Heath took his eldest brother aside after lunch and explained about the letter.
"Don't get discouraged if it takes a while to track her down, Heath," Jarrod advised as they sat in the library over coffee. "It's been at least ten months and New York is a big place. It's possible she got married and changed her name or she could have moved out of the state entirely."
Heath nodded in resigned agreement. He certainly never pictured himself with a brother like Jarrod. Intelligent, principled, educated. But just as tough as Nick and loyalty that, once given, was unshakable. If anyone could find Katey, he knew it was his brother the lawyer. "I understand, Jarrod. I just need to know if she's okay."
Jarrod pulled out a sheet of paper and a pencil. "The more detail you can give me, the easier it will be to find her. Let's start with her full name. Katey Reynolds, correct?"
Heath nodded again. "Her full name's Katherine, but didn't like anyone calling her that. Always went by Katey."
"And what was her occupation?"
Heath paused again. Jarrod didn't need all the details of Katey's life, just the ones related to her current situation. "She was working for an older lady, Mrs. Deveraux. Met Mrs. Deveraux in Bakersfield. Her husband just died and the old lady took a liking to Katey and hired her on. When she moved back to New York, she took Katey with her. Her address is the one on the letter." Heath handed Jarrod the returned envelope.
"What type of work did Katey do for Mrs. Deveraux?" Jarrod was nothing if not thorough.
"Kept her company, helped her out with day-to-day correspondence, that sort of thing, Kind of a companion," Heath replied. "Katey's last letter said Mrs. Deveraux was encouraging her to learn to be a dressmaker."
"And when did you last hear from her?"
Heath thought back. When he arrived in Strawberry to find his mama desperately ill, there had been a letter waiting. The postmark showed it had been sent - had it been that long? "Almost a year ago."
Jarrod got to his feet. "I'll head into town this afternoon and start sending out inquiries." He placed a brotherly hand on Heath's shoulder. "Don't worry, Heath. We'll find her."
Heath returned to work. But even toiling in the grueling midday heat wasn't demanding enough to keep Heath's mind from wondering and worrying what might have happened to Katey.
Heath regretted not writing immediately when he moved to Stockton. He and Katey promised to keep in touch, a promise he'd kept faithfully until this past year. He had written right after his mama's death, telling her what happened, telling her he wouldn't return to Strawberry, didn't know where any letters would reach him and didn't know when he'd next be able to contact her. But he had so many adjustments to make, so much turmoil dealing with his acceptance into the Barkley family, that he'd just never gotten around to it until last month. Maybe she'd given up on him when he didn't write.
Heath thought about Jarrod's comment that Katey might have got married. Lord knew he didn't have any hold on her other than their friendship, but Katey always held a special place in his heart. He'd hated to see her leave for New York with the older lady and at first, Katey wasn't going to go. But Heath couldn't let her stay and throw away the chance to make a better life on account of him, so he talked her into going. He remembered his last sight of her, waving out the window as the train pulled out of the station. Men don't cry, he'd reminded himself forcefully, but his eyes were moist as the train chuffed out of sight.
He'd always hoped that somehow their circumstances would change and he might get the chance to see her again, the chance to tell her all those things they were too young for when they were together. That was what the letter had been about, the one that got returned. Telling Katey about finding his family, finding a place for himself and, if she wanted it, a place for her too. But if it was too late, then it was too late, that's all there was to it. He just had to hope Katey was safe and happy, wherever she was and whomever she was with.
Heath sighed and got back to work.