Chapter 1. Vacation Time

Jim sat behind the dining room table, sipping a cup of coffee, and squinting at the script on yet another envelope. The print was partially faded and smeared so he tipped the paper toward the windows along the wall and let the bright morning sunlight cast shadows on the letters. Sighing, he showed it to the kitten who sat near his elbow on the tablecloth.

"Sophie," he said, seriously, "can you read this? Is that to 'James' or 'Artemus'? It's not like our names are spelled the same." The kitten leaned forward and licked the paper. "Really? Does tasting it help?" He snickered and tossed the envelope onto a pile in front of him. "One more for "to both of you", I guess."

"James, my boy," Artemus said from down the hall, his deep voice rolling past the swinging doors, "we deserve more than a week of vacation after what we've been through. We deserve a month!"

"You wouldn't say that," Jim responded, "if that young lady wasn't accompanying you to New York City. If she had said no, you wouldn't even go visit your family." He picked up another envelope from the crate sitting on a nearby chair.

"That's a terrible thing to say," Artie laughed as he pushed through the doors, "but true, I admit." He dropped a carpet bag and a large, black, hard-sided case onto the floor in front of the fireplace. He walked over to the dining room table to look at the piles of envelopes. "Besides you'll be a week sorting mail." He picked up one pile and quickly scanned though the writing. "Hmph, all from my mother? I guess I could read them while I ride in the carriage." He dropped them back on the table, "or I can just enjoy being with Christian and let my mother recite everything when I arrive."

Jim tsked his tongue as he shook his head, "Sophie, can you believe this guy? He won't read letters written from his own mother!" Sophie meowed her displeasure and flicked her tail. "That's it, partner, Sophie agrees with me. You're heartless."

"Sophie always agrees with you," Artie said, patting the kitten's soft fur. "You two gang up on me, unless I'm cooking, of course." Sophie purred, pushing her face against his palm. "Are you bringing her with you?"

"No," Jim grinned, "I am not riding around the country side with a cat. It's just not my style." He handed Artie an envelope, "another one." Artie took the envelope and dropped it onto the others. "I'll just pile them up for you." Jim said, nodding to the other piles, "yours, mine, and that pile I can't read. We can open them when we get back. Hopefully it's nothing important."

"Nothing is as important as picking up Christian and taking her to New York." Artie pulled out a pocket watch and checked the time, muttering, "can you believe that she has never been to New York City?" Jim paused to roll his eyes. Artie caught the look and grinned, "I guess I have mentioned that a few times?" Jim groaned. "Ok, I'm leaving." He snapped the watch shut and tucked it back into his vest pocket. "You are going somewhere yourself, right? Not spending your week's vacation doing all this?" He waved a hand at the envelopes.

"Yes," Jim grinned, "I'm going soon. I wanted to sort through all these first. I found one for Jeremy that somehow fell in our box. So I'm worried I might find another one that isn't meant for us. I'll drop it at his house on the way out of town and bring this fuzzy, freeloader back. She can stay with him for the week. I can't believe she snuck into my jacket last night and I carried her back here from his house without knowing it."

"Amazing how she can slip into small spaces. If you had only put your coat on instead of tossing it into the basket of food his wife sent us home with," Artie said, chuckling as he gave the kitten another pat. "You will do well as a secret agent, Sophie, you just need a little more training."

"Hmmmmmm," Jim growled, leaning closer to the kitten, "kittens are sneaky." Sophie licked his nose. "And you can't come with me and Cobb isn't here to take care of you so back you go. For another week. Then the train will be hooked back up to the engine, with the repaired boiler. Cobb said we will go a lot faster with higher steam pressure. Maybe we can get to San Francisco in four days now instead of five."

"As long as we stay up right on the rails," Artie said. "Well, James, have a safe trip and stay out of trouble. You should be safe from pirate ships in middle Virginia. I will see you in a week."

"You stay safe too," Jim said, grinning, as his partner picked up his two cases, "don't go near the docks. Actually, just stay close to your mother, she'll keep you safe."

Artie paused in the door, winking, "the only trouble I will get in will be in a hotel room." With a mock salute, he slipped outside, pulling the door shut behind him.

