The Bride's Prerogative (98 page)

“I guess that’s my fault. Hiram and Arthur were going, and she was keen to go, too. I figured it wouldn’t hurt to have another crack shot along. Besides, I didn’t expect anything to happen. I’m sure they’re all right.” Griffin walked around the desk and sat down. “You like being married?”

Ethan smiled. “Shoulda done it a long time ago.”

Griffin took his hat off and laid it on the desk. He ran a hand through his bushy hair. “Sometimes I think about it.”

“You surprise me.”

“Have to admit there’s a gal I’m a little sweet on.” Griffin shot a glance at his friend. “Haven’t said anything to her. Yet.”

“Might that be a certain person on the stagecoach?” Ethan asked.

Griffin couldn’t help smiling as he thought of Vashti in her boy clothes, cracking her whip like the best of the old-time drivers. “She’s got pluck. I thought she was crazy when she first asked me for a job. But she really can drive. Bill Stout came around when he knew I was hard pressed to find drivers this spring and told me I should look twice at her. She’d been practicing.” He shook his head. “Didn’t expect her to mean anything to me, other than a driver.”

“Well, take your time, Griff. Make sure it’s not just an infatuation. She’s pretty, and she’s independent, given her past.”

“What about her past?” Griff scowled at him. How dare Ethan bring that up?

“Easy, now. I’m just saying … a gal who’s been forced to take care of herself most of her life can find it hard to let other folks do things for her. She might have some ideas that aren’t quite like yours.” Ethan strolled to the doorway. “Your nephew’s running up the street.”

“Justin?” Griffin jumped up. He’d forgotten all about the boy and left him at the livery.

Justin hit the sidewalk as he reached the door and Ethan stepped aside.

“Uncle Griff! The stage is coming!”

Griffin walked past him, out onto the boardwalk. Sure enough, he could hear the team’s thudding hoofbeats and the sound of the wheels skimming over the road. He looked at his watch again. Nearly fifteen minutes late. But here, just the same. Passengers who planned to ride on up to Silver City, along with those there to meet folks getting off the stage, looked eagerly toward the sound. Libby Adams stood outside the emporium’s door watching.

Hiram Dooley and Arthur Tinen Jr. rode around the corner by the smithy on their horses. They looked none the worse for wear. As the coach came into view, Griffin half expected to see arrows sticking out of the sides, but that was silly. Hadn’t been Indian trouble in ten years. He blew out a deep breath. Ethan came and stood beside him, bouncing on his toes.

Trudy sat on the box beside Vashti. Trudy’s dark blond hair hung in a braid over her shoulder, but Vashti had her hair hidden beneath her felt hat, as he’d demanded she do. Too bad. She looked much better when she let her womanly charms show.

Griffin frowned at his thoughts. He wasn’t about to let her start driving in a dress, with her hair all shiny and soft around her face, like it was that night he ate at the Spur & Saddle. She would make far too tempting a picture that way, and she traveled miles and miles of isolated roads. No, she’d best keep dressing like a boy, even if everyone in the territory knew she was anything but a man.

Trudy started waving and grinning, and Griffin looked over at Ethan. His face looked about to crack, the sheriff was smiling so big.

The coach eased to a stop, and Griffin opened the door. He took out the bag of mail for Fergus and entrusted it to Josiah to take over to Peter at the post office, then let the passengers out. The couple who’d come last fall to see Libby about buying her store got out first. Libby hurried down the boardwalk to greet them.

“The stage will leave for Silver City in twenty minutes, folks,” Griffin said. “If you’re traveling on, coffee and a quick meal can be had at the Fennel House or the Spur & Saddle. If you’re late getting back, the stage won’t wait for you.”

Four men tumbled out, and those who planned to ride on after the stop looked around and headed quickly across the street. Last out was a salesman with a large sample case.

“I’d like to stop here overnight,” he said. “Is there a clean, reasonable place to stay?”

