Pony Express Courtship

“Because Jacob says that Noah is the best at using a rifle.” Seth’s gaze never left Jacob’s face, daring him to deny it.

That was true, too. Over the past few weeks, Noah had proven he could shoot the antennae off a grasshopper, if he had to. Rebecca walked between the men and looked her oldest son in the eyes. “Jacob, what he’s asking isn’t unreasonable. I’m sure that Andrew will see that Noah is kept safe.”

Jacob’s eyes held warmth and sadness in their depths. He nodded. “I’m sure he can, but it is my job to take care of this farm and my family.”

Unaware of the sorrow and weight of the promise Jacob had made to John, Seth interrupted, “Not anymore—it’s mine. Be in the wagon in five minutes.” He turned on his boot heels and left them standing looking at each other.

Rebecca concealed her anger toward Seth. Who did he think he was, coming in here and demanding that these boys follow him blindly? He didn’t know them. Or what they’d been through since John’s death.

She thought about staying home with Andrew and Noah, but she needed to get supplies for the house, and if she stayed behind, who would keep Seth and Jacob from coming to blows? She sighed. “Come along, Jacob. We’ll do as he asks today.” But as soon as they returned from town, she thought to herself, she’d be having a word with Seth Armstrong.

Chapter Two

The trip into town was frosty to say the least. Seth could feel the anger boiling over from both Rebecca and Jacob. He’d known coming into this job that it would be difficult. But he’d also thought that Rebecca and her boys knew what they were getting into.

As Dove Creek came into view, Seth stopped the wagon. After coming off the farm, the landscape had become flat and dusty. There were a few trees scattered about the town, but it didn’t offer the peace and greenery of the Young farm.

“Is this the first time you’ve been to town?” Rebecca’s soft voice drew him like bees to honey.

He nodded. “Yes. It’s not quite what I expected. Dove Creek sounds so pretty.”

A soft chuckle came from deep in her throat.

“Ma says that all the time,” Benjamin said from the back of the wagon.

Seth glanced over his shoulder at the little boy. He was sitting beside Joy and they’d been looking at a picture book most of the way to town. “She’s right.”

Benjamin nodded as if they’d come to a profound agreement and then turned his attention back to his sister and the book. Of all the siblings, those two looked most like brother and sister.

Bromley hadn’t told him anything about the family, other than their pa had died and that Mr. Russell and Mr. Young had made an agreement before the Pony Express had even been constructed. Seth’s orders were to swear in the boys by having them say the Pony Express rider’s oath and teach them what would be expected from them as Pony Express riders.

He flipped the reins over the horse’s backs and continued down the hill. The sooner they got to town, the sooner they could get home. He didn’t like leaving the other two boys at the house any more than Jacob did, but without a bar, the animals were out in the open and needed protection from not only Indians and bandits, but also other wild animals.

Seth felt the restrained movement as Rebecca shifted on the seat beside him. His gaze moved in her direction and caught the profile of Jacob, who sat beside his mother. The boy’s jaw was clenched and his eyes directed straight ahead. Rebecca had rested a slender hand on her son’s leg in silent comfort.

Returning his attention back to driving, Seth inwardly sighed. He and Jacob would have to sit down and talk about the boy’s attitude. Seth was sure there was more to it than just not wanting to leave his brothers behind.

“Would you drop Joy and me off at the general store?” Rebecca asked.

His gaze moved over the town. There was just a dirt road, and plain wooden-faced stores lined the streets. Smoke billowed from the top of each one and the smell of pine teased the air around them. At least they could warm up a bit before they started the long trek back. The church sat on the hill to the right side of them and he could tell by the children playing in the yard that it also served as the town school. Why weren’t the smaller Young children in attendance?

Since it really wasn’t any of his business, Seth chose to answer Rebecca’s question instead of asking one of his own. “We can do that.” He directed the horses down Main Street and continued to study the dusty town.

A saloon stood tall at the far end of the settlement. Not that he’d ever go there, but he knew the boys were of an age that they might be tempted. Seth mentally made a note to talk to the boys about such places, after they repeated the oath. As their boss he didn’t want them coming to town and getting drunk. Best to nip that sort of behavior in the bud. It would not be allowed.