Jim turned to Sophie, "well, fuzzy, it's just you and me now. We'll finish this up and head out ourselves." He paused, squinting at another envelope. "Hey, this one says 'Lori' on it." He tilted it toward the sunlight again, moving it closer and farther. "Well, now, this is interesting. This is addressed to Lori at her address in Washington. Her secret home address that I am not supposed to know. And it's from her parents in Virginia? And close to my mother's house?" He looked at Sophie, "now what's the chance in that? Should I deliver it to her?" Sophie nodded, "you think so? She could kill me for knowing where she lives now." Sophie yawned hugely, showing her tiny teeth. "Ya, you could care less. This is a set up; you want me to be beaten to death, don't you?" Sophie meowed. Jim looked back at the envelope, "well I might as well be killed by an angry female. I live alone and I talk to a cat now so how much worse could life get?" He tossed the envelope onto the table as Sophie stood, stretched, and walked to his chest. She purred, rubbing her forehead under his chin.

"Oh, I was just joking," Jim said, patting her soft fur, "you take everything I say so literally. You're such a female." He pushed her against his vest as he reached around the grab another handful of envelopes. "We're almost done. Let's keep at it," he muttered, showing the next envelope to the kitten, "how about this one? Jim or Artie?" He waved the paper slightly, "no vote? We need to teach you to read. Even my horse can read, you know." He tossed the envelope onto Artie's pile, "yup, another one from your mother. Enjoy your week, partner. You'll come back so spoiled."

[

]

Later that day….

[

Jim pulled the reins to turn his horse to the left, guiding the animal with the tilt of his body and pressure of his knees. He moved with the horse, unconsciously leaning as it turned and swaying back to upright as it moved forward down the lane. He wiped his forehead with the cuff of his blue traveling jacket as the hot afternoon sun shone down. He sighed as the horse moved instinctively to the shade of a line of wide oak branches along the lane.

"It's a hot day today, big fella," he said, his voice reassuring the horse. "Almost there now. One more turn. I think you know the way now without me telling you where to turn."

The horse tossed its head as its step quickened. Man and beast turned once more onto a gravel driveway, which quickly ended at the porch of a tan house with deep red shutters. The house and porch has bright white trim that glowed clean in the sunlight. A group of boys lazed on the railings and steps, clad in dusty pants and bright colored shirt sleeves.

"Uncle Jim!" One boy hollered out, waving an arm. He leaped over the railing and ran down the gravel, followed by the gang of boys, all smaller and slower.

"Hey, Davey," Jim said, leaning over the brush his left hand through the boys hair. The other boys crowded around him on both sides, some looking more interested in the horse and saddle. "Is everyone here already?"

"Ya, we've been here for days," a boy yelled out, "just waiting on you, Uncle Jim," another one said. Davy stepped back to pat the horses' neck. "Can we take care of your horse? We can feed it and water it and give him a good rub down."

Jim slowly swung his foot over the horse's rear end and dropped to the ground. He gave Davy and a couple boys a quick hug. "Ok, just move slow around him. I'll walk him to the barn with you." He handed the reins to Davey and hugged a few more boys. He felt a tug on the back of his coat and turned to see the smallest boy behind him.

"I thought you always wore a gun, Uncle Jim?" The boy said, with a pouting face. "I thought you were a sheriff or something."

Jim laughed and picked up the kid, holding him against his left side. "I am something like a sheriff," he said, "and not all guns are carried where you can see them. I always have a couple hidden on me."

"But you can't do a fast draw if it's hidden," another boy said, as the others searched his clothes, poking and pulling at his coat. "And I don't' see any hidden guns."

"I bet he has them in his boots," another boy yelled out. "I read about a guy in a book that hid small guns in his boots."

"He keeps them in his sleeves," another voice said. This caused the boys the tug on his jacket sleeves as Jim laughed at their antics.

"It's no good," Jim said, as he approached the porch, "you'll never find them. And I can still draw pretty quick." He set the boy on a step and turned to the group. "I'm going to go inside and say Hello to everyone and then I'll be out to check on my horse. So tell me again, what do you do for a horse?"

A couple boys recited in order, "feed, then water, then rub down, then turn out onto the field."

