Welcome to the World of Carolyn Lampman

The Jinx and the Pinkerton

CHAPTER 1
Independence, Missouri 1858

“What do you mean I can’t travel on your wagon train?” Charisse asked indignantly. “My money is the same as any man’s.”

“No single women.” The wagon master eyed her with studied insolence then spit a stream of tobacco juice at a passing beetle. “You’d slow us down. A woman just can’t keep up.”

“That’s ridiculous. It’s not like I’d be pulling the wagon myself. My team is as fast as anybody else’s.”

“You’ve driven a wagon before?”

Charisse crossed her fingers behind her back. “Yes,” she lied. “I got here from St. Louis didn’t I? The wagon is loaded, and I’m ready to go.”

“Then I suggest you find a man to drive it for you. Evenin’ Ma’am.” He tipped his hat and walked away.

Charisse sighed in defeat. Drat it all anyway. He was the third wagon master to turn her down in two weeks. It was always something. Either she was too young, or too pretty or too inexperienced. To listen to them, you’d think only ugly old men who had driven back and forth to Oregon a dozen times were allowed to travel the Oregon Trail.

Her thoughts were gloomy as she trudged back to the hotel. She’d fully expected to be well on her way by now, leaving Preston and her old life far behind. Instead, she’d run into one difficulty after another. First, it was finding a wagon she could afford and having to settle for a team of evil-tempered mules instead of the powerful but docile oxen she wanted. Then her driver deserted her two days out of St. Louis. Now, the wagon masters turned her away one after another. It was beginning to look like her money would run out before she could sign on to a wagon train. By the end of next week it would all be gone, and she’d have to sell the wagon.

Maybe you really are a Jinx. The hateful words popped into her mind, tightening her throat and making her stomach clench. Charisse pushed the thought away in anger. That was Preston’s delusion, not hers. Luck, good or bad, had nothing to do with her temporary setback. It was merely time to reconsider her options.

Charisse’s thoughts came to an abrupt halt as something flew over her head, ricocheted off a window with a resounding crack and bounced downward. “What in the world...?” She reflexively put her hands up to protect her face and caught a ball. Just then a small boy came careening around the corner, a charming little imp with tousled red hair and brilliant blue eyes.

“You found my ball!” Dried tear tracks streaked his dirty face and one bloody knee showed through a rip in his pants, but his smile was bright as he gazed up at her.

“It found me,” she said, looking ruefully down at her hand.

His smile faltered. “Did it hit you?”

“No, but it was going pretty fast when I caught it.” She chuckled as she handed his ball back. “Looks like you’ve had quite a day of it.”

The engaging grin returned full force. “It’s been the bestest day of my whole life,” he said with conviction.

“I’m glad because your mother will have something to say about your clothes, I’m sure.”

“Don’t got a mother and Pa don’t care. He says boys got to get dirty to live.”

“You must be living high on the hog then,” she said with a smile. “How about if I clean that knee up for you?”

His tipped his head to the side. “Don’t know. Will it hurt?”

“I expect it might. Still, it’s bound to hurt a whole lot worse later if I don’t.”

“You got any iodine?”

“Not with me, I’m afraid.”

“Well, then I guess it’s all right,” he said dubiously.

Charisse lips twitched as she pulled a clean handkerchief out of her reticule. “Why don’t you have a seat there on the steps while I get this wet?” She dipped the handkerchief in the horse trough and wrung it out.

“What’s your name?”

“Charisse,” she said as she knelt down in front of him. “What’s yours?”

“Toby.” He made a face. “It’s Tobias really, but Pa said I don’t have to call myself that unless I want to.”

Charisse smiled. “Your father sounds like a sensible man. If you ask me, you look far more like a Toby than a Tobias.”

Toby gave her an approving grin, and Charisse’s heart turned over in her chest. He was such a beguiling little urchin she just wanted to hug him; to remind herself that innocence still existed in the world, that life could be good, and children didn’t always die in their mother’s arms. “I’ll make this fast,” she said abruptly. “It’s almost dinner time and your father is probably wondering where you are.”

The boy bit his lip and glanced up the street. “I know, and he’s going to be mad.”

“Because you’re late?”

“No, cause I ran away from Molly.”

“Who’s Molly?” Charisse asked daubing at his knee, “Your big sister?”

“No, Pa hired her to look after me cause he has business to take care of.” He sighed. “Didn’t mean to, but she was talking to her friend in the park and a dog ran off with my ball. I had to chase it.” He hung his head. “Then I found some boys to play with and I sorta forgot to go back.”

“Maybe Molly’s still waiting for you at the park.”

“Nah. That was this morning. She’s long gone by now.”

Charisse was startled. The boy couldn’t be much more than seven or eight, far too young to be on his own all day in a busy place like Independence. He was lucky he only had a skinned knee to show for his adventures. “I’m sure she’s looking for you, and nearly frantic by now.”

Toby considered this for a moment then shook his head. “No, I think she’s glad to be rid of me. Her friend was trying to talk her into going with him when I left. Besides, I heard her tell Pa I was Satan’s own imp, and I’d be the death of her.”

Charisse’s lips tightened. Stupid woman. Any idiot could see there wasn’t an ounce of harm in the boy. “She was probably just upset. People often say things they don’t mean when they’re angry.”

“Molly’s always upset with me, especially when her friend is around. I don’t think he likes little boys much.” Toby sighed gustily. “Anyway, Pa’s gonna warm my backside but good for this one.”

“If he does, it will be because he loves you. Running away like that is very dangerous. Your father will want to make certain you know not to do it again.” Charisse frowned as she gave his knee a final swipe. “Maybe you should tell him about Molly and her friend. I’m not sure she’s the proper woman to take care of you. She seems rather flighty to me.”

“Pa said I had to learn to get along with her cause he doesn’t have time to find me another one.”

“Another what?”

Toby didn’t seem to hear as he looked over her shoulder, his eyes widening in alarm. “Uh oh,” he murmured. “It’s Pa.”

“Tobias Benjamin McCabe!”

Charisse flinched. It was the most incredible voice she had ever heard, deep and sensual, though right now it was decidedly angry. She jumped to her feet with some half-formed idea of protecting her young companion, but it died an instant death. The thought of her being able to stop the man striding toward them was ludicrous. His tall, broad shouldered frame would have looked at home cutting ties in a lumber camp or driving railroad spikes with a heavy sledge hammer. He could brush her aside as easily as he would a pesky mosquito.

Charisse’s stomach twisted in panic as the big hands reached out and plucked Toby up off the board walk. She started to step between them. In spite of the man’s size, there was no way she was going to stand by and watch him hurt the child. Before she could open her mouth, the man enveloped Toby into a bear hug. With eyes closed in relief, he sank his face against his son’s neck as though trying to convince himself the boy was all right. A moment later Toby was dangling in mid-air as his father gave him a shake. “Where the hell have you been?” he roared. “I’ve spent half the day looking for you!”

Toby’s lower lip trembled and his eyes filled with tears. “I-I sorta got l-lost,” he quavered.

Before she had time to think better of it, Charisse took another step forward and lay her hand on the man’s arm. “Please,” she said, “you’re scaring him.”

Charisse felt rather like some sort of loathsome creature as he turned his head and stared down at her.

“I beg your pardon?” he said in an icy voice.

She stiffened her spine. “I said, you’re scaring him. Toby’s already had a rough time of it today. He doesn’t need to be bullied by his father, too.”

“It’s none of your damn business!”

An involuntary shiver tingled across her skin at the menace in his voice. It reminded her too much of Preston in the final months of their marriage. “Maybe not, but I’ll not stand by and watch you terrify an innocent child.”

“Nobody’s asking you to. This is a private matter between me and my son. We don’t need the advice of a nosy stranger.”

He glared pointedly at her for several long minutes, but Charisse held her ground. No bully was going to intimidate her.

