A Family for the Holidays (17 page)

“The house had eight bedrooms including the two Lily and the landlady claimed. Three of the rooms were occupied, and two of the tenants were in residence. Apparently one of the boarders heard noises in the kitchen. Thought it was just the landlady. Lily's room was on the top floor. No one heard anything from up there, but the tenants' rooms were on the north side and Lily's was on the south side. Probably fortunate for those fellows. The fire spread quickly.”

“All we can assume is that the target was Lily.”

“Which leads us back to your earlier question. Why? The perpetrator knew she wasn't home. What's the point?”

“Maybe he thought she was there already. We were late. The trip took two days longer than it should have. A lone man on horseback, riding hard, could make the distance in a day.”

“Or revenge. How well do you know your new wife? Does she have any enemies? What do we know about the landlady?”

“Revenge.” Jake mulled over the thought. “No. Lily's not the sort of person who makes enemies. The landlady was taking money from Lily to buy the house. She wouldn't burn down a sure thing.”

“Then we have to assume this was a message. What else do we know about Lily? Was she acquainted with Vic Skaar or Emil Tyler before a few weeks ago?”

“No. She answered an advertisement.”

“The article you discovered about the Tyler children was printed in the same newspaper. Might be something to that.”

Jake stared at his clasped hands. “I don't follow.”

“Have you considered that Lily might be involved? There are a lot of coincidences piling up around her. She's permanent guardian to those kids now.”

“Along with me.”

“She thought you were a gun for a hire when you met.”

“Yes. But she knew I was a US marshal when she married me.”

Garrett tugged on his ear. “You've known this woman a week, and now you're married to her. She has access to the money left to the Tyler children. I'm telling you to be careful.”

A flush of anger heated Jake's face. “And I'm telling you she's not involved.”

“All right.” The marshal held up his hands in surrender. “I can tell the subject is closed. What have you learned about Emil Tyler?”

“Not much. He's never lived in one place longer than a year. He runs a high-stakes poker game out of the back of his barbershop.”

“Emil doesn't stay in one place very long. He won a large sum of money and a hotel from a very powerful man. You think he's a cheat?”

“No. I think it's more a matter of wearing out his welcome. I made a few inquiries around town. My guess is that he sets up shop and starts out small. He runs a few games, loses a little, then starts winning. Once he's acquired a sufficient amount of money, he pulls up stakes and starts over in another town.”

“Smart man,” Garrett said. “He steers clear of the law, and leaves town before there's trouble.”

“That's my guess given his history. From the comments his grandchildren have made, there was no love lost between their father and grandfather. The son didn't approve of his lifestyle.”

“Emil doesn't strike me as the best choice for guardian.”

“He was the only choice.”

“I guess we'll worry about his suitability when we locate him,” Garrett said. “What now? We'll keep watch once you're settled. I can have the bank keep watch, as well. Just in case someone attempts to withdraw money from the Tyler children's account. What do you need beyond that?”

“Meet Lily before you make a judgment.” Anger tightened in Jake's stomach. Garrett clearly saw Lily as a threat. “Right now she's the best thing for those children. They need some stability in their lives, and Lily cares for them.”

“What about you? What's your next move?”

“I won't believe Emil is dead until I gather more proof. Everything leads back to Frozen Oaks.”

“You can't get within fifty miles of that town. You're known.”

“Do you have a better idea?”

“Let someone else search for Emil. I'll watch out for your family as best I can, but the Tyler children are vulnerable. Someone set fire to Lily's rooms at the boardinghouse. We can't underestimate the determination of this Vic character. Men like that don't take losing in stride.”

Jake shifted in his seat. The air in the room was thick and he tugged on his collar. Lily and the children were his responsibility. They were his family. Leaving them alone was out of the question. Yet doing nothing felt wrong, as well.

“This is my case,” Jake said. “I know the details better than anyone. I'm invested in the outcome.”

“There are good marshals in the service. If Emil is out there, they'll find him. You're not the only one who can follow a trail, you know.”

The pressure in Jake's chest built. He knew Vic Skaar. He had all the pieces. He was the best person to put them in order and figure out the connections. Letting go of the investigation was wrong. But so was leaving Lily and her charges alone and vulnerable.

“I'll give you everything I have,” Jake said. “But we work together on the case.”

“Understood. What else do you need? Where are you staying?”

“Don't know yet. I was planning on asking my uncle. Is Agnes still taking on boarders? Is the hotel full up?”

“Agnes has retired. Sarah was helping out, but she's teaching now. There's plenty of room at the hotel, but that's no place to live for any extended period of time. I suggest you think about something more permanent. You have to consider that we might not be able to find Emil, or he might not want to be found. What happens then? You'll be moving the children again.”

