by Jo Noelle
“By ten minutes. That doesn’t matter.”
“Ladies before gentlemen,” she countered. For a split second, Eliza thought she saw the bright light of the old miner out of the corner of her eye. When she turned to looked toward KC, there was no one. Her brother’s voice brought her attention back to him.
“Fine. Both pieces are good land. I’d be happy on either.”
She chose the parcel that bordered her parents on their south, while Ellis chose a piece that was south of his Uncle Ted’s land and also bordered Eliza’s. When their paperwork was done, KC stepped up next.
“What are you doing?” Eliza asked. Was he doing what she thought he was doing? He hadn’t answered yet, and it was killing her to wait. He smiled broadly, and her heart flipped in her chest.
Then he spoke softly. “Claiming . . . a homestead.”
Eliza’s brain was in a tumult. Was he really settling here? A faint thread of hope twisted through her. Homesteading required five years just to become the true owner. That meant he wasn’t planning to leave. She tried to think of it impassionedly, but her heart hammered against her chest.
Ellis had figured out the same thing. His eyes narrowed, then looked toward Eliza. She had no idea what KC was up to, so she shrugged.
Ellis leaned closer to KC. “Do we need to talk about your intentions?”
Did Ellis think Eliza couldn’t hear him ask that? It was none of his business, especially if it became completely her business. She punched him in the side.
KC smiled at Eliza. The joy in his eyes made her take a quick breath.
“No,” he answered. “Do you want to talk with me about yours?”
Although Ellis grinned like a darned fool, he didn’t offer up any details. Eliza wouldn’t be surprised if Ellis and Dorothy already had plans together. They’d been sweet on each other since the first Sunday five years ago. They’d gone to church in Bachelor and spent more time looking at each other than at Reverend Bing. The family had stayed for giving service afterward. During the potluck lunch, Ellis and Dorothy sat on boulders, floating leaves down the river like they were in their own world—had been ever since. It had taken on a new intensity lately.
KC continued. “I could use some advice.” He leaned over the map on the desk and pointed to the properties. “Which piece did you choose, Eliza?”
Her hand shook when she pointed it out to him. She wanted to believe that this was a beginning of a commitment to her. Why else would he choose one near hers? Eliza wondered if he meant every word and touch they’d shared. She stared into his eyes, searching to answer the questions she had.
KC held her gaze until Ellis jabbed him in the ribs.
“Is this section available?” KC asked the clerk. He pointed to the land that ran along the border of Eliza’s and ended at the north bank of the Rio Grande.
“That terrain is more mountainous, but it also has some decent meadows for grazing. There’s plenty of water,” Ellis said.
“It’s available,” the clerk replied. “Sign your name here.” When he’d finished, the man asked, “What does KC stand for?” His hand was poised, ready to write it in the ledger.
“It doesn’t stand for anything. It’s just my name.”
The clerk continued to prepare the paperwork each would need.
Eliza was curious. “Why did your parents name you KC?”
“They never said, and I never asked. I suspect that it has something to do with my father’s name, Kaye, and my mother’s name, Cici.” KC looked contemplative, then added, “I like that I carry both of their names with me.”
The clerk handed them their paperwork and sent them on their way. They shared bread and cheese on the ride to Creede. Eliza didn’t look forward to finishing the work she’d left at home that morning, but that evening they would have a cake to celebrate their birthday.
When they arrived at the Fillan ranch, Kailin ran out to meet them with her little shadow, Rayna, scurrying behind. “We got a letter from Ma and Pa.” She waved the paper in her raised hand. “Willie dropped it off when he was making deliveries.” Kailin handed it to Eliza. “I thought we’d all want to read it together.”
Eliza wanted to rip it open. She’d been worried about them every minute they’d been gone. This letter would at least satisfy her curiosity about what was happening with them, but it could easily contain bad news. “We’ll open it as soon as we get home.” Eliza turned toward her friend. “Thank you, Louise. Can you come to supper? We’ll have cake.”
