January 6
9:08 p.m.
Rosemary turned down the lantern by the bed before drawing her stockinged feet in under the plush, embroidered crimson bedding. Lee laid next to her, already half asleep from his long day trip to Buxton. He'd arrived home late, nearly 8 p.m. They had talked briefly over a late dinner of roasted quail and creamed potatoes, and decided to turn in immediately after such a full day. She couldn't argue with that. She'd had enough excitement for one day. This afternoon, she had left Lee's office for an urgent trip to the outhouse, and by the time she returned, she spied Murphy sitting at the assistant's desk mulling over paperwork. Her investigating would have to be put on hold. She had patted her small clutch purse as she walked down the town's boardwalk, thankful she had remembered to secure it from the fireplace mantle. No one knew about her little escapade, and although not the most productive of ventures, she had managed to gather a few clues, without leaving any trace of her own presence.
She pulled her feet onto the bed and then pulled the covers up to her chin. She leaned over and sought out Lee's soft, sleepy lips with her own.
"I love you, Lee Coulter." She traced a finger over his stubble-filled jaw.
With great effort he peeked an eye halfway open and smiled at her.
"I love you, too, Rosie." His sleepy voice warmed the air between them.
"Good night" they said in unison as they shifted to their sleeping positions. She often liked to fit into the curve of his strong body around hers, but tonight, she found herself lying on her back, looking up at the ceiling, recalling the moments of the day. Clue after clue ran before her eyes. Did any of it make sense? How did this puzzle fit together? What was so blasted confusing was that Lee ran both the business and her surprise project. It was impossible differentiating the two. She could very well be mistaking a routine business matter for a hint into Lee's surprise project for her. Or the opposite could be true: she could be overlooking an item of importance thinking it was just routine. Oh bother. If only there was some way to sort them out.
If only she could obtain her trusty notebook and write out what she knew. Usually when she did that, almost miraculously, the pieces knit together and she'd see something, something she hadn't seen before. But tonight, the comfort of the bed under her weary body was much too appealing to leave. Well, a list composed in her head would just have to do.
What she knew for sure:
1. Lee's surprise for her was both time consuming and messy. At least she assumed it was his project for her that was messy. He seemed so secretive every time he arrived home covered in dirt. But perhaps she was mistaking that filth for a clue when in reality it was just an additional sawmill job. And as for the timing- when he originally mentioned a surprise to her, she was sure her surprise would be in time for Christmas. But Christmas had come and gone. Why was it taking so long?
2. Thanks to the map in Lee's office, it was evident that a project site could be out north. But was that related with her surprise or just something to do with the sawmill? If only she could know one way or the other.
3. A man named "Kirill" worked for Lee out north at this site, whatever it may be. Why? Weren't Lee's regular workers more than enough? And interestingly enough, Lee trusted this Kirill fellow enough to let him have a key to his office and access to his things, including charging things to his name at the mercantile. She could count on one hand the men Lee trusted, and a "Kirill" had never been on the list before. In fact, Lee didn't trust anyone nearly as much as his two right hand men, Jesse and Hickam. So was this a third right hand man? She shuddered. Hopefully not, the man utterly lacked in manners of how to treat a lady.
4. Upon her inspection of Lee's desk, she found several business cards. Did any of them have to do with her surprise or were they all strictly business? And an indoor plumbing company? Was Lee honestly considering putting in an indoor privy for the sawmill workers? Just the thought was ludicrous!
5. The secrecy of this project was mind-boggling. Why did Lee feel the need to keep it under wraps? That man was infuriating! And why did he so seriously instruct both Hickam and Jesse to keep his surprise from her? Their lips were tighter than Molly Sullivan's outdated vest. How was she supposed to obtain any information without a little help from her go-to assistant, Hickam? But even he had turned on her.
6. And in the accounting book, she noticed Hickam and Jesse were receiving extra pay- but what for? Again, was it apart of the top secret project or just routine sawmill stuff? Lee had been working on a new merge, was this all simply apart of that plan?
By the time she reached number seven, she couldn't manage to keep her eyes open. Clues were wondrously good things, but only if she could actually put them to work to solve the mystery. Well, for now, those clues would have to wait, for sleep was calling her name.