Pony Express Courtship (5 page)

Jacob grinned. “Seth, I've been saddling a horse since I was twelve.”

“Not this horse,” Seth pointed out. “I want you to saddle and ride him for about thirty minutes and then come back.” He turned to address all the boys. “These horses will become your best friends. It is up to each of you to take care of these animals as if they were family. They will most likely save your life out there, so give them the respect they deserve.”

Each of the boys nodded and petted their horse.

Seth grinned. “Now, I know this is going to sound silly, but if you have a girl horse, talk to her like she's your sweetheart. If you have a boy, talk to him as if he were your best friend. Animals can sense when they are liked and respected.”

Benjamin kneeled down and looked under his horse. When he turned to Seth he announced, “I have a boy. Good thing, too, 'cause I don't know how to talk to a sweetheart.”

Laughter and good-natured bantering followed.

“Don't worry, little brother. You'll learn soon enough.” Noah grinned across at Benjamin as if he already knew how to talk to a sweetheart. This created more teasing and joking among them all.

Seth shook his head and laughed with them. Working with the boys would be anything but boring. He felt, more than saw, Rebecca watching from the porch. Tonight he'd have to tell her more about how he planned to train with the boys. He hoped that would put her mind at ease. But from the way she paced on the porch, he somehow doubted it would.

Chapter Five

R
ebecca tucked her daughter into bed.

“Ma, I want a horse, too.”

She put Joy's favorite doll under her arm, then smoothed the quilt over them both. “I know, dear. I heard you asking the Lord to change my mind.”

A big smile split the little girl's mouth and brightened her eyes. “Did He?”

Rebecca chuckled. “No, He did not.” She picked up her daughter's dress and hung it in the closet. “He hasn't said a word to me about it, but if the good Lord sees fit to tell me to change my mind, I will. Until then, you put the thought out of your head and get some sleep.” She leaned over and kissed Joy's forehead.

“I love you, Ma.” Joy's soft whisper touched Rebecca deeply.

“I love you, too, my Joy.” Rebecca blew out the candle and carried it from the room.

Benjamin's room was beside his sister's. Rebecca opened the door a crack. “All tucked in, Benjamin?” she asked. A soft snore was her only answer. Rebecca tiptoed into his room and looked down at him. His hair fell over his small forehead. He was just a little boy.

Memories of earlier in the day caused her heart to quicken in her chest. She'd about swallowed her tongue when she'd seen him leading the big black gelding about the yard. Benjamin looked so much smaller than the other boys and his horse appeared twice as big.

She brushed the hair off his forehead and planted a soft kiss in its place. A smile twitched at his lips. Rebecca stood. Seth worked the little boy too hard—she'd have a word with him tonight. Rebecca blew the candle out beside Benjamin's bed and left the room.

Jacob leaned against the wall outside Benjamin's bedroom. “How's the little guy doing?”

Rebecca smiled at her oldest son. “He's plum tuckered out.”

Pride filled his voice as he answered, “He put in a full day's work.”

“I know. I'm going to have a word with Mr. Armstrong about pushing him too hard. He's just a little boy.” Rebecca set both of the candles on the table in the hall.

“Ma, Seth didn't drive Beni to work hard. The little guy is trying to prove that he can do anything us older boys can do.” Jacob pushed away from the wall. “Seth seems like a good man. I don't think he'd do anything to harm Beni or any of the boys.”

Rebecca studied Jacob. “You like him?” she asked, a little surprised. So far, Jacob seemed to buck every decision or action the station keeper suggested, but here he stood now, defending him.

Jacob looked down at his boots. “He's not Papa John but unless I've read him wrong, he is a good man.” He turned to enter his room. “'Night, Ma.”

“Good night, Jacob.”

Rebecca walked down the hall and into the living room. Seth Armstrong might be a good man but she still thought he might be a bit too hard on the younger boys. After all, the man wasn't a parent, had never dealt with little legs that hurt in the night from cramps or muscle spasms.

She'd seen how he'd pushed Noah hard all day while they worked on the barn. Noah wasn't like the other boys. Building things and working with wood wasn't something he enjoyed. Now, give the boy a rifle or a fishing pole and he'd do anything you asked with either of them and he'd do it joyfully. She'd have to explain that to Seth so he'd ease up on the boy. After all, it seemed as if that should be something he'd want to know.

She walked to the kitchen and set the coffeepot onto the back warmer. Rebecca inhaled the hearty aroma and decided one more cup wouldn't hurt her.