Jim laughed again, as Davey started to lead the black horse away. "Oh, wait, I almost forgot," he said, reaching for his saddle bags. He pulled the leather off the saddle horn and slung it over his shoulder as the boys all moved away. He turned and climbed the steps and pulled open a screen door. The heavy wooden front door was open wide into the deeply shaded front hall. "Hello," he called out, putting his hat on a hook by a mirror. "Anyone home?" He walked down the hall and looked into a large sitting room. Chairs were placed in rows and a small table was piled high with gifts. He stepped forward and opened his saddle bags, pulling out two neatly wrapped gifts and a blue envelope. He set them on the table in a pile, off to one side, and dropped the saddle bags behind an arm chair.

"Jim?" A man's deep voice spoke from the hallway. "Jim, is that you?"

"Hey, Mark," Jim said, turning to walk across the room. A tall man, square shouldered with tight, curling blond hair stepped into the room, filling the doorway. "How ya doin'?"

"Damn, brother," the larger man said with a quick, dimpled grin, "you scared us half to death this time!" He stepped forward and engulfed Jim in a bear hug and quickly pushed away. "Are you all right? What the hell happened?"

"What? Jim grinned, "I'm fine, Mark."

Mark shook his head, "you look ok and I ought to know." He smacked Jim lightly in the chest with the back of his fingers. "I should make you take you clothes off and give you a through professional exam today."

"I don't think so," Jim said, stepping back with his hands raised. "And you're not my doctor."

"Look, all I know is Mom sent us all letters after she got the telegram from your office. It said you were officially listed as missing." He paused as Jim nodded, "How did your office not know where you were?"

"Artemus and I went somewhere on short notice and then had a tough time communicating where we were," Jim shrugged, grinning. "It was just a miss communication. Happens all the time. They shouldn't be so quick with their telegrams of gloom and doom."

"I guess as long as everyone is ok," Mark said, "and Artemus is all right too then?" Jim nodded. "Ok, well, Mom and Edward and everyone else are on the back porch. Cooler out there now. She will be thrilled to see you." He wrapped a long arm around Jim's shoulder and they moved to the hall and through the house, down narrow hallways, through a large kitchen and pushed through another screen door on the back of the house. Mark pulled Jim into a crowded porch, with the announcement, "look who I found, Ma."

Jim stepped into the room, and crossed quickly to an elderly small woman who was standing in the center of the group. Her pale blue eyes had widened with surprise and quickly filled with tears. Jim hugged her, gently but firmly, his face pressed against her cheek. He pulled slightly away, keeping an arm around her, "Happy Birthday, Ma. You knew I wouldn't miss your party."

"Oh, my stars," the woman said, "this is the best present I could have." She wiped tears from her eyes as she looked at the other adults in the room. Mark had moved next to a pretty young blond women. Nearby a dark haired woman stood next to another larger, square shouldered man, with dark hair. He looked like a mix of Jim and Mark, but was clearly older than both men.

"Ed," Jim said, nodding, and he grinned to the women, "hope I didn't miss any excitement."

"As always," the man said, his deep voice vibrating in a drum of a chest, "you seem to be the excitement, Jim." His voice was a mix of pleasure, disapproval, and boredom. The two women quickly stepped forward to hug Jim at the same time, while managing to include his mother in the group.

"Well, this is something," the elderly woman said, "I think I need to sit before I fall over." Jim moved her to a chair and then sat down next to her. She laid a hand on his knee as he kept an arm around her shoulders. "You know we received one of those telegrams from your office." She paused as Jim grinned and shook his head, "I know you tell me to ignore those but then I received a letter too from that nice Colonel Richmond. He tried to say it was just a formality but I could hear the worry in his words."

"He said it was a miscommunication in his office," Mark said, nodding to Jim, "probably too many pretty secretaries working there now and they lost a memo."

The group laughed and Ed added, "too many government workers anyway now, especially in Washington. How we have secret agents is beyond me anyway. Lawmen should wear a badge out in the open."

Jim laughed, leaning back in the chair, soaking in the normalness of his family, even with the traditional arguments of his two older brothers.

"Wouldn't it be difficult to investigate crime if the bad guys knew he was an officer?" Mark asked Ed. "He must know what he's doing. He's obviously very e successful at his work." He turned to Jim, "have you arrested a lot of criminals lately? Maybe someone we read about in the papers?"

