To Know Her by Name (57 page)

There's not another man like you in all the earth, McKay Harrington, and one day you'll be all mine.

46

Boulder
Two months later

“Are you all set?” Travis asked Pup and McKay as they stood at the train station.

“I think so,” McKay answered, reaching under his jacket to withdraw the train tickets from his shirt pocket.

“I hope the weather is good for you,” Rebecca said with a smile, shifting Kaitlin in her arms.

“I don't know,” Pup answered her friend, a sparkle lighting her eyes. “It's always fun to have an excuse to curl up by the fire with a book.”

The women shared a conspiring smile.

It had been Travis' turn to take the children in to school. With the baby so young, Rebecca did not often join him so early in the day, but when she learned that McKay and Pup were leaving for Longmont that morning, she came in so the five of them could have breakfast together before they caught their train. They often shared meals on the weekends, but coming for breakfast was a different sort of treat.

Pup gave Rebecca a hug and looked down at the youngest Buchanan.

“Are you going to miss me, Katie?” she inquired of her. Kaitlin smiled into the familiar face, and Pup grinned in return. She wanted to take her into her arms, to hold her one last time, but time was working against them.

The whistle blew, and McKay caught Pup around the waist. They moved off with a final word of goodbye and wishes for a wonderful time in Longmont. Pup and McKay boarded the train amid excitement, their hearts pounding with anticipation of time together and a break in routine. They talked for a time and then sat back to enjoy the ride. McKay had a book along, and while Pup did, too, she also had a few letters to read. They spent the trip in short conversations or with their heads bent over the words in their hands.

Longmont

“What did Camille's letter say?”

It was just a few hours later, and they were at the livery. McKay had just helped Pup into the buggy and started toward his parents' home. The posting in Boulder had wanted him to begin immediately. Carlyle had okayed the swift transfer, and McKay had negotiated with his new superior for the two-week leave he had coming. Vacation was granted to him at the beginning of October, and McKay and Pup planned to spend at least ten days of that time with his parents.

Pup dug the letters from her bag.

“She says she loves the church,” Pup filled him in and began to quote: “‘The Lord is showing me all kinds of wonderful things. I had no idea how much I could learn from the psalms. I've explained my conversion to Nick, and while he admits he doesn't understand, he did come to church with me twice. He enjoys Pastor MacKinnon, and they've had some good conversations.'”

“That's great,” McKay commented, waiting for her to read more. Once Camille's letter was back in the safety of its envelope, Pup told him she'd also had one from Jubal. Her brother, now serving his 15-year jail sentence, never had a lot to say but always thanked her for writing.

“How is he?” McKay asked.

“About the same.” She fell silent for a moment. “I can still see his face at the trial, McKay, and all I could do was pray that he would turn to the Lord. I wish he'd comment on the verses I always write out.”

“Give him time, Pup. Maybe you'll have a chance to really talk when you see him at the end of the month.”

Pup nodded in agreement and then fell quiet, her heart praying about the days they would spend in Longmont. She had no wish to overwhelm McKay's parents, and she wanted things to start well. At the moment she hoped and prayed that they hadn't invited family in to greet them or planned to take them to town for dinner. They were at the house before Pup knew it, but she was ready—eager even—to see and talk with them.

They took the buggy and horse to the barn and then went to the kitchen door. Both Harry and Liz were right there and came straight to the door as soon as they realized McKay and Pup had arrived. They both took Pup and their son into their arms, Liz's eyes suspiciously moist when she saw the radiant looks on their faces.

They were in love; it was impossible to miss. McKay had written to her and even managed to visit once. Pup's name had been on his lips the entire weekend and prominent throughout every letter, but other than saying they wanted to come for a long visit, he'd never actually come out and said what their plans were. Pup had not been back to visit since the first time.

“Come in and sit down,” Liz now bid them, wanting to know everything but forcing herself not to ask. She led the way to the living room.

“Did you want anything to eat or drink?”

“I'm fine,” Pup told her.

“Nothing for me, thanks, Mom,” McKay said, sinking onto the couch next to Pup, his hand finding hers.

“How was the train?” Harry asked as usual. He didn't travel much and enjoyed the thought of getting on at the station and heading off to new places.

“It was fine. No delays. It's certainly easier to come from Boulder than it was to come from Denver.”

“I'll bet. How's the job?”

“Good. The cold weather was a little rough when I had to track a man into the mountains two weeks ago, but it's a great job. My supervisor is a fair man, and he's hinted that when Mark Wesley transfers to Evans, he has me in mind for Mark's position.”

“That's excellent. Are you still living over the general store?”

“Yes, but I think I found a house. It's on the edge of town, a little way out, but that's what I was looking for. The downstairs has a parlor, large kitchen, and dining room, and upstairs there are three small bedrooms with built-in closets.”

“Is it yours if you want it?”

“Yes, it is. It isn't for sale, but the rent is reasonable.”

Liz suddenly smiled. “It's so good to have you here. How long can you stay?”

“I think about ten days.”

