“No. I’m not a spy,” Stephen said, turning to Jesse apologetically. “Please don’t think I was taking advantage of your family’s hospitality. I’d been coming here long before the Mint Police asked me to keep them informed.”
“So where are the coins?” Detective Ferguson directed the question to the room in general. “Seems everyone here knows about them, yet no one knows where they are now.”
“I have them.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Rose stood in the doorway, a small bag in her hand.
“It’s time for this almost century-old situation to be laid to rest,” Rose said. “The coins are going back to the Denver Mint, where they belong.”
“But how did you even know the coins were there?” Jesse asked.
“I always suspected they were hidden in The Morning Star, but had no idea exactly where. I removed them when the car was first pulled back up behind the museum,” Rose added. “While you were still inspecting the tracks.”
“What exactly was Jasper’s job when he left Denver to work on the railroad?” Paige asked.
“He was a welder,” Rose said. “Worked in the railroad yard out of Antonito.”
“A welder?” Paige looked at Jake, who nodded. “That explains why they were hidden in the metal backing of the seat.”
Rose stepped forward and handed the bag of coins to the detectives. “I believe it’s time for you to have these.”
“And I have these to add,” Jake said. He pulled four coins from his pocket and turned them over to the detectives. “These fell from The Morning Star when it crashed. I planned to notify you, but it looks like Stephen beat me to a phone call.”
Detective Ferguson took the bag from Rose, poured the contents on the table, and counted the coins, adding in the ones that Jake had handed him. He then took a notebook from his pocket, flipped it open and checked his notes. “Looks like you have 32 coins altogether.”
“That’s right,” Rose said. “That’s everything.”
“You’re not suggesting we’re keeping some, are you?” Jesse asked.
Detective Ferguson smiled, glanced at his partner, who also smiled. “No, nothing like that.” He checked the coins again, as well as his notebook.
Paige leaned forward, curious. “What do you mean?”
“Our notes regarding the 1926 theft show that twenty-six coins went missing.”
“So…these aren’t the stolen coins?” Jesse asked, confused. “Is that what you’re saying?”
“Not exactly,” Detective Ferguson said. “I’m certain these are the stolen coins, at least twenty-six of them are. But the other six may well have been a legitimate purchase by your grandfather.”
“Meaning…” Jesse stood up and walked over to the coins, taking a closer look.
“Meaning that six of these belong to your family,” Detective Simons explained. “We came out here to collect twenty-six coins. That’s the number we’ll be taking back.”
“Confound it,” Chancy shouted, stomping his foot again. “Those are in top condition! They’re worth a good fifteen grand each!”
“Yet you tried to buy one from us for five hundred dollars?” Jake said.
Chancy shrugged. “A guy’s got to make a living, you know.”
“I don’t think you’ll need to worry about that now,” Detective Ferguson said, pulling out handcuffs and securing Chancy’s wrists. “I think your living expenses will be covered for some time.”
“What are you talking about?” Chancy sputtered. He struggled against the metal cuffs unsuccessfully.
“It seems there was a little accident here last night.” Detective Ferguson glanced at the sling on Paige’s arm and then back at Chancy. “Do you happen to know anything about that?”
“Of course not!” Chancy twisted against the detective’s firm grasp. “All right, all right, I was in the museum yard last night. But I wasn’t trying to hurt anyone. I just meant to scare that nosy reporter away before she found the coins.”
“Are you an idiot?” Jake suddenly shouted, jumping to his feet. “Do you realize you could have taken away the woman I love? Her future? My future? Our future life? Our future children? Everything that matters to me. To us?”
Paige felt a slow warmth spread through her as Jake’s words landed in her heart. For a moment the entire room disappeared. All she saw was a man who was everything she’d ever hoped for.
“So you removed the blocks that secure the car? And then put the derailer on the track so the train couldn’t pick up speed when you bumped it into motion?” Henry’s question to Chancy brought Paige’s attention back to the scene unfolding around her.
“Well, it didn’t get very far, did it? Besides, I never did start the engine up. When I got back to the museum, I heard it start up from outside the gate. I went back to get the derailer, but the train had already run off the track. I picked it up after the ambulance left.”
“Before I got there,” Jesse said. “That’s why I didn’t see it.”
“Right,” Chancy said. “So, you see, I’m not guilty. You can let me go now, detectives.”
“No so fast,” Ferguson said. “You were still guilty of planning it. We’ll be discussing this at the local station.”
“Then who did start the engine up?” Paige looked around the room. Jake, Jesse, Rose, Henry and Stephen all looked around, as well. Only two heads remained still, both staring silently into laps.
“Sam? Tommy?” Jesse asked. “Do you know something you’re not telling us?”
The children glanced at each other, but kept their heads down. Tommy elbowed Sam, who returned the gesture.
“Tommy,” Stephen said firmly. “Speak up. What do you kids know? Did you see something? You need to tell us.”
