In the Shadow of Death Read Online Free

However, two days before Maggie planned to leave for her trip, she felt that their new office help was as good as she would ever be. Simple rules had been established: the phone was to be answered as professionally as possible, she wasn’t to ask the caller personal questions, she would only type what Nat had actually written and not what she thought he meant, and she would stay out of the boss’ office—he didn’t want it dusted or even the ashtray emptied. She was the office help and not Maggie’s replacement. And finally, she would refrain from giving advice to the clients while they waited. They had already lost one prospective client who decided to follow Henny’s advice and solve his problem on his own rather than pay “good money” to see Mr. Southby.
    â€œI’m going upstairs to Jodie’s tonight,” Maggie called out to Nat as she tidied up her desk before leaving the office. “She’s got a map of the Cariboo that will help me get my bearings.”
    â€œCan I come?”
    â€œBe my guest,” she answered smiling. “I’ll see you about seven.”
    It was shortly after six-thirty that evening when the phone rang. “Oh damn! That will be Nat to say he’s going to be late getting here.”
    â€œHarry here.”
    She almost dropped the phone in surprise.
    â€œWhen do you plan on leaving for your vacation?” he asked.
    â€œEr . . . Friday. Why?” she asked nervously.
    â€œWhat arrangements have you made about Emily, then?”
    â€œEmily? Well, at this point I’m hoping my neighbour will . . .”
    â€œI’ll take her,” he interrupted.
    â€œBut . . . ” Maggie hesitated. “Are you sure, Harry? You seemed so against the idea when I spoke to you on the phone And I’m . . . er . . . I’m sure my neighbour would . . . ”
    â€œNo, that’s all right. I’ve changed my mind. Can you bring her over tomorrow evening?”
    â€œThat’s very kind of you, Harry, but . . . ” Maggie was wary, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
    â€œI think a vacation from that place is a good idea, Margaret,” he answered her curtly. “Where do you plan on going?”
    â€œA dude ranch. It’s just outside Williams Lake.”
    â€œDude ranch! What’s it called?”
    â€œI’m not sure, but it’s on Wild Rose Lake.”
    â€œWhy a dude ranch?” he went on, without waiting for her reply. “But I suppose that’s better than working for that man. I’ll see you around seven o’clock tomorrow evening, then.”
    Now what’s he up to?
    A short time later, Jodie, Nat and Maggie were poring over a map of central British Columbia. “See,” Jodie explained, pointing to a small dot next to a large lake. “That’s Williams Lake. And this,” she added, indicating a road that branched off to the right, “is the road to Horsefly.” She circled the road with a pen.
    â€œWhat a crazy name.”
    â€œIt is, isn’t it?” Jodie agreed, and then continued. “But you’ll only take that road as far as Wild Rose Lake.” She drew another circle. “It’s about nine miles along.”
    Maggie put her finger on Vancouver, then moved it up the map to the lake. “Whew!” she exclaimed. “I didn’t realize it would be so far.”
    â€œWell over three hundred miles!” Nat commented, looking over her shoulder.
    â€œYou’re going up by train?” Jodie asked. Maggie nodded. “Well,” Jodie continued, “you know that it only travels north from Vancouver to Prince George on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and south on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.”
    â€œI’m leaving at seven this Friday,” she answered, and then turned to Nat. “Yesterday, when I slipped over to buy my ticket, the station master told me that the line between Vancouver and