“Only if Grant gets back soon enough. If we don’t make it, I’ll come by for coffee and cake tomorrow.”
The women hugged, and the group rode for home.
Rayna sat in front of Kailin on her horse, and Kailin let her hold the reins as she told her what to do to be soft on the horse’s mouth and guiding her hands or knees when needed. Eliza hadn’t noticed before Ma left how much Kailin had grown up. Rayna had been Kailin’s responsibility, and Eliza hadn’t had to take over in any way. Kailin was going to be tall like Eliza too. Even now, she was only a few inches shorter. She was a sweet girl, but there was a little extra spice in the mix that came out sassy now and again. And beautiful—she was already that. It wouldn’t be long before young men started to notice. They’d have to have a talk about that.
At dinnertime, the Moore family arrived to celebrate with Ellis. Mrs. Moore and Dorothy came into the house while Ellis spoke with Mr. Moore on the porch for quite some time. Eliza knew what he was asking. She wasn’t sure how to feel about it. Happiness warred with uneasiness. She didn’t know what it was like to not be a twin. He had always been there. Pa told them they were so tiny when they were born that they both slept together in one of the drawers they pulled out of the chest—one of them always holding onto the other. Ma told her they had their own language before they could talk. They were keenly aware of the other’s emotions, crying with each other out of sympathy. They’d soon be separating into new families.
Mr. Moore and Ellis soon came in. Eliza didn’t think she’d ever seen him happier. She went to take Mr. Moore’s coat but reached for Ellis’s hand and squeezed it. Their silent communication clicked in. He hoped she’d understand. She was glad for him, but it hurt a little. He squeezed her hand back. He would always be there for her. She had this to look forward to, also.
After the meal, the group sat in the family room. Ellis and Dorothy stayed back in the kitchen. Eliza wondered what he was saying and how she would respond. Soon, they came out and sat on the sofa, their fingers laced together. Tears pooled in Eliza’s eyes. She had lost something and gained something that night.
Ellis read the letter from their parents aloud.
“Dear Children,
“Your Uncle Morris has been very sick. His strength is starting to return except in his legs. He won’t be able to farm anymore and has decided to move his family to Creede. I guess we’re going to add six more Turleys to the city.”
Ellis paused and gazed into Dorothy’s eyes. Eliza knew they were adding one more to that count. Then she started reading again.
“The livestock have been sold, as well as some of the farming equipment and household possessions. We expect to return in a couple of weeks. We miss you all so much. Michael and the girls are excited to see you again and renew your friendship.
“Love you,
“Ma and Pa.”
Kailin had tears in her eyes and wiped them away. Eliza did the same. When she looked up, she saw intensity in KC’s expression. She wished she could stand in his arms and lay her head on his shoulder and borrow his strength to get through the coming days. It had been hard, but soon her parents would be home.
Ellis and Dorothy stood, and Ellis’s arm wrapped around her waist. “We have news to share tonight.”
This is it. Saying it aloud will make it final—real.
Ellis wasn’t looking at Eliza this time but only at Dorothy’s face. There was a little snip of separation in Eliza’s heart.
“Dorothy has a
greed to marry me.” He finished the next part looking directly at Dorothy’s father. “Which we’ll do as soon as my home is built on the homestead.”
Eliza had no doubt that it wouldn’t take long to build with that kind of motivation.
Then the hugging started. When it finished, the Moore family left. Kailin carried Rayna upstairs to go to bed. Eliza, Ellis, and KC took up different tasks. KC laid out the cloths and supplies he needed to clean his guns.
Eliza pulled out one of Kailin’s dresses and began to pick out the side seams. She would move the hem down too. The girl had outgrown it. This was the last time she’d be able to do this. Kailin would need new dresses within the year, and they wouldn’t be little girl dresses anymore, either.
The task didn’t require much thinking leaving her to muse about anything that came up. Maybe it was the trip to Salida and securing her homestead, or it might have been the engagement between Ellis and Dorothy, but Eliza could think of nothing else but her future. Well, and KC. She kept imagining those ideas twined together.
