An Agent for Julia

by Marianne Spitzer

  “Julia, we’re not adopting that girl,” West asserted.

  Julia spun to look at West with her fists on her hips. “Haven’t you ever done anything for someone because they needed it? You don’t need a reason.”

  “Well, yeah, I have.”

  “Then what’s the problem?”

  “I don’t know,” West answered. “We’re on a case.”

  “And Father Dominic is a big part of that case. Right now, he’s also caring for a girl in trouble. It’s what he does. We can do both. Help Father Dominic help Meg and find Kate Mulligan.”

  West shrugged. “You’re right.” He stopped talking and stared at Julia.

  “What,” she asked.

  “Nothing. Sometimes I’m not sure what to say to you.”

  Julia laughed. “That’s a male problem, not just yours. Come on, let’s get these clothes for Meg back to the church and start the plan to find Kate.”

  West and Julia found Father Dominic sitting in the front pew with his head bowed in prayer. Meg was nowhere to be seen.

  Julia rushed forward and asked, “Where’s Meg? They didn’t come and force her back to the boarding house, did they?”

  “No, no, she’s all right. She was tired, and I sent her to my office to sleep. I told you I would keep her safe.”

  “I know,” Julia said, lowering her eyes in embarrassment. “It’s only that some of those men might be angry and come to try and take her.”

  “Julia,” Father Dominic said softly. “I understand your concern, but I have found that most men, even the ones with terrible reputations, have some respect for the church and it’s ministers. There will always be some that don’t care who they hurt in the pursuit of what they want, but I have faith that God will protect both Meg and me from that type of man.”

  “I do, too, Father. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to doubt you,” Julia said.

  “Don’t concern yourself, my child. You have a job to do, and I don’t want your mind on Meg and her safety when you need to worry about your own.”

  Julia nodded, and West said. “Can you draw another map from memory?”

  “I’m sure I can,” responded Father Dominic. “But all the land looked familiar, and I’m not sure if I’ll remember where the map began unless I ride back down the trail out of town.”

  “Why is that?” Julia asked.

  “On my way here, I kept wondering how I would keep the chest safe. I took the train to Cheyenne and then instead of taking the stage, I bought a horse and rode here. I didn’t think I would draw much attention that way. I wasn’t sure where I was and passed a couple in a wagon and asked how far I was from Smiley’s station. They said about a mile.”

  Father Dominic stood and paced back and forth for a few moments deep in thought before continuing.

  “I thought a mile would be far enough to hide the chest safely and close enough to the church for me to ride and get the chest when needed. I saw the hills in the distance and rode toward them. About two miles from the road, I rode down a shallow arroyo and found a small cave opening. The cave is large inside, and I thought it would be a good place to hide the chest.”

  “You left the chest there?” West asked.

  Father Dominic nodded. “In the deepest part of the chamber behind some loose rocks that had fallen against the wall of the cave. No one would suspect where it is.”

  Julia asked, “Have you been back to look for it?”

  Father Dominic shook his head. “I was attacked two days later, and I didn’t feel up to riding. I know that whoever the cowboy was, he might have had the map, but he had no idea where the actual cave is. I didn’t start the map at the copse of trees where I left the road, just from when I found the cave entrance.”

  “I saw a copse of trees about a mile out of Smiley when we came in on the stage. Julia and I can head in the direction of the arroyo and look for that cave. The chest must be kept safe from Kate Mulligan. We don’t know what her intentions are, but they aren’t good,” West explained. “Now, what direction did you take when you left the road?”

  “It was early afternoon, and the sun was just a bit lower than straight overhead, and I followed the sun, so I’d say that must have been west. Maybe a bit northwest,” Father Dominic said. “I could come with you, but I need to watch over Meg.”

  “Yes, that’s important, and I can’t let Julia stay here to watch Meg because two women alone would be a greater attraction to some men. Besides, she’s my partner,” West told Father Dominic.

  Julia smiled when she heard West’s reasons for not trying to leave her behind. Maybe he was seeing her as an equal finally. She still hadn’t won the battle over who slept on the floor, but she was determined to win that one eventually.

  “Are you ready to go and retrieve the chest,” West asked.

  Julia nodded and handed the bag to Father Dominic, saying, “Since Meg is asleep, West can’t measure her feet and buy her some boots. I packed everything she needs, and there is a thick pair of socks in the bag she can wear instead of boots until we return.”

  Father Dominic thanked Julia, and West took her arm and led her from the church.

  Once outside, West said, “I didn’t realize women packed warm socks when they traveled.”

  “Some might if they don’t have slippers, but the socks were yours. I didn’t have anything thick enough to protect her feet.”

  West stopped and stared at her. “You took my socks?”

  “Of course, why not?”

  “You didn’t ask.”

  “Did I have to? We’re married, right. What’s yours is mine,” Julia winked as she walked toward the livery stable.

  West wasn’t sure how to answer, and it frustrated him that she kept putting him in situations where he couldn’t find the words to answer her.