He pulled the wagon up in front of the general store and hopped down. Seth turned to help Rebecca down but Jacob assisted her, his gentleness evident in the way he held her hand until she got her balance. Clayton had climbed out of the wagon and helped Joy down, as well. Benjamin scrambled over the side.

“Whoa! Where do you think you’re going?” Seth asked, moving to block the boy’s descent.

Benjamin jerked away from him. “To help Ma.”

“Not today. I need every man’s help to load lumber and nails.”

Benjamin’s little chest puffed out. “I get to help?”

“You’re one of the men,” Seth said, walking back to the front of the wagon.

He grinned as Benjamin whispered, “Did ya hear that, Ma? I’m one of the men.”

At least he’d made good points with one of the Young men.

* * *

Rebecca took Joy’s small hand within hers and entered the general store. A bell rang out announcing their arrival. She inhaled the onslaught of scents that greeted her. Spices and leather fought the strongest for her attention. Colorful burlap flour bags lined the middle shelf, right at eye level, and she ran a hand over them, her mind zipping along with plans for Joy’s next dress. The material proved soft to the touch and Joy loved to spin around, showing off the big flower design.

Joy’s hand tightened on hers as if giving a warning and she looked up. The owner of the general store, a mountain of a man, approached them. She glanced down at her daughter, wondering if Joy felt the same sense of unease she herself did around him.

“Hello, Mrs. Young. What can I help you find today?” He kneeled down in front of Joy. “How are you today, Miss Joy.”

As was her custom, Joy hid her face in Rebecca’s skirt. She mumbled, “Good.”

He held out his large hand. On top of his palm rested a lemon drop. “I’m glad to hear that.” His big brown eyes looked up at Rebecca. “Cat got your tongue today?”

Rebecca felt her ire rising. The man never did or said anything out of place; but he constantly made her feel uneasy. She handed him her list. “Hello, Mr. Edwards.” She patted Joy’s back. “Go ahead and take the candy, Joy.”

Joy tentatively took the candy and popped it into her mouth. Around the sweet she said, “Thank you.”

Mr. Edwards laughed loudly and stood. “See, that wasn’t so hard.” His gaze moved to the list and he whistled. “I see the men running the Pony Express pay you well.”

The list was longer than usual but Rebecca didn’t really understand why he assumed that Mr. Russell gave her the money for the items. Still, she didn’t correct him. She’d let him think what he wanted.

John had left his family in good financial stability. Thanks to his wisdom with money matters and his inheritance, she and Joy would never have to work a day of their lives. But it wasn’t enough to give the boys money to start their lives. John had said the Pony Express would give them the money they needed and open doors for each of them. She prayed it would be so.

Once more Rebecca felt the store owner’s brown eyes focused on her. “The church picnic is this Sunday. Would you like me to come out to the farm and escort you and the children to it?”

He’d never been so bold before. Rebecca’s hand fluttered to her chest. What would her older boys think of Mr. Edwards calling them children? She focused on the best way to reject him. “Thank you, Mr. Edwards, but that won’t be necessary.”

Something flashed in his eyes before he turned away from her. “You might reconsider—I hear the road bandits are becoming bolder. I’m sure they wouldn’t have a problem taking a single woman’s wagon and any cash she carried from her and a passel of kids.”

Did he think she and the boys were helpless? Heat filled her face and boiled through her blood. If so, was he threatening her?

She took a deep breath to calm herself. Experience had taught her to carefully consider her words before speaking. Her father-in-law, on the other hand, had often said plain talk was easily understood and that was just what the man in front of her would get.

“I don’t need a man to take care of me, Mr. Edwards. The good Lord has protected us through many dangerous situations and I have no doubt He will continue to do so. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but my boys are no longer little boys, but men.” As an afterthought she added, “But thanks so very much for your concern and for the invite.”

Joy poked her head out. Her sweet young voice broke the awkward silence between the adults. Worry lined her words. “Mr. Armstrong and Jacob will be with us, won’t they, Ma?”

She stroked her daughter’s silky hair, wishing Joy hadn’t broken her silence. “Yes, sweetie. There is nothing to fear.”

The bell over the door jingled again. Rebecca turned to see Mrs. Little and her eldest daughter enter the store. She wondered if all the women in the area brought someone with them when they came to visit the general store.