“We'll find Emil.”

Everything about the case bothered him. The timing was all wrong. The events didn't follow a clear line. There were too many variables. The poker game. The children. He'd checked the delivery of the St. Joseph papers to the mercantile in Frozen Oaks. They were two weeks behind the regular schedule. Which meant Vic hadn't seen the story about Emil's grandchildren until after Emil had disappeared. Either Vic had known Emil wasn't coming back, or he'd simply caught a break.

“Do you recall Caleb McCoy?” Garrett asked.

“The veterinarian. He married the suffragist, right?”

“They finished their new house this spring. As far as I know, the old house is empty now. It's a nice-size house—they added on after they were married. Sits on an acre or two of land. The barn is in good repair, as well. You'll be close to town and surrounded by neighbors.”

Jake recalled the property. He'd spoken with the vet about a problem he was having with one of his horses the last time he was in town. “Being surrounded by neighbors didn't work out so well for Mrs. McCoy.”

A few years before, there'd been a shootout at Caleb's house when someone tried to kidnap his wife.

“The circumstances were different,” Garrett said. “Everyone in town was at the Harvest Festival. They repaired the bullet holes.”

“Peter will be devastated. The boy would adore living in a house with bullet holes.” Jake was arguing just to argue, but that didn't quell his frustration. “All right. I'll talk with Caleb and take a look at his house.”

“The sooner those children have a permanent home, the better.”

“We left their trunks and the bulk of their belongings in Frozen Oaks.”

“We'll sort that later. There's no way of sending for them without tipping off whoever is looking.”

Jake stood and crossed the room, then stared out the window overlooking the street. “Fine. You win. Where can I find Caleb McCoy?”

The more time he spent with Lily, the harder it was to leave.

Chapter Fourteen

“W
e're coming with you,” Lily insisted.

If Jake was making decisions about her future, she wasn't being left behind.

“All right,” Jake replied. “Everyone grab your coats.”

At his easy capitulation, Lily raised her eyebrows. Jake had returned from his meeting with the marshal cranky and uncommunicative. He'd mumbled something about visiting the local veterinarian about a house for rent, and she'd put her foot down. They were a team, and they'd make their decisions together.

“We can walk,” he said. “The house isn't far.”

Having spent much of the past few days cooped up in a hotel or traveling, Sam and Peter bounded ahead of them. The snow had been well traveled, and the path was lined with leafless trees. Sam stooped and pressed a snowball between her hands. The siblings engaged in a good-natured fight, laughing and chasing each other along the path.

Jake flipped up his collar and stuffed his hands in his pockets.

She caught his gaze. “Did the marshal have bad news?”

“He didn't have any news. We're dead in the water.”

“Maybe Vic has given up.”

“I doubt it. I think he's bad off. He wants that hotel back. If he can't find Emil, he'll come for the children. I'm certain of it.”

Lily shivered. “At least there's no way for him to trace us back here.”

“There's always a way,” Jake said. “Don't let down your guard. Are you cold?”

“No. Just thinking about what might have happened to us if we hadn't found you.”

“You didn't find me. You broke me out of jail.”

She bent and grasped a handful of snow. “As you keep reminding me.”

He walked ahead of her and she pelted him in the back.

Peter tossed another snowball and caught him in the chest.

“This is war,” Sam shouted.

“Boys against girls,” Peter called.

For the next ten minute they laughed and fought. Lily skirted around the trees lining the path and waged a fierce battle. Peter took off farther down the road and Sam chased after her brother.

Jake proved surprisingly agile for a man of his size. She hid behind the trunk of an enormous oak tree. Carefully peering around the edge, she squealed. He was poised before her with a handful of the freezing white stuff.

“Stop!” Lily broke down in a fit of laughter. She reached for more snow but she didn't stand a chance against him. “You're too fast.”

“We never had much snow in Paris, Texas,” he declared. “But my brothers and I made the most of it when we did.”

She reached for another handful of ammunition, but he tackled her to the ground, laughing.

“No fair.” She pouted. “You're bigger and faster.”

He surprised her by dropping a kiss on her forehead. “You've got snow in your hair.”

She stilled, trapped between the freezing ground and the warmth of his body. “You didn't kiss me properly during the wedding ceremony.”

Shocked by her own audacity, she held her breath for his reaction.

“I better correct the oversight.”

He kissed her, a long and lingering embrace that had her clutching the scratchy wool of his coat. Breaking the kiss, he leaned away. She stared at him, dazed. He appeared equally shaken.

