To Know Her by Name (20 page)

“Just a little.”

Pup snorted with anger and disgust. “You think it's so simple,” she hissed at him. “Just put the wig on and wear a dress. Well, I'll tell you, McKay Harrington, the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to me happened in this wig.”

“It looks fine now,” he assured her, no longer smiling.

“Yeah? Well, who's going to shadow me this week and tell me if my hair's on straight?”

“It won't be that bad.”

“Won't it?” She was still whispering furiously. “This thing is not made for sleeping in.”

“So you can take it off at night.”

“At the Wallace's,” her eyes were glaring now, “Miranda comes in every morning unannounced; she doesn't even knock. Who can I expect in my room, finding me in a woman's nightgown and no hair?”

Her voice must have gone up because the man in front of them turned and glanced behind him. Pup turned away to the window, and McKay stared at the back of her head. He'd been completely honest. Her hair looked fine, but she was right. He really had no idea how difficult it could be.

“I'm sorry, Callie. I didn't think about anything but wanting you to come.”

She turned and looked into his eyes, her head shaking in confusion. “I still don't understand what that's about either, McKay.”

“It's not complicated. By the end of the week, I hope you'll see my parents' place as a second home. I hope you'll be as relaxed with them as you are with the Wallaces. And the church family, too, if you want to come,” he added, having just thought of it.

Pup cocked her head to one side, her hair forgotten. “What church do you attend?”

“Longs Peak Bible Church.”

Pup nodded and looked off at nothing. “I don't get to church much.”

“Why is that, Callie?” McKay asked with genuine interest.

“A couple of reasons, the first being that I don't like town much, and the second that I'd have to leave the cabin in the middle of the night to be there when the service started.”

“Couldn't you stay with someone in town?”

She shook her head no. “I don't know who it would be.”

McKay wanted to say,
What if I found someone for you? What if I worked out a place for you?
But he couldn't do it. Just attending church was not what was needed here. It might help. It might be a start, but Pup needed to understand more about God and His Son. That was the place she needed to begin. They had both fallen quiet again and remained so for the rest of the ride, but McKay's mind was on Pup. He wondered if there would be an opportunity to talk to her about his faith before the week was out.

Longmont

Laid out symmetrically with a splendid view of Longs Peak, Longmont, Colorado, was a beautiful town. Streets ran parallel to each other and bustled with activity. Pup tried to take in as much as possible from the train station, and from her vantage point she liked what she saw. Her foot brought some pain as she moved with McKay along the platform, but the boards were level and he kept a hand under her arm at all times.

No one had ever treated her as McKay Harrington did. Camille had never done anything but respect and treat her as a woman, but it wasn't the same as McKay's care.

“How's that foot?”

“Just a little tender.”

“Well, sit here.” He led her to a bench that sat against the station office wall. “I'll get some transportation, and then we'll head for home.”

“I can come with you, McKay. It's no trouble.”

“No.” He spoke with a hand to her shoulder, effectively holding her in the seat. “I'll have the porter bring the bags over to you, and I'll be back as soon as I can.”

He was gone before she could protest. She didn't want infection to set into her foot, so she chose not to ignore his orders and follow him as she would have liked to have done. But the longer she sat, her neck craning slightly to see the town, the more she felt amazed by his kindness. The livery, from what she could see of things, was quite a ways down the street.

Yesterday, the day after she'd stepped on the hook, came rushing to her mind. McKay had risen early to chop wood for hours. The supply ended up overflowing her box and was stacked against the side of the cabin. After lunch he removed a strip of wood from her doorway and inlaid a piece in its place, telling her that this one wouldn't trip her. He'd prepared three meals, one of which included fresh fish, and cleaned the kitchen until it shone. And again he'd slept out with the horses.

It's because you dress as a man so often, Pup
, she reasoned with herself.
You're not used to being treated this way because you don't usually look like a woman.
For some reason the thought comforted her. Was it because she didn't want a relationship with McKay that went beyond work and friendship, or because she didn't quite trust her own heart in the matter? Pup decided it was the latter. Her heart did funny things when McKay was around. For all she knew he was engaged to be married, but that didn't change the attraction she felt. He didn't do anything that led her on, but he was a very fascinating, attractive man. The only thing that wasn't clear for her were McKay's feelings toward her. Were they only friends, or did he want something more? As the porter delivered the bags and she continued to wait for McKay to appear, Pup couldn't help but wonder if she'd have any more answers a week down the road.

17

Pup didn't say anything to McKay, but the sight of the Harrington home was a wonderful surprise. Set apart from town, it was large and rambling on the outside. Once in the front door, Pup fell in love with the painted wood and simple touches that made it a home. From where she stood at the front door, the stairs that rose to the upper level were before her. To her left was a large living room, and a dining area lay to her right. The colors—and even the smells—were immediately comfortable to her. She would have enjoyed easing into the warmth of this home, but she wasn't in the door five seconds before she was meeting McKay's parents.

“Mickey,” his father called as he approached and embraced his son immediately. “Welcome home. Was it boiling hot?”