  As he followed her to the livery stable, he couldn’t help but admire how well she looked in a riding skirt and blouse. How could Archie put men and women together as partners and not expect them to develop some feelings for the other? Did he have feelings for her? Certainly not, but then again, when she winked at him, he felt something he never felt before. Did she feel the same?

  “West. West?” Julia’s voice drifted into his musings from somewhere when he finally realized she was speaking to him.

  “What?”

  “I asked if you had a preference for horses. We’ll need two that will carry us for several days if we can’t find what we’re looking for right away. I like this gelding,” Julia said excitedly. “He reminds me of a horse we had back home.”

  “He’s too big for you,” West insisted. “This pretty little mare is more suitable.”

  Julia laughed. “You don’t think I can ride the gelding?”

  West shrugged. “I don’t know. It looks like a strong wind would blow you away. You’ve spent the last two years in a convent. You’re umm, well, gentile, not strong.”

  Julia, hands fisted at her hips, glared at West. “How many nuns do you know?”

  “None,” West confessed.

  “If you did, you’ll know they’re strong. Do you think they just sit and pray all day?”

  “They don’t pray all day?” West asked confusion crossing his face.

  “Of course, they do,” Julia said. “But they do it while working. Hard work. They’re nuns, not the ladies you are used to who sit and drink tea all day.”

  West mumbled his apologies, desperately trying to find the words yet again to express what he felt. What was it about this woman that tongue-tied him?

  “West looked at the hostler. “We need to rent two horses for a few days. The lady prefers the brown gelding.”

  The hostler cleared his throat, “I have another gelding, this black. He’s nearly as good and fast as Major there, but I think the little lady has her heart set on Major.”

  “We’ll rent them both,” West said.

  West saddled the black while the hostler saddled Major, and West was impressed that Julia double-checked the cinch before m
ounting Major. His wife surprised him more each day. He had to stop thinking of her as his wife and only as his partner. He vowed to have a word or two with Archie when they returned to Denver.

  After stopping at Smiley’s place to stock up on supplies for a few days, they headed back the way they came, both hoping the map Father Dominic drew was good enough for them to find the cave and the chest.

  Chapter 10

  West and Julia found the copse of trees easily enough a little over a mile from town. A small stream winding through the trees added the needed moisture to grow the trees in the middle of the prairie. While their horses drank and munched on the available green grass, West and Julia scanned the area, trying to decide on the best direction to search.

  Julia said, “Those hills must have caves, but they surround us to the west and north. Father Dominic said he thinks he went west or a bit northwest. Which direction do you want to try first?”

  “We head west to start with and see where the largest hills are. If Father Dominic were looking for someplace to hide the chest, I think he’d be drawn to the taller area with the most foliage,” West offered before mounting his horse again and began riding west.

  Julia agreed and followed West toward the hills, and she hoped they found the hiding place before Kate Mulligan did.

  Julia rode up next to West and asked, “Are we sure that Kate Mulligan stole the chest? What about that ridiculous bounty?”

  “The description of the person who attacked Father Dominic fits, and she disappeared about the same time Father Dominic left town. It wouldn’t have been difficult for her to follow him here. Dressed as a cowboy, Father Dominic might not have noticed her, and if he did along the way, he would probably have dismissed her as another traveler,” West explained.

  “That makes sense,” Julia agreed. “How are we going to find the right cave? That map just shows some bushes and trees and a stream.”

  West shrugged. “We’ll use our uncanny abilities to solve mysteries and try to think like Father Dominic and look for what we might consider the ideal spot for hiding a treasure.”

  Julia laughed. “Yes, you can teach me how to be the perfect agent by finding the cave with your eyes closed.”

  West looked at Julia, ready to explain that it was his training that would help find the spot when she winked at him and spurred her horse to ride in front of him. That woman was driving him slightly mad. He would need time off to recover after this case.

  They rode for several hours comparing the scenery to the crude map Father Dominic had given them. Each time they found a possible match to the plan, they couldn’t locate a cave. West finally decided that it was getting too dark to properly search the area, and they should make camp.

  West built a small fire, and Julia made coffee. They shared the bread, cheese, and fruit they bought from Smiley’s.

  Each was quiet after their simple meal until Julia broke the silence.

  “So, tell me,” Julia said as she sipped her coffee. “Tell me about your family. Do you have a lot of brothers and sisters?”

  West shook his head. “No, I have one sister. No brothers.”

  “Same with me, just my brother and myself. Makes for a small family.”

  West laughed out loud. “My sister has five children. I saw a circus that came through Denver last year that was quieter and tamer than her house. I have never seen or heard the kind of ruckus those five children can cause.”

  “How old are they?” Julia asked.

  West tapped his palm on his knee and stared off into the trees for a moment. “The oldest is six, maybe seven. The baby is almost a year old. Three boys and two girls.”

  “That sounds like a delightful family. I’d like to have a half-dozen children.”

  West paled, and Julia laughed.

  “Don’t worry yourself, husband. Our marriage is in name only, remember. I’m not planning on having all my children with you,” Julia said, doing her best not to laugh at West again.