“Charisse isn’t a stranger, Pa. My knee was hurt real bad until she fixed it,” Toby broke in, looking back and forth between the two of them with an anxious frown “And she isn’t nosy. I like her. ”

“You’re hurt?” Toby’s father was instantly concerned.

“Sorta. I fell off a fence and skinned my knee a little. But Charisse washed it off, and it’s fine now.”

“If you’re worried about him being injured, I suggest you stop shaking him around like a rag doll,” Charisse pointed out.

Toby’s father gave her another irritated glance, then sighed and gently set the boy down. “Look lady, he put himself in danger today by running away. He needs discipline, not coddling.”

“I agree, but frightening him is not the way to do it.”

“Charisse said you’ll want to make sure I don’t run away again,” Toby said hopefully. “I know better now, so you don’t have to whup me. I already learned my lesson.”

“Is that right?”

Toby nodded solemnly. “It’s dangerous, and I could get hurt even worser than I did this time. From now on I’ll stay with Molly no matter how boring it is.”

“It’s a little late for that now. Molly refuses to have anything more to do with us.”

“Well at least something good came of this,” Charisse muttered.

“That’s all you know about it.” Toby’s father glared at her again. “I had a hard time finding someone to watch Toby for me. Molly was a God-send.”

“From what Toby told me, you’re well rid of her. She was apparently more interested in her beau than your son.”

“I didn’t ask you, and I’m not in the habit of taking advice from strangers on how to raise my son.”

“Well, maybe you should. The next time you find a nanny, make sure she’s someone who understands your son and truly has his welfare at heart. Anyone with half a brain can see he’s just full of energy and has a tendency to do things without thinking.” Charisse raised an eyebrow. “I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if he hadn’t inherited that from his father. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll bid you both a good evening.” With a toss of her head, she brushed past him and marched down the street and around the corner out of sight.

Luke watched her go, his eyes wide with astonishment. It wasn’t often anyone took him to task, especially a beautiful woman with eyes like a stormy sea. He found himself wondering what color her hair was underneath the ugly poke bonnet. Probably bright red the way she’d ripped into him.

“Don’t be mad at her, Pa,” Toby said in a small voice. “She was just trying to help.”

Luke glanced down at his son in surprise. Toby rarely even noticed his father’s moods, let alone try to protect someone from them. “You really liked her didn’t you?”

Toby nodded earnestly. “She didn’t even get mad when my ball hit her, and she fixed my knee. See, it feels ever so much better now.”

Luke looked down at the raw scraped skin. It must hurt like the devil. “Then I’m most grateful to her.”

Suddenly the door behind them crashed opened and a wizened old woman hobbled out onto the step. “You there, are you the boy’s father?”

Luke raised an eyebrow. “I am.”

“Then I demand you pay for my broken window.”

“What window?”

“That one,” she said pointing her cane toward a cracked second story window. “The brat broke it with his ball.”

“Is that true, Toby?” Luke asked frowning down at his son.

“Kinda.” He squirmed under his father’s gaze. “It bounced off the lamp post at the corner, then flew up and hit the window before Charisse caught it.”

“I see.” Luke pulled out his purse and extracted several crisp bills. “If you’ll tell me how much...”

The old woman’s claw-like hand moved with amazing speed as she snatched all the bills from his hand. “That should do it,” she said, then whisked herself inside, her slow, shuffling gait miraculously cured.

As the door slammed behind her, Luke’s frown turned to a fierce scowl. It occurred to him that she’d had plenty of time to come out earlier but hadn’t bothered until he and Toby were alone.

“I’m sorry I broke the window, Pa.” Toby ventured in a tentative voice as father and son started down the street. “I’m sorry about Molly too. Do you think it would help if I ‘pologize?”

“No, she’s even madder at me than she is at you.”

“She is? What for?”

“I lost my temper with her.” Luke sighed. “I wish you’d told me she was spending so much time with her...er...friend.”

Toby shrugged. “You said I had to get along with her. Who’s going to take care of me now?”

“I wish I knew. It’s going to be tough to find someone.”

“How about Charisse?”

“Charisse?”

Toby nodded eagerly. “My new friend. She’d take real good care of me.”

“You can’t just ask anybody you meet to take on a job like that. She’s probably too busy...doing whatever it is she does. Besides, I’ve decided to go to Oregon Territory.” Actually, Matthew McNesby and Allen Pinkerton had decided for him. For the dozenth time Luke wondered why his superiors were sending him off on a wild goose chase like this.

“We’re going to Oregon?” Toby asked breathlessly. “In a wagon and everything?”

Luke grinned as he reached down to ruffle his son’s hair. “Yup. I’m going to buy the wagon and team tomorrow. We’ll leave Friday.”

“Maybe Charisse is going to Oregon, too.”

Luke snorted. “Women that look like her don’t go traipsing off to Oregon. The exposure to the elements isn’t good for their lily white skin. I’m sure there will be a woman on the wagon train who wouldn’t mind looking after you during the day.”

“Can we at least ask Charisse?”

It was on the tip of Luke’s tongue to say no, but something in Toby’s expression stopped him. The boy had given up everything familiar to go with a father he barely knew. Since then they’d been able to spend very little time together. Luke didn’t think he could bear to disappoint Toby. “We’ll probably never see her again,” Luke said. “What do you say we go get cleaned up and have us some supper?”

“Can we go to Bensons like we did for breakfast?”

Luke smiled down at his son. “Sure, why not? It’s almost as close to our hotel as the other one.”

Less than half an hour later, they walked through the front door of Bensons, the day’s misadventures nearly forgotten.

“Look Pa, there she is!” Toby pointed across the room to where Charisse sat at a table by herself.. “I’m going to go ask her if she’ll go to Oregon with us.”

Luke reached out in a futile attempt to stop his son who darted across the restaurant. He dropped his hand to his side. Maybe this was the best way. She’d been compassionate to Toby before; surely she’d let him down easy.

As he watched, she looked up at the sound of her name and smiled at Toby. Luke sucked in his breath in surprise. He spent a moment fantasizing about what it would be like to have that beautiful smile directed toward him rather than his son. It was a short step from there to imagining her eyes luminous with passion, and her lips parted in silent invitation. He could almost feel the long graceful fingers trembling against his chest in sweet anticipation as he bent to kiss her.

With a start, Luke jerked his thoughts back to reality. Damn, he couldn’t even remember the last time a pretty face had inspired more than a flash of appreciation in him. Maybe it was the aura of sadness that hung about her as she sat alone in the crowded restaurant, or even the way she’d stood up to him. Whatever it was, he was thankful there was no chance of her accompanying them to Oregon. The unexpected trip into the wilderness was going to be tough enough without a distraction like her.

Toby gave his father an anxious glance then said something to Charisse. With a nod, she stood up and followed him across the room. With his impassive mask securely in place, Luke leaned negligently against the door frame and waited for them. He’d be properly disappointed that she couldn’t go along, of course, and maybe even invite her to join them for dinner. That would help soften the blow to Toby he told himself.

“We meet again. Quite a coincidence.”

“Not really. I’m staying in the hotel next door. I always eat here.” Charisse looked up at Luke doubtfully. “Toby just offered me the job as his nanny. He assures me he has your permission to do so.”

Luke shrugged. “I told him you probably wouldn’t be interested.”

“On the contrary, I’m seriously considering his offer.” She frowned. “That is if it comes from you as well.”

“To tell you the truth, Miss...”

“Jones,” she supplied with a slight hesitation.

“Miss Jones, I’d hire you in a heartbeat if we weren’t leaving on a wagon train headed for Oregon in a few days.”

“Then you are looking for someone to go to Oregon with you?”

Luke managed a regretful look. “I’m afraid so.”

A moment later he discovered first hand how it felt to be on the receiving end of her smile. It was like being wrapped in a sunbeam, warm and sweet.

