The Rambling Spy

by Mackenzie Morgan

  “Carson’s Shipping does. Why?”

  “Whether you do it or not, we are going to set up regular clinics here. Sister Hope has offered to supply some of the herbs, teas, and bandages, but for her to do that, I’ll need to set up regular deliveries. Where would I find Carson?”

  Zelda gave them directions to Carson’s house. “Carson handles all the bookings, but he doesn’t make the runs to Chadsport. He has two boats. Nylor takes the northern route now that Mikos and Devron are gone. Carson does the southern one.”

  “So there are two of them?” Joan asked.

  Zelda nodded. “It was just Carson until he got hurt. That was messy. Snapped that bone so bad it broke through the skin. Setting it was rough. Wish we could have waited for Sister Hope to get here, but he was bleeding too badly. Took two of us to get it lined up right. Good thing I had some opium to give him. Not sure he could have stood it otherwise.”

  “You gave the man something for pain, set a compound fracture, and I’d bet money you checked on him every day to make sure it didn’t get infected.”

  Zelda shrugged. “He could have lost his leg if it had.”

  “And you don’t think you’re qualified to run a clinic?” At Zelda’s puzzled expression, Joan shook her head. “Just think about it, but if you decide not to run it, I’ll still need your advice to get it set up. Let me see what arrangements I can make with Carson and we’ll talk some more tomorrow.”

  ~~~~

  “Sounds like your two guys aren’t doing the shipping anymore,” Joan said once they were outside.

  “Yeah, I heard that.”

  Alek waited a moment and then said, “I can’t help if I don’t know what’s going on.”

  “I should have filled you in before we left Milhaven,” Chris said. Then he gave Alek a quick rundown of what they suspected as far as Mikos and Devron were concerned. “We were planning to insist on meeting them since they’d be responsible for making the pickups at the chapel. If they were in town today, I was going to go get Kevin. If not, Kevin would be with Joan when she came back to meet them, but either way, they were going to end up in Gen. Crandal’s jail until we could find out how involved they were in the raids.”

  “While you’re talking to Carson, why don’t I stop by the tavern?” Alek suggested. “I may be able to find out something about where they are and what they’re doing now.”

  “Good idea,” Chris said. “We’ll meet you at the tavern when we’re done.”

  ~~~~

  When Joan knocked on Carson’s door, a woman opened it and asked, “May I help you?”

  “We’re looking for Carson,” Chris said. “We understand he runs a shipping company.”

  “He’s my husband,” the lady said. “I’m Ida. Please, come in out of the cold. I’ll get you some tea.”

  “No, that’s fine,” Joan said as they went in. “But thanks anyway.”

  Ida pointed towards the front room. “Won’t you have a seat? Carson’s not here right now. He had to make a run down the river and won’t be back until tomorrow evening. Is there something I can help you with?”

  “We want to arrange regular pickups in Chadsport,” Joan said. “Would he be able to handle that? Or do we need to see someone else?”

  “How often?”

  “Probably once or twice a month.”

  “I’m sure we can handle that. Nylor makes the northern run. He left Friday, but he should be back tomorrow. I’m expecting both of them for dinner tomorrow evening. Why don’t you join us? You can talk to them then.”

  “I hate to impose.”

  “Not at all,” Ida insisted. “I doubt Nylor will be in town more than one night, and I know Carson has another run later this week. I’m not sure when they’ll both be in town again. Tomorrow evening would be a perfect time for you to talk to them. Should I count on you?”

  Joan hesitated and then nodded.

  “Good,” Ida said with a smile. “Where are you staying tonight?” When Joan didn’t answer immediately, she explained. “I’m only asking because I have a house you can use if you’d like. No one’s stayed there in over a month, so I’m sure it’s dusty, and there’s no food in there, but you’re welcome to use it.”

  “I appreciate the offer, but we’re heading home in a few minutes,” Joan said. When Ida frowned, Joan explained. “I’m Joan, Governor Karl’s wife and assistant. Chris and I both work at the castle. Myron let us borrow his key to come up here today.”