Seth's voice stilled her hand as she poured hot liquid into her favorite mug. “I'd like a cup of that, if you have plenty.”

Rebecca turned and handed him her mug. “Here you go.” Then she reached for another cup.

“You might want to grab your coat—it's getting colder and colder out there,” Seth said, leading the way to the front porch.

Rebecca grabbed her blue cloak off the hook by the front door and followed him. He walked to the porch swing and sat down.

“I hope you don't mind sharing the swing. I'm a mite tired.” Seth yawned as if to prove his point.

Rebecca eased down beside him. “Not at all.” Her gaze moved out to the horse corral. Several horses could be seen, their hooves clopping against the hard ground. She noticed that one of the boys stood by the fence, but she couldn't make out which of her sons it was.

As if he could read her mind, Seth offered, “That's Andrew—he pulled first watch.”

She turned to look at him. “What do you mean ‘pulled first watch'?”

“Until the barn is finished, the boys have to take turns keeping watch over the animals. Indians or bandits could attempt to steal them.” He took a cautious sip of his coffee.

Rebecca frowned. “Why aren't you guarding them? You are the station keeper after all.” She heard the accusation in her voice and flinched inwardly.

As expected, he came back with a bit of harshness of his own. “Because I've assigned Andrew to do it.”

“But he's just a boy.” Rebecca wished she could take the spoken thought back as soon as it hit the night air.

His voice softened. “No, he's a man.” Seth blew into his cup to cool the coffee.

Rebecca didn't see him that way. She still remembered the day she and John had brought Andrew home with them. He was twelve and scared. Andrew had clung to John and didn't want to let him go, even though it was way past bedtime. Andrew had reminded her so much of her brother, Mark, that she'd begged John to sleep in the little boy's room. John had, leaving her to dwell on the past and her brother's fear and eventual death.

It was Mark's death from exposure to the weather when he'd been forced to leave the orphanage at the age of twelve that had prompted Rebecca and John to adopt the boys on their twelfth birthdays. Rebecca wanted to save as many of the boys as she could.

“Rebecca, you are going to have to let them grow up,” Seth said quietly.

It was the first time he'd used her Christian name and she enjoyed the way it sounded. Rebecca looked at him. The light from the moon shone across his face. His eyes held hers. There was no anger in their depths and for that she was thankful.

“You don't know them like I do. They all have pasts, pasts that you will never understand,” Rebecca told him.

Seth nodded. His eyes searched out Andrew as he said, “You are right there. But I do know he's willing to protect you from all harm and that's what he's doing right now. He's being a man and he's protecting what he believes is his to protect.”

Rebecca turned her attention to the corral also. Was Andrew really protecting her and not just the horses? “I still don't know why he has to take the first watch.”

“He asked for it,” Seth answered.

“Why?” Rebecca turned her attention back to the station keeper.

Seth laughed. “He said he's less likely to fall asleep now than later in the night or early in the morning. Made sense to me, so I agreed.”

“So all the boys have a time to watch?” she asked, not happy with the idea.

“Yep, even Benjamin.”

Did his shoulders just straighten? Was he anticipating her negative reaction? Well, she wasn't about to disappoint him. “I won't have Benjamin sitting out there in the cold alone while the rest of us sleep.” She turned on the seat to face him. “I can't believe even you would do that to an eight-year-old boy.”

“Well, that's nice to know. And I didn't say the boy would be alone.” Seth pushed up from the seat and went to stand by the porch rail.

Rebecca felt heat fill her cheeks. She'd misjudged him. “Oh, good. I'm glad you are going to be with him.”

“I didn't say that, either.” Seth watched her over the top of his cup.

“Then who will be with him?” Rebecca was beginning to feel exasperated with him.

“Jacob. They are taking the last hour of the morning,” Seth answered. “Before you ask, I'm taking the midnight shift with Noah. If danger strikes, it will probably be then.”

So he would be with Noah. Rebecca had to admit that knowing this made her feel a little better. “Look, I don't mean to be a pain, Mr. Armstrong, but these are my children. I have a right to know that they are safe. Or at least as safe as you can make them.”

He nodded. “I agree you do have that right. But you have to trust me to keep them as safe as I possibly can.”

Did she trust him? No, why should she? Rebecca told herself she didn't really know the man at all. Still, Mr. Bromley trusted him, so what other choice did she have? She'd have to try to trust Seth Armstrong to watch after her boys. How did a mother release that kind of trust to a stranger? She reminded herself that to keep her family together, she'd have to try.