“That’s exactly why I’m applying for the job, Mr. McCabe,” she said.

Luke straightened in surprise. “Y-you’re willing to go to Oregon with us?”

“Not only willing but anxious to. When were you planning to leave?”

“Our wagon train is pulling out on Friday.” He frowned. “That is if I can find a wagon by then. I didn’t have much luck today.”

“I have a wagon.”

He raised his brows in surprise. “You do?”

“I bought it in St. Louis and came up the Missouri river by steamboat like most immigrants do.”

“Then I fail to see why you’d want to throw in with us.”

“It’s quite simple, Mr. McCabe,” she said. “The man I hired to drive disappeared about two days out of St. Louis, and I can’t find a wagon train that will take a single woman.”

“But you know nothing about me.”

“I know that you need a nanny, and I need someone to drive my mules.”

“Mules?”

Charisse raised her chin a trifle defiantly. “They’re faster than oxen and can live on prairie grass better than horses.”

“I’ve never driven mules.”

“They’re a lot like horses,” she said with a shrug. “I suspect you drive them the same way. Frankly, Mr. McCabe, you and Toby are the answer to my prayers.” She flashed him another brilliant smile. “And it looks like I may be the answer to yours.”

The answer to his dreams maybe, Luke thought cynically, but certainly not what his saner self needed. Taking off on one of McNesby’s crazy adventures that involved a two thousand mile trek would be difficult enough in the best of circumstances. Doing it with his seven-year-old son and a woman who looked like Charisse Jones bordered on insanity. “Do you realize how hard this trip is going to be? A good half of the people who go never make it.”

“It’s actually closer to a fourth, and I’m willing to take that chance. I’m considerably tougher than I look, Mr. McCabe. The way I see it, you need me as much as I need you,” She stuck out her hand. “Is it a deal?”

With a feeling of impending doom, Luke shook her hand. “I’d be stupid to say no wouldn’t I?” As Toby danced around them in unconcealed joy, Luke couldn’t decide which he wanted to do more, join his son in joyous celebration or run for cover.

CHAPTER 2

Charisse turned her head slightly and made a face at her reflection in the mirror. The peculiar color of her hair bothered her more than usual today for some reason. It looked as if Mother Nature couldn’t make up her mind between red or brown and had compromised with an odd mixture of both.

“Well, Franklin, do you suppose Mr. McCabe has had second thoughts this morning?” She glanced over her shoulder at the dog lying comfortably on the floor. “He wasn’t exactly wild about hiring me, you know.”

Franklin gave her a canine grin and settled his head back against his paws. A chirp sounded over by the window where a small canary sat on a wooden perch in a gilded cage.

She turned back to the mirror and put on her bonnet. “It’s all right for the two of you to take that attitude. I’m the one who has to worry about getting us to Oregon. This is probably crazy, but I have to do something before all our money runs out.” She grinned and bent down to scratch Franklin behind the ears. “Of course, most people would think talking to you was crazy, too.”

Franklin sighed and closed his eyes.

Charisse shook her head ruefully. If she wasn’t careful she’d be just like her great-aunt, an eccentric old maid who talked to her cats. She turned in surprise as a knock sounded at the door. “Now who could that be this time of day? It’s seven o’clock in the morning, for heaven’s sake.”

Her surprise turned to pleasure when she opened the door, for there stood Toby with a single wilted bloom and a huge grin. Charisse couldn’t help smiling back. It had been a long time since anyone other than Franklin was glad to see her. “Well, hello, Toby. You’re up early this morning.”

“Pa said I should come stay with you while he goes to look at your wagon. He’ll be back by noon.” Toby held out the flower. “I brought you a present.”

Charisse experienced an almost forgotten feeling of warmth as she reached out to take the droopy blossom. “Oh, Toby, it’s beautiful. Thank you. Why don’t you come in while I take care of it?” As she glanced around looking for something to use as a vase, Toby caught sight of Franklin lying by the bed.

“You have a dog,” he exclaimed in delight.

“His name is Franklin,” she said with a smile. “Franklin, meet Toby.”

“Can I pet him?”

“Be my guest. He loves children, don’t you, Franklin?”

Franklin stretched then rose from the floor and padded over to Toby as though he’d understood every word. He sniffed at the boy curiously.

“What happened to his legs and his tail?” Toby asked, hunkering down so he could pet him.

“Nothing.” Charisse ruthlessly dumped out the last of her spring tonic and filled the bottle with water. “He’s a Welsh corgi. They’re born with those ridiculously short legs and they don’t have tails. He’s from England.”

“Gosh.” Toby looked at Franklin with new respect. “I never met anybody from England before.”

“I don’t think there are many corgis in the United States. He was a gift to my husband, but Preston and Franklin didn’t care for each other much. That’s how we wound up together. We’ve become best friends.” Charisse stuck the blossom in the bottle and stepped back to admire the effect. “You know, that flower is exactly the touch this room needed. Where on earth did you find it?”

“Growing out back. There’s a whole bunch of flowers out there. Is Franklin going to Oregon with us?”

“Of course.” Charisse fervently hoped Mrs. Benson from next door wouldn’t miss a single flower from her spring garden.

“You know, Franklin,” Toby said with a final pat. “I think we’re going to be great friends.”

Franklin licked Toby’s hand then plopped down on the floor with his back legs stretched out behind him and closed his eyes as though totally exhausted.

Toby’s own eyes widened in shocked surprise. “Look at how he’s lying.”

“Franklin always sleeps like that,” Charisse said with a smile. “I think it has to do with his short legs.”

Toby glanced up and caught sight of the cage. “Who’s that?”

“Oh, that’s Petie, my canary.”

“Does he fly?”

“Only if I let him out of his cage and I try not to do that.”

Toby turned his bright inquisitive gaze her way. “Why not?”

“Because he’d fly away. Petie isn’t tame like Franklin.”

“Oh.” Toby looked disappointed. “I guess we’d better leave the cage door closed then.”

“Maybe you can help me take care of him,” she said as she walked to the door. “What do you say, shall we go get some breakfast and then check our supplies?”

“I already ate with Pa,” Toby said, putting his hand in hers. “But maybe Mrs. Benson would let me have another sweet roll.”

Charisse smiled. “I wouldn’t be at all surprised.”

Forty-five minutes and two sweet rolls later, Charisse and Toby pulled the tarp off the supplies Mrs. Benson had allowed her to store under the eves of the shed.

“Gosh oh fishhooks!” Toby exclaimed. “You have lots of supplies.”

Charisse pulled a list out of her pocket. “We’ll need all of this and more. I wasn’t planning on three of us.”

“Four with Franklin,” Toby reminded her.

“Franklin may have to make do with table scraps. Let’s see... eight pounds of salerastrus.”

Toby peeked into the sack. “What’s that?”

“It makes biscuits raise. Eight pounds should be enough, but we’ll need more flour.” Charisse made note on her list and went to the next item. “Are you sure your father will be back at noon?”

“I think so. Course he sometimes gets busy and forgets. He has a real important job you know.”

“Oh? What does he do?” Charisse asked curiously.

Toby wrinkled his forehead. “I’m not sure, but Grandfather says he works for the damn fool government.”

“It’s not polite to say damn.” Charisse frowned. Why would a man with a government job be going to Oregon Territory? It wasn’t even really part of the country yet. Then again, maybe he’d quit his job and was going to Oregon to start a new life just as she was.

“What’s this?” Toby asked holding up a large porcelain jar.

“It’s skin cream. I’ve heard the climate is very harsh in the West.”

“Pa said that’s why women don’t like to go.” He tipped his head to the side. “Will it keep your skin lily white?”

“I suppose it might if I had lily white skin to start with. Here, put it back in the box so it doesn’t get lost.”

