Read Online To Know Her by Name by Lori Wick - Free Book Online

hungry he was. He ate rather absently but felt very full when the food and cider were gone; he was also sleepy all over again. It would have been more comfortable to move back to the bed, but he didn’t have the energy. He fell asleep wondering where Callie had gone.

    â€œYou’re a little way from home.” Pup stood in the clearing some yards below the cabin and greeted Travis Buchanan when he walked into view. Pup had heard someone coming and simply waited, her rifle in her hand, to see who it was.
    â€œI am, aren’t I?” the tall man agreed with a smile, stopping a few yards off on the other side of Pup’s garden. “How are you doing, Pup?”
    â€œCan’t complain. Something I can help you with, Travis?”
    â€œI’m looking for a man named McKay Harrington. Have you seen him?”
    â€œHe’s at my place,” she said simply.
    â€œIs he all right?”
    â€œHe’s getting there.”
    Travis nodded. He’d not had many conversations with Pup Jennings, but he knew enough about her to know she normally kept to herself.
    â€œI got word from someone in Denver that he might need help.”
    â€œHe’ll be glad to know that his message got through.”
    â€œDid you send word?”
    Pup shook her head no. “Mud was going to town.”
    â€œMud?”
    â€œMud Dougan. He and his brother Percy live above me on the creek.”
    â€œI guess I have heard of them. Well, do you mind if I go on up?”
    â€œDoesn’t make any difference to me.”
    â€œAll right.”
    He walked toward the cabin, his horse’s reins in his hands. Pup went back to her garden. Things were in good shape now. The weather was finally warmer, and they’d had some rain. With satisfaction she gathered some small beans from the vines. From there she moved to the beets, onions, and tomatoes.
    The small of her back was beginning to ache when she heard movement behind her. She straightened to full height and faced Travis.
    â€œHe’s asleep,” he said by way of explanation.
    â€œHe does that a lot.”
    â€œCan you tell me what happened?”
    â€œGovern shot him.”
    â€œGovern Hackett?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œI didn’t realize he lived this far up.”
    â€œHe doesn’t anymore.”
    Travis stared, taking in her stoic expression. “I don’t want to mistake your meaning, Pup,” he said slowly. “I take it Govern’s dead?”
    â€œYes.”
    Pity filled him. Govern Hackett was only a name to him—Travis had never actually laid eyes on the man. But Pup was different. Travis had felt compassion every time he’d seen her in town, and it was worse now knowing she’d been involved with an immoral man like Hackett. He found himself hoping she’d not been left alone with any children. It was a temptation to ask, but he refrained.
    â€œAre you all right?” he finally managed.
    â€œI’m fine.” Again the words were simply stated. “The stable’s around back,” she went on hospitably. “You can feed and water your horse if you’ve a mind to.”
    â€œI think I’ll do that,” Travis told her and moved off with a brief word of thanks.
    Pup finished loading the greens into a basket and headed toward the house. McKay was still sleeping, but she saw that he’d eaten the food she left. Pup was rinsing the vegetables in a pan of water when Travis knocked on the door and stepped in. The knock woke McKay.
    â€œBuchanan,” he said with surprise, coming instantly awake. He attempted to sit up, but when he grimaced with pain, Travis came forward to help him.
    â€œThanks,” McKay said on a deep breath. He looked at the other man. “What brings you up the mountain?”
    â€œThis telegram.” Travis took the paper from the table and handed it to McKay. The treasury man read it.
    TRAVIS BUCHANAN
BOULDER, COLO.
HAVE HEARD FROM