* * *

Seth watched the emotions war across her delicate features. He knew what he asked wasn't easy for her. She'd irritated him as well as made him feel empathy for her all in the past few minutes.

He tossed the remainder of his coffee off the porch. “Look, Rebecca. Over the next few days the boys and I are going to finish the barn and work with the horses—”

“That's another thing,” she interrupted. “I don't think Benjamin is old enough to work with the horses.”

Exasperation filled him. Why couldn't she just accept that he knew what he was doing? “Benjamin is eight years old. By the time I was six, I was riding and caring for my own horse. He's more than old enough.”

Rebecca studied his face. “Why do you want him to ride a horse?” Suspicion filled her voice. “He's too small and you know it. Why, his feet barely reach the stirrups.”

“Because he may need to do so. Being a Pony Express station makes this farm vulnerable to all kinds of enemies. Benjamin is small, he can ride fast and get help should we need it.” Seth took off his hat and rested it on the railing.

“It's dangerous.”

He nodded. “Yes, you're right, it is. But it's also why we train them the proper way to act and treat horses. If you don't trust me, then at least trust Jacob. He's in charge of Benjamin's learning.” Seth had seen how she relied on her oldest son. The boy seemed dependable and for that Seth was grateful.

“All right, but please don't put them in unnecessary danger.” Rebecca stood and pulled her shawl closer around her slender body.

Seth handed her his coffee mug. “I better get some shut-eye. Tomorrow is going to be a long day.” He paused to look at her. “Do you need anything from town?”

“I don't believe so. Why?” She stopped in front of the closed door.

Seth hurried to help her open it. “We need saddles and bridles for the horses. The ones we had burned in the fire.”

She turned to face him. “Do you need me to go with you?”

Her eyes searched his face.

“No. I just figured if you needed anything you might like to go.” Seth enjoyed the way her eyes sparkled in the evening light. The moon hung in such a way as to shine in her eyes.

“I see. I don't believe I need anything but if I change my mind I'll let you know over breakfast.” Rebecca moved into the house. “Thank you for keeping me informed.” She smiled a tired grin and then shut the wooden door behind her.

She really was a beautiful woman. Her weary grin had caused his heart to do a little dance. For the first time, he had noticed twin dimples in her cheeks. He'd always been a sucker for dimples. Seth shook his head to clear it of those unwanted thoughts and feelings. He had a fiancée out there somewhere and had no room for such thoughts.

He walked to where Andrew sat on a stump keeping watch over the horses. His eyes looked heavenward. “Looks like we might get some cold weather soon,” Andrew said in way of greeting.

Seth followed his line of vision. The moon now played hide-and-seek with the dark clouds. A soft ring circled the moon.

“Rain or snow?” he asked.

“Probably rain,” Andrew answered, meeting Seth's gaze. “I don't think it is cold enough for snow, but I could be wrong.” The young man shrugged.

A nippy breeze lifted the hair on Seth's neck. “I believe you are right, but it for sure is getting colder.”

Andrew pulled up his collar. “Yep.”

Seth leaned against the fence rail facing the horses. The night's silence offered comfort. The horses snorted from time to time and their feet shuffled against the hard-packed dirt. If he closed his eyes he could almost smell their musky scents.

“It's peaceful out here,” Andrew said. He'd moved to stand beside Seth at the railing. He laid his rifle on the top bar and sighed. “Did Ma give you a hard time about Beni taking a watch?” he asked.

“Not after she learned that Jacob would be with him,” Seth answered truthfully. He'd expected her to put up a better argument. He glanced in Andrew's direction.

Andrew seemed ever watchful. “That's good. Ma's very protective of Beni, and now Noah.”

“How long has Noah been on the farm?” Seth asked, deliberately focusing his attention on the horses.

Andrew heaved a sigh. “About three months, give or take a day. Beni has been here since he was three. The rest of us arrived shortly after our twelfth birthdays.”

Seth could understand Rebecca's concern. Beni probably still seemed like a baby to her. Noah hadn't been here long and with the changes going on at the farm and in his life, Rebecca must be worried about his reactions to those changes.

“Are you an orphan, too?” Andrew stared at Seth.

“I guess that depends on how you look at it. I didn't grow up in an orphanage but I no longer have any family left.” He held the boy's gaze, waiting for the next question that was sure to follow.

It didn't take long for Andrew. He asked, “Is that why you signed on with the Pony Express?”

“No, I signed on because I'd been robbed by bandits and needed the money.” Seth didn't add that he'd been searching for his mail-order bride when he was attacked.