Toby nodded wisely. “It’s probably one of those female fripperies Pa says men don’t understand.”

“I have no doubt you’re right. See if you can find the salt. I think I have two bags of it in here somewhere.”

“We won’t need this,” Toby said holding up the iodine. “You fixed my knee just fine without it.”

“Next time you might not be so lucky.”

“I get hurt a lot,” Toby confided. “Grandmother says it’s because I’m too ram...ram...”

“Rambunctious?”

“That’s it. It means I like to run up and down the stairs and slide on the banister when she has the Lady’s Aide Society over for tea. What’s this?” he asked pulling open a wooden lapdesk.

“That’s my sketch pad.”

“Golly,” said Toby in awe. “Can I see?”

Charisse grabbed the book from his hands before he could open it. She wouldn’t be able to stand the pain of the his questions about the pictures that lay inside. “Let’s just put it away.” The words came out more sharply than she intended and she felt a pang of remorse at the flash of hurt in his eyes. “We’ll never get finished if we stop to look at everything,” she said in a milder tone. “What’s in that box over there.”

Toby opened the box and peered inside, his hurt apparently forgotten. “Pots and pans. I guess they’re for cooking huh?” He glanced around at the piles of supplies again. “How do you know what we’ll need? Have you been to Oregon before?”

“No, but I can read.” Charisse opened a box and pulled out a worn volume. “This is my copy of The Prairie Traveler, every immigrant’s guide to the west. It’s full of all kinds of important information. I just bought what was on the list of supplies.”

“Holy cattails!” Toby was distracted by the contents of the crate. “Look at all those books. You must really like to read.”

Charisse smiled to herself. Conversing with Toby was rather like trying to follow a bouncing ball. “I love to read. What about you?”

“Don’t know how. Grandmother says it’s cause I don’t sit still long enough to learn.”

“Maybe you just never had the right teacher.”

And so it went for the rest of the morning. Toby was a bright bubbling spring of chatter that never seemed to run dry as he helped Charisse search the pile and take inventory. Finally, the last of the supplies were cataloged and Charisse sat on a packing crate with a satisfied sigh. The spring sunshine felt so good she pushed her bonnet back, closed her eyes and turned her face into the warmth. Her mind drifted along pleasantly as she listened to Toby’s chatter with half an ear.

“Looks like the two of you have been busy.”

Charisse’s eyes popped open in startled surprise. Only one man had the gorgeous deep voice that sent gooseflesh darting up and down her arms. Luke stood less than a yard away staring at the mountain of supplies. His clothes were covered with dirt and a vicious scratch was visible through the ragged edges of his torn shirt sleeve. Blood oozed along its entire length from his wrist almost to his elbow.

“What happened to you?” she cried, coming to her feet in concern.

He glanced down at his arm and grimaced. “I found out why your driver quit after only two days.”

“Y...you did?” Charisse’s heart sank to her toes. How in God’s name had he found out she was a jinx in less than twenty-four hours?

“Those dad-blamed mules of yours would make the bravest man flinch,” he said with disgust. “I spent a good three quarters of an hour being kicked, smashed against the corral fence, and tromped into the dirt. When I finally got them all hitched up, they refused to pull the wagon until I fed them all a pile of grain.”

“You hitched them to the wagon?”

“That’s the way it works isn’t it?” Luke removed his hat and wiped his brow with his undamaged sleeve. “I know they’re faster than oxen, but are you sure the extra speed is worth it?”

Charisse dipped her handkerchief in the rain barrel and began to sponge the blood off his arm. “Actually, I didn’t have much choice in the matter. There weren’t any yoke-trained oxen to be had in St. Louis.” Bathing his wound with gentle fingers, she marveled at the well-muscled forearm. It was completely outside her experience and surprisingly attractive. As she caressed the warm brown skin she felt an unexpected quiver deep inside, and called herself seven kinds of a fool. The last thing she wanted was a man, especially one that could flatten her without even breaking a sweat.

“Hopefully the mules will calm down once we get on the trail,” Luke said. He winced as her movements became brisker but said nothing. Instead, he focused on the pile of supplies. “Looks like you two went out shopping.”

“No, we just went through what I already had.” She took a final swipe with her handkerchief and pulled the list out of her pocket. “This is what we still need.”

Charisse studied him as he read down through the list. Though she found his rugged masculinity intimidating, she supposed there were those that would call him handsome. Those sky blue eyes were rather startling against his darkly tanned skin. They were by far his best feature, though the thick dark hair did wave down over his forehead and curl against his neck in a most enticing manner. A slightly crooked nose didn’t detract from his looks at all. In fact, it gave him a slightly rakish air, if one found brawlers attractive.

“Are you sure we’ll need all this?” he asked with a touch of doubt. “It seems like an awful lot.”

Charisse nodded. “Since there are going to be three of us, we will. I only bought provisions for myself and a driver.”

“She has a book,” Toby put in. “It tells you everything you need to know about going West.”

“Is that right?” Luke eyed her with sardonic amusement.

Charisse felt herself flushing. “Well, maybe not everything, but it does have a good deal of handy information.”

“And was probably written by some two bit tinhorn who’s never been farther west than the Hudson River.” Luke’s smile deepened. “You know, I find myself wondering why a young woman like yourself would want to go all the way to Oregon. Surely you could find a husband closer to home.”

Charisse’s recoil was instantaneous. “I’m not looking for a husband, Mr. McCabe,” she snapped. “Quite the contrary, I’m running from one.”

Luke’s eyes widened in astonishment. “You’re married?”

“Not any more. My husband divorced me over a year ago.”

The silence was almost palpable. Charisse wondered why she hadn’t tried to soft-petal her sordid past for him. Maybe she wanted to see how he reacted, or maybe she was just tired of being apologetic.

Luke cleared his throat. “I still don’t see why you think you need to go halfway across the continent.”

Charisse sighed. “Divorce is a very difficult stigma to live with, Mr. McCabe. The last year has been a nightmare for me. In Oregon, I’ll have a chance to start over again.”

“What’s diborsed, Pa,” Toby wanted to know.

“It means Miss...er...Charisse doesn’t have a husband any more.”

“Oh. You mean he went away like Mama did?”

“Well, not exactly, but the end result is the same.”

A small hand patted Charisse’s arm comfortingly. “It’s all right, Charisse,” Toby said. “Me and Pa will take care of you.”

Charisse smiled down at him. “Thank you Toby,” she said, covering his hand with hers. As the small fingers tightened on her arm reassuringly, her conscience jabbed her. “I guess I should have told you about my divorce last night, Mr. McCabe. I’ll certainly understand if you change your mind.”

“Can’t see how it has anything to do with us,” Luke said. “Toby doesn’t give a damn about your past, and neither do I.”

“That’s right, Pa,” Toby chimed in, “I don’t give a damn.”

“Toby, a gentleman does not say damn,” Charisse corrected him automatically then colored slightly as she realized his father had said it first.

“There, you see? You’re already doing the job I hired you for.”

“That may well be, but if people on the wagon train find out I’m divorced, you and Toby will be painted with the same black brush as me.”

“Nobody has to know.”

Charisse shook her head. “That particular little piece of information has a bad habit of popping up at the most inopportune times.”

“Toby, I left my pocket watch on the bureau in our room,” he said suddenly. “Would you run get it for me?”

“Sure thing, Pa.” He was off like a shot.

Luke watched him go with a look of satisfaction. “There, we have about ten minutes before he comes back. I have an idea to discuss with you. It will take care of a lot of bothersome little details, like your divorce. ”

Charisse raised an eyebrow. “I can’t say that I ever thought of my divorce quite that way before.”

“Maybe not, but it really has little relevance on the situation, after all. The fact that we’re both unmarried and traveling together does. It’s bound to cause talk and draw attention.”

“I suppose you have a solution.”

“Of course,” he said with a grin that reminded Charisse strongly of his son. “We could pretend we’re married.”