“Fennel House.” Griff pointed across the street. He turned to those planning to board the coach. “Folks, we need to swap the team out. I know we’re a few minutes late, and I’m sorry about that. Let the driver take the stage around to the livery. They should be back so you can climb aboard in ten minutes.” He glanced up at Vashti, and she nodded at him. Trudy still sat on the box with her. Arthur and Hiram waited a few paces away on their horses. “Did you have any trouble?” Griffin asked in a low voice.

Vashti shook her head and smiled. “It was muddy in the creeks because of the rain, but not too bad. The ferry held us up. Had to wait nigh half an hour for it.”

“All right. Good job, and I’ll see you after the stage leaves again.” He waved to Hiram and Arthur. “Come see me at the livery, boys. I’ll be down there soon.” Getting Vashti back in one piece—not to mention the livestock and equipment—was well worth their wages. He wished he had enough money to pay extra guards every day. If only the postmaster general would come through with that new contract …

He went into his office and opened the safe. He’d be very low on cash once he paid off this week’s crew. Had Wells Fargo sent him money to buy new equipment? He hadn’t given up hope yet that the government would reimburse him for what he’d lost on the mail run, either, but it was probably too soon to look for a bank draft in the mail.

Someone came in and stood behind him. Griffin was suddenly conscious of how vulnerable he was, bending over his open safe like that. He looked over his shoulder. Justin stood blocking the light from the doorway.

“Anything I can do, Uncle Griff?” He sounded lonesome.

Griffin took most of the cash that was in the Uneeda Biscuit box and closed the safe. “Sure. As soon as we see off the Silver City coach, you can go back to the livery with me. Vashti and the messengers will tell us about their run. I always have the drivers give me the details, so I know how the roads are and hear any news they picked up. Then we’ll go over the team that just came in, check their feet, and brush ‘em down real good.” Tight times or not, he determined he’d find a way to pay the boy something, now that he’d started showing a will to work.

“One of the farmers brought in a great big chestnut horse after you left. Said it needs shoeing. Mr. Robinson.”

“Rancher,” Griffin said. “Not a farmer, a rancher.”

“Yes, sir.”

Griff smiled and shoved the cash into his pocket. “Come on. Let’s go outside. The stage should be back soon, ready to leave for Silver.”

“Uncle Griff?”

“Hmm?” He hoped this wouldn’t be another philosophical question.

“Do you s’pose I could learn to drive a four-in-hand?”

“Maybe. It takes a lot of practice. A six takes even more.”

“Well, then, can I learn to drive one horse at a time?”

Griffin laughed. “I’m sure you can. And when you’re comfortable with that, we’ll go to two. I don’t s’pose you’d care to learn to make horseshoes?”

Justin winced. “If I have to.”

“You don’t have to.”

They walked out onto the sidewalk as the coach came up the street with Bill Stout on the box.

Trudy and Vashti waited in the barn at the livery after the coach headed out with its new team and crew. Hiram and Arthur leaned on stall dividers and told Ethan about their journey. After a while, Griffin and his nephew came into the barn. Marty, who’d been sitting on a stack of hay bales listening to Arthur’s tale, jumped up, grabbed a dung fork, and disappeared into the nearest stall.

“Folks, I sure do appreciate your help.” Griffin pulled his wad of bills out of his pocket. He looked at Vashti first. “I’ll settle with you on Friday. You need any cash right now?”

“Nope, I’m fine until my usual payday. Thanks.”

He counted out five dollars and handed it to Trudy. “Thanks a lot.”

“It was fun. First time I’ve been out and about for a long time, and I enjoyed having some time with another woman.”

He turned and gave five dollars each to Hiram and Arthur. “Much obliged,” Arthur said.

“Did they take care of you at the home station?” Griffin asked as he handed over Hiram’s pay.

“Very well. Of course, Trudy went to Boise with Vashti.”

“Boise?” He swung around and stared at Vashti. “You drove to Boise?”

She nodded. “Buck Eastman broke his leg. Mr. Gayle told me I had to keep going, but I didn’t mind. It didn’t put me off schedule. And he said I’d get double pay.” She looked at him hopefully.

“Yes, all right, but why didn’t you wire me?”

