” Jake now pushed his plate aside, next to Paige’s. “We’d need more for the guest ranch, especially if we wanted to offer horseback riding. But I’d like a couple now.”

  “So you’ll look for some when you get back?” Paige accepted a cup of coffee and watched the server fill a cup for Jake, as well.

  “Probably,” Jake said. “But I did have an interesting talk with Stephen Porter today while you were returning the coin to Sam. He said his friend in Durango has a couple of beauties for sale.”

  “What kind?” It seemed the right question to ask, though Paige knew very little about horses.

  Jake leaned forward over his coffee, encouraged by Paige’s interest. “One’s a quarter horse, good temperament and used to riders. The other is an appaloosa.

  “Oh, I’ve seen pictures of them,” Paige said. “They’re beautiful.”

  “Yes, they are. And this one is calm; at least that’s what Stephen said. He’s ridden her before.”

  “They sound like good choices.”

  “They have one more, an Arabian. I’m not sure she’s right for my ranch.”

  “Why not?”

  “She’s young and hot. Could be trouble down the line.”

  Paige paused. Just hearing the words she’s young and hot coming out of Jake’s mouth gave her a start.

  “Paige,” Jake said, laughing. “We’re talking about horses, remember? By young, I mean green broke. She’s just learned to saddle up. I wouldn’t put an inexperienced rider on her. I could probably handle her, but she’ll still need more training.”

  “And what about her being ‘hot’?” Paige asked, trying to keep a straight face.

  “That’s more of a temperament description. A hot horse can be unpredictable, another reason the horse should have an experienced rider.”

  They finished their coffee, paid the check and walked back to the inn. They’d skipped dessert, but the cool night air felt like the perfect finale to the enjoyable meal. Jake wrapped his arm around Paige and pulled her close. She leaned her head against his shoulder, and they fell into an awkward gait, but neither of them was willing to separate.

  “How sure are you?” Paige asked.

  Jake remained quiet, as if mulling over her question.

  “About the guest ranch,” Paige added quickly.

  “I’d say eighty percent.”

  “Really? I have a feeling you’ll do it then.”

  “I think so,” Jake said. “But I’m not rushing into it. I’ll draw up a business plan and make sure it’s feasible. But the horses are another story. I’d like to get two, whether or not the guest ranch is a go.”

  Paige straightened up, a possible outing taking shape.

  “You said those horses were in Durango, right?”

  “That’s right,” Jake said. “But if you think we can ride the train down and bring them back with us, there’ll be some logistical problems.”

  “Funny.” Paige punched him jokingly in the shoulder. “No, I was just thinking you might want to go see them, maybe tomorrow, or at least call and talk to the owner.”

  “I wouldn’t mind that,” Jake agreed. “Good suggestion. What brings this on?

  “What do you mean?” Paige attempted to sound innocent, but knew she fell short.

  “Because there’s always a reason behind your sudden impulses, whether it’s a question or a trip. I appreciate that you’d like me to follow up on the horses, but what else are you after in Durango?”

  “Possible information.”

  “Care to elaborate?”

  “Sure.” Paige paused, figuring out the best explanation. “I was talking to Jesse earlier, at the museum.”

  “Right. You said returning the coin to Sam went well.”

  “Yes, it did,” Paige said. “She had no idea it wasn’t the original. I was relieved. I’m not sure how I would have explained the need to leave the other one there.”

  “You could have just told her it was so special they wanted to inspect it longer,” Jake said.

  “That might have worked,” Paige agreed. “Fortunately, I didn’t have to try. After I finished with Sam, I had an interesting conversation with Jesse, and he dropped a tidbit of Hutchins family history into my hands that may be useful.”

  They reached the steps of the inn, but settled on the front porch to talk privately. Paige lowered her voice.

  “Jesse’s grandmother is still alive. She’s in an assisted living facility in Durango.”

  “I’m not sure I get the connection.”

  “The connection is that she’s Jasper’s widow.”

  “Which one is Jasper again? This family didn’t make it easy to remember their names.”

