Pony Express Courtship (4 page)

Chapter Four

R
ebecca heard them come through the door and stopped pacing. Jacob carried a box with his things in it. Cold air whipped about the room as Seth closed the door behind them. He, too, carried a box of Jacob's things.

“I'll take these to Jacob's room and then be back for our talk,” he told her as he passed.

She had to get her thoughts together. How should she approach her concerns with him? Calmly and quietly. That was the way she always approached John—Seth would be no different.

He reentered the room alone. Rebecca sat down on the couch and motioned for him to take the chair across from her. She decided that since he asked to speak to her, she'd let him go first.

Seth sat down but leaned forward on the edge of the seat, placing his brown hat on his knee. “Mrs. Young, I get the impression that you don't care for the way I'm running things around here.” He lifted his right eyebrow as if to accent his statement.

Rebecca chose her words carefully. “I have my concerns. You've been here one day and I can't say what you are doing is good or bad.”

“But?”

She took a deep breath. “But I didn't think my two youngest boys would be working with the Pony Express.”

He sat back. “So you are objecting to me swearing Noah and Benjamin in as employees of the Pony Express?”

“Yes.” She knitted her fingers together and laid them in her lap. “Well, no.” She shrugged to hide her confusion. “I know you included Beni so he could feel important. I'm grateful.” To her annoyance she heard herself start to stammer. She forced her voice to steady and reined in her thoughts. “I just feel Noah is too young and small to be a rider and Beni shouldn't be burdened with such a heavy workload.” She searched his eyes, looking for signs of anger.

Seth offered her a grin. “Benjamin is too young to ride. That's why I made him Jacob's assistant. The boy wants to prove himself and who would be a better teacher than his oldest brother?”

Rebecca recognized a spark of amusement in his gaze and relaxed a little. “Yes, Beni wants to do what his big brothers do.”

“As for Noah, Jacob seems to think Noah is the best horseman on the farm and stated that he is good with his gun. Both are important skills I need in riders.”

She clutched her hands tightly in her lap. “But he's twelve and I've only had him a few months. I don't know if he's ready for this responsibility.” Rebecca searched Seth's face. Did he understand what she was saying?

Seth leaned forward again. “What do you mean you've only had him a few months?” His eyes searched hers, looking for what she could only assume was both confusion and truth.

“Noah is adopted, Mr. Armstrong. All of the boys are. I thought Mr. Bromley would have told you that.” From the look on his face it was obvious Seth hadn't known.

“No, he didn't,” Seth said. “I thought it odd that none of them look like you or each other. Well—” his voice broke in midsentence “—except Joy, she looks like you.” He offered her a smile.

Rebecca couldn't help but smile. “Joy is my daughter by birth. She is the only child John and I have. But that doesn't change the fact that I love the boys just as much as I do Joy and I don't want to see them get hurt...or die.”

Seth met her gaze and held it. Sincerity rang through his voice as he vowed, “I promise as long as I am the station keeper here, I will do everything in my power to keep the boys safe and alive. Safety is the reason I will teach them how to ride, shoot and avoid trouble while out on the trail.”

She understood that the boys would be in danger and that she didn't consider them to really be men. The orphanage had called them men at the age of twelve, the same age as Noah, but to her they were still her little boys.

“I know you are still concerned and I can't blame you. Being a Pony Express employee is dangerous. The only thing I can do is teach them how to survive and pray that God keeps them safe. It's either that or I fire them all and have Mr. Bromley send me a new set of men.” He shook his head. “I really don't want to do that, Mrs. Young. I truly believe these young men have what it takes to be riders. I'll leave that decision up to you.”

Rebecca didn't want him to fire the boys. She'd promised John that she wouldn't interfere when this time came. John had wanted his sons to become honorable, strong individuals who could take care of themselves and their families, should the Lord one day bless them with such. He firmly believed the Pony Express would provide the training that life had cheated these boys out of. “No, they would never forgive me if I asked you to fire them.” She didn't tell him that the money the boys made would provide for their future well-being, establishing them in whatever careers they chose.