Before Jim could answer, Ed interjected, "you're a doctor, Mark, not a dime store clerk pushing paperback novels of Sherlock Holmes. " He turned to Jim, "how often do these people you arrest live to get to court? And how many are convicted?"

"I don't have an exact count, Ed," Jim grinned. "I really should keep better numbers. Maybe Artemus has some statistics written up. If he doesn't, I bet he could make you a chart."

"How is Artemus," Jim's mother asked, gently ending the debate between her three sons. "Was he with you on this trip? If so, his family must also have been notified as probably worried too."

"He is fine and yes, he was with me every step of the way," Jim said, "He's in New York City with his family now. I know he has also told them not to worry when we are called away."

"New York City," the younger of the two women squealed. "So exciting," she gushed, looking at Mark, "I wish we could go someday? Get away for a while?" Mark smiled and nodded, but didn't reply.

"Doctors need to stay near their patients," Jim's mother said with a smile. "Mark is so dedicated," she said, turning to the obviously middle aged son. He had a square head with lighter brown hair, but the dimples showed when he smiled. "You look so much like your father," she added, turning to Edward, "as do you too, dear." Ed's body shape was the same, large, square head and broad shoulders, but his hair was much darker, almost black.

"And Jim's the runt," Mark teased, as they laughed good naturedly, except for the mother who gave them her usual tsk tsk. "He know's we don't mean it. He could still beat us at anything physical, just like when we were kids. He was always too fast to catch and too strong if you did catch him."

"Just like my brothers," Jim's mother said, tapping her hand on his knee, "they loved to wrestle and race around. Ride horses and climb trees." She nodded, as Jim gave her a light squeeze on her shoulders. Her old, quiet voice continued, "yes, James, you are an O'Connor, like my father and my brothers. Irish for Patron of Warriors. We could all see that the day you were born."

"Came out waving his fists," Ed said, as Mark waved his fists at Jim. "Fighting mad every day. Until he was old enough to discover girls, that is." Jim wiped tears from his eyes as they all roared in laughter.

"Oh," his mother said, "that reminds me. I wanted to tell you, that young lady, Marissa, had another child just last month. I think I wrote you…"

"Yes," Jim nodded, gasping slightly as he tried to catch his breath, "you did. And last year when she had twins." He grinned, "she must be happily married and has completely forgotten about me by now. It's been years."

"Well I am waiting for you to settle down, just the same," she said, patting his knee again absently. "And I need some O'Connor grandchildren."

Jim waved a hand to his brothers, "those two have given you plenty of grandkids," Jim said, as the older brothers agreed, as did the two wives who sat nearby. "They are O'Connor's too. How many are there now? Eight?" He shook his head, "maybe someday but not right now."

"Oh, there are never enough grandchildren," his mother said with a twinkle in her eye. "but you will join in soon, I have a feeling." Jim groaned as a door slammed behind him. He started to turn, instinct kicking in, but two high pitched voices rang out.

"Maud?" One called from the kitchen. "Where is everyone? I thought this was a birthday party!" Two tall women, one thin and one more robust, burst onto the porch. They each wore bright printed dresses and wide brimmed straw hats. As they came in, Jim stood, smiling.

"My stars! Its James! Returned from yet another mystery," the thin one exclaimed. The two women embraced him at the same time, both asking questions.

"Young man, you need a new profession. Scaring your mother and both your Aunts have to death," the heavier woman scolded. "You should learn to be a doctor or a lawyer like your brothers." Jim settled them into two more chairs and returned to his by his mother's side. "Don't you think so, Maud?"

"I think James has an important job," Jim's mother said, "just as important as Mark and Edward. My husband, God rest his sole, worked in Washington helping the Veterans and he saw the abuse. James does similar work but helps everyone. "

"Why is there such evil in men's hearts," the thin woman said, clasping a hand, clutching a flowered handkerchief. "So many dangerous man to be arrested and put into prison. It just keeps me awake at night worrying about what might happen to you."

"Oh, but it's the women that are clever," Jim said, with a wink and a flash of his dimples. "I have to be very careful of them."

"Oh, my stars!" she fanned herself with the cloth, "you must tell us this evening. I bet you are just full of stories. Especially where you have been lately."