Mr. Edwards paid no heed to the other two women. “Mr. Armstrong?” His eyes bore into Joy’s as he waited for an answer. “Who is this Mr. Armstrong?”

Joy tucked her head behind Rebecca’s skirt again. Rebecca stepped in front of her daughter, protecting her from questions she had no knowledge how to answer. “I’d like to get our supplies as soon as possible, Mr. Edwards. The men will be back shortly to pick us up.”

Mrs. Little waited until the storekeeper went to retrieve the items on Rebecca’s list. “So you have a new man working for you?” she asked.

Well, it sure hadn’t taken long for that little tidbit to make its way around the gossip mill. She had learned one thing living in Dove Creek and that was people had very little to occupy their minds, so interest in the people around them bordered on harassment. However, Rebecca couldn’t dismiss the older woman as easily as she had Mr. Edwards. She’d been raised to respect her elders, and Mrs. Little could easily have been her mother. “He doesn’t exactly work for me.”

Mr. Edwards moved closer to them. He continued to add items to the box he’d begun to fill, but seemed to linger ever so near.

“I see.” The condemning sound in Mrs. Little’s voice had Rebecca quickly explaining.

“Mr. Armstrong works for the Pony Express. He’s been hired to be the station keeper by Mr. Bromley.” Rebecca moved to the fabric, where she knew Mr. Edwards couldn’t pretend to be gathering her supplies, since she hadn’t added any sewing notions to her list.

Mrs. Little followed. “Is this a young man, dear?”

Joy followed her mother about the fabric table. She picked up an edge to a pink print and said, “This is pretty.”

Rebecca touched the material. “I’m not sure his age, Mrs. Little. I only just met him this morning.”

The daughter snorted, drawing a frown from her mother’s face. “Catherine, that is very rude.”

Catherine was a newly married woman, but still had enough respect for her parent to look contrite and say “Sorry, Ma.”

Mrs. Little patted her daughter’s hand and turned her attention back to Rebecca. “Is he older than your pa?”

Rebecca hated this line of questioning. She knew where the older woman was going and didn’t like it. “No, but I don’t know how much younger than Pa he is.”

“Is he married?” Catherine asked, admiring a blue print.

Rebecca frowned. “I don’t know that, either.”

“Then what do you know?” Mr. Edwards asked.

“I know he showed up this morning, helped us put the fire out that burned our barn and announced that he is the new station keeper. That’s all I know.” Rebecca waved at the box in Mr. Edwards’s hands. “One of the boys will be back shortly to get our supplies. Please add the total to my tab, Mr. Edwards. I will be in on the first of the month to settle up.” She turned on her heels. “Come, Joy.”

The sound of Joy’s shoes tapping against the hardwood floor assured Rebecca that her daughter had followed her outside the store. Rebecca wasn’t sure if she was angry with Mrs. Little and Mr. Edwards, or at herself.

She didn’t know a thing about Mr. Armstrong other than what she’d told them. Why had she been so quick to accept him at face value? He’d waltzed in, said he was the station keeper and proceeded to boss them all around.

“Ma! Slow down,” Joy called behind her.

Rebecca stopped and looked at her daughter. “I’m sorry, Joy.” She waited for the little girl to catch up with her, then continued on.

Her boys were with a virtual stranger. How had she been so careless? Rebecca planned on finding out just who Seth Armstrong was and she planned to do it now.

After all, once Mrs. Little realized that he was a nice young man, she’d have the whole town in an uproar. They’d be wondering what went on out at the Young farm. How could Mr. Bromley have put her in this situation? Could she continue with this business arrangement?

* * *

Seth handed Mr. Kaziah the remainder of the payment for the wood and nails. He knew it would be pricey, but hadn’t expected it to be quite this expensive and wondered if the lumberman had overcharged him and the boys. Thankfully, Mr. Russell, one of the Pony Express founders, had supplied him with a hefty budget for turning the farm into a Pony Express station. Seth had been told by Mr. Bromley that since the buildings were already there, they hadn’t done much work to the place and to spend what he needed to on the repairs. He’d have to send a full report to the older gentleman, explaining this added expense.

“Here comes Ma and Joy,” Benjamin announced from his perch on the bench of the wagon.