Vashti shrugged, wondering if she’d done wrong. “I thought Mr. Gayle had. And I didn’t think you’d want me to spend money like that, anyway.”

Griffin sighed. “Guess I’d better ride to Nampa tomorrow. I’ll need to hire more drivers and guards for sure now.” He looked over at Hiram and Arthur. “You boys want extra work?”

Arthur said, “I’ll have to talk to Starr. Things are getting pretty busy on the ranch, but we are a little short on cash.”

“I didn’t mind doing it,” Hiram said, “but Art’s right. We’ve got spring roundup and fences to fix and all kinds of chores to see to. But if you’re in a bind …”

“I’ll find somebody.”

Trudy stepped toward him. “Griffin, I think I know a way you could have plenty of guards without spending too much money.”

“How’s that?”

“Let the members of the Ladies’ Shooting Club ride free on the stagecoaches. Some of the ladies would love a chance for a free trip to Nampa or Boise to shop, and they’d surely be willing to take their weapons along and watch out for trouble.”

“I don’t know. Putting ladies at risk like that.”

Art laughed. “If ever there were women who could take care of themselves, it’s our shooting club ladies.”

“That’s right,” Trudy said. “Give them a free seat, and I’ll bet they’d be happy to buy their own meals and lodging. Some of these women haven’t been out of Fergus for upwards of five years.”

Griffin scratched his chin through his beard. “I’ll take that under consideration.”

“Good. Now, I’m heading home with my husband.”

“Finally.” Ethan straightened and walked over to her. “Where’s Crinkles?”

“I left him out in the corral yesterday.”

Ethan walked to the back door. “I’ll go get him and Scout.”

Justin dashed after him. “I’ll help you, Sheriff.”

Trudy turned to Vashti and hugged her. “Again, thank you for showing me a good time in the city.”

Vashti laughed. “Maybe we’ll get to do it again.”

Griffin scratched his head. “Do you think that if two or three ladies rode along, they’d pay attention to the road, or would they just …”

“Just what?” Trudy glared at him.

“Yeah,” Vashti said. “Are you insinuating that our women would get caught up in conversation instead of keeping watch?”

“No. I, uh …”

Trudy fairly bristled. “Griffin Bane, our women are not only the best shots in town; they also take their duty seriously.”

Ethan stepped into the doorway at the rear of the barn, frowning. “Trudy? I can’t find Crinkles out there.”

“What?” Trudy ran past him toward the corral. A moment later she came back. “Griffin, my horse is gone.”

CHAPTER 25

G
riffin frowned and pushed his hat back. “I saw that palomino gelding out there an hour ago.” His mouth twitched. “Marty! Oh, Marty!”

“Yeah, boss?” Marty leaned around the stall divider and peered at him.

“Where is Mrs. Chapman’s horse?”

“Uh …”

Griffin stomped over and stood before him, glaring down from his superior height. “Where is the palomino?”

“A miner came in from the Nugget, wanting a horse to take him up to De Lamar. I told him to pick one out of the corral.”

Griffin stared down at him for a long, smoldering moment. “Who saddled the horse?”

“I … uh … I guess he did.”

“Did he pay for it?”

“Uh—yeah.” Marty shoved his hand in his pants pocket and pulled out two bits.

“That’s not the overnight rate.”

Marty gulped and went prospecting for another quarter. When he finally plopped it in Griffin’s hand with a grimace, Griffin said in a tight, quiet tone, “Thank you. Come by my office tomorrow and get your wages. You’re done here.”

Marty’s head jerked up. “What? Come on, Griff, you can’t fire me.”

“Who says I can’t? You rented out a horse that wasn’t ours, and you would have kept the money if I hadn’t found out. Get your stuff out of the loft and hit the road.”

“Griff, you can’t—”

Griffin turned his back and walked out the front door of the barn.

Vashti tugged at Trudy’s sleeve. “Maybe now is a good time for us to leave.”

“Come on, darlin’,” Ethan said. “You can ride double with me to the ranch.”

