Pony Express Courtship (14 page)

“Walk off to the side. I'd hate for the pony rider to accidentally hit you.” He sprinted to his horse and grabbed his reins.

“I'll be careful,” she called to him. Rebecca watched him walk his horse to the road then spring into the saddle. Man and horse disappeared as they raced to the house.

Rebecca followed slowly. How dare Seth Armstrong discuss her with her boys! What had he thought? That he'd learn something new about her? And if so, what did he plan to do with this new knowledge? The speed of her footsteps increased. She'd have a few choice words for him this evening. She'd set him straight and since he didn't know her boundaries, Rebecca had every intention of sharing them.

Chapter Fifteen

S
eth both looked forward to his discussion with Rebecca tonight and dreaded it. He wanted to tell her how wonderfully the boys were doing and that he'd noticed that the south fence needed repairing. But over dinner he'd felt a deep tension coming from her direction. She'd refused to look him straight in the eye while eating, and that didn't bode well for his peace of mind. When his grandmother behaved this way, she usually had a burr under her saddle.

He walked up the steps and found Rebecca sitting on the porch. “Oh, I didn't realize we were meeting out here tonight.” In two strides he was beside the swing she sat in. “It's nice enough. I'm enjoying this warmer weather.”

Still she silently rocked. Yep, there was a burr somewhere. He leaned against the porch rail and waited for her to speak. When it was obvious she didn't have anything to add to his comments, he asked, “Is there something wrong?”

In a crisp, cold tone, she answered, “Depends.”

Yep, definitely something ate at her. “Care to share?”

Her head snapped up and her blue eyes reminded him of blue ice. “I don't appreciate you talking to my boys about me, Seth Armstrong. You have no business asking them questions about me. If you want to know something, ask me yourself. Do not worry my boys with questions. And that goes for questions about John, too.” She blew the hair off her forehead.

He studied her red cheeks. What had he asked that would have offended her? Come to think of it, Seth couldn't recall asking personal questions about her or John. He and the boys often discussed family, especially during Bible study, but as far as he could remember, Seth had never pried into her personal life.

“Well, what do you have to say for yourself?” she demanded in a soft yet dangerous voice.

Seth rubbed his jaw. “Well, for starters, I apologize. I wasn't aware I had pried. But evidently I have. For that I am sorry.” And he truly meant the words.

Rebecca nodded, still looking as if she wanted to argue with him. “And another thing, I appreciate you starting up nightly Bible study with the boys. You've reminded me that this family goes to church on Sundays. Now, I know—” she held up her hand to stop his protest “—I've been negligent in that since you've been here, but starting this Sunday we are
all
going to church.” She put great emphasis on the word
all
.

“Rebecca, I appreciate the sentiment behind your statement. It's a good thing to be faithful to church. But even you can see that at least one of the boys will need to ride.” He stood a little taller. What would she say to that?

She inhaled and stood. “Then I suggest you start looking for a relief rider on Sundays because me and my boys are going to church and that's final. Since their father is gone, the responsibility for their spiritual raising is now mine and it's time I started taking it seriously.” Rebecca pulled her shawl closer to her body and lifted her head. When he didn't immediately respond, she left him standing on the porch.

A chuckle sounded off to his right. Seth squinted his eyes and looked into the shadows. “Think that's funny, do you, Jacob?”

Jacob moved into the light that streamed from the window. “Sure do. You really ruffled Ma's feathers.”

“Any idea how that happened?” Seth wondered if Jacob had been the one to tell Rebecca of the nightly Bible studies.

“Nope. I knew she was in a mood so I was going to come talk to her when I saw you walk up. Glad you got to her first. Now I know to stay away for a while.” Jacob turned and walked in the direction of the barn.

Seth followed him. He wanted to ask if Rebecca held on to her anger long, but decided that asking probably wasn't the best thing. To his reckoning, that might be what she considered prying. As he entered the barn Seth settled it in his mind that those types of questions had been what had gotten him into trouble tonight. “Any idea who we can get to ride on Sunday?” He walked over to Sam's stall.

“You can always ask Bill tomorrow if he'll stay a couple of extra days and take Clayton's place. Or you can make the ride yourself.” With that Jacob walked into the tack room and shut the door.