Charisse’s hands curled into fists. For some reason, it hurt more coming from him than the countless others who had made similar proposals. “I should have known you’d be like all the rest. Divorced does not necessarily mean loose-moraled.”

Luke blinked in surprise. “What are you talking about?"

“I do not intend to sleep with you or anyone else!”

“You thought that was what I meant?” Luke was clearly aghast. “Good Lord, an entanglement with a woman is the last thing I want or need.”

“It wouldn’t be the first time a man saw my lack of social acceptability as an excuse to make a conquest of me,” she said bitterly.

“All the more reason to pretend we’re married.”

Charisse narrowed her eyes. “What exactly do you have in mind?”

“It wouldn’t be difficult to act like a married couple,” Luke said, warming to his theme. “We’ll be traveling together, sharing the responsibility of Toby, and splitting the work. About the only other thing married couples do is fight, and I don’t suppose anybody will notice if we skip that part.”

“I don’t imagine it would be too difficult to have a loud argument occasionally to keep people from getting suspicious,” Charisse said caustically.

But her sarcasm was lost on Luke. He just gave a satisfied nod. “That’s the spirit. I knew you’d see the logic of it. Besides, you’ve managed to keep Toby occupied for an entire morning without having to resort to violence.”

“It’s merely a matter of keeping him interested.”

“Nobody else has been able to do it.”

Charisse glanced at him in exasperation. What he was suggesting was preposterous. They hardly knew each other. How could they convince the world they were married? And yet, the thought of leaving the stigma of her divorce behind was so very tempting.

Luke glanced around at the piles of supplies. “Are these ready to load?”

“I guess so.”

“Good, we should be able to get everything into the wagon before lunch.”

“But I thought our wagon train wasn’t leaving until Friday.”

“It’s not. We’re just moving to a new hotel.”

“What in the world are we doing that for?”

“So that you’ll be closer to Toby for one thing. It will make life a whole lot easier for all of us if I have to leave early in the morning or get back late in the evening. Our hotels are only a few blocks apart, but it’s still damned inconvenient.”

“Why don’t you and Toby just get a room here?”

“There weren’t any. I couldn’t get you one at our hotel either. Besides, think how this will help our deception. As far as anyone will know, we just pulled into town and we’ll have several days to get used to being Mr. and Mrs. McCabe before we leave for Oregon.”

She gave him a sharp look. “Mr. McCabe,...”

“Don’t worry, I got two rooms. Toby will bunk with me and you’ll have the other room to yourself. The desk clerk assumed the extra room was for our son.”

“You’re certainly taking a lot for granted! What if I don’t agree to this charade?”

He shrugged. “Then you’ll register under your own name.”

Charisse frowned. If she registered under her own name there would be little point in changing hotels. Either he was very certain she’d fall in with his plan, or he had an ulterior motive she couldn’t even guess.

“Here’s your watch, Pa!” Toby called as he rushed around the corner of the hotel and raced across the open ground toward them. “You want me to go check on Franklin, Charisse?”

“Thank you, Toby, but I’m sure he’s fine. He’s used to being alone in my room.”

“Franklin?” Luke raised an eyebrow questioningly.

Toby nodded enthusiastically. “He’s from England, Pa, and Charisse’s best friend. She says he’s coming to Oregon with us, and I’m glad cause we’re friends already.”

“Is that so?” The eyebrow raised another notch.

“He has the shortest legs I ever saw.”

“That’s not a very nice thing to say about someone, son.”

“It’s all right, Pa. It’s on account of him being a wet corky.”

Luke blinked. “A wet corky?”

“Yup, and he doesn’t have a tail either.”

“No tail,” Luke repeated faintly.

“He sleeps funny, too.”

Luke gave Charisse a suspicious look. “I thought your driver disappeared.”

Charisse bit her lip. Preston always said her perverse sense of humor was one of her worst traits. Strange how hard it was to resist that streak of mischief after Luke McCabe suddenly decided to arrange her life for her. “Oh, I don’t think it would be wise to let Franklin drive,” she said with a touch of consternation. “He’s much too young.”

Luke frowned. “Just how old is Franklin?”

“Well, I’m not exactly sure, but I think about six.”

“You think six! And you left him alone in your room?”

“He’s not alone, Pa,” Toby said. “Petie’s there with him.”

If anything Luke’s frown became darker. “And how old is Petie?”

“Two.”

“You left a six-year-old and a two-year-old alone?” Luke said sharply.

She shrugged. “They were tired.”

“Of all the irresponsible....”

“Pa, it’s all right.” Toby gave his father an uneasy glance. “Franklin and Petie can stay by themselves.”

Charisse nodded. “They do it all the time. In fact, I think they kind of enjoy the time to themselves.”

“How convenient.”

“Franklin’s a really good dog, Pa,” Toby said. “You’ll like him.”

“A dog?”

“Of course,” Charisse said with wide-eyed innocence. “And Petie’s a bird. What did you think?”

The corner of Luke’s mouth quirked with sudden understanding. “Forgive my ignorance. I confess, I’ve never heard of a wet corky before.”

Charisse gave him a sweet smile. “Actually, Franklin is a Welsh Corgi.”

“Ah, of course, I should have realized,” he said sardonically. “Tell me, Miss Jones, is there anyone else I should know about, a pet elephant, perhaps, or a cobra?”

“No, but don’t you think you’d better start calling me Charisse? People will think it pretty odd if we don’t call each other by our given names.”

Luke’s face brightened. “Then you’ll do it?”

“I have to admit it makes good sense,” she said. “Are there any other little details you’ve forgotten to tell me?”

“None that I can think of.” He gave her a speculative look. “There is one thing I’d like to know, though.”

Something in his expression caused her stomach to flutter in the oddest way. “What’s that?”

“Just exactly what color are your eyes?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Your eyes. Last night, I could have sworn they were gray, but now I can’t decide if they’re blue or green.”

“They change with what I wear. My husband always said they were my least distinguished feature.”

“The man was obviously an idiot.” Luke picked up her box of books and hoisted it to his shoulder. “I happen to like your eyes.”

“I...thank you.”

He gazed at her for a moment longer. “Changeable eyes, and hair the color of polished mahogany,” he said softly. “Who would have guessed?” With a shake of his head, he turned and walked down the alley toward the waiting wagon.

Charisse stared after him in startled surprise. “Who indeed?"

CHAPTER 3

“How much more do we have to load?” Luke asked as Charisse carried a sturdy oak box to the wagon.

“This is the last of it except for the things in my room, and there isn’t much of that.” She struggled to hand the heavy box up to him “Put this somewhere safe.”

“I have just the spot for it.” He turned the box sideways and shoved it down in a gap between two barrels.

“Be careful with that!” Charisse said, her throat tightening in alarm. “That’s my grandmother’s china. ”

Luke didn’t even glance her way as he used the heel of his boot and the power of a good hard kick to wedge the box in tighter. “Don’t worry, it’s not going anywhere.”

“But...”

“Look,” he said, lashing the two barrels down with a rope. “I’ve packed wagons with everything from to cornmeal to explosives. I haven’t lost a load yet.” He tied the knot securely and jerked on the rope to make sure it was tight. “Your dishes will be fine.”

“For your sake I hope so, because if anything in that box gets broken I’m holding you personally responsible.”

His only response was a grin as he jumped down from the wagon.

“Pa, can we go eat now?” Toby asked plaintively.

“You know, that’s not a bad idea, sprout,” he said ruffling his son’s hair. “What about you, Miss...er Charisse? Are you hungry?”

“Famished.”

Luke glanced at the mules who stood docilely at the front of the wagon. They all looked about half asleep in the shade of the building. “I guess the wagon will be all right here for awhile. Let’s go get a bite of lunch.”

