To Know Her by Name by Lori Wick

Having spent only a few days in her presence, McKay was still certain that he had her figured out. She was clearly a simple woman with simple tastes. She hadn’t been willing to go into town for him, but she’d found someone who was. Even if she hadn’t done that, he could not fault her care of him; he would have certainly died without her intervention.
    â€œDo you mind if I ask you some questions, Callie?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œHow long had Govern been here when I arrived?”
    â€œNot long. Twenty minutes, half an hour at the most.”
    â€œWhat was he doing?”
    â€œLooking for money.”
    McKay stopped to take a bite, his face thoughtful.
    â€œWhat day is this again?”
    â€œWednesday. You were shot a week ago yesterday.”
    â€œAnd I bled a lot?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œBut the bullet’s out?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œWhat are the chances Mud will actually send that telegram?”
    â€œIf he can send it, he will.”
    â€œAnd the horse—if Mud gets to the livery—is the owner going to come looking for his horse?”
    â€œWhere’d you go? Mickey’s?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œHe’ll be fine. He’ll charge you for every day, but he doesn’t rile easily.”
    â€œHave you seen Jubal lately?”
    If he had planned to surprise her, it didn’t work.
    â€œNo.”
    â€œDo you know where he is?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œWhat’s he going to say when he learns that Govern is dead?”
    â€œI can’t say as he’ll be too happy, but he won’t be surprised.”
    â€œDo you know Jubal very well?”
    â€œAbout as well as I knew Govern.”
    â€œAnd you don’t have any clue as to where he might be?”
    â€œNo.”
    She continued to hold the plate, offering the coffee once in a while. McKay began to know real pity for her. What a lonely life she led, but then maybe it wasn’t. In truth she didn’t appear to be all that bright; she showed so little curiosity or interest in things. Maybe it was like that when you were so cut off from town. If this were all she’d ever known, then she probably wasn’t lonely at all.
    â€œDo you want more?”
    â€œNo, I’m done. Thank you.”
    â€œI have some berries if you’d like something sweet.”
    McKay looked into her face. Her voice was kind and so were her actions, but her face was so difficult to read.
    â€œI appreciate the offer of the berries—they sound good—but I’ve had enough. Thank you.”
    She nodded, and McKay felt at a loss to say more. Pup left a moment later but was back swiftly, clean rags in her hand to change his dressing. Neither one of them spoke while she worked, but McKay’s mind was busy. He lay looking at the door for a long time after she left. His Bible lay on the bed next to him, and without opening it he placed his hand on the cover. There was really no way for him to repay Callie Jennings for all she had done, but just maybe he could give her something that held greater value than gold.
    He planned to pray for her for quite some time, but all of a sudden he was tired. If he’d been home, his father or mother might have sat with him until he slept, but here he was left alone. That very fact caused him to pray all the more for his hostess, but sleep still crept in to claim him. In fact, he was out hard when Pup came to check on him.
    She stood quietly by the side of the bed. Even without McKay’s eyes on her, her face was unreadable. He would have been surprised to know that she was silently agreeing with Mud. Without a week’s worth of growth on his face, McKay Harrington was very good-looking indeed.

    Pup stepped from the cabin the next morning and nearly fell over Mud. He was sitting on her front porch, half-lying actually, his head in his hands.
    â€œAnother all-nighter, Mud?” she inquired kindly.
    â€œYeah. Percy always