A Love of Her Own (13 page)
Later, Morgan stood outside under the huge cottonwood tree talking with Margaret. “It’s good to be in church today. When I’m on the road, I really miss Reverend Carlson’s sermons,” he said.
“I know what you mean, Morgan. How have you been? Are you taking a little break from the stage routes this week?”
“Just a little. We’ll be back on the road Thursday on the route to Billings.” He peered down at her, his face serious. “I’m having some rheumatism in my hips and wondered what you take when you feel like your joints just won’t move.”
Margaret patted her upper lip with her lace handkerchief. “So that’s what’s ailing you? Probably too many years sitting on that stagecoach perch.” Margaret considered Morgan a true friend, having met him years ago on her first stage ride to Billings. She’d immediately appreciated his good humor and the way he treated most everyone with respect, even ones who didn’t deserve it.
“Well, are you gonna tell me or just keep it to yourself?” he teased.
“I’m sorry, my mind was wandering—it’s been doing that a bit more with every passing day. I use salicylic acid. It’s an alkaline treatment I got from Dr. Barnum. He said to take it when my rheumatism is acting up. It’s a bicarbonate of soda or something like that. I’m trying to remember exactly what it was that he told me . . . Anyway, you take it every three or four hours. I add a little lemon juice for taste, but don’t take it on an empty stomach.”
“Then I’ll drop in to see the doctor about getting some. The older I get, the stiffer my hips and fingers are,” Morgan said, rubbing his hands together. “Is that April gal giving you any trouble?”
Margaret just laughed. “No, not really—she’s just different. Not at all like Josh,” she said, gazing over at April talking with Wes and Natalie. As she watched the three young people, it suddenly struck her that Natalie was looking up at Wes like he’d hung the moon. Now why hadn’t she seen that look on her face before?
“Is something wrong, Miss Margaret?” Morgan asked, following her eyes to see what had captured her attention.
Margaret wrinkled her forehead. “That all depends on whether my daughter has set her eye on Wes, especially after the way April’s face softened when she looked at him.”
“April—are you sure?” Morgan’s bushy eyebrows raised in question.
She adjusted her glasses. “I know my eyes aren’t as good as they used to be, but I think I know what I saw in their faces. I never would’ve dreamed it.”
Morgan lifted his hat off the hitching post, placing it back on his salt-and-pepper head of tight curls. “Natalie might have a little competition in that area. But I’d say Wes is not April’s type of man. Besides, she’s only staying until Josh returns.”
Margaret laughed. “You have April pegged about right. Underneath all that air of authority hides a spoiled little girl who’s always had her way, but she’s secretly hoping for someone to take her in hand. She may not know it now, but she will sooner or later. Mark my words, Morgan.”
“Spoken with wisdom, Miss Margaret.” Morgan bowed slightly.
Margaret started toward Louise, who had now joined the group of young people with Billy at her side, but then she turned back to Morgan. “Why don’t you and Billy join us for lunch today?”
Morgan shuffled his boots in the dust. “Well, I’m not sure—”
Tapping her cane in the dirt, Margaret interrupted. “No need to be sure. I’m the one asking, so I’ll take that as a yes.”
“Then we’d love to have lunch with you.”
“You can invite your sidekick too.” Margaret watched as Morgan’s face softened. “Is he here?”
“You mean Leon? I don’t even know where he is this morning. I’m not sure if I want to know . . .”
“Then just come on over whenever you’re ready—all we have to do is heat up the roast. It won’t take long to do. See you in a little bit.” Margaret walked over to let the girls know she was ready to start back home.
Nellie and Andy had joined the young people, and Margaret’s heart warmed as she watched the affection between them. “April, did Natalie introduce you to Nellie and Andy?” she asked, joining them.
April turned from the cluster. “Yes, Miss Margaret, she did,” she answered. “I’ve learned that Josh and Andy get along like brothers.” Margaret thought there was a slight edge to her voice. Could it be that April was jealous?
Andy patted Nellie’s hand in the crook of his arm. “Josh is about the best employer and friend I could ever hope to have, and we miss him. Don’t we, Nellie?”
Nellie answered in a thick English accent. “To be sure, Andy. Josh and Juliana have made us feel right at home.”
“Yes, I guess he did,” April said coolly, her eyes narrowing.