He turned to see the boy’s mother heading toward them. Her face was set, but it was her eyes that caught and held his attention. She glowered at him, the blue orbs piercing the distance between them.

“She looks mad.” Benjamin turned to face his brother, confirming Seth’s earlier thought. “I wonder why.”

Philip answered, “Beni, mas don’t get mad. Dogs get mad. Mas get angry.” A teasing grin touched the young boy’s lips but his eyes seemed weary.

Thomas slapped his brother on the back. “Good one, Phil.”

“Jacob, Mr. Armstrong. I need to speak to you both, now please,” Rebecca announced as she walked toward the lumberyard.

Seth turned back to Mr. Kaziah. “Thank you for helping us load the wagon. You’ll be sending the rest out later today, right?”

The older man nodded and then leaned toward him. In a low, gruff voice he whispered, “I don’t envy you. Taking on a passel of kids and that woman. She’s a bit of a feisty one.” He turned away and hurried back inside the lumber mill before Seth could answer.

What did he mean take on? Surely, Mr. Kaziah hadn’t assumed that he and Mrs. Young were courting. He shook his head and then turned to face Rebecca. Jacob already stood by her side and was now holding Joy in his arms. The little girl rested her head in the neck of her big brother.

When he was within talking range, Seth asked, “What happened, Mrs. Young?”

She stopped as if his question took her by surprise. “I just realized that I never got a look at that paper you said you carried from Mr. Bromley.” She placed both hands on her hips and waited for him to speak.

Seth frowned and tilted his head to the side. “That’s important now?” he asked. What had happened at the store to cause her to demand to see it now? Was that a speck of fear he saw in her eyes?

She nodded, brought up her arms and crossed them over her chest. Her eyes bore into Seth’s.

Jacob set down Joy. “Everything is all right, Ma. I saw it. Mr. Armstrong is who he says he is.” He tilted up the little girl’s face and smiled down at her. “Joy, go ask Thomas to help you into the wagon.”

The little girl nodded. “All right, Jacob.” She turned and ran to her other brothers.

So that was it. Rebecca had been afraid she’d left her children’s care in the hands of a dangerous stranger. Even though they were grown men, Rebecca still saw them as her babies. He softened his voice and offered her a smile. “I will be happy to show them to you, too, Mrs. Young, when we get back to the farm.” Seth waited for her nod then turned back toward the wagon. Over his shoulder he asked, “Do we need to return to the store to pick up your purchases?” He was aware that she hadn’t brought anything with her except Joy and her handbag.

“Yes, please.” Her voice sounded tired, almost sad.

Seth turned to look at her. Her shoulders slumped and her eyes had changed from angry to simply drained. Was the excitement of the day turning out to be too much for the woman? One would think she’d be used to busy days with seven boys and a little girl to take care of. He noted that both Benjamin and Joy were seated on the wagon bench. In a loud voice, he said, “We’re done here. Let’s go.”

Without hesitation the young men climbed in on top of the wood.

Jacob walked with his mother, but as soon as he’d helped her up onto the wagon, he shook his head at his brothers. “Off, guys. The horses have enough to pull without adding our weight to their load.”

Just as quickly, the young men all climbed back down.

Seth nodded. Jacob was right. “Beni, do you know how to drive a wagon?” he asked.

The youngest Young boy grinned from ear to ear and nodded. He quickly picked up the reins. “Sure do, Seth. Want me to drive us home?”

Rebecca stood to disembark from the wagon also.

“Mrs. Young, why don’t you stay seated?” He indicated with a tilt of his head that Benjamin needed a supervisor sitting beside him. The boy held the reins tightly, waiting for his reply.

She nodded her understanding and returned to her seat.

Seth answered the little boy. “I’d appreciate it if you would drive the wagon, Benjamin. Your brothers and I will follow behind making sure that the wood stays in place.”

Seth looked down at his new brown boots. He had a sneaking suspicion that he would soon be wishing he had brought his horse to town before they got back to the farm. In his rush to prove his leadership, he’d decided to drive the wagon to town, never once considering that he’d more than likely end up walking back. Lesson learned, Armstrong, he thought as he followed the wagon toward the general store.

