“I do. If you are willing to take it. I know your mother’s and sister’s deaths have no doubt sullied the vision you had of working with the natives, but not all Indians are bad.”
“They weren’t the cause—” Will had nearly said too much. “No. Not all Indians are bad.”
“So does that mean you’ll take the job?”
Will saw it as God’s direction and answer to his prayers. “I will.”
“Oh, glory be.” The man put his hand to his chest. “I leave in the morning for Washington, D.C., and was hopeful I could tell them that the matter was arranged.” He adjusted his wire-rimmed glasses. “I’ll return in six weeks, and we’ll finalize the paperwork. Be ready to leave for Fort Bridger on the first of June.”
Will nodded. The first of June would give him plenty of time to resolve the issue of Granite Evans. The little man started to leave, but Will called out. “I have a question.”
Mr. Blevins turned. “What?”
“Would there be a problem if I were to ... say, bring a wife?”
“A wife?” The man looked momentarily confused, then shrugged. “I can’t see any reason why not. I didn’t realize you’d married.”
“I haven’t,” Will said with grin. “But by then I plan to be.”
Blevins shook his head and rolled his eyes skyward. “Bring a wife, bring a dog, bring whatever you like, so long as you bring yourself to fill that position.”
With that Blevins disappeared around the corner. Will started walking down the street in a complete sense of wonder. So much had happened in just the course of twenty-four hours.
And then, as if preordained, he spied Laura down the block. She was putting something behind the seat of her carriage. The same horse and carriage that had struck him down back in January. As she turned to climb up, Will hurried forward to stop her.
“Laura!”
She turned in surprise. There was a look of questioning, as if she were worried about what he intended.
“I’m glad to see you appearing so well. I was concerned about you after last night.”
A flicker of relief crossed her face. “I suppose I’ve been thinking that you would never speak to me again.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” he said, taking hold of her elbow. “Let me help you up, and then I can drive you home. I need to tell you something.”
“What is it?”
“Something has developed, and I want to share it with you, but you must agree to keep quiet about it.”
She nodded and took her seat in the carriage. Will quickly joined her. “You’re still of a mind to get justice, aren’t you?” He took up the lines and released the brake.
“Of course.” Her response was immediate.
Their eyes met, and Will gave a nod. “Then I have a plan.”
On the way to the Evans’s house, Will explained their thoughts. “I’m going to ask your father for a job. He previously offered me one and even questioned me again about working for him when I came to see him about the necklace. Getting him to hire me will be step one. I’m also going to let him know that I know the governor, which will lead to step two. I’m going to pretend to be chosen to escort the new governor to Cheyenne. That news will come out in theLeadertomorrow morning to support my story. When I see your father, he will hopefully have already read about it and want to question me. If not, I’ll bring it up. I’m also going to let it be known to your father that I hate John Campbell—that there was bad blood between us and that I don’t want to be a part of anything to do with him. I think this will encourage your father to approach me to help him with setting the stage for killing the governor.”
“Oh no!” Laura put her hand to her mouth.
“The authorities think your father will probably want the deed done prior to the governor’s arrival so that the fair cityof Cheyenne and its people here won’t be associated with it. So your father, knowing that I’ll be escorting the governor here, might decide to set up things en route.”
“It will be very dangerous, and I would never forgive myself if something happened to you.”
Will met her gaze and smiled. “Why, Laura Evans, are you breaking your vow?”
“What vow?” She looked confused.
He chuckled. “The one you made to never love another.”