The three of them walked the short distance to Benson’s restaurant and made their way to a table in the back. Luke pulled out a chair and gave Charisse an expectant look. Charisse felt herself blushing like a school girl as she took the seat and allowed him to push her chair in. She couldn’t remember the last time a gentleman had done that for her, especially one as attractive as Luke McCabe. He took his seat on the other side of the table and scanned the restaurant. Charisse glanced involuntarily over her shoulder. “Are you expecting someone?”

“No, of course not. I think I’ll have Mrs. Benson’s famous roast beef dinner. What about you?”

Charisse nodded. “It’s my favorite.”

“How about you, son?” he asked Toby with a smile.

“It’s my favorite too,” Toby said then he frowned. “Do I have to eat vegetables?”

“Only if you want to grow up big and strong,” Charisse told him.

Toby looked doubtful. “Vegetables do that?”

“Absolutely.”

“But Pa doesn’t eat them.”

“I’m as big as I need to be,” Luke said. “I ate what I was supposed to when I was your age.”

“Of course you did.” Charisse couldn’t quite keep the note of sarcasm out of her voice. She doubted Luke McCabe had ever done a thing he hadn’t wanted to, even as a child.

He flashed her an unrepentant grin. “Don’t worry, Toby, from what I understand there won’t be much in the way of vegetables for the next few months. They’re pretty hard to come by along the trail.”

“Really?” Toby brightened considerably.

“All the more reason for us to eat them today,” Charisse said primly, then had to bite back a laugh at the look of dismay that flashed across Luke’s face. It made him seem more human somehow, less intimidating. As he ordered three roast beef dinners, her gaze wandered over the rugged planes of his face, down the strong column of his neck to the broad shoulders and wide chest. He was so different from the men she knew. Perhaps that’s why he inspired such strange feelings in her, a deep quivery awareness that wasn’t altogether unpleasant. There were times when she found herself actually anticipating the long trip to Oregon in his company.

Luke turned to her with a warm smile when the waitress left. “How much do you want for your rig, Miss Jones?” he asked.

“What?”

“I want to buy the wagon, mules and all the supplies.”

She stared at him in shock. “You expect to me to sell everything to you?”

“That’s right.”

Charisse’s stomach gave a painful twist. So much for thinking he was different. He certainly didn’t waste any time trying to take control. “It’s not for sale. I went to a lot of work getting that wagon this far, and it’s not going to Oregon without me.”

“Without you!” Luke looked confused. “Good grief I just spent fifteen minutes making sure your grandmother’s dishes would make the trip. Does that sound like I’m planning to go without you?”

“Why else would you want to buy my wagon?”

“So I can transport my son and myself to Oregon. Surely you don’t think I’d let you absorb the cost. What kind of man do you take me for?”

“I hadn’t really thought of it that way.” Charisse frowned as she picked up her fork and rubbed it absently. Manly pride; Lord but she was sick of it. “If you’re serious about this, I could sell you half interest. That way neither of us would have to feel beholden to the other.”

“You mean like partners?”

Charisse nodded. “Exactly.”

“Partners with a woman,” Luke murmured. “Can’t say I’ve ever done that before.”

Charisse raised her chin with a touch of belligerence. “It’s the only thing that makes sense. This way we’d both have a grubstake left when we finally get to Oregon.”

“You have a good point there. All right,” Luke said after due consideration. “I figure your rig and all your supplies are worth about a thousand dollars so I’ll pay five hundred.”

“It’s closer to twelve hundred, and I’ll take six.”

After a moment of stunned silence Luke laughed. “You drive a hard bargain don’t you?”

Charisse sighed and propped her chin on her hand. “It’s one of my worst faults.”

“I’d hardly call it a fault.”

“My husband thought it was unlady-like to haggle over price like a fishwife. He hated it almost as much as what he called my twisted sense of humor.”

“The more I hear about the man the less I like him."

The waitress arrived with their dinners and saved Charisse from having to comment. “Mrs. Benson says she’s sorry, but we’re out of carrots. She sent you some of her parsnip pudding instead. It’s her specialty.”

“I—I’m sure that will be fine,” Charisse said trying to subdue the bubble of laughter that rose in her throat. The twin expressions of dismay that crossed Luke’s and Toby’s faces were priceless. The waitress might as well have announced she expected them to eat cabbage worms and stinging nettles.

“Pa, is parsnips a vegetable?” Toby asked as he stared at the yellowish paste on his plate.

Luke picked up his spoon and poked at the pudding with ill-concealed disgust. “Only to people who enjoy seeing others suffer. Don’t worry, son, no one actually eats it.” He looked up as a small snort escaped Charisse.

She bit the inside of her cheek and opened her eyes a trifle wider. Luke’s own eyes narrowed in response. Her feigned innocence obviously didn't fool him a bit.

“Are we going to say grace, Pa?” Toby asked suddenly. “Grandmother says you have to or else the devil will make you sick.”

Luke’s eyes narrowed even farther. “Your grandmother is an interfering old...”

“I think that’s a good idea,” Charisse said hastily. “Do you think you could say it for us, Toby?”

Toby puffed out his chest a little. “Course I can.” He grasped both his father’s and Charisse’s hands and waited expectantly.

The two adults exchanged a slightly embarrassed glance, then Luke took her hand and bowed his head.

As Toby’s voice rose and fell in a litany of the familiar blessing, Charisse was conscious of the solid warmth of Luke’s palm. The quiet strength of his hand and the slightly rough skin beneath her fingers was quite unlike Preston’s well-manicured grasp. It was pleasantly stimulating and oddly reassuring. For an instant she felt connected, as if the three of them truly were a family.

When the prayer ended, she reluctantly removed her hand and reached for her spoon. She was vaguely surprised to note that it shook slightly as she raised it to her mouth.

“I suppose you like parsnips,” Luke said with disgust.

For a moment she didn’t know what he was talking about, then realized she was eating the infamous parsnip pudding.

“As a matter of fact, I love them. I’ve never had them made into a pudding before, but it’s delicious!”

“I’m sure it is,” he said sardonically.

An expression of amazement crossed Toby face as he watched Charisse eat her second and third spoonfuls. “How come you can eat your dessert first?”

“My dessert?”

“You’re eating your pudding.”

Charisse laughed. “That’s because it’s more like mashed potatoes than a real pudding. Besides, they gave it to us instead of carrots.”

“You mean if it’s made of vegetables, it’s all right to eat it first even if it is pudding?” Toby asked.

“Something like that.”

Toby gazed down at his plate for a moment, then cautiously took a small bite of his parsnips. A look of surprise crossed his face. “Hey, this is pretty good.”

“That just goes to show you shouldn’t judge something by the way it looks,” Charisse said with a smile.

Luke gave her a speculative look. “I was just thinking that myself.”

Charisse knew darn well he wasn’t referring to parsnip pudding, but she just smiled and continued to eat her lunch. The rest of the meal passed in pleasant camaraderie with both adults answering a constant stream of questions from Toby.

“How long will it take you to pack the rest of your things?” Luke asked as they rose to leave.

“I don’t know. Half an hour maybe.”

“How about if I take the wagon over to our hotel and pick up our clothes, then I’ll come back and get you?”

“All right. Do you want to stay with me, Toby, or go with your father?”

Toby looked back and forth between them trying to make up his mind. “I guess I better go with Pa. I’ve got to show him where all my things are.”

Luke stopped just outside the restaurant to put on his hat. “We’ll figure on meeting in front of your hotel in about forty-five minutes then.”

“Sounds fine.”

Charisse completed her packing, checked out of the hotel, set Petie’s cage on the bench outside, and sat down to wait with Franklin. Nearly an hour passed before Luke finally appeared.

Even halfway down the street, Charisse could see the dark scowl on Luke’s face. As the wagon moved slowly closer, it was easy to see why. Every few feet the mules stopped and refused to move until Luke flicked his whip over their backs again. He was obviously at the end of his patience, his anger held in check but just barely.