Tommy looked up, his voice barely a whisper. “We were just playing…”
“What do you mean, just playing?” Jesse asked. He leaned forward.
“Like we do sometimes, Dad,” Sam said, finally looking up, too. “When you move the cars around and let me sit by you.”
“Yeah, we were playing train,” Tommy said. “Sam was showing me how.”
“But then it made that rumbling noise, and there was a bump,” Sam explained. “We got scared and ran back here.”
“Well, I’ll be,” Henry said, shaking his head. “The kids bumped that train into motion.”
“Only because the accident was already set up,” Jesse added. “But that’s not the point.”
“No,” Stephen agreed. “They shouldn’t have been playing in the train without supervision.”
“We didn’t know the engine rolled forward, Dad! We didn’t mean to bump anything! We ran and ran because we were scared!”
“I think you two will skip dessert,” Rose said quickly. “You may be excused. We don’t need to waste the detectives’ time on this. You’ll discuss it later with your fathers.”
Sam and Tommy stood up, faces tear streaked, and dashed out of the room. Paige could hear Sam sobbing.
“I think our job here is done,” Detective Simons said, steering Chancy toward the front door. “You’re going with us, for more questioning.”
Detective Ferguson spread the coins out, asked Jesse and Rose to pick out six to keep. They chose six, all in mint condition. The detective bagged the rest, said goodbye and left.
“This should go a long ways toward restoring The Morning Star,” Rose said, looking around the room.
“It’ll just about do it,” Jesse said. “According to the estimates I have.”
A small voice chimed into the conversation.
“Miss Paige? Mr. Jake? We didn’t know we got you hurt. We’re really sorry.”
Sam stood in the doorway and held out her hand, which clutched a stack of bills. “Will this make it better? Will this help with The Morning Star?”
Jesse walked over to her, taking the money from her outstretched arms. “Where did you get this?”
“I saved it,” Sam said. She sniffled. “You alway
s say to set a little bit aside from everything you make.”
“Yes,” Jesse said. “Saving is a good idea. But you don’t work, Sam. Where did you get the money to save?”
“I do, too, work,” Sam insisted. “We work together when people come to visit the museum.”
“That’s right,” Rose jumped in. “I’ve seen you and Sam behind the counter together, Jesse. She ‘helps you’ sometimes, remember? Like when you have to go into the back room to help a conference group? Or step out on the back porch to answer a visitor’s question?”
“Ah, yes,” Jesse said as the situation began to make sense. “And you’ve helped me give change to customers before, haven’t you, Sam?
“Yep, I’m a good helper.”
“Yes, you are,” Rose sighed. “So The Morning Star can look pretty like the little one inside.”
“Well, thank you, Sam,” Jesse said, taking the money. “I think we’ll need to talk about doing this saving bit together from now on, as well as a few other things, like playing inside the trains.”
“OK,” Sam said. She turned to leave, but stopped and looked back at the adults in the room. “Was Great-Grandpa Jasper a bad guy? Because he took the coins?
“No, I don’t think your great-grandpa was a bad guy.” Rose stepped forward and took Sam’s hands. “Sometimes people do something foolish and regret it later. We all make mistakes. Don’t you think so, Sam? Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“Yes, Auntie Rose,” Sam said quietly. “I understand.”
CHAPTER THIRTY
Moonlight drifted through the gazebo’s lattice roof as Paige and Jake set two steaming mugs of coffee on the table and sat down.
“I’m going to miss this gazebo,” Paige sighed. “It’s a perfect place to relax in the evening.”
“Is that all you’ll miss?” Jake wrapped one arm around Paige and kissed the top of her head as she settled against him.
“Could be,” Paige teased. She winced as she searched for a position that wouldn’t interfere with her sling.
“Does your arm feel any better today?”
“Not much,” Paige admitted. “But I talked to my doctor this morning, in New York. After I keep it immobile for a couple weeks, she’ll check it and give me some exercises to get it back in shape. The hospital in Durango sent the X-rays to her.”
Jake nodded, but remained quiet.
“What?” Paige looked at Jake’s face, his expression unreadable.
“Nothing,” Jake said. “I just forget sometimes that you have a life back East. I only see the work side of your life out here – the articles, your conversations with your editor, all that. But you have more than a career there. You have a history, a place you live, familiar people, doctors you trust, a favorite coffee shop…”
“Deli,” Paige clarified.
“OK, deli.” Jake paused. “They don’t serve a good rack of BBQ ribs, do they?”
“Unlikely.”
“Or have a pig roast on Monday nights?”
“A what?”
“Anyway,” Jake continued. “I need to stop overlooking all that.”
“You’ve only seen me outside that everyday life,” Paige said. “But…”
Jake sat up, reached for his coffee. “It’s fine, Paige, really. I understand.” His tone was soft and accepting.
“I don’t think you do…” Paige shifted to face Jake.
