To Know Her by Name (31 page)

“Do you think you'll join us, Pup?” he felt bold enough to ask.

“Yes,” she surprised him by answering immediately. “I'll be there this Sunday.”

“That's great,” he told her sincerely. “I think you'll enjoy it.”

She nodded. Travis could see that she'd gained the information she sought and was now ready to be on her way. Indeed, a moment later she thanked him and started off. However, Travis had one final thought.

“Pup,” he called, starting toward her.

Pup's long legs had already taken her off the platform, so she turned and stopped, waiting for him to approach.

“I don't want to nose into your business,” he said as he stopped before her, “but I just wondered where you're going to stay Saturday night.”

“I was going to come partway down the mountain and camp in the woods.”

He blinked at her. “There's no need for you to do that.”

“It's no trouble, Travis. I've done it before.”

He was again reminded that she was probably the most self-sufficient person he'd ever encountered. However, he was not going to let this drop.

“There are homes right here in town where you would be welcome on Saturday night—mine for one.”

Pup surveyed him. Clearly the thought had never occurred to her. “Somehow I don't think your wife would appreciate that,” she said.

“On the contrary,” he told her sincerely, “she would be pleased to have you. The ranch house is huge, and we have folks in on a regular basis.”

“Even now, in her condition?”

“Even now. Our housekeeper, Lavena, is doing a lot right now anyway, and she finds extra work a challenge. I assure you, Pup, you would be welcome.”

Again Travis found himself under her scrutiny. He could see that she was considering his offer.

“I'll tell you what,” he suggested. “We eat dinner about six o'clock; you're welcome to join us for that, too. On Saturday night we usually turn in around ten o'clock. You would be welcome anytime all afternoon, including for dinner, but if that won't work out, come before ten and one of us will show you to a bedroom.”

He was serious. Pup had always known he was special, but never had she expected this.

“Do you need to know now?”

“No. Just consider it an open invitation.” He couldn't help but add, “I want you to meet my wife and boys; I hope you'll come.”

She was silent for just a moment and then said softly, “I just might do that. Thank you, Travis.”

“You're welcome. Take care as you head up the mountain.”

She acknowledged this with a nod and again turned away. This time Travis let her go, but he stood watching her until she disappeared into the crowd.

Who would have thought, Lord? I haven't seen her in weeks, and now she comes off the train and asks about the church. Bring her back to town, Lord. Bring her back so she can learn about You.

Travis would have been surprised to know that Pup was doing some praying of her own. The feeling of loneliness that had come with her on the train had lifted the minute Travis had asked if she would be coming back for church on Sunday. As Mickey saddled her horse, she stood quietly and savored the invitation.

It had to have been Your planning that I saw Travis, Lord. I was hoping to get down to church but hadn't given it much thought, and then he was standing there. He invited me to his home, and I know he meant it. Thank You. Thank You for caring about the small details.

Pup was so focused on this line of thought that she nearly forgot to pay the livery owner. It didn't get better when she finally left the livery. In fact, at the edge of town she had to backtrack to the mercantile, having almost forgotten to purchase supplies before heading up the mountain.

26

As McKay had suspected, Richard Stuart was not thrilled to see him on Tuesday morning. After asking Richard to speak to him in his private office, McKay quietly explained his presence. The bank owner had tried to keep his feelings masked, but the fleeting moment of panic and then anger was unmistakable. McKay waited patiently while Stuart got himself under control.

“Are you checking all the banks in town?” Richard finally asked.

“I'm not at liberty to discuss that with you, Mr. Stuart.”

“Why my bank?” he tried again.

“Because I've been told to; it's part of my job.”

It was not the answer the banker was looking for, but he fell silent. McKay felt himself being weighed. Mr. Stuart did not want to accept him at face value, and he now watched McKay's eyes to see if he could gauge an added motive.

From years of practice the treasury agent was able to arrange his features into a bland mask. The expression must have worked with Richard Stuart: Only a few seconds passed before McKay was directed to a table in the back and asked what years' books he wanted to examine. McKay had orders on this as well and requested January 1876 to June 1878.

The heavy account books were delivered by a silent bank employee. McKay thanked him and was left on his own. However, he knew he was not ignored. The table he worked at was in an out-of-the-way corner in the bank, but every time he glanced up he found Mr. Stuart's eyes either just leaving him or resting on him in thoughtful speculation.