“Oh, but me and Andy can make up a pallet in the upstairs bedroom, if you’d like to come home with us. It’ll be no problem at all. Or better yet, we could give you our bedroom and we’ll sleep on the pallet, right, dear?” She looked at Andy.
“Of course we can. I’m sorry, guess I wasn’t thinking. Josh hasn’t had time to furnish the rest of the house yet. I reckon that Juliana will be busy with all that when they return.”
April straightened her shoulders. “No, no. Don’t do that on my account. I’m comfortable at the boardinghouse for now.”
Wes, who stood quietly by, made a move to leave. “Excuse me, I’ve gotta head on back. Miss April, I’ll be at the ranch this afternoon if you decide you want to ride over and check out my horses.” He touched his fingertips to his hat and winked at Natalie, who blushed and looked away.
“I can loan you my horse until you return to Colorado, April,” Nellie offered.
“Thanks, but I wouldn’t want to put you out.” Turning to Wes, she said, “I’ll come over after lunch then.”
Wes’s eyes locked on April’s. “Okay,” he answered. “I’ll be waiting.”
Margaret watched the exchange with interest. She knew Nellie, but she hadn’t been around Andy much. He seemed to be a right likable chap. April’s comments didn’t appear to bother him much, which was good. She doubted that much of anything bothered Andy for very long. He was simply good-natured.
Margaret noted that Natalie and April both watched as Wes mounted his horse and rode off, leaving a trail of dust behind him. Natalie’s look was wistful, but Margaret couldn’t tell what April was thinking.
April could hardly wait to slip out after lunch at the boardinghouse, leaving Miss Margaret and her guests in the parlor to relax or play checkers or just nap. But napping was not on April’s mind. It was a glorious September afternoon, and she was going to enjoy it. She changed her clothes to her riding jeans and slipped on her boots for a ride out to Wes’s ranch. She loved the smell of her leather belt and the feel of the embossed leaves on her matching cowboy boots. April had paid a pretty penny for the set. She’d also ordered the smallest pair of men’s Levi’s from the Montgomery catalog when she was only fourteen. She remembered how her mother had gasped when April first donned her riding outfit. It had taken some convincing for her to allow April out of the house. No one at home seemed to mind anymore, and now her curves filled out the jeans in all the right places.
I’ll bet Wes has a nice ranch with good horseflesh
,
especially
if he’s the expert everyone says he is.
It’d be good to have her own horse to ride while she passed the time in Montana. She was looking forward to exploring what the countryside had to offer.
She passed the parlor and heard Willard and May talking about their family to Miss Margaret. She was glad she didn’t have to stay and listen to their constant banter and lovesick talk.
April walked in the direction of the depot. Billy had told her he’d have a horse saddled for her that Mr. Kincaid said she could borrow for the trip. Billy planned on going with her, but she would tell him that today she’d rather take a ride on her own. He was a good young man, and she wondered how hard it must have been for him growing up the way he did. April couldn’t imagine life like that. She’d always had everything she needed in life given to her. In fact, she’d never wanted for anything.
April’s conscience pricked her, and she felt a momentary twinge of sadness for people like Billy, or the crippled girl Jane, whose sad eyes haunted her. And she wondered too about Beth and her baby, Anne. But thinking there was not much she could do for so many less fortunate, she shifted her mind to more pleasant things, like having a horse to ride.
Rounding the corner to the depot, April saw Billy on the porch waiting for her. He hopped up and ran to greet her but stood back a ways. His eyes swept over her outerwear, but he simply said, “Ready to go? The boss isn’t back from Miss Margaret’s yet, but I came on back here and saddled up a horse for you and one for me—if you want me along.”
Such eagerness in his face was too hard for April to refuse. “All right then. I’m ready to go if you are.”
“I’m more than ready. It sure beats sitting around with old folks talking about rheumatism and such.”
Billy hurried over to the corral adjacent to the depot building and led two horses out. He handed April one set of reins. “You’ve already ridden Gus, so I know you can handle him. I’ll take Star. Do you know the way to Wes’s place?”
“No, I thought you knew.” She grinned at him from under the brim of her hat.
Billy laughed good-naturedly. “I do. I asked Mr. Kincaid this morning.” He led the way past the corral and to the road. “We’ll just follow this wagon road until it ends and then veer off through the meadow for another couple of miles. His place is not too far after that.”