  “You’re from Milhaven?”

  Joan nodded.

  “I thought you said you wanted to talk to my husband about some shipping. What could Governor Karl need my husband to pick up in Chadsport? And what’s he supposed to do with it. There’s no way he can take it to Milhaven.”

  Joan shook her head. “The supplies aren’t for Karl. We want to set up a clinic, here, in Myerston. We’ve asked Zelda to run it, and if she agrees to do it, we need someone to pick up the supplies she needs from Sister Hope in Chadsport. I was hoping your husband could help us out with that.”

  Ida nodded. “He’ll take care of it, and at no charge. If it hadn’t been for Zelda, he wouldn’t be alive today. We both owe her more than we can ever repay. Picking up anything she needs will be no problem at all.”

  “That’s nice of you, but any bills for deliveries would be sent to Phylan, not Zelda. The towns where the clinics are held will pay for any supplies the aides need, same as they would for a sister.”

  “Well, you can explain it to Carson and he can decide what he wants to do, but I doubt he’ll charge, especially as no one asked him to pay for the stuff she used for him.”

  “I’ll leave that up to you,” Joan said as she stood up to go. “Now, we’ll be on our way and let you get back to your day. See you tomorrow evening. Around five?”

  “Five would be fine,” Ida said as she escorted them to the door. “See you then.”

  After they left Carson’s house, Joan said, “Let’s give Alek a little more time to see what he can find out. I’d like to visit the dry goods store again.”

  “He won’t like the idea of you wandering around without him.”

  “I’ve got you with me.”

  “I’m not sure he’d consider that the same.”

  “Then we’ll apologize later.”

  “Easier to ask forgiveness than get permission?”

  “Something like that,” Joan said as she headed in the direction of the dry goods store. “Come on. I want to look around before he closes.”

  ~~~~

  By the time they made it back to the castle, Kevin was at dinner, so they joined him in the dining room. After they’d eaten, they went back to Kevin’s office. Once everyone was settled, Kevin asked, “Okay, what happened?”

  “Mikos and Devron are gone,” Chris said. “A new guy, Nylor, took their route.”

  “Did Carson tell you what happened? Or where they’d gone?”

  “We didn’t talk to Carson,” Joan said. “He was out on a run. We’re having dinner with him tomorrow night.”

  “So all we know is they’re gone?” Kevin asked.

  “We know a little more than that,” Chris said. “While Joan and I went to Carson’s, Alek went by the tavern.”

  “And?” Kevin looked at Alek.

  “I told the tavern owner a friend of mine used to work with them and wanted to join back up with them. He said they left around the middle of November. Mikos told him he was tired of living on a boat and if he was going into another business, he was doing it someplace warmer, that he’d had enough snow to last him a lifetime. From what he’d heard, when Mikos told Carson he wanted to quit, Carson bought his boat and found someone to take his route. One of the other men in the tavern said he was surprised Carson had enough money to buy their boat since he’d been laid up with a bad leg all spring, but the tavern owner said Mikos was ready to get rid of it so he wasn’t asking a lot of money for it. Then another guy said that was probably the case because he’d heard Mikos and Devron
packed up that night and headed out of town the next morning.”

  “But no one knows where they went?”

  Alek shook his head.

  Kevin looked at Joan. “You said you’re having dinner with Carson tomorrow night?”

  “His wife invited us so we could talk to him about setting up deliveries of clinic supplies.”

  “Okay. If I’m not here, I’ll leave the key with Chris.”

  “That’s fine.” Joan stood up. “I’m going home. It’s been a long day.” As she opened the door, she looked at Chris. “You know she’s expecting both of us. You’ll have to go with me.”

  “I know.” Then Chris looked at Alek. “But you won’t. We can go straight to Carson’s house. We won’t need a bodyguard.”

  Alek shook his head. “Mikos and Devron could still be in the area, and if they are, they’ll probably hear I was asking questions about them. Several people saw me with you, and since Carson’s wife knows who you are, the whole town will by tomorrow.”

  “I want a bodyguard with you,” Kevin said. “He doesn’t have to go inside but I want him in the area.”

  Alek nodded and stood up to leave.

  After Joan and Alek were gone, Kevin said, “Remember that guy down at the coast, the one who found Freida’s parents?”

  “The tracker?”

  Kevin nodded. “Wonder if he could find Mikos and Devron for us.”

  “You’re still determined to do this?”

  “If at all possible.”

  “Do you want to talk to the tracker or do you want me to?”

  “I want Cryslyn to handle hiring him, but if he takes the job, I want to talk to him.”

  “He’ll need to talk to several people, including Thom, possibly Marissa. And he’ll need to speak with someone who’s good at descriptions. If Caleb spooked them as bad as Thom thinks he did, I doubt they’re using their real names.”

  “Too bad Steve didn’t see them, or Laryn,” Kevin said. “We’ll need to come up with a cover story as to why he’s trying to find them, something that won’t get them killed, but at the same time something that won’t make people want to hide them, maybe along the lines of his family needing him.”

  Chris nodded. “I’ll talk to Cryslyn tomorrow morning. Are you taking Nikki down to Doreen’s this evening?”

  “She’s already there. Shelley wanted a play date so Rhianna took her down this afternoon. But yes, I’m heading down there to go for a walk.”

  Chris nodded. “I’m going to pick up the mail and head upstairs. See you when you get back.”