Boulder

A smile of peace and comfort lit Pup's face when she woke up Tuesday morning. She'd been away from the cabin for much longer periods of time, but never had she needed to get home more. So much had happened in her heart and life in the last few days.

Not surprisingly, McKay's face immediately sprang to mind. What was he doing? Had he been ordered back to Denver? Pup would have loved to see him, to look into his eyes again, and to hear his deep voice. But right now she needed to be home.

She rolled to her side and let her gaze roam out the window. The bed was too low to allow her to see anything but sky and trees, but somewhere beyond the glass she heard a mourning dove call to its mate. Pup never heard this sound in Denver, and this morning it made her want to lie in bed all the longer. So often when she came home she was filled with energy and determination to get things done, but today her heart was quiet, her body still. Last night she had been too tired to do anything save fall into bed, but this morning she wanted to pray.

I didn't know I could feel so secure. I didn't know I could be so sure. You're here. You're really here with me, and I know it. I believe this with all my heart, Lord God, and I see now more than ever before that You were here all along. I was wrong to go my way and live my own life. I hadn't thought about my childhood experience with You in so many years, but I know You tried other things to get my attention. I ignored them. That was wrong. I can see this now. Thank You for taking me back.

Pup felt her heart lift with her confession and realized that the last time the Lord had tried to arrest her attention had been while she was burying Govern. What an awful day that had been, and only two-and-a-half months past. Pup remembered her heart had felt as if it were going to burst, but she had pushed the pain away. She had desperately wanted someone here to share the loss and agony with her. She saw now that God had gently revealed to her that He was there for her, but Pup had not really understood or stopped to listen. Now her ears were open wide.

It's nice when we feel good, Callie.
Mr. Harrington's words from one evening around the dinner table came back to her with startling clarity.
But our faith must be based on truth. No matter what we're feeling, good or bad, it's to be discarded if it's contrary to God's Word.

It was then that Pup knew she needed a Bible. She could have kicked herself for not checking the reading room or even the general store when she'd come into Boulder yesterday. The thought of going back down to town did not thrill her, but she would do it if that's what it took to get a copy of the Scriptures.

Percy's face flashed into her mind so swiftly that for a moment she was completely still. A second later the covers were tossed back and she was jumping out of bed to climb into her clothes. Her boots were only half-tied when she went out the front door, gun in hand. Not caring if they were up or not, she moved swiftly toward Mud and Percy's. If Percy didn't have a Bible, she'd head to town. However, something told her he did have one, if not two, and she was just going to have to figure out how to talk it away from him for a time.

She slowed down as she neared the cabin and was relieved to hear voices. The brothers were up, and no one was shouting. Pup thought this might be a good sign, but in truth she never knew what she was going to find when it came to the Dougan brothers. They heard her coming even before she stepped into the clearing in front of their cabin, so both men were facing her direction when she appeared.

“Well, Pup,” Mud said congenially upon seeing who it was, “you're home.”

“Got in last night.” Both men were sitting on a fallen log in front of their cabin. Pup didn't come in close, not sure if Percy would like it. She spoke from a distance.

“How've you boys been?”

“Can't complain,” Mud said with a grin, “but then I'm not Percy. Percy can always find something to complain about.”

Pup was further encouraged when Percy only laughed. It was then that she noticed a book in his hands. Mud must have gone out last night and come home this morning with a peace-offering volume. It wasn't hard to figure, considering that Mud's face was puffy, his shirt stained and torn, and Percy was intent upon the pages of the book.

“What can we do for you?” Mud asked. Percy kept reading.

“I wonder if you have a Bible I can borrow.”

“Sure,” Mud replied immediately, but Percy's head came up, his pleased face changing to a scowl directed at his brother.

“We only have Mother's,” he informed Mud coolly.

“So?” Mud sounded indignant. “You never look at it, and what do you think Pup is going to do anyway—throw it into Lake Anne?”

Percy glared at him. “I say it stays.”

“And I say she can take it. She never hurts any of your books.”

“It's Mother's Bible,” Percy repeated as though Mud hadn't understood. “I tell you, she can't have it.”

“Well, for once you don't have all the say,” Mud informed him. “Mother's Bible is just as much mine as yours, and I say Pup can take it.”

Mud turned to tell Pup that he would go in and get the Bible, but when both men looked back to the clearing, they found their guest gone. Mud turned a fierce glare on his brother and slowly stood to his feet. He walked back to the cabin, but not before his eyes dared his brother to so much as say a word.