Her hair had tumbled free from the knot at the nape of her neck. He ran his hand along the length, reverently pinching a curl between his thumb and forefinger.

“You have the prettiest hair. That day in Frozen Oaks when you stepped off the stagecoach, I noticed your hair first.”

“I didn't think you'd even seen me.”

“I saw you. I wondered what such a beautiful woman was doing in such a desolate place.”

The marvel in his voice moved her. She touched his cheek. “I thought you had the most beautiful eyes I'd ever seen.”

“Men don't have beautiful eyes.”

“You do.”

Someone smashed a wad of snow in his hair. Lily shrieked. Jake rolled away and Sam pelted him again.

“I win!” she shouted.

“You win.” Jake stood and reached for Lily. “The ladies take the day.”

In an instant the moment was lost. Jake retreated, as though embarrassed by his actions. He yanked his collar up once more, and motioned them forward.

“This is where Caleb lives,” he said.

Lily paused before the delightful three-story structure and shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand. The white clapboard house featured gingerbread scrollwork at the eves and a wraparound porch. As she traversed the wide stairs, she admired the porch swing hanging from chains at the far end.

Sam blew out a low whistle. “Veterinarians must do well in this part of the country.”

“Caleb does all right.” Jake grasped the brass door knocker and rapped sharply. “Doesn't hurt that his wife, Anna, is an heiress.”

The door swung open and a stunning brunette stood on the threshold. She wore a satin gown in a brilliant shade of cerise that must have cost a fortune. The square bodice was lined with neat pleats, and her skirts were drawn back to a modest bustle. Instantly aware of her disheveled appearance, Lily brushed a hand over her hair.

The woman smiled at them. “May I help you?”

“I'm Jake Elder, this is Lily, uh, this is my wife, Lily.”

“I think we met once before.” Anna frowned. “Any relation to John and Moira Elder?”

“I'm John's nephew.”

“Come inside.” Anna waved them forward. “We can't have you standing out in the cold.”

“We should wait outside.” Lily stamped the snow from her boots. “We'll track mud into your house.”

“Don't fret about a little dirt.” Anna lifted her gaze toward the ceiling. “You wouldn't believe some of the things my husband tracks into the house.”

She hustled them into a cozy parlor tastefully decorated in shades of burgundy. Another gentleman joined them. Tall and well-built, his hair was dark and neatly trimmed. His eyes were a distinct shade of green. He wrapped his arm around his wife's waist in an affectionate gesture.

“Jake Elder, if I'm not mistaken,” Caleb said. “You came through town last year, if I recall.”

“You have a good memory, Mr. McCoy. This is my wife, Lily, and this is Samantha and Peter. We're looking for a house to rent. Marshal Cain thought you might have a suitable property. We need something soon. Immediately, actually.”

“Absolutely. I'll get my coat and the keys and we can look right now.”

As her husband exited the room, Anna tsked. “You'll find the house neat as a pin, but not dusted or scrubbed. My husband is orderly but he doesn't always see the dust and dirt.”

“That's quite all right,” Lily said. “I don't mind a little cleaning up.”

Caleb returned with his coat and they followed him outside. He rubbed his hands together and squinted at the sky. “This weather is deceptive. I'm expecting a blizzard before long.”

Sam skipped up beside him. “Do you really think so?”

“I have a hunch,” Caleb said. “You get a feeling about the weather once you've lived in the Midwest long enough. This sort of day fools a body into thinking winter is resting, but she's just biding her time. Mark my words.”

He paused before a two-story structure with a white picket fence enclosing the front yard, and a full porch with a porch swing. The house sat on a large tract of land, an acre or perhaps two, with an enormous tree that would shade the front yard in the summer, and a small barn visible out back.

“This is the house,” Caleb said. “We added the second story after we were married. Eventually Anna decided she'd rather have my offices separate from the house. There's nothing like having an escaped goat gallop through the parlor.”

He opened the door and waited as they filed inside. The entrance led to an open foyer and a cozy parlor with an enormous stone fireplace. Glass-paned double doors opened to a room on their right. A corridor bisected the house, giving a sightline to the back door. Stairs led to the second floor.

Caleb gestured to his right. “That used to be my office.” He led them down the center and gestured left and right. “When we added the second story we enlarged the kitchen and added a dining room separated by a pantry. The four bedrooms are upstairs. The house was set up in the Southern fashion, with a center corridor to allow for a cross breeze when it's warm outside. Along with the trees out front, the place stays cool as a root cellar in the summertime.”

High ceilings lent an open, airy quality to the home. The kitchen walls were lined with floor-to-ceiling cupboards, and Lily was instantly enamored. She enjoyed cooking, and this kitchen was a cook's dream.