  ~~~~

  Tuesday morning Chris and Cryslyn went in search of the tracker who had found Frieda’s family. By the time they got back, Kevin was gone. He was in Lorander mediating a disagreement between the minister and sorcerer. Before he returned, Chris left for Myerston with Alek and Joan. And when they returned, Kevin had gone for a walk with Nikki and Rhianna.

  Chris got a pitcher of scog, two mugs, a plate of snacks, and headed upstairs with the day’s mail in his hands. He’d only made it through half the mail when Kevin and Nikki got back.

  “Long day?” Kevin asked as he poured himself some scog, sat down, and plopped his feet on the coffee table.

  Chris set the mail aside, and leaned back in his chair. “Looks like you’ve had one, too.”

  “A bit,” Kevin agreed. “But I think I’ve got things sorted out in Lorander, at least for the moment.” Kevin sipped his scog. “It would help matters if those two didn’t dislike each other so much on a personal basis.”

  “Why?”

  “Who knows, but the animosity was so thick you could cut it with a knife.” Kevin shook his head. “So, what happened with you? Did you find that tracker?”

  “We did, and his name is Kitridge.”

  “Did Cryslyn hire him?”

  “Yes and no.”

  Kevin frowned.

  “He’s in the middle of something right now, so he told Cryslyn to check with you. If you need someone right now, you need to find someone else, but if you’re willing to wait until next month, he’ll take the job.”

  Kevin shrugged. “I’d like to get someone on it before the trail gets any colder, but he’s the only tracker I know of. What did Cryslyn say?”

  “She said she has a couple of other names she can try, but if it were up to her, she’d wait for Kitridge.”

  “Then that’s what we’ll do. How did your dinner go?”

  Chris grinned. “I had a good time. The food was good, the conversation lively, and Carson was quick to volunteer to handle any deliveries we need on West River. He said between the two of them, they’re up and down the river at least once a month.”

  “Sounds good. When will Joan need to go back?”

  “She’s giving Zelda through the weekend to think about it, but she needs to go back Monday.”

  Kevin nodded. “I want you to go with her.”

  “What about Alek?”

  Kevin shrugged. “Leave it up to them as to who goes, but I want one of them with you.” Kevin picked up a cookie. “I’m glad the tracker’s busy right now. I’d like to keep my schedule as clear as possible for the rest of the month.”

  “I’ll take care of it. Only emergencies for the next couple of weeks. Everything else can be scheduled for later. Might not be a bad idea to keep you busy after she leaves anyway.”