  West nodded, blowing out a breath of relief, wondering if he was genuinely happy to hear that or a bit disappointed.

  “Tell me about your life back in Wisconsin,” West suggested.

  “There’s not much to tell. I grew up in the small town of Gentle Falls. My aunt and uncle own the mercantile. When my father died, my brother and I did our best to help our mother keep the farm going. When she died, my brother said he was tired of farming. My spirit broke, and I went to stay with the kind sisters. The Mother Superior and my mother went to school together, and I knew I’d be welcome,” Julia shared.

  “So, you just left the farm unattended?”

  “I didn’t, but my brother did, for the most part. I’m sure my uncle is having someone go out and check on things, but my brother did sell off all the animals. He left some money with Mother Superior knowing one day I would leave the convent. It’s how I afforded to make the trip to Denver,” Julia said.

  “And now?” West inquired.

  “I don’t know. I have no idea where my brother is. He said he’d keep in contact with my Uncle Louis. Since I’m an agent now, I’m not opposed to selling the farm if my brother wants. When I first decided to leave the convent, I thought I’d go back to live on the farm, but it’s hard work alone.”

  “I think the agency could find your brother. We have agents all over. A name and general description just might bring in some information,” West told Julia.

  “Maybe, but not now. He hasn’t been gone that long, and he might have written Uncle Louis. My brother wanted to strike out and find gold or whatever dream life could offer him. I found mine, he deserves time to find his.”

  “You found yours?” West asked a bit of unexpected hope in his voice.

  “Of course,” Julia said and winked. “I’m a Pinkerton Detective, aren’t I?”

  West was getting more and more exasperated by Julia’s ability to render him speechless. He managed to mumble, “At least we don’t have to argue about who gets the bed and who sleeps on the floor tonight.”

  Julia’s soft voice floated across the campfire to him. “I told you I don’t mind the floor. I used to sleep in the barn when I was a kid. When one of our horses was ready to foal, I didn’t have the heart to leave her alone. I did it with our dog, too. My mother would tell me that girls shouldn’t sleep on barn floors, and my father would say it would make me stronger and prepare me for life. I don’t think he ever expected it to prepare me for this night.”

  West nodded and said, “I think he’d be proud of you.”

  “Thanks,” Julia answered before turning over and pulling her small blanket over her shoulder.

  West did his best to settle into his bedroll and fall asleep. Still, his mind kept drifting to the beautiful woman who was technically his wife and was stealing his heart, but he didn’t know how to stop it.

  After a quick breakfast of coffee, bread, and fruit, West and Julia resumed their search for the hidden cave. After two hours, Julia pointed to a possible direction they might follow.

  West shook his head. “No, I see trees and the tall bushes, but there aren’t any shorter bushes which might be berry bushes or something. We need to ride further.”

  “Let me see the map,” Julia said, holding out her hand.

  After scanning the map, she said, “Why are you looking for berry bushes?”

  “Look at the map. Father Dominic said there were bushes and trees. He drew where they were to the best of his recollection.”

  “I know that, but I don’t think these are berry bushes on the map. Did you ask him what they were?”

  “No, he said bushes and trees,” West insisted.

  “Look at the map again and look in the distance. I don’t think those are bushes, I think they are rocks, and if so, the map matches the pile of rocks there between the trees and the tall bushes. I think you’re reading the map wrong,” Julia insisted.

  West grabbed the map from Julia and stared at it and then off into the distance. After he did that three time
s, he smiled at her. “You may be right. Let’s look.”

  As they drew closer, West commented, “I see rocks and some short scrubby bushes. Maybe Father Dominic didn’t think the rocks were important.”

  “Possibly,” Julia answered. “When he rode around looking for a place to hide the chest, he might have been more concerned with the hiding place than finding it again. He has the place in his mind, and if he were here, I’m sure he could point it out easily.”

  “I think you’re right,” West answered as he rode up to the trees. “Look, I can see rocky terrain behind the trees. Maybe we’ll find the cave. Let’s leave the horses here where they can rest and drink at that small pond.”

  Julia dismounted and followed West into the tree line. When they emerged from the other side, they saw that Father Dominic’s second map of the cave opening was nearly perfect. There behind some more scrub brush and a large boulder was an opening to a cave big enough for them to walk into without hitting the top of West’s head.

  Chapter 11

  “Before we enter, let me look around a bit,” West suggested. “If Kate has been here, she might have left a clue behind.”

  As West searched near the cave entrance, Julia walked off in the opposite direction when she heard a horse whinny. Hidden in the trees, Julia found a horse tethered to one of the larger trees complete with saddlebags, bedroll, and a rain slicker. She hurried back to where West was searching and told him of her discovery.

  “It could be that Kate left her horse and might be in the cave,” West suggested. “We’ll have to search it carefully.”

  West found a used torch near the cave’s entrance and lit it with a match from his pocket.

  Julia asked, “What is that smell?” as soon as she entered the cave.