Other than the Pony Express horses and the two old mares, Brownie and Snow, Seth realized that the boys didn’t have mounts of their own. Once they got back to the farm, he’d remedy that and give the boys each a Pony Express horse to take care of and bond with.

Jacob strolled along beside him. In a low voice he said, “We should have thought ahead and brought more horses.”

Seth jerked his head around and looked at the young man. The twinkle in Jacob’s eyes attested to the fact that he, too, saw the folly of their earlier disagreement. “Yep, won’t let that happen again.”

“Nope, I don’t reckon we will,” Jacob agreed.

A cold breeze stirred the hair on his neck. “I was thinking all you boys need a mount of your own to train with. What do you think?” Seth waited to see if the boy realized that he was being offered respect by his inclusion in the decision.

Jacob nodded. “We all know how to ride, you don’t have to worry about that, but I’m a little concerned about the younger boys riding unfamiliar horses. All except Noah, who seems to be very talented with a horse as well as his gun.”

Seth nodded and listened as the other boys joked and chatted behind them. “Well, that’s one of the first things we’ll do, then, as well as we rebuild the barn. I don’t like that the animals are out in the open.”

“Neither do I.”

The wagon stopped in front of the general store. Rebecca turned on the seat. “Jacob, would you go in and get our supplies, please?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Jacob stepped up on the boardwalk and entered the store. Rebecca turned back to her younger children.

Two women stood across the street and talked behind their fans, while a couple of well-dressed businessmen stood with their hands in their front pockets and Seth noticed that the sheriff leaned on the post in front of the jail. All eyes seemed to be trained on them.

Seth looked to the other boys. He wondered what the town must think of them all standing behind the wagon like a bunch of stray dogs. In two long strides he stood with the boys. “When we get back to the farm I’d like for you boys to go to the corral and pick out a mount. This is the last time we are leaving town on foot.”

Excitement coursed through the boys at his words. The discussion of colors and gender filled the air. He grinned. So far his relationship with the Young family had been tense, but maybe now it would get smoother.

Seth turned back to the wagon in time to see Jacob exit the store. The young man’s clenched jaw and burning eyes spoke volumes as to his anger. So whatever had set off Mrs. Young had just happened to Jacob.

His gaze moved to the store, where a big man now stood in the doorway. The man wore a shopkeeper’s apron but something about him screamed he wasn’t your typical salesman. No, this man meant trouble for the Young family and now with his eyes boring into Seth, Seth knew he meant trouble for him, too.

“Here you go, Ma.” Jacob set the box on top of the lumber and then looked to Benjamin. “Lead the way home, Beni.” He offered the boy a smile that didn’t quite meet his eyes.

When Jacob fell into step beside Seth, Seth asked, “Want to talk about it?”

“Nope.”

That was answer enough for Seth. “Fair ’nough, but if you change your mind...” He let the rest hang between them.

Jacob nodded his understanding. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw that his brothers were excited about something and asked, “What has them all in a dither?”

Seth grinned. “Just told them they can choose a horse when we get back.”

Again Jacob nodded and then fell silent. His brow furrowed between his eyes. Seth realized that in a day, the Young family’s lives had been changed.

He could relate to change; his life had also been altered in the past few months. On her deathbed, his grandmother had made him promise to marry. He’d ordered a mail-order bride and then his grandmother had died. His mail-order bride, Charlotte, had disappeared. He’d quit his job at the St. Joseph railroad and begun his mission to locate her. He’d been robbed by outlaws and it had been necessary to find a job. Thus the reason he now found himself an employee of the Pony Express as the station keeper on the Young farm. He would work and save his money so he could continue the search for Charlotte because he had to fulfill his promise to his grandmother.

The air seemed to match Jacob’s mood and turned frosty. Seth sighed inwardly. He had a job to do and knew he couldn’t do it alone, so silently he turned to his Maker. Lord, this family’s emotions are all over the place. Please, help me to bring some kind of peace to them while I’m here.

Chapter Three

Anger radiated from her oldest son. She’d felt it all the way from town. As she climbed down from the wagon, Rebecca called to him, “Jacob, will you help me carry the supplies into the house?” Rebecca had a feeling she knew what was wrong with Jacob.

“Sure, Ma.” Jacob took the box from the wagon and followed her up the porch steps.