Kisses With KC (Cowboys and Angels Book 11)(30)
Arthur walked around the counter and pushed the mailbag beneath it. “I expect it’s a professional matter since if you say ‘I can,’ but you wonder if ‘I will.’”
KC hoped he wasn’t asking the man to compromise his morals, but he might be. “I haven’t told the community why I’m here.” He nodded toward Wheeler. “The marshal knows. I guess it’s time you do too.” He launched into his history with the Pinkerton National Detective Agency. “I’m here unofficially investigating the homesteaders who have gone missing or who’ve moved on suddenly.”
“And you think there might be something illegal going on.” Arthur looked from Marshal Wheeler to KC.
KC nodded. “And I think you may have the last clue I need.” He moved to the counter used for the telegraph portion of the office. “I was here the other day. You were busy with other customers—Anders and Grady. When you helped me, you took my mail over there, and while your back was turned, I read a note in your trash. I think it’s an important clue.”
“If you already read it, what do you need from me?”
KC thought the man looked cooperative but skeptical. “I only saw a part of it. The top of the note was hidden. I need to know who the note was sent to.”
Arthur stepped back and put his hands in his pockets. “I see.” He shook his head slowly. “If you can’t trust the telegraph operator to hold confidentiality for the messages sent, that man shouldn’t be trusted with the position. You’re asking me to do something I just shouldn’t. How do I know you’re legitimate?”
Marshal Wheeler had stayed by the door, but now approached the men and spoke up. “I sent a telegraph from Topaz to check up on him with the Sheriff in Del Norte and with Pinkertons. He is who he says he is. Let’s say this is on my order, Arthur.”
“Lots more people will die if this case isn’t solved, and soon. And some of them could be people I care about deeply,” KC added and pulled his notebook out of his shirt pocket, opening it to the page where he’d drawn a map of the homesteads and their locations along the road to Lake City.
Before KC had a chance to tell Arthur about the notes, the man’s hand rubbed across his forehead. “I can see why you need to know.” Arthur opened the leger and set it on the counter, pointing to a line. “There’s someone with big money involved with Anders. He’s sent and received several messages to and from them—all cryptic. The latest said he was over the time allotted, and they wanted it completed this week.”
KC blew out a strong breath. “That’s what I needed to know. Sorry, and thank you, Arthur. You mind if I go out the back?”
“I’d rather you did.” Arthur pointed over his shoulder.
“You and I have some other things to talk about when we get his solved, Mr. Murray,” the marshal said. “I hear you’re planning to stay in Creede.”
“I got a homestead south of the Turley place. I’ll be around.” KC reached the back door and stopped. “I’d like to send a telegram to those same people. ‘New Creede homesteader. Want to sell. Make offer.’” He put his hand on the doorknob. “If they return the message, send it to the Turleys’ home in a bag of beans on the mercantile delivery wagon. Send along anything else you think is important that might come up. I’ll be there in a couple of days.” KC cracked the door open, looked around, and slipped out.
12
Eliza Turley
KC had left two days ago. Eliza missed him terribly although at the time, she had thought he was rejecting her. But as she mulled it over for the better part of two nights, she decided that he had said he was sorry for putting her in danger. It even sounded like a reasonable and romantic thing to do. She was sure his heart was hers. She just had to have faith.
She considered all the pieces of the puzzle that she knew. There were at least two homesteaders unaccounted for. The man impersonating one of them had shot at KC. He even lived in Alpin’s house and didn’t correct her when she’d called him by that name.
Eliza was glad to have her family all together again. Uncle Morris’s oldest child, Michael, ended out going to her Uncle Ted’s house to help post a watch over there.
As the family gathered after the evening meal, someone knocked on the door. Ellis opened it after their pa trained a gun on it just in case.
KC stood in the doorway, and Eliza was out of her chair headed toward him when her ma grabbed her by the wrist. Eliza looked at her, and her mother just shook her head. Eliza realized she didn’t have the right to embrace KC though all her heart wanted to pour out that she was thankful for his safety, that she was overjoyed to see him, that she needed his assurance. All that would have to wait.
KC removed his hat. “Evening, Mr. and Mrs. Turley.” His eyes lingered on Eliza’s as she gazed at him, as well. “I was wondering if I might have a private word with you, sir.”
Her father stepped out onto the front porch, waving KC to go before him. No one in the front room spoke. Her mother looked worried. Ellis looked concerned, and Kailin looked confused. Eliza didn’t know how she looked, but she told herself not to build up any expectations. They could just be talking about the problems in Creede.
Soon her father returned, but KC didn’t. “You can talk to Mr. Murray for a few minutes but no longer.”