They cantered along in silence, each enjoying the carefree afternoon ride. April observed that Billy knew how to handle a horse well and seemed very confident.
“Billy, how do you like your job?” He appeared happier than the day he’d picked her up in his cart at the stage depot in Billings.
“I like working with Morgan. I don’t even have to call him Mr. Kincaid. He’s different from anyone else I’ve worked for and treats me just like a son.”
“Is he married?” April asked. She’d never seen any women other than passengers around the depot, and certainly not dark-skinned ladies.
“I think he is, but I’m not sure where his wife is. It’s not polite to ask him since I just work for him. But I’ll bet you could.” Billy reached down and patted Star’s neck affectionately.
“I’m glad you’re working for him. Maybe someday you can drive the stage—who knows?”
“Now that would be just dandy! I’d like that. Maybe if he’ll let me learn how, he could take some time off.”
April smiled at Billy. “You know what I think, Billy? I think you’re a pretty bright young man. I’m truly sorry for whatever happened to your parents.”
Billy looked straight ahead at the dirt road. “Aw, I’ll make it— been taking care of myself since I was ten years old. My parents died young. A horse threw my father and he broke his neck. My mama took sick not long after. It seemed like she just couldn’t bear losing my father. She passed away a year later.”
April felt a pang in her heart as she listened to him talk. “Couldn’t a relative have taken you in?”
“Only relatives I have live back in Nebraska. I didn’t have no way to get back there and didn’t really want to. I just found odd jobs here and there and slept in the stables for one of the men I worked for. But I did okay, till Ruby up and died on me. That’s why I figured I’d just leave for a new town when I met you and Dr. Barnum that day.” He sighed. “So far, it’s worked out. I have a job and a place to sleep.”
April was quiet for a minute, suddenly realizing she had no idea what it was like to go to bed hungry or not know where you would lay your head at night. It was a reminder to give the Christian charity the preacher had talked about this morning. “Billy, I’m sorry. You’re so young to have to support yourself. Maybe I could take you back with me to Colorado when I go. I know my dad would hire you.”
“That’s so nice of you, but don’t feel sorry for me, Miss April. I kinda like it here, don’t you?”
“It’s all right, I guess, but there’s no place more beautiful than Colorado.”
Billy tipped his head, looked her square in the eye, and said, “My mama always said that God created beauty everywhere. Besides, a place can’t love you back no matter how pretty, only people can do that.”
“Hmm . . . I’ve never thought of it that way before. You may be right, though I can’t imagine living anywhere but Colorado.”
Billy pulled back on the reins, slowing his horse. April stopped and turned around. “Something wrong?”
Billy slid down off his horse before answering. “Star’s limping all of a sudden. I need to check out her foot.”
April dismounted and stood holding her reins as Billy lifted Star’s front hoof. “Hmm, she’s got a pretty bad cut—must’ve picked up a sharp rock or something. Tell you what, I’m going back to take care of her. No need for me to be riding her like this.”
April examined the hoof. “Yes, I can see you’re right. I can find my own way over to Wes’s ranch.”
Billy turned Star in the direction of town to walk her back. “When you come to the end of this road, go through the meadow a ways to a path on the right. Take that trail to his place. A sign that says ‘The Rusty Spur’ hangs over the gate. You sure you don’t mind going alone?”
“I’ll be fine. I’m used to roaming the countryside alone.” April grasped the saddle horn and pulled herself back into the saddle. With a clicking sound to Gus, she trotted across the tall grass. Brilliant blue asters dotted the meadow, and against nearby rocks, evening primroses still bloomed freely.
She loved being alone on the back of a horse, the wind in her hair and the power of the horse underneath. Not that she minded having Billy along, but this was real freedom. Soon she came to the trail, which was barely more than a path, so she slowed Gus to a walk. It was thickly covered with hanging tree limbs and underbrush, and she picked her way carefully, pushing aside the hanging branches to avoid being stung in the face. Wes must not have too many visitors . . . Maybe she should’ve waited for Billy to be able to come with her after all.
It was much cooler under the thick canopy of spruce and pines mingled with the pungent smell of the forest. April loved the mountain air fragrance and at home would sometimes cut boughs from a spruce tree to give the house a fresh aroma.