Intent on watching Luke, Charisse didn’t see Benson’s black tom cat strut out of the restaurant next door, but Franklin did. In the blink of an eye he was after it barking at the top of his lungs. With a startled yowl, the cat streaked across the street with Franklin in hot pursuit.

The mules shied violently away from the small furry missile and the hysterically barking dog under their feet. As the cat shot up a lamppost on the other side of the street, the terrified mules turned back the way they had come. The wheel caught under the edge of the box. The wagon teetered precariously for a moment then overturned with a crash. It bumped along behind for a dozen yards spewing boxes and crates all over the street. The sound of splintering wood filled the air as the front wheels broke free and left the wagon box behind. For one heart-stopping moment she thought Luke was underneath it. Then she saw him dragging along in front of the wagon wheels, the reins still wrapped around his hand in a desperate attempt to stop the runaways.

A man ran into the street trying to stop the animals. Just when it looked as though the stranger might succeed, the mules swerved away from him, right toward a large water trough. The leaders pulled apart and ran on either side of the large wooden structure. A moment later the wagon tongue crashed into it, sending a wave of water cascading over the end, drenching everything in its wake, including Luke McCabe.

Dragging the weight of the water finally brought the mules to a stop, but not before the trough made a long wet furrow in the street. Luke lay there in the mud, face down and unmoving.

“Luke!” Charisse was on her feet and running down the street before the word had cleared her lips. She didn’t even glance at the wagon or the bits and pieces of her possessions; her only thought was to reach Luke.

As she pushed her way past the curious on-lookers, a string of curse words that would have made a sailor blush came from the depths of the mud puddle. Charisse didn’t think she’d ever heard anything more beautiful in her life. “Luke, are you all right?”

“Hell, no I’m not all right.” He struggled to sit up and wipe the mud out of his eyes. “I lost at least a yard of hide, not to mention nearly drowning.”

“Why didn’t you just let go of the reins?”

“I couldn’t. They got tangled around my hand. Besides I didn’t want to get run over.”

“Oh, no.” Charisse scanned the wreckage frantically. “Where’s Toby?”

“At the general store. I sent him to get some peppermint sticks for the trip. I figured on picking him up once I got you all loaded. Would you mind giving me a hand up?”

Another string of curses erupted as she helped him to his feet and more of his injuries made themselves known.

“Oh, Luke, I’m so sorry you got hurt,” Charisse said.

“Accidents happen,” he said, gingerly feeling for broken ribs.

Accidents happen. The words were like daggers in Charisse’s soul. Dear God, she thought she’d left her affliction behind with Preston and his criticism. This isn’t my fault. There’s no such thing as a Jinx. Charisse scrunched her eyes shut, concentrating on the litany running through her head. Maybe if she said it often enough, it would be true.

“Talk about lucky!” Luke said.

Charisse’s eyes popped open. “Lucky! Are you crazy?”

“I’m in more or less one piece, which is more than I can say for our rig.” Luke nodded toward the wheels and tongue that were the only part of the wagon still hitched to the mules. “I must have an angel sitting on my shoulder today.”

Charisse stared at him in astonishment. “You call this good luck?”

“Don’t know what else you’d call it. By rights I should be dead.” Luke rolled his shoulders experimentally and winced. “I’ll tell you one thing though. I’ve had it with those damn mules of yours. There is no way I’m driving them all the way to Oregon even if I have to pull the wagon myself.”

“I don’t think you’ll have to worry about it,” she said miserably. “The wagon is a complete wreck.”

“Not necessarily. There’s usually just a single pin that attaches the wheels to the wagon box. I suspect that’s what broke.” He looked up the street toward the wagon. It lay on its side twenty feet beyond the canvas top. “Well, I’ll be damned,” he said softly then unbelievably began to laugh.

Puzzled, Charisse glanced over her shoulder at the chaos behind them. “I don’t find the sight of everything I own strung up and down the street very amusing,” she snapped.

“Not quite everything,” he said with a big grin. “I’ll accept your apologies any time.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Notice where Granny’s dishes wound up.”

For the first time Charisse focused on what remained of the wagon and her jaw dropped in astonishment. Though supplies covered the street, strewn hither and yon, the wagon box wasn’t quite empty. Even from this distance it was easy to see the two barrels lashed securely into one corner and the box of dishes nestled snugly between them.

CHAPTER 4

“Are we really leaving in the morning, Pa?” Toby asked, wiggling around on his chair.

Luke smiled. “Just as soon as I can get the team hitched and everybody loaded.”

“Can we go see Bert, Lightning, Elmer and Polly now, Pa?”

Charisse laughed. “It’s almost dark outside. Tomorrow morning will be time enough for that. Right now I’m going to take my time and savor my last civilized meal.”

“Don’t worry, son. You’re going to see plenty of those oxen. They’re going to be with us all the way to Oregon.”

Charisse frowned. “I still think you could have gotten a better price for the mules.”

“Not after Franklin got done with them. There wasn’t a man in this town that didn’t know about those knot-headed mules and how they practically destroyed our rig. I was lucky to find a buyer for them at all.” Luke resisted the urge to smile as Charisse looked away. She was still mighty sensitive about the part Franklin had played in the accident. Of course, his own body was still pretty sensitive about all the abuse it had taken, too. “Did you finish taking your inventory of the wagon?”

She nodded. “As best I could without unpacking the boxes. We really didn’t lose much. Other than spilling things like the sugar, flour, and salt, it looked a lot worse than it was. I was even able to save most of that.”

“You shouldn’t judge things by the way they look,” Toby added, mimicking Charisse.

“That’s right,” she said. “Looks can be deceiving.”

And Charisse was a prime example of that, Luke thought with a smile as he sipped his coffee. He’d known her less than three days, and she’d already surprised him more times than he could count. Lord, what his wife Elizabeth would have thought if she knew he’d hired a woman with such a scandalous past to take care of their only son?

Of course, she’d be madder than Hades that he’d brought Toby here anyway. Not for the first time, he wondered if he’d been right to take Toby away from Elizabeth’s parents because he didn’t approve of their overly harsh discipline. If he’d known this assignment was going to be any different than the last half a dozen others he’d had, he wouldn’t even have considered it. Contrary to the romanticized popular image, Pinkerton detectives spent most of their time investigating ticket clerks and conductors for the railroads. Catching minor employees embezzling from their employers was rarely difficult or dangerous. It wasn’t until he’d begun his investigation, that he’d discovered this assignment was an entirely different kettle of fish. By the time he realized the danger, it was far too late to send Toby back to his grandparents.

Still, in spite of it all, Luke was pleased with the change he was seeing in his son. Once Toby escaped his grandparents oppressive rule, the boy had blossomed. Since he’d been spending every waking minute with Charisse, Toby had improved even more and was the happiest Luke had seen him since Elizabeth’s death.

Luke certainly couldn’t fault him there. Given half a chance he might choose to spend all his time with the lady himself; Charisse Jones was definitely easy on the eye. Still, it was more than looks that attracted him to her. Not many women would have the sheer spit-in your eye bravado it took to leave everything they knew and head for an uncertain future in Oregon. After years of dealing with his wife’s feminine helplessness, he found Charisse’s independence as refreshing as her sharp wit and sense of humor. Of course, she was also strong-willed, obstinate and more than a little feisty. It all made for an unusual combination, one that intrigued him. She was a woman he would gladly call friend...or lover.

The thought gave him pause. Now where had that come from? The last thing he needed was a case of rampaging lust. No matter how delectable she was, or how agreeable the thought of bedding her might be, it was a distraction he could ill-afford. Besides, she’d already told him what she thought of men on the prowl. She was more likely to rip his head off and serve it to him on a platter than share his bed.