  “Jasper is the one who worked at The Denver Mint at the time the coins went missing. At least that’s when I think he was there.”

  “And you think she’ll know something about the coins?”

  “Maybe,” Paige said. “Jesse said she isn’t always coherent. She tells lots of stories, but I suspect fact is mixed with fantasy. The nurses call her ‘The Bird Lady.’ Sort of an odd coincidence, don’t you think? Sam calls her coin a bird. Pearl might know something about the coins.”

  “How old is she? Those coins were stolen in 1926. Maybe you have the generations wrong. She must be Jesse’s great-grandmother.”

  Paige shook her head adamantly. “No, I don’t. Jasper married her in 1932. She was his second wife, only eighteen at the time. He was ten years older than she was. She’s one hundred one now.”

  Jake whistled. “I bet she does have tales to tell.”

  “Yes, according to Jesse, she loves to tell stories. The only problem is figuring out which ones are real and which ones she made up.”

  “And the bottom line is that you want to go see her.”

  “How did you know?” Paige smiled, barely visible in the evening porch light.

  Jake laughed. “Just a wild guess. But I’m up for it. Two horses and one elderly woman? What better reason could there be for a road trip? Or, rail trip, as it may be.”

  “Great.” Paige leaned over to hug Jake, who immediately pulled her into his lap.

  “Maybe we should take this discussion inside,” Jake said as he ran his hand through her hair and softly kissed her. Paige took a few seconds to catch her breath.

  “I think that’s a perfect idea.”

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Paige stepped off the train in Durango, Jake just behind her. A short walk from the station put them on Main Avenue not far from the historic Strater Hotel.

  “Impressive,” Jake said, noting the four-story, red brick structure.

  “Yes,” Paige agreed. “I stopped in there to browse while I waited for the train to Hutchins Creek the other day. The Denver & Rio Grande Railroad founded Durango in 1881 after building the San Juan Extension. The Durango-Silverton line opened in 1882. A growing town needs a hotel, and the Strater opened in 1887. Plus the railroad management knew they could promote the line between Durango and Silverton as a scenic passenger route right from the start. Of course, it’s also been used to transport hundreds of millions of dollars of preciou
s metals for the mining industry over the years.”

  “Well, they sure did a good job on this hotel.”

  “No question. And they keep it up, too. It has the largest antique walnut furniture collection in the world. Great saloon, too – the Diamond Belle.”

  “And you’re familiar with the saloon…how?”

  Paige laughed. “I should make up a wild story to get back at you for asking me that, but the truth is, I was thirsty and needed easy access to iced tea.”

  “OK, I’ll buy that. So where to now?”

  “Hopefully to get more information about the coin.”

  “Lead the way.”

  Another quarter mile stroll along Main Avenue followed by three blocks up a side street, brought them to the Mountain Serenade Home of the Rockies.

  “This is the place,” Paige said, double checking printed notes she pulled from her jeans pocket. “Room 124, so Jesse told me.” She folded the paper and slipped it back in her pocket. “Let’s go.”

  Inside, the building was tidy and clean, yet seemed friendly. Bright rays of sunshine filtered down from skylights in the atrium. A bulletin board displayed colorful posters, photos and activity schedules. A nurse’s station off to one side gave off a professional vibe without seeming cold or unapproachable. Those on duty appeared to be in good spirits. One looked up immediately to say hello.

  Paige stepped forward and introduced herself and Jake.

  “We’re here to see Pearl Hutchins,” Paige said, suddenly hoping she wouldn’t be turned away as a non-relative. Why hadn’t that crossed her mind before?

  “How nice,” the woman’s name tag read “Ellie,” and she appeared to be old enough to be a resident herself. “You came just at the right time. Pearl’s in the activity room right now.” Ellie raised her arm and pointed to a large room just off the atrium. A dozen residents filled the room, playing cards or board games, or entertaining visitors. “Just sign in on this clipboard – names, person you’re visiting, date and time – and go right in. She’s the woman in a blue dress over by the checkers table.”