Seth rubbed Sam's nose. It would be nice to attend the Sunday service. He'd ask Bill if he'd take the ride, but if Bill refused Seth knew he'd ride in place of Clayton.

Rebecca Young was one stubborn woman. He knew she wouldn't back down and now he had to find a rider to take his boys' place every Sunday. His job just got a little harder.

He stepped out into the night and looked to the house, where Rebecca could be seen through the sitting room window. His grandmother had been stubborn and now Rebecca acted the same way. Both women intended to get what they wanted. Seth shook his head and muttered, “Lord, deliver me from stubborn women.”

A star twinkled off in the distance. Would the Lord answer his prayer? And would Charlotte be just as stubborn as Rebecca and his grandmother? Seth frowned. He hadn't thought of his mail-order bride in a long time.

His gaze returned to the window. Rebecca sat in her chair rocking. It looked as if she was working on something in her lap. There was a stubborn tilt to her chin. Stubbornness was part of the reason Seth liked Rebecca. That and the fact that she stood up for what she believed in.

He shook his head. “Get a grip, ol' boy. One moment you like her, the next you want to wring her neck. Can't have it both ways. You can't like her too much anyway 'cause you're promised to another and don't you forget it.” The thought came to him that Rebecca was the type of woman who would insist that love would be the only reason to get involved with a man. And love was not something he wanted or needed.

* * *

Sunday morning, Rebecca gathered her things and led her children out the church doors. She heard Seth's voice behind her as he shook the preacher's hand and thanked him for the sermon. He'd surprised her by attending. Not that she didn't believe him a God-fearing man, but she'd expected him to stay behind and take Clayton's place on the Pony Express trail.

Fay stayed behind. Said her rheumatism was acting up. She also promised to make sure that Bill had a big lunch before he took off for his ride.

It really was too bad that the Pony Express didn't take off Sundays. From what Rebecca had seen of Bill, he could have used a morning in church. The young man seemed rough around the edges, but most of the young men that came through Dove Creek's home station looked as if they could use a mother's care.

“What did you pack for lunch?” Philip asked, reaching toward the two baskets that Rebecca had shoved under the wagon seat.

She slapped at his hands. “Get out of there. You'll find out as soon as we get to the meadow.” She scooted over and let Jacob take the reins.

Philip laughed and hopped onto his horse. “Then let's go. I'm starving.”

“Ma, can I ride with Seth?” Joy asked, pulling at her skirt.

Rebecca turned to look at her daughter. Joy looked pretty with a light blue bow in her long blond hair. Seth sat on top of Sam not more than a foot away from them.

“It's up to Seth, sweetheart.”

Joy squealed. She jumped up and Rebecca grabbed the back of her dress to keep her from falling out of the wagon.

“If you keep jumping around like that, I'm going to change my mind,” Rebecca warned. She wished she hadn't agreed, when Seth bent over and scooped up the little girl.

He winked at Joy. “Too late.”

Rebecca couldn't get over how nice he looked with his hair combed into place, wearing a light green shirt covered by a tan jacket with what looked like leather patches on the elbows. His jeans looked new and his black boots shined. The black hat he wore on his head was pushed back and he gave her a playful grin.

“It's never too late for me to change my mind, Seth Armstrong, and don't you forget it,” she teased back.

The wagon lurched as it took off. Her other boys all mounted their horses and surrounded the wagon as it pulled out of the churchyard.

A smile touched her lips as she heard Benjamin tell Seth, “Yep, she changes her mind if you make her mad. You and Joy better be nice.”

She cut her eyes and looked at Seth and Joy. Joy looked happier than a girl with two playful kittens. Her blue-green eyes stared up at Seth adoringly.

The boys laughed and talked as they drove to the meadow. Only Jacob rode in silence. Rebecca looped her arm in his and laid her head on his shoulder. In a quiet voice she asked, “What did you think of the service this morning, Jacob?”

He shrugged. “It was fine.”

Rebecca knew of all the young men in her care that Jacob was the only one who either didn't believe in God or had simply given up on Him. She didn't know how to reach the boy. Since John's death he'd been quiet and reserved, especially when it came to talking about his Maker.

“Ma, can I put the blanket out?” Benjamin asked.

She lifted her head. “Sure you can, but I get to pick the spot.”

“Is this meadow much farther?” Seth asked.

Thomas answered. “Just over that rise. I'll race you.”