Liz beamed at them; this was more than she'd expected. “I made myself not plan a host of activities, but if you're going to be here that long, the family will want to see you.”

“That's fine, Mom. Just as long as we can take it easy today.”

“We knew you would feel that way,” Harry inserted. “We don't have anything planned and can spend the day doing anything you want.”

His words caused Pup and McKay to exchange a look.

“I'm glad to hear that.” McKay's voice was so serious that it was Harry and Liz's turn to share a glance.

“Is something wrong, Mickey?” his father asked.

“No, Dad, but Callie and I have wanted to talk to you for some time, and we thought this trip would be the right time.”

“Of course,” Harry replied without hesitation. “As I said, we have no plans beyond anything you want to do.”

McKay nodded. He knew they would understand. A moment later, Pup's hand still in his own, he began.

“I haven't come right out and asked Callie to marry me, but we've been doing a lot of talking about it, and even met with Pastor Henley a few times.” McKay looked over at her and smiled. “One of the things we wanted to do first was get to know each other better, not just each other, but our families and church families. When Callie was here before, there was so much I couldn't tell you, and now we want to do that so you'll know Callie a little bit better. It's especially important to Callie.”

Harry and Liz looked to her. “We want you to know, Callie,” Harry said before McKay could go on, “that you don't have to do anything to gain our approval.”

“Thank you, Harry,” she said gratefully. “I understand that, but there have been a lot of events in my life I've had to keep secret. Some of them will always remain secrets, but there are some things I want to tell.”

“Is it about your family, Callie?” Liz asked compassionately.

“It starts there,” Pup admitted, realizing the explanation might take a while. “Or I guess I should say it starts with the war. I was 15 when the war was half over. I wasn't willful, but I'd been raised to have a mind and opinion of my own, and I decided I believed in the war enough that I wanted to get involved. So with my mother's help, I cut my hair off, climbed into some of my brother's clothes, and went off to fight.”

The color drained from Liz's face, and Pup smiled at her in understanding.

“At times it was horrendous. I didn't think I'd be able to stand it, but I stayed. My name was Peter Crandall and my commanding officer was Nick Wallace.”

“Nick Wallace? From the treasury?” Harry asked.

“Yes. The same man. The end of the war came and those of us who'd signed on in Denver came home. Nick went back to his job with the treasury, and he asked me if I'd like to work for him. I told him no and went home, but my father had died, and my brothers had gotten wild and started running around. In order to take care of my mother, I went back to Nick, still dressed as Peter, and asked if he could still use me. When he learned I was a woman, he set me up as an undercover agent.”

She could see that she had stunned them speechless, but their looks were open. It wasn't as hard to talk about as she had imagined, so she went on with some ease.

“From there I lost track of how many identities I assumed. My disguises were all stored at Nick's house. His wife, Camille, and I became very close, and when notified of a job, I would report there. Usually Camille would cut my hair off, and I'd head out as a man.”

“Oh, Callie.” Liz's hand had come to her mouth. “Not your beautiful curls!”

“Do you remember the bonfire?” Pup asked quietly.

Liz's eyes became huge and Pup nodded.

“I'd started a job in May, so my hair was still pretty short.”

“And this, Callie,” Liz asked as she pointed to her head, “is this your hair now?”

“It was before Camille Wallace had it made into a wig,” McKay supplied with a smile.

Pup turned to him. “Should I show them?”

“It's up to you. It's shorter than the wig but already longer than it was.”

Pup reached for the wig. Both Liz and Harry stared in amazement. Her head was covered with black, curly ringlets.

“How long will it be before you can go without the wig?” Harry wished to know.

“Hopefully by Christmas.”

The wig seemed to uncork the Harringtons' questions. Over the next two hours Pup revealed more, and many questions were asked and answered. Not only did she explain Peter Crandall, but also Bryan Daniels and Morton Barnes and the role she played in Longmont. She went on to tell how her brothers had been involved, and also the way Nick had used her to crack the Duncan Phipps case. She understood how much her work had helped rid Colorado of crime, but she also told them about her conviction before the Lord to become herself again.

“Callie Jennings isn't my real name,” she added. “It's Andrea May Hackett.” She had stunned them again but went on to explain the importance of staying Callie. She also explained her feelings about the way she'd deceived people. Although they'd laughed today over some of her past antics, her decision never to mislead people again was a serious one. Harry and Liz agreed with her wholeheartedly.

“Don't forget the last disguise,” McKay prompted her, wishing his parents could have seen her in the costume that had so taken him by surprise. “The one with the blonde wig and maid's uniform.”

“Inga,” Pup supplied.

“Inga?” Liz asked, eyes still wide.

“Yah. Das me, Inga.”

Both Harry and Liz burst out in laughter. Pup laughed with them and looked over to find McKay's eyes fixed on her. She grinned at him, and although noticing his intent gaze, she didn't comment.

“What did Inga do?” Harry asked, as intrigued as he'd been all afternoon.

“She got into the Phipps mansion as a maid. It took a few days to penetrate Duncan's private office, but there was valuable information there. I can't say too much, but the case should be open and shut because of it.”