"It's all confidential," his mother said, "Clara and Uda, you both know better than to ask. That would be like asking Mark about his patients or Edward about his clients." She squeezed Jim's knee again, leaning past him slightly, "but sometimes I do see him in the newspaper in court or in the society columns and it is thrilling. And you know I keep them all in a book upstairs."

Jim burst out laughing again as his family teased him further. "Ma, you shouldn't believe what you read in the papers. I have explained that to you. It's all fake news to get you to buy the paper." He shook his head, "after dinner I will tell you where I've been. It turned out to be very interesting and we met a lot of good people. All's well that ends well." He gave her a kiss on her cheek. "Glad I had Artemus with me though. A week of rest and we will be back to work."

"Well, I'd say it's time for dinner and birthday cake," Mark said, standing and holding a hand out to the younger of the two wives. "And then I believe there are presents to open for the birthday girl."

Edward also stood, his dark suit fitting tightly across his expanding midsection. "Maybe I can scare up all those kids with one loud whistle!" He patted his stomach, "serve them right if I called them after dinner." The group moved into the kitchen and through it again, into a large dining room. The two aunts stayed behind in the kitchen, with the two wives, as Jim and his brothers escorted his mother to the dining room. She sat at the head of the table and the boys sat near her.

"It's good to have all my boys here," she whispered, taking Jim's hand in her left and Mark's hand in her right. Edward smiled from farther down the table. "I wish your father was here to see how you have all turned out, but I know he is watching from above. Sometimes I think that's how you get a little extra luck, James," she said, squeezing his fingers. "I like to think he is watching over you."

Jim smiled, but his eyes teared, feeling as if someone was suddenly behind his shoulder, reassuring him.

[

]

Early morning, Days Later…

]

"I wish you weren't leaving so soon," her soft voice said. She rested a wrinkled hand onto his knee, her fingers clutching a new laced-trimmed cloth handkerchief. "You should come more often but I know you're busy with your work." Jim patted the hand gently. "Your father would have enjoyed seeing how respected you are in Washington. Such important work all over the country and everyone depending on you." She chuckled, "your brothers do get jealous, don't they? But don't worry if they seem harsh. They are just teasing you."

"I know, Ma, it's fine. They've done it for years," Jim said quietly. "You know I see you when I am in the city. Sometimes we are gone for months at a time."

"You will have to find a young lady that will understand about that," she said, giving his thigh a squeeze. "One of these modern, independent ladies," she chuckled as Jim's face blushed. "You use to keep the girls here very hopeful but they have all married now. " She let out a long sigh.

"Now, Ma," Jim said, slightly more sternly, "you know we have talked about this. You have grandkids from two married sons. Two out of three isn't bad. I just lead a busy life."

"Yes, but you take after my side of the family. The O'Connors," she said, repeating her old sayings. "Your brothers are more like your father; tall and broad. You are like my father, more compact and strong." They rocked quietly on the swinging chair. "Though all three of you have those dimples. Your father was so handsome, just like you," she murmured. "You will be married in the next few years, I predict, and have lovely children."

Jim laughed, "really, Ma," he said, kissing the top of her head, "you think I will be married in the new few years? Is that three years or four?" He patted her hand again as she nodded. "I guess I had better look more seriously." He paused, as the chair swung back and forth. "It's not that I couldn't get married, tomorrow even, but maybe…" he said, thinking, "how can someone decide on one person to stay with forever? Maybe all the women I have met seem the same, almost interchangeable."

His mother whispered, leaning close," you just haven't met the one yet. Or maybe she is right in front of you and you have known her all along, but you just aren't noticing her."

Jim sighed, grinning, "I don't know, Ma, it seems complicated. And I see people decide on the wrong person too."

"Oh, well," she said, nodding, "it happens but usually to careless people or to dreamers. You still have to use your head as well as your heart. You're no fool so I don't think that would happen to you." She nodded, "no, I think you will settle down, and very soon, with the perfect young lady. You just wait and see."

"Well, until then," Jim said, looking down at his mother, "you'll just have to be my special girl. Now I have to head back to Washington. Let me walk you back inside and I will say good bye to everyone else." They stood slowly, "and I'll be back again." He held the screen door for her as they moved inside.

[

]

tbc