“I think I’ll go make one last check before I turn in,” he said, setting down his empty coffee cup.

Toby looked up eagerly “Can I go with you, Pa?”

Luke shook his head. “Not this time, son. It’s almost bedtime and we already decided you were going to spend the night with Charisse since I have to get up so early tomorrow.”

“Oh, Pa...”

“Don’t worry, Toby, you aren’t missing anything,” Charisse said. “Your father is just going to do the boring last minute things like tighten the canvas over the load. Anyway, our dessert will be out soon and you wouldn’t want to miss that. I think it might be chocolate cake.”

Toby brightened. “That’s my favorite.”

“You two enjoy your desert then,” Luke said with a smile as he picked up his hat and got to his feet.” I’ll see you both bright and early in the morning.”

As Luke walked away he heard Charisse tell Toby they might just as well share his father’s cake since he didn’t want it. Luke grinned to himself at his son’s enthusiastic agreement. Leave it to Charisse to make Toby glad he was being left behind. It was nothing short of amazing how well she managed the boy. If she could keep it up out on the trail, the woman would be worth her weight in gold.

#

Dawn was an hour away as Luke crept down the alley, a darker shadow in the inky blackness next to the building. He could just barely make out the man ahead of him, but elation flowed through him like the effervescence of a good wine. It was the first time Joshua Simms had made a move that didn’t fit the image of the perfect family man since Luke had started watching him. At last, proof that this wasn’t all some wild goose chase that McNesby had sent him on.

He sank back out of sight as Simms suddenly stopped and furtively scanned the area. There was no reason to think anyone else was prowling around this time of night. Yes indeed, Mr. Simms was behaving in a most suspicious manner. The faint sound of clinking keys reached Luke just before the man disappeared into the building.

Luke moved quietly along the wall to the door. He wasn’t surprised when the door knob didn’t turn. Simms obviously didn’t want any uninvited observers. ‘Too bad,’ Luke thought as he pulled a set of skeleton keys from his pocket and inserted one into the lock. On his third key there was a barely audible click, and the door opened easily. He pushed it inward a crack and listened intently. A heartbeat later he was inside.

Giving the small storeroom a cursory glance, Luke made his way silently to the other side where a sliver of light shone beneath the door. Luke knelt next to it and looked through the keyhole. All he could see was part of a table and a lamp with the wick turned low. There was no way of knowing where Simms was or what he was doing.

Typical. From the beginning of this investigation none of them had known for sure what was going on. When a minor clerk at the army depot in Independence had discovered some discrepancies in the supply records, he suspected foul play. Instead of telling his immediate superiors, who might well be involved, he went straight to his uncle Matt McNesby. The clerk was young and inexperienced, so McNesby wasn’t overly concerned but had decided to check it out just in case. Reluctant to use his own government agents to spy on other government employees, he’d gone to his old friend Allen Pinkerton. It wasn’t the first time he’d used Pinkerton agents to investigate inconsistencies inside the government where he felt his own agent’s loyalties might be split, and Luke had worked with McNesby on numerous occasions. Though McNesby tended to view every situation as a threat to national security, he had an uncanny knack of finding what others missed.

Once again McNesby’s instincts had been correct. Luke came to Independence expecting to find a clerical problem and had discovered ledger entries that changed from one day to the next with no obvious sign of tampering. It wasn’t simple thievery; the numbers went up as often as they went down and there seemed no rhyme nor reason to it. It hadn’t taken long to discover Joshua Simms was the man behind it, but they’d never been able to figure out how he was doing it or why. Since the depot was responsible for the supplies for most of the government outposts west of the Mississippi, McNesby was convinced whatever was going on was a matter of government security.

Then Simms announced he was quitting and moving his family to Oregon. McNesby ordered Luke to continue his surveillance and discover what sort of plot was afoot.

Going to Oregon was about the last thing Luke McCabe wanted to do. Normally he wouldn’t have minded, but having Toby along changed things. Through the entire week while they prepared to go, Luke kept hoping Simms would slip up somehow and they could pin something on him. Unfortunately, since Luke had been watching him, he’d done nothing that wasn’t completely normal. Until tonight.

Now, when it appeared that his luck had finally changed, Luke found himself on the wrong side of a door. Damn, there must be some way to find out what was going on in that room. Maybe he could...

Luke nearly sighed with relief as his quarry obligingly walked in front of the door and sat down at the table with a ledger type book. Using a penknife, Simms carefully removed the first hundred pages or so, then laid them in neat pile off to one side. Then he pulled an identical book out of his coat and opened it up on the table. Luke watched with dawning comprehension as Simms copied a few lines from several of the pages he’d removed. So that’s how he was changing the entries. He was substituting a whole new ledger! The puzzle was starting to fall into place.

Elated by the turn of events, Luke smiled in the darkness, as Simms returned the substitute ledger. As soon as he got his hands on those pages and compared them to the ones in the book, he’d know what Simms was up to. Maybe there would even be enough to make an arrest. With any kind of luck they wouldn’t have to leave for Oregon after all.

The thought barely had time to flit across his mind before Simms picked up the extra pages, lifted the lantern glass, and set fire to them. Luke ground his teeth in frustration as Simms passed from sight again and he heard the sound of a stove door slamming. Damn, just when things looked like they were going his way.

Luke ducked back out of sight as Simms came out of the office into the store room. The door to the street had barely closed before Luke was inside the office. Though he knew it was probably futile, he took three long strides across the room to the pot bellied stove and jerked open the door. Lady Luck hadn’t deserted him after all. The pages that should have been reduced to a pile of blackened ash by now, still smoldered in the firebox, the flames suffocated by a closed damper. Luke snuffed the sparks along the edges and carefully pulled what remained of his evidence out of the stove.

The left side of the pages crumbled at his touch, but even in the moonlight, many of the entries on the right hand side were still legible on the scorched paper. He pursed his lips in a silent whistle as he read the figures. There were enough guns and ammunition to supply a small army. Other pages contained equally large quantities of black powder, lead, patches, and spare gun parts. It appeared that McNesby’s intuition was right. The supplies were either on their way to a buyer who couldn’t openly purchase arms from the United States government, or the records had been falsified to show that some army outpost had more guns and ammunition than it really did. Both possibilities were equally chilling. Without comparing these pages to the replacements, there was no way of knowing which it was, nor even for which fort the supplies were originally destined.

Luke squinted at his pocket watch and sighed in frustration. There was no sign of the original ledger; Simms must have taken it with him. Even if he knew which was the replacement ledger, he wouldn’t have time to find the right pages and compare them. Nor was there enough here to make an arrest. Without all the missing information there was no proof that the records had been falsified. Simms would simply say he had corrected a mistake some clerk had made in figuring the monetary value of the munitions. Ironically, the falsified records would appear to prove his claim. The best Luke could do was pass the information back to McNesby and keep an eye on Simms. Even with a handful of new information he was no closer to knowing what was going on than before.

It wasn’t until he was halfway back to the hotel that he remembered Charisse Jones and felt a flash of embarrassment. He’d been so focused on the possibility of bringing his investigation to a close that he’d completely forgotten his commitment to drive her wagon to Oregon. Elizabeth always said dedication to his job was his besetting sin. The same single-minded concentration that made him a good Pinkerton man had also wreaked havoc on his marriage and prompted his in-laws to insist on raising Toby themselves.

It was probably a good thing he hadn’t succeeded tonight. He had a feeling Charisse wouldn’t let him back out of this trip to Oregon no matter what the excuse. A slight grin tugged at the corner of his mouth as he imagined himself chained to the yoke with the oxen. The same characteristics that made Charisse Jones the perfect nanny for Toby were very likely going to be the devil to live with. Anyone who was foolish enough to tangle with that feisty nature of hers would have a real challenge on his hands. Luke’s grin widened into a full-fledged smile. He’d always enjoyed a challenge.

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