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“Of where you were last night.”
It was McCray’s turn to sigh.
“Guess I’ll get my bacon elsewhere. Good seeing you, McCray.”
“You, too, Odell.”
“Goodbye, Odell,” Spring said tartly.
Grinning, he departed.
Shaking her head, she sat down again. “Pass me the eggs, please.”
“Do I assume that by noon half the Territory will know I spent the night here?”
She placed some of the scrambled eggs on her plate. “Maybe. Maybe not. He can be discreet when he wants to be. Doesn’t matter really. I’m not ashamed of you being here. Are you?”
“No.”
“Good.” Even if Odell kept the news to himself, more than likely he wasn’t the only person Dovie had questioned about McCray’s whereabouts. Once Spring drove him back to town and word got around, people would put two and two together. Again, she didn’t care. Someone had to give the gossips something to do. “When are you going back to Washington?”
“My ticket is for four days from now. Your brother agreed to let me ride along on some of his visits, so I want to take him up on that first. I’d also like to speak with Mrs. Lee about her thoughts on living here. I’m hoping she’ll share some of the details on how she and your brother met.”
Spring wondered how he’d react were she to tell him Regan was an heiress, but that would be Regan’s story to share or not, so Spring kept silent. Refusing to remain silent were her own thoughts of wanting him to stay longer. She had an uncharacteristic desire to show him more of her life: her favorite places to hunt and fish, her makeshift mountain cabin, the thundering herds of wild mustangs that always left her in awe. No man before had ever inspired her in that way, but he’d be leaving, so she pushed the thoughts aside. “Is there anyone else you want to speak with before you go home?”
“Yes. Mr. James. I heard some of his storywhen I helped with the mill, but I’d like to find out if there’s more. I didn’t expect to find another Colored man here. Do you know if there are more of us in the area?”
“My family and Porter James are it, as far as I know. Ben might know more.”
“Your grandfather?”
“Yes.”
“I met him while at the mill.”
“How’d it go?”
“Let’s just say he wasn’t very forthcoming.”
“I don’t doubt it. He’s not much for conversation.”
“Does he live nearby?”
“He has a place not too far from here. If you want to try again, take my brother with you. If I take you, he and I will argue, I’ll leave in a huff, and you won’t get anything for your story.”
Seeing the concern in his eyes, she added, “Just offering you the truth. We haven’t gotten along in over a decade and I don’t expect a thaw anytime soon.”
“Okay.”
And it was the truth. Both she and Ben were stubborn. They’d probably carry their rift to the grave. Deep in her heart, a years-old pain flared though. Growing up she’d loved him, in spite of his contrary ways, and he’d loved her.
Another knock at the door drew her to herfeet again. She opened it and found her brother Colt on the porch. “Morning,” he said.
She backed up so he could enter. “Morning.”
“I came to get the buggy. I’ll need it today.” Seeing McCray seated at the table, he paused.
“It’s out back,” she told him but didn’t reply to the questions in his eyes.