He exhaled as if he'd been holding his breath. “Thank you. I know this is hard for you and I want to make it easier on both of us. How about we have a nightly meeting? I can fill you in on what I'm doing with the boys in regard to their duties as Pony Express riders and you can tell me if you need them to assist you with something specific around the farm.”

It was a reasonable request and far more than some men would have offered her if they had been in Seth's position. Rebecca nodded. “That would be nice, thank you.”

They sat still for several moments. The sound of boots retreating down the hallway alerted Rebecca that one or more of her children had listened in on their conversation. A grin crossed Seth's lips. He'd heard it, too.

“Mr. Armstrong, I'd like to suggest that we have our conversations out on the porch if the weather permits. I'm sure there will be times when we don't want others hearing your reports.” Rebecca unclasped her hands and then stood.

“That sounds like a good idea to me. If the boys think you need a chaperone, they can watch us through the window of the bunkhouse.” He picked up his hat from his knee and stood also. He pulled a piece of paper from his hip pocket and handed it to her.

Rebecca looked down at the paper. “What's this?”

“The letter from Mr. Bromley. I should have shared it with you sooner. You can return it to me in the morning.” Seth walked to the door and left.

She sank down onto the couch. Was she doing the right thing letting the boys continue working for the Pony Express? Sure, they each would need the money they'd make, but... Rebecca warred with her conscience—did they need the money so badly that she'd allow them to put their lives in danger? Wasn't her job as the adult and their mother to protect them until they were old enough to know what they were doing?

Not wanting to answer that question, Rebecca pressed on with her thoughts as she looked down at the letter. Without the money, the older boys would have to leave home and seek out work. Her family would swiftly break up.

So soon after losing John, Rebecca knew she wouldn't be able to cope with losing any of the boys. And there was always the likelihood that they'd find other work, maybe even more dangerous work. She shuddered at that thought.

She couldn't allow that to happen to her precious boys. No, to keep her family together Rebecca would allow the boys to continue working for the Pony Express.

* * *

Seth looked up at the framework of the barn. He stood amazed at how quickly he and the boys had gotten the structure up. Sawdust floated in the sun's rays and the pleasant smell of pine mingled with their sweat and filled the air around him.

He placed a hand on the pole closest to him and gave a shove. It didn't budge. Solid and stable. His smile broadened in approval. They'd worked hard and accomplished a lot in one morning. Could be that this little group of misfits would accomplish much more than he had hoped for. But one thing had been proven to him as they worked. The boys needed a firm hand to stay at the job; they worked as long as you kept your eye on them, but fun was uppermost in their minds.

His gaze moved to the boys now washing up for lunch. It wasn't hot outside, but all of them had cast off their coats while they worked. Even little Benjamin had worked hard alongside his brothers.

Seth had been aware of Rebecca watching them all morning. She'd frowned when he'd yelled at Philip for playing around instead of doing his work. It wasn't hard to figure out that the boys worked on their own time schedule. Seth wondered how long their adoptive father had been dead. Had he allowed them to play when they were supposed to do chores?

A good while later, Seth left the bunkhouse feeling refreshed. Thanks to his time alone with the Lord, he now had more direction. Clayton carried a sandwich and a glass of milk out to him. The rest of the boys followed.

“Ma said you need to eat something.” The young man handed him the sandwich and milk.

He grinned his thanks and took a big bite. Thick ham and cheese coated his taste buds. The butter-flavored bread that surrounded them tasted wonderful. His stomach growled its appreciation. Seth swallowed. “Let's head to the corral.” He waved the sandwich.

Feeling as if someone was watching them, Seth turned to the house and found Rebecca standing in the doorway. He waved to her and once more smiled his thanks before turning back to the corral, where the boys waited.

“I thought we were going to work on the barn,” Jacob said as Seth approached.

“We are, but first I wanted to spend some time with the horses.” He looked out at the ten horses. “Have you each chosen the horse you want to train with?” He knew they had but wanted to make sure that one of them hadn't changed his mind.