“Is there any cake left?” Ellis asked as he stood. Eliza nodded. “You want some, either of you?”
Eliza shook her head, and KC said, “None for me.”
When Ellis left the room, Eliza felt questions burning in her chest. She had to ask KC about his homestead. “What do you plan to do with that property now that you’re a landowner?”
KC kept his head down for a couple of seconds, working intently on his gun as the cleaning wad peeked out of the cylinder housing. “Well…” He pulled the rod out of the barrel and set it to the side. “I intend to raise my family on it.”
His eyes connected with Eliza’s, and the flat expression on his face slowly softened, and his lips curved upward, disarming her with his smile. She suddenly understood, and all the doubt and shadows left her heart.
“Good cake, Eliza.” Ellis came walking through the doorway from the kitchen, carrying a plate with two pieces of cake.
Eliza startled and looked quickly away as KC did the same, going back to cleaning his gun. She trained her eyes on her sewing. Where was her needle? She fumbled around until she found it.
“What? What did I miss?” he asked.
She noticed KC kept looking at Ellis as the other man swung his head between the two of them. Neither of them answered. She didn’t know what to say, and wouldn’t speakeven if she did.
9
KC Murray
Eleven little piglets scampered away as their mama rolled to stand. KC spread her food in the trough and leaned against the pen as she waddled forward. He laced his fingers together and laid them on top of the railing to prop himself up. What was he doing with his future? He shook his head slowly back and forth. He seemed to be on a course that was writing itself as he went.
He hadn’t come to Creede on assignment—at least not the usual kind. Then he got here, and in a month, he’d turned his whole life upside down. He couldn’t think that was a bad thing though. If he hadn’t come, he wouldn’t have met Eliza. She made him want a different life. He’d never before felt the happiness he did when she was near him.
He’d gone to the Salida Land Office to gather any clues that might be there and ended up making a commitment to live in Colorado. He’d expected to be sadder about it since he was giving up being an agent with the Pinkertons, but he just couldn’t feel anything less than anticipation. The angel had been adamant that he choose that specific piece of land—that it was a key to solving the case. He was glad to see that it abutted Eliza’s. He immediately started thinking about how to make the two properties work together. His was more suitable for animals and hers for farming.
KC pushed away from the fence. He needed to get this land extortion mess behind them, so they could start their life together. He had enough now for motive. He needed to visit with Marshal Wheeler.
Ellis met him at the back door as they returned to the house for a midday meal. “I’d like to take a look around the new properties. I’m betting Eliza will want to as well. What do you say we get up early tomorrow, get our chores done, and ride out to them?”
KC smiled. Getting up early to do the chores was getting to be the normal routine around here. “Good idea. I’d like to see what I’ve gotten myself into.”
They entered the kitchen as Eliza was ladling stew into bowls. “We’re going to take a look at the new homesteads tomorrow,” KC said when he entered the kitchen. “Come with us?”
“I’d like that,” Eliza said. “Do you want to go with us, Kailin, or do you and Rayna want to stay here?
“We’ll go with you.” Then Kailin turned to Rayna. “Go for a ride tomorrow?”
“Horsey. Horsey,” the girl answered.
The next day when KC went to saddle Merlin, MayBelle nickered until he glanced her way. He was nearly finished saddling his horse. She looked him in the eye, then butted her head against the gate to her stall. When KC didn’t come to the gate, she did it again and gave a shrieking trumpet sound, startling KC. He began pulling the reins to lead Merlin out, and MayBelle repeated the sound. This time, Merlin answered it with one of his own.
KC turned toward MayBelle. “See what you’re teaching him? You’re being a bad example.”
MayBelle butted the gate again. “I suppose you can come along.” KC opened the latch, and MayBelle trotted through the opening to stand alongside of Merlin. He nuzzled her in greeting before they left the barn. KC and Ellis wore six-shooters on their hips, and all three of them had rifles in scabbards on their saddles. Kailin held Rayna in front of her on the saddle.