Caleb flicked the curtains aside on the back door. “Do you have any animals?”

“A couple of horses,” Jake said. “I'll send for them later.”

“You'll have plenty of room for horses,” Caleb said.

Peter tugged on her sleeve. “Can we look at the barn?”

“I suppose.” The barn didn't seem all that interesting, but the children were probably sick of being cooped up on the train and needed a bit of fresh air. “Stay close and don't go climbing into the hay loft.”

“Why not?”

“Because you might fall out.”

“You're fussing.” Sam rolled her eyes. “We'll be careful.”

The two skipped down the path that ran between two garden patches.

Caleb followed Lily's gaze. “I was the gardener in the family. Anna is partial to her rose bushes. You'll have plenty of cuttings come spring.”

“Oh, I don't think we'll be here that long.”

“However long you need the place,” he replied easily. “The house has been sitting empty for months. It'll be nice to have children running around again. Why don't I give you two a moment alone and you can make a decision. I'll keep an eye on Sam and Peter.”

He tipped his hat and pushed out the back door.

Jake and Lily stared at each other.

“I think—”

“Whatever you want—”

They both began speaking at once.

Lily chuckled. “I think it's a wonderful property. I admit I'm falling in love with the kitchen.”

“Only the kitchen?”

Her heartbeat stuttered. “I like to cook.”

“I'm partial to the fireplace in the parlor. I always did like a fire on a cold night.”

“Yes. The parlor.”

Her breathing returned to normal. She was being ridiculous. Of course he'd merely been talking about the house. The kiss in the snow had her thinking all sorts of crazy things.

“I think the house is perfect,” he said. “There are plenty of bedrooms, plenty of space. We won't bother each other.”

“No.” Bothering each other was the least of her worries. “This is a lovely town.”

“Would you, uh, would you consider staying after we find Emil?”

“There's nothing left for me in St. Joseph.” Losing the boardinghouse had shaken her more than she'd let on to Jake. She felt as though she'd been set adrift, and she wasn't certain where to steer her ship. “I suppose I'll make arrangements when the time comes.”

“If you'd like, I could...” His voice drifted off.

“You could what?”

A shrill scream cut off his next words.

* * *

With Lily close on his heels, Jake slammed through the back door and dashed toward the barn. He slid open the double doors and frantically searched the dim interior.

Sam lay flat on her back, giggling. A young goat had two hooves on her chest.

Caleb shook his head and wrestled the goat off. “Sorry for the panic. This is Finnick. He's the son of a very precocious goat named Pipsqueak. I'm afraid Finnick never adjusted to the move. He's quite stubborn, like his father. I've discovered him here on more than one occasion.”

Lily assisted Samantha to her feet and brushed at the dirt on her coat. “Are you all right?”

“I'm fine. He surprised me, that's all. I opened up the stall door and he leapt on me.”

Caleb rubbed the animal between its ears. “I'll be telling your papa on you.”

“Can we keep him?” Sam asked. “I think he likes me.”

“I'm not certain anyone can really claim Finnick,” Caleb said. “He has a mind of his own.”

Jake's heart hammered against his chest. He struggled against the terror that had gripped him when he heard Sam scream. Normally coolheaded, he'd thought of nothing but reaching her. He could have run right into a trap.

Caleb scrounged a rope from a worktable on the far side of the barn. “I'll take him home. Just keep a sharp eye out. He'll be back. Bring him home when he's worn out his welcome.”

Jake nodded, not trusting his voice.

“Have you decided?” Caleb asked.

“Yes.” Jake found his voice. The look on Lily's face when they'd walked into the kitchen had made his decision. He'd pay any price to see that pure joyfulness again. “But not for renting. I wonder if you'd consider selling the house?”

He caught Lily's shocked look from the corner of his eye. There was a chance they'd never locate Emil, and moving the children again seemed unnecessarily cruel. Even if Emil came out of hiding, there was still the matter of Lily. She'd need someplace to stay. She'd lost everything; there was no reason she couldn't start over in Cimarron Springs.

Caleb hoisted the stubborn goat into his arms. “I'll check with Anna, but I'm certain she won't object. Come by my offices tomorrow and we can work out the deal.”

“Done.”

“Isn't that a bit risky?” After Caleb left, Lily turned to him. “What if you can't sell the house later?”

He avoided her questioning gaze. “The house is an investment.”

Uncertain of her reaction, he held his tongue. There was no point in worrying about the future until the time came.

Sam hooked her hands on the ladder leading up to the hay loft. “I like the house.”