The six older boys nodded. Benjamin climbed up on the fence. He looked longingly out at the horses.

“Benjamin?”

The eight-year-old turned to look at him. “Yes, sir?”

“Sir?” Seth allowed a surprised, questioning note to enter his voice.

Benjamin nodded.

“Benjamin, looks like you and I need to get a few things straight.” Seth walked over and leaned against the fence beside the little boy. “The rest of you, go find some rope and then round up your horses.”

The boys pushed and shoved as they went in search of rope. Jacob and Andrew followed at a slower pace, shaking their heads. When they were all out of earshot, Seth told Benjamin, “First, let's get this straight. I'm not sir, I'm Seth.”

The boy nodded still, looking sad. Seth reached over and tousled his hair.

“Good. Now, how come you didn't pick a horse?”

Benjamin sighed and climbed a rung higher on the fence, watching the boys exit the stable and enter the corral. “I'm not going to be a rider. I heard you tell Ma last night.”

Seth rubbed his chin. So it had been Benjamin eavesdropping the night before. “Yes, I did say that, but I think you should have a mount.” He watched closely as Jacob returned and quietly singled out a rum-colored pinto, gently rubbing its mane, talking in a low voice. Thomas and Philip followed suit. For all their pushing and shoving, once they were within the corral, they became serious.

“You do?” Hope filled the little boy's voice.

“Yep, seems to me you'll need one if we all ride into town or if I need you to go out to the back pasture and get one of the other boys. There are all kinds of reasons a boy needs a horse.” Seth lifted a brow in question, holding the boy's gaze. “Don't you think so?”

Benjamin nodded. His hair flopped down into his eyes. “Can I pick out one now?” he asked, already preparing to climb down from the fence.

“Yes, but go see if one of the older boys will help you find some rope.”

“Yippee!” Benjamin ran to the barn, where Andrew and Noah stood cutting lengths of rope.

Each boy returned to the corral and began trying to catch the horses. They weren't all bad at roping. Jacob, Andrew and Noah were the best and as soon as each caught their own horse, they helped the four brothers. Seth coached from the sidelines.

“I want a horse, too, Ma.” Joy's young voice sounded behind him.

He turned to face the little girl and Rebecca. Seth finished the milk in his glass and handed it to Rebecca.

“You don't need a horse, Joy,” she answered her daughter, taking his glass but looking down at her little girl.

“Thanks for lunch,” Seth said, even though he could tell her attention wasn't on him.

“What if I need to go get one of them out of the pasture? I'll need a horse then,” Joy argued. Her lip protruded as she looked up at her mother.

Seth was no child expert but he could read the defiance on the cute little face. Her blue-green eyes demanded answers. He had to turn his head to hide his grin, but just as quickly he returned his attention to them. What would Rebecca's argument be with the child?

She shook her pretty head. “You won't be going to the pasture to get the boys. Now stop sassing.” Rebecca looked back to Seth. “Are you sure it's wise to give Benjamin one of the horses?” She tugged her shawl tighter around her shoulders.

“I wouldn't do it if I didn't think so,” Seth answered. “He needs to learn to ride just like the others.” He called to the young men behind him, “Boys, bring the horses out here.”

“Come along, Joy. We need to get back to the house and let the men work.” Rebecca's voice seemed to hold frost. She took the little girl's hand and headed back to the house.

Seth sighed. He'd warned her that the boys would all have horses. Clayton opened the gate to the corral and waited until all his brothers had passed through before closing it again.

The animals tossed their heads in obvious dislike of the ropes. “Since we lost all our tack in the fire, we'll need to buy new harnesses and saddles next time we're in town,” Seth told them as he walked about, inspecting each horse.

“Until then, I suppose we can use my horse's saddle and bridle. Wait here and get to know your horse.” Seth walked back to the bunkhouse and retrieved his bridle and saddle.

“Since we only have one, you will have to take turns. Starting with the oldest. The rest of you will walk about the farm with your horse. Talk to it, sing to it, do whatever it takes for it to learn the sound of your voice.” Seth carried the bridle and saddle over to Jacob.