Justin came in the back door. “Mrs. Chapman, the sheriff’s right. Your horse is gone.”

Trudy smiled at him. “I know, Justin. We just found out Marty rented him out.”

Hiram said, “I reckon I can ride up to De Lamar and get your horse, Trudy.”

“You’re tired,” she said. “Just go catch the stagecoach and ask Bill to tell that man to bring Crinkles back tomorrow.”

“I’ll go with you, Mr. Dooley,” Justin said. He shot a glance at Griffin. “If my uncle says I can.”

Marty moved out of the shadows and slunk toward the door.

“Hey, Marty,” Arthur called. “Whyn’t you get on Hiram’s horse and I’ll get on mine, and we’ll go catch the stagecoach? You can ride the stage to De Lamar and bring Trudy’s horse back, and I’ll lead Hiram’s paint back after you’re on the stage.”

“Oh, I don’t think …”

Arthur, Hiram, and Ethan silently moved into position around him. “I think that’s a fine idea,” Ethan said. “Because if you don’t go, I might have to arrest you for horse thieving.”

“What? No!”

Ethan nodded at Arthur. “Get going, boys. And that palomino better be back in my pasture by noon tomorrow, Marty.”

Arthur shoved Marty toward the front of the barn, where his pinto and Hiram’s horse were tied. Justin kicked at a hay bale.

“What’s the matter, Justin?” Vashti asked.

“I wanted to go.”

Ethan laid a hand on his shoulder. “I’ve got a feeling your uncle’s going to need you. He just fired his only full-time employee here at the livery. It’s a big job. Now, if you were to show that you could handle it—and I don’t doubt you could, maybe better than Marty—why, there’s no telling what kind of arrangement you could come to.”

“You mean, he’d hire me regular?”

“He might. I can’t speak for Griffin, but he’s a fair man. You’ve got to start thinking like a businessman, though.”

Justin’s eyes gleamed. “Well, I think a good businessman would want to make his customer happy.” He walked over to Trudy. “Mrs. Chapman, there’s an old mare yonder that my uncle lets me ride whenever I want. Would you like to borrow her at no charge to get you home, and return her to us when it suits you?”

Trudy smiled. “That’s a very nice offer, Justin. Thank you. I’ll do that.”

Ethan sighed. “Finally. Let’s go home.”

Vashti opened the door to her bedroom and leaned against the jamb. The big tin tub sat in the middle of the floor, full of steaming water. Bitsy must have had the water heating and watched for the stage to pull in.

She placed her package containing the wedding platter on her bed, then walked over and stuck her hand in the water. Not too cool, though she’d lingered at the livery. She closed the door and scrambled out of her masculine clothing. On the chair near the tub was a clean towel, a dish holding a bar of soap, and a small bottle. She picked up the bottle. Bath salts. Bitsy’s way of reminding her she could feel feminine, even though she’d played the role of a man for two days. She shook a little into the bath and stirred it with her hand.

As she sank down into the warm, fragrant water, she closed her eyes. Rich women probably bathed every day, but this was a luxury in Fergus, where every drop of water had to be hauled from a well or the river.

Thank You, Lord, for blessing me with friends like Bitsy and Trudy
.

She smiled as she remembered Trudy’s delight at seeing a town bigger than Fergus for the first time in years. Their unintended time together in Boise had strengthened their friendship. Vashti was certain now that Trudy accepted her as an equal. The trip would have been completely uplifting if not for the man from the saloon.

She slid a little lower in the tub, until the water came up to her chin. He’d looked like Luke, but older. That was what really scared her. If he’d looked the same age as the man who’d sold her years ago, she would have known at once that it couldn’t really be him.

Tears coursed down her face, and she splashed them away. Why did she have to get so mixed up when she thought about Luke? She’d loved him, hadn’t she? Or was that really love? She’d trusted him, certainly, and depended on him, to her regret. The man who’d seemed her angel turned out to be the one who sold her into vile slavery. Yet during their time together, he’d treated her well. Mostly. And he’d said many times that he loved her. Was it a lie?