“You're on!” Seth replied.

Rebecca watched them shoot off in front of the wagon. Seth's arms wrapped around the little girl's waist protectively.

Joy's blond hair flew out behind them. Her giggles filled the air as she hung on to the saddle horn.

Was her daughter getting too close to the station keeper? Rebecca watched them top the rise and go over the other side. As soon as Seth could find his mail-order bride, he'd be gone; she knew this to be true. Maybe she should limit Joy's time with the handsome man. Rebecca stopped herself. Had she just thought of Seth as a handsome man?

He was, but Rebecca didn't think it wise to think of him that way. She made a mental note to stop thinking about him altogether. The wagon topped the hill and she looked down into the meadow to find Seth tossing Joy into the air as if she was a sack of flour. Her joyful laughter couldn't be ignored. Joy was falling in love with Seth. Not in the way a woman fell in love with a man, but as a friend she was going to miss terribly when he left.

Jacob spoke. “Everyone likes him.”

Had she said her thoughts aloud? No, Rebecca was pretty sure she hadn't. “True. He's a nice man.”

“Yes, he is.” He stopped the wagon, set the brake and hopped down to help Rebecca unload the food.

The boys were all tying their horses up to keep them from wandering too far. Rebecca lowered her voice and asked Jacob, “Do you think Joy is getting too attached to him?”

He looked to where Seth swung Joy around and around in a circle. “Possibly. All the boys are. I don't think it can be helped.”

Jacob was probably right. Rebecca handed him the last box and then climbed down from the wagon. She looked at the meadow and smiled. “I love it here.”

Benjamin hurried to her side. “Ma, can I put the blanket down now?” His eager eyes met hers. He clutched the old quilt close to his heart.

Rebecca laughed. The boy only wanted to spread the cover so that they could start lunch. He'd grown a full two inches in the past few weeks and eating had become a favorite pastime for him. “Yes, over by that small grove of trees.” She pointed to where a group of cottonwood trees stood proudly.

Her gaze moved to Seth once more. Was she becoming too attached to him, too? If so, how could she put more distance between them?

* * *

Seth clutched his stomach and groaned. “Rebecca, I think that was the best lunch I've had in a very long time.”

Benjamin nodded his agreement. “Ma makes the best fried chicken around.”

“I agree.” Seth closed his eyes and leaned his back against the tree. “But I believe I ate too much.”

“Seth, come play with me.” Joy grabbed his hand and pulled.

He cracked an eye and said, “Oh, Joy, girl. My tummy is too full to play right now.”

Thomas stood and stretched. “I'll play with you, Joy.”

“Can we play duck, duck, goose?” Joy jumped up and down.

Seth listened as first Philip, then Noah and Benjamin, agreed to play duck, duck, goose. They walked a short ways from the picnic area and began to form a circle for the game.

He watched as the boys slowed their running speed so that their sister could outrun them and take their place in the grass. All except young Benjamin. He always beat his little sister and crowed to the others that he was the fastest one there. Seth chuckled.

The three older boys stood beside the wagon. He couldn't make out their conversation but knew it was friendly by the way one or the other would laugh from time to time. This was the most relaxed he'd seen the family and to tell the truth, Seth enjoyed it.

Rebecca began to gather up the food and place it in the boxes. He was amazed at how well she'd packed their meal and had even packed tin cups for them to drink cold cider out of.

Seth sat up to help her. He handed her a jar that had once held pickles. His hand brushed hers and warmth traveled up his arm where their skin connected.

“Thank you, Seth, but I can do this.” She looked down at her hand where it had touched his.

Had she felt the warmth also? He wasn't ready to leave just yet and from the looks of the happy kids, Seth didn't think they would be ready to go, either. “Can't you sit a while and enjoy the sun on your face? You work hard all the time. Surely you can spare an hour or so to relax and have some thinking time.”

She put the lid and ring on the pickle jar and placed it in the basket. Gathering her skirt in one hand, she sat beside Seth with her back pressed against the same tree.

“What's this thinking time you're talking about, Seth?” Her voice sounded a little shaky to his ears. So perhaps she had felt the warmth they'd just shared.

“My grandmother used to make me take a nap every Sunday afternoon. But after I turned ten and no longer wanted to take naps, she said for me to get out away from the house so I wouldn't wake up her. She told me to go think on things.”