  “Why?”

  “Busy beats moping any day.”

  Chapter 42

  Saying Goodbye

  Rhianna had decided that Friday, January 30, would be her last day in Milhaven. She led everyone at Doreen’s to believe she was heading back to Crinsor Run after the party at Fenway’s that evening. So when she came down Friday morning, they were all in the kitchen waiting to wish her luck and tell her goodbye before the send-off festivities began.

  After everyone gathered around the table, Doreen handed Rhianna a large envelope tied shut with string. Rhianna untied the string and opened the envelope. It was full of sketches. As she went through them, tears gathered in her eyes and trickled down her cheeks.

  “These are wonderful!” she whispered. “Who did them?”

  “Steve,” Doreen said. “I asked him to do a couple for you to take with you, but I had no idea he’d do so many.”

  Rhianna shook her head and went through them again. Steve had drawn sketches of her and Shelley in the garden, of her and Doreen working on one of the planters, of Blair in the kitchen, Nan in the dry goods store, of Neisha and Shelley playing on the floor in the parlor, of Shelley and Nikki, of Myron and Nikki, of her, Myron, and Nikki, of Laryn and Marshall, of Marshall, Watson, and Nikki, of Darrell and Chris sparring, and even a sketch of him, Laryn, and Donovan in their kitchen. “Here, let me leave some of these with you. Neisha, don’t you want this one?” She held up the one with Neisha and Shelley.

  Neisha smiled and put her arm around her daughter. “I’ve got one. He made copies of all of those for us.”

  Doreen cleared her throat. “We want you to take those with you so you’ll have something to remember us by. Maybe if you look at them once in a while, you’ll remember to come back to see us. Two years is a long time.”

  “I made this for you,” Shelley said as she held up a little hemmed square of heavy material. Rhianna’s name was embroidered in the middle. “You can put it on your door so people will know it’s your room.”

  Rhianna took the square and gave the child a hug. “I’ll be sure to do that. Thank you, Shelley.”

  “Do you have to go?” Shelley asked in a tearful voice. “I’m going to miss you.”

  “I’ll miss you too, sweetie. Don’t grow up too much while I’m gone, all right?”

  “I’ll try, but you’ll be gone a long time.”

  “Not that long, and I’ll be back for visits as often as I can.”

  “You better,” Doreen grumbled. “Someone needs to keep an eye on that garden. I’d hate for all the work you did to go to waste.”

  “And there
it is,” Nan said with a grin. “Now you know how Doreen really feels!”

  Doreen shook her head. “I’m really going to miss you. You were the first friend I had here. And for a while, the only friend, other than Rigel.”

  “Speaking of Rigel, if you two decide to get married, be sure I know in time to get here for the signing of the register and the party that comes afterwards.”

  “And speaking of parties, if you’re going to get everything done and be at the castle by noon, you better get moving,” Nan said. “And I’ve got to get to the store.”

  Blair stood up. “I’d better get moving, too. I’ve got food to cook.” Then she leaned down and hugged Rhianna. “Thanks for everything. You’ve helped me more than you’ll ever know.”

  An hour later, Rhianna left Doreen’s house and headed for the castle. Most of her stuff was packed away in a chest she’d stored in the castle basement. A few last minute things were packed in a box that she stashed in Doreen’s attic. But some things, like the tunic Nan had made her last summer, the sweater Neisha had knitted for her, the sketches she and Doreen had made of things they wanted to build, the pictures Steve had drawn, the recipe for Blair’s cinnamon buns, and Shelley’s square were too precious to be left behind. Those she tucked into a small travel bag, and that was the only thing she took with her when she walked out the front door.

  ~~~~

  By the time Rhianna got to the castle, half the town was already there, along with most of the families for the surrounding five miles. Fortunately the weather was cooperating. It was sunny and mild for the end of January. Miranda had food and drinks set up in the dining room and out on the patio. Some people fixed plates and sat down to eat, but a lot picked up sandwiches or a piece of fruit.