Kisses With KC (Cowboys and Angels Book 11)(12)
Three times she had thought he might kiss her, and three times he hadn’t. Her heart shriveled a little. While it was true she did want to kiss him, it wasn’t just the kiss. She honestly was coming to admire him. She knew now that he must not feel the same way.
The rest of the ride continued in an uneasy silence except for the counting behind them—one-teen, two-teen, three-teen, fourteen.
He brought the horses to a stop in front of the Turleys’ home. “Do you think they’ll stay on once we get inside?” Eliza wondered what he was talking about until he added, “The shoes?”
She shook her head.
He jumped from the seat. “Come on, Rayna. I’ll carry you in.”
The toddler squealed, and Eliza was sure she would have had the same response. But what had happened? She had thought he wanted to kiss her, and she felt the same.
Rayna threw her arms around KC’s neck as he took her into the house. She giggled and chanted, “Sparking. Sparking.”
Eliza followed behind them. “Oh, dear.”
5
KC Murray
A couple days later, KC finished his chores early. He’d started on some of them at three that morning, so he would have some free time that day. He needed to see what he could find out about the missing homesteader. If Bad Egg Baldwin had met with suspicious circumstances, KC might find out more about all the others by looking around the man’s old place.
He rode out just after noon, telling Ellis he had a few things he needed to do in Creede. He’d ridden east a while, then doubled back to go to the Baldwin homestead.
“You gonna follow me everywhere I go, MayBelle?” he asked as the donkey trotted along beside Merlin. He certainly hadn’t decided to take her along. She just showed up.
The donkey snorted and shook her head.
Looked like a no to him. “Good to know.”
It would take him less than an hour to travel the five miles. Plenty of time to question and chastise himself for getting involved with someone during an investigation. He’d almost made a tactical error in the wagon. KC knew needed to stop thinking about Eliza. He’d learned two valuable lessons when he became an agent—trust no one, and put no one else at risk.
He moved his horse off the road and took a trail through the forest the rest of the way. As he approached the shack, he saw three men.
“No braying.”
MayBelle’s lips parted in a grin.
His attention returned to the men. He knew two of them. They were the image of the Holmans he’d dropped off in Del Norte a few weeks ago. That was enough to throw heavy suspicion on Baldwin’s disappearance. The other man was heavyset and dressed very well. KC wished he could get a good look at the man, but he had his back to KC.
As KC surveyed the area around the shelter, he caught a flash of light in the forest across the way. After a second flash, he pinpointed its origin—Eliza was standing behind a bush with the spyglass, watching the men as he was. He admired her spunk until icy blood flooded his veins. She was taking a risk—too big of a risk. She’d written a letter and asked for help. She needed to stay out of the investigation now.
KC realized that he knew who she was, but she didn’t know that he was a Pinkerton. He’d have to tell her so she would back off.
He stayed focused on her as she lowered her glass and moved to a different spot, wearing her brother’s clothes as she’d been the first time they’d met. She was easy to track through the trees. KC glanced at the men to see if they noticed her movement. It didn’t appear that they so much as looked her way. If they did, he had no doubt two of those men would shoot now and ask questions later. Or more like, bury the evidence later.
The men walked to the small carriage, and the older man slipped into the seat and pulled away. The Holman boys retrieved their horses and left, too. KC sat where he was until even the dust from the men leaving no longer lingered in the air over the road. He watched as Eliza sneaked out of the forest and toward the shack. He had no idea if the place was empty or not, but he wasn’t going to let Eliza be alone when she found out. He left the trees when he was behind the three-walled horse shed.
When he came around the corner, the door to the shack was open, and Eliza wasn’t in sight. MayBelle looked ready to run ahead.
“Hold.”
MayBelle stopped and looked at him. KC pointed to the ground, and she stayed put.
Eliza had gone into the one-room building. Part of KC wanted to charge in there with her, but the other part wanted to guard the perimeter in case anyone came back. He positioned himself close enough to do both, if needed.
Moments later, Eliza came out and headed back to the woods, a paper in her hand. She had guts. She was efficient. And this was the last thing she should ever be doing.
He would have to talk with her—and keep a closer eye on her. Then he looked at the donkey—and keep an eye on her, too.
On Friday, Creede celebrated spring with a festival and dance. The whole Turley family had been up early that morning doing chores, then dressing in their finest. KC entered the house and nearly tripped over himself at the sight of Eliza in a blue-and-white gingham dress, putting jars into a basket. She was beautiful. He thought so each day, but today was overwhelming. Her hair, which was always pulled up when she worked, hung around her shoulders and down her back in dark auburn waves with the front pulled back and tied with a red ribbon.