“All I want, above everything, is for you to be happy.”
“Well, I…”
“And if that means you stay in New York, and I only get to see you some of the time, I can deal with that. I’m just glad you’re in my life. You make the world…”
“A little crazier?” Paige grinned. She knew exactly what she planned to say, but if Jake wasn’t going to slow down long enough to let her speak, she might as well stretch it out and torment him.
Jake smiled. “No doubt a little crazier. Life is never boring around you. Just trying to keep you out of trouble is a challenge.”
“Yes, I imagine so.” Paige took a sip of her coffee, contemplating her next words. “I’ve been thinking, seeing as your life is so boring and all that…”
“Oh, it’s fine,” Jake said quickly, his tone resigned. “I have the ranch to work on. There’s so much to do to get it ready for guests. Not to mention setting down firm business goals in writing, and getting a marketing plan together.”
“It sounds like you’ll need some help,” Paige ventured. She watched casually as he paced back and forth. I’m having way too much fun seeing this play out, she thought.
“Sure, but there are great resources in Jackson. I can hire a contractor to plan out the cabin remodels, and a company for marketing.”
“You’ll also need to put together a media kit,” Paige added. “You know, for announcements about the ranch, an article for the local paper, that kind of thing…”
Jake nodded, still pacing as he thought through the plans. “Yes, I’m sure the Jackson Hole News & Guide will want information.”
“I imagine so.” Paige relaxed against the loveseat’s cushion and took a sip of coffee.
“And I’ll have to set up a website.”
“Absolutely.”
“And have professional photography done.”
“No question.”
“There’s a lot to do.” Jake took a deep breath.
“It certainly sounds like it,” Paige said. “It would be much easier with help, wouldn’t it?”
“I’ll be able to pull a good team together.”
“I’m sure you will,” Paige said. “But I was thinking it might help to have someone right by your side. Or at least in close proximity.”
“Like an assistant? To handle daily activity, phone calls, that sort of thing?”
“I was thinking more along the lines of someone who knows how to make excellent coffee, and write press releases for the daily paper.”
Jake sat back down beside Paige and looked into her eyes, all business talk forgotten.
“What are you saying, Paige?”
“I think you know what I’m saying,” Paige laughed. “Now that I finally have your attention. It’s a little hard to get a word in edgewise, between your business plans and your insistence that you’ll be fine if I stay in New York.”
“I would find a way to be fine, if that’s what you needed to be happy.”
Paige reached forward with her good arm and ran her fingers through Jake’s hair. “You’re a wonderful man, you know? I don’t know how I was lucky enough to meet you.”
“I think you mean clumsy enough,” Jake whispered, leaning forward to give Paige a kiss.
“You bumped into me,” Paige whispered back, recalling their first meeting in the Jackson library.
Jake shook his head. “I think it was the other way around.”
Paige smiled, knowing this was a routine they would continue to toss around in the future whenever their initial meeting came up in conversation.
“But you still haven’t told me where I can find this perfect assistant,” Jake said. “The one who can make great coffee and write a press release. I want to hear it. You’re just torturing me now. Where do I find this amazing person?”
Paige looked around the gazebo, nonchalant. “I think you’ll need someone from outside of Jackson, outside of Wyoming, even.”
“I don’t know, Paige. Why would someone want to move to Jackson Hole? Aside from the spectacular scenery, clean air and rich history, that is?”
“Maybe because this person is in love with a handsome cowboy and wants to be closer to him, because he makes her life feel complete.”
“I like the sound of that,” Jake said. “Do I know who this person is?”
“You might,” Paige teased, then became serious. “I’ve thought about it for some time, since you first asked me to think about moving to Jackson Hole, maybe even since I first met you.”
“You don’t say,” Jake said, grinning.
“I do say, but
I still have to arrange a lot of details, and talk to Susan to see if I might still be able to do some long-distance articles for The Manhattan Post. At least I could continue the series on the Old West, if she’s open to that.”
“I don’t see why she wouldn’t be. You need to travel out West for each article, anyway.”
“I agree,” Paige said. “But that’s up to her.”
“You could just make coffee and ride horses every day.”
“I could, but…”
“But I would never ask you to give up your work,” Jake said. “Or anything else that makes you who you are.”
“Like my crazy adventures?”
“I don’t think that would be possible, anyway,” Jake laughed. “They seem to find you, wherever you go.”
“True,” Paige admitted. She turned sideways, curling up in Jake’s arms. She felt safe, secure, and hopeful. No decision she’d ever made felt as right as this one.
Jake pulled Paige close, rested his head against the top of hers. A few moments of silence passed as each thought over the move that would bring them closer together. Jake was the first to speak. “I have just one question, then.”
“What is that?”
“When?”
Paige smiled, turned her head so that she could kiss his neck softly, and then whispered the answer in his ear.
“Soon.”
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Paige MacKenzie Mysteries Box Set Page 75