“Which way?” Ellis asked as they mounted their horses in the yard.
“Straight south,” Eliza answered. “We’ll see mine first, then KC’s and come back through yours.”
Eliza seemed a little on edge as they rode. She was in no hurry, and KC kept his horse back with her. The space between them and Ellis grew. It wasn’t the horse, as far as he could tell. She was either talking about anything and everything or she was silent for a long stretch. When Ellis was a ways in front of them, KC asked, “Is something on your mind? You seem . . . different today.”
He noticed a shadow of worry come over her expression. Her lips thinned. Her eyebrows creased with worry. “Yes. I just don’t know how to start. I’ve been thinking that you need to know something more about me.”
When she paused, KC added, “I’d like that very much.”
“Maybe not this.” She squared her shoulders and sat taller in the saddle. “It was a year ago. People are going to tell you the story if they haven’t already.”
KC shook his head.
“I went to Creede to meet the train. We were expecting a shipment of chicks, and I was picking them up. I stopped by Shawcrofts’ Dry Goods before I went over to the station. We also needed some feed for the chicks and a few other things. While the clerk was putting the order together, I decided to go over to Edwin’s Restaurant. I was just going to grab some of Millie’s cinnamon buns that she sold there.”
Eliza must have noticed KC’s puzzled look because she explained, “Edwin’s place was right beside The Nugget Saloon. Little Archie blew it up trying to keep the fire from spreading to Mr. Anders’ saloon. That didn’t work.” She blew out a big breath. “Anyway, I left our wagon to be loaded and walked toward the restaurant. I could see a fire down the street and lots of smoke blowing to the west of town.”
Her voice was soft and cracked on the words. KC’s heart leaped in his chest. He could see the struggle on her face. This was hard for her to tell.
“That’s when I was taken.”
KC turned in his saddle. “What? You mean abducted?” Rage burned in his chest.
Eliza stared straight ahead. “A man grabbed me from behind and pulled me into the Nugget. He held a wet rag to my face.”
Tears streamed down her cheeks. KC’s arms ached to hold her. He couldn’t stand the distance between them while her feelings were so raw.
“You would have found out.” She sob
bed. “Someone would have told you that I was soiled goods. I’m not, but I’ve heard it said. I wanted you to hear it from me. I knew it would change what you think of me.” Her shoulders were slumped, and she cried softly. “ I don’t know how long I was asleep, but I was waking up when the man threw me into the root cellar where some other women were being held. It broke my leg, and now I limp. It reminds everyone that I’m that woman.” Her words gasped out with her breath.
“We need to stop for a moment.” KC and Eliza reined their horses back, and KC jumped from his saddle. In a second, he was beside Eliza, his hands raised to help her dismount. She slid into his arms, and they came around her firmly. He needed this. He needed her to know that she didn’t have to be alone when she remembered something so painful. She could lean on him.
Her cheek again laid against his shoulder as it had once before. He wanted to be that person who held her up or held her together when life was too heavy. He hadn’t just decided to move to Colorado—he’d decided to move into her heart. They would share the difficulties and the joys.
KC held her close. Even now, he didn’t think this strong, tall woman was weak, but at this moment, she was fragile. “When I first saw you, you were so strikingly beautiful, my tongue was tied. I think I forgot how to speak.”
Eliza gave a laugh. KC’s hand moved her face and brushed the hair away from it. He kissed her forehead.
“Then when you turned out to be the one who had invited me to Creede, I couldn’t believe my good fortune. I quit a job to take the one your pa offered just to be near you.”
Eliza’s arms squeezed him lightly, and he hugged her back. He buried one hand in the thick of her hair, lost in the softness.
“I didn’t think it possible for you to become more beautiful, but you have. You’re kind to your family.” He kissed her cheek. “You’re smart and capable of running the homestead while your parents are gone, and you have your own land now.” He kissed her nose. Eliza’s eyes shut momentarily. “You’ve cared for your friends and neighbors and taken in a stranger.”