“Not too bad.”

“McKay,” his mother called warmly, moving to hug him as well. “How long can you stay?”

“All week.”

“All week?” she said with obvious delight. “That's marvelous!”

“You brought a friend.” His father was speaking again, his voice very pleased.

“Yes.” McKay brought Pup forward with a hand to her back. “This is Callie Jennings. Callie, this is my mother, Elizabeth Harrington, and my father, Bernard Harrington.”

“Just Harry,” he corrected. “Everyone calls me Harry.”

“And I'm Liz,” the older woman spoke, taking Pup's hand. “I'm so glad you could come with McKay. You'll stay the week, I hope.”

“Well, I'm not entirely certain,” she tried to explain, but there was no need.

“It doesn't matter how long you can stay,” Liz was smiling, “just so you know you're welcome.”

“Thank you,” she said quietly, feeling slightly overwhelmed.

“Have you eaten?” Harry wished to know.

“No, and I'm hungry,” McKay proclaimed. “How about you, Callie?”

“Sure,” she said and tried to smile, but it was so unlike anything she'd imagined. After learning that he'd planned to ask her to Longmont before even coming to Boulder, she assumed that he'd informed his family. But clearly they hadn't even known he was coming, let alone coming and bringing a stranger into their home. Pup was more fascinated than ever.

“I just baked bread,” Liz said as she headed off through the dining room. “And I have plenty of cheese and ham. How does that sound?”

“Like a feast,” McKay said as he brought up the rear. Pup would have been left standing by the front door if he hadn't once again propelled her with a hand to her back. Harry had followed his wife, and McKay had started after them but then came back for Pup.

“They're not going to bite you,” he whispered softly from behind her, thinking he'd read her look as fear, but Pup didn't respond. Indeed, she was so intent on the large room at the rear of the house that she barely heard him. Past the dining room was a huge kitchen. It was hot from the day's baking, but Pup loved it on sight. The walls were painted white, and the curtains at the windows were a dark blue.

“Here, Callie.” Liz was speaking again. “Sit here and make yourself comfortable. Trains can be so tiring.”

Pup sat down, her eyes still watching, her mouth quiet. She heard McKay and his father start to talk, but it was some minutes before she paid attention.

“So you just told Carlyle you needed some time off?”

“Yes. He was very understanding. I was only going to take the days around Stan's wedding, but I realized I needed more.”

“Well, good. It's been a long time since you have.”

“That's what I thought.”

Harry smiled at his son and then turned a kind eye to Pup.

“Do you live in Denver, Callie?”

“No, sir. Actually I live in Boulder, up in the hills.”

“That's pretty country down there.”

“Yes it is.”

“How did you meet?” Liz asked as she worked over the breadboard.

Pup was searching for a way to answer when McKay spoke up.

“Callie is the woman who nursed me back to health when I was shot.”

“Oh, Callie.” Liz had stopped what she was doing to look at her. Her voice was soft and sincere. “Thank you for taking care of McKay, but we're so sorry about your brother.”

“Thank you.” Pup barely choked the words out, not because she was feeling emotional, but because she was amazed that McKay had told them about it. Her next thought made her smile.

What's so amazing, Pup? You know firsthand that he's a chatterbox.
She looked over to see McKay staring at her, his eyes frankly curious.

“Should I be worried about that smile?”

The smile grew, but Pup didn't answer.

“Here, McKay,” his mother now commanded him, “take Callie upstairs and show her her room. Lunch won't be ready for a minute, and I completely forgot my manners.”

Liz threw a beaming smile at Pup, and she couldn't help but smile in return. Rising to follow McKay, she realized they were retracing their steps back through the dining room, toward the front door, and then up the stairs. He had picked up her bag at some point, and Pup realized she hadn't even remembered setting it down.

You'd better start paying attention, girl, or you're going to forget where you are and do or say something you can't take back.

“Are you all right?” McKay was asking.

“Yes. Why wouldn't I be?”

“You're just very quiet—even for you.”

McKay had led Pup into a lovely bedroom and turned to look at her. Pup stared back at him, the fog lifting quickly. She moved silently, shut the door, and leaned against it. When she began to speak her voice was quiet but firm.

“You and I don't have the same type of job, McKay. I'm not certain you can really understand how it is for me. I like my solitude, but that wouldn't have kept me from talking to you when we first met had my situation been different.”

McKay frowned at her in confusion, and Pup knew she was going to have to spell it out.

“I can't be too friendly to your parents, McKay, and talk their ears off. I can't do that with anyone if I don't have Nick's permission.”

McKay saw very swiftly that he hadn't considered this, but a sudden question came to mind that he could not push away.

“Would it really be so bad, Pup, if you blew your cover and lost your job?”

“My job, no,” she stated plainly. “My life is another story.”

“Your life? I don't know what you mean.”

“I mean that if Duncan Phipps or any number of other men ever found out the way I duped them, my life wouldn't be worth the shoes I'm standing in.”