She took the washcloth and scrubbed her face and arms, determined not to let Luke into her mind again. She would think about the soggy ride to Nampa and Boise and Trudy’s invitation to visit her at the ranch this weekend. The way Trudy and her brother and Art Tinen had stepped up to help yesterday amazed Vashti. Of course, they were being paid. But they had done it for Griffin as friends, too, not just for the pay. And Trudy had gone on to Boise with her for adventure, yes, but also to keep her company and ease her mind.

She hoped Griffin would seriously consider Trudy’s suggestion of filling his coaches with ladies from the shooting club. Those outlaws who’d stopped her and Ned wouldn’t have had a chance if Trudy, Libby, and Bitsy had been inside the stage. Those three women could have picked them all off. Ned, on the other hand, had let off several rounds and hit nothing.

Luke’s face flashed across her mind again, unbidden. Would she see him again? Why would he come to Idaho? She knew he didn’t need a reason. While she was with him, they’d drifted around from town to town, wherever he saw a chance to get some money. Luke wasn’t above stealing, but he preferred gambling. So long as she stayed away from Boise and kept close to her lodgings when she was on the road, she ought to be fine. Provided Luke didn’t decide to hop a stagecoach to Silver City. That was entirely possible if more of the mines opened up again. Where there was gold dust, the saloons multiplied, and that brought more gamblers.

She certainly didn’t want to see Luke again. She’d look twice at only one man if he came around to call, and he wasn’t Luke Hatley.

What was she thinking? She stood in the tub of water and reached for her towel, telling herself sternly, “It wasn’t even him.”

When Vashti went downstairs, refreshed and dressed in her old red taffeta gown, several guests were already eating in the dining room. Vashti scooted to the kitchen and donned an overall apron that hid the neckline she now found embarrassing.

“Sorry I’m so late coming down. That warm water was just too heavenly. I wanted to stay there all night.”

Bitsy laughed as she picked up two platefuls of the evening special—meat loaf with mashed potatoes and gravy. “You’d have frozen if you stayed there much longer.”

“Yes, it was quite cool when I finally got out.” Vashti smiled.

“What shall I do first?”

“Put on another pot of coffee, and then I’ll let you help me serve.” As she headed out the door, Bitsy called, “Augie, we might need more biscuits. Two more people just came in.”

When Vashti entered the dining room a few minutes later, Hiram Dooley was holding the door for Libby Adams. She smiled at them and looked around for an empty table that would be out of the traffic, so they could talk quietly. The dining room was half full of patrons, a good turnout for Thursday supper.

Bitsy hastened to the couple and led them over to a secluded corner. Perfect. Vashti poured two glasses of water. She recalled that Libby liked a glass of water with her meal.

“Good evening, Mrs. Adams. Mr. Dooley.” Vashti set the water glasses before them.

“Hello, Vashti.” Libby smiled up at her. “Hiram was just telling me about your uneventful trip to Nampa.”

“Blessedly boring.” Vashti nodded toward the chalkboard that Augie had recently hung as a way to list the daily specials. “We’ve got meat loaf tonight or baked chicken. Oh, and fresh dandelion greens. Augie just told me Ruth Robinson picked a mess and brought them into town this morning. He bought all she had.”

“By all means, I’ll have those,” Libby said. “I’ve been hankering for fresh greens.”

“How about you, Mr. Dooley?”

He gave her his shy smile. “You can call me Hiram. I’ll try some, with the meat loaf.”

“Yes, meat loaf sounds good,” Libby said.

“I brought your party in this afternoon.” Vashti watched Libby’s face.

“Yes, and I appreciate it. They said that a cute boy drove them and they didn’t think he could be over sixteen.” Libby laughed. “We’re going ahead with the sale. The Hamiltons will take over the emporium a week from Monday. They’ll stay at the boardinghouse until I’ve moved out of my apartment.”

Libby’s face was the picture of joy. Vashti felt a stab of envy. It must be wonderful to have the love of a good man. She might never find that. Even though she knew some decent men, they all knew her past—or thought they knew.