“Nope. I have to have employment first.”
“I have an apartment I could share...if your question would pertain to housing.”
“Good to know.” Angus dropped her hands, picked up his sandwich and took a huge bite.
“I’ll have income from the pharmacy once it’s established.”
“Which will be good for your family’s extra needs.” Angus said between chewing and swallowing his mouthful of food.
“Can we seriously talk about marriage instead of hinting at it?”
“It’s not on the table yet, Daisy.” He took a swig of lemonade out of a quart jar. “Until I can provide for my family, I won’t get married.”
“What if you don’t get the depot agent job?”
“Mack said I could work for him, but—”
“You wouldn’t be happy doing it.”
“This town isn’t big enough to keep us both employed full-time. Someday Mack will have his own family and need all the income.”
The depot agent job had to come through for Angus. There wasn’t anything else he was remotely interested in doing, especially in such a small town. They could go to another town, but then she’d have to give up her shop.
“Can we at least agree we use the apartment above the pharmacy for our home?”
“Until we need more space for our family. I will provide for you and our children, Daisy. Call me old-fashioned, but that’s the way I was raised. The wedding vows are imprinted in my brain and I will abide by them.”
“Yes, I’ll abide by them too. But the words ‘for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health’ means that we help each other out no matter the circumstance.”
“Well, I’ve seen ‘the poorer and sickness’ when I was little and watched my parents struggle. I’ll never start a marriage being unprepared.”
Angus’ words and the tight expression on his face left Daisy no doubt that he really meant it. There wouldn’t be a marriage until Angus felt financially secure. Apparently being the poor preacher’s son had made more of a mark on Angus than she thought. She knew the Reagan’s always had food for meals because she ate at the parsonage often enough. But unless they had fruit, there wasn’t a dessert on the table.
Now when she ate with Angus, on the trip here or at the café, he always had a dessert.
Clothes worn by the Reagan boys were hand-me-downs, but at least Angus wore them first. Poor Tully had to wear what hadn’t been shredded by wear and tear by his brother’s first. Now Angus wore nice clothing and boots, unless he was doing manual labor with Mack.
She glanced at his neck and realized he’d always kept his light brown hair trimmed once he could pay to go to the barber shop. Before that Kaitlyn lined up the boys and gave them all haircuts.
Daisy had grown up with the boy and was now seeing the man he became, because of his childhood.
“I understand your reasons, Angus. But we’re not a young couple racing to the altar without a plan. We’ve both worked and know how to live on what we’ve earned.”
Angus took a deep breath and nodded before meeting her eyes. “You’re right. I just don’t want to be poor again and be responsible for...”
“Five brothers? Your own large family?”
“You know I took my role of oldest son very seriously, probably more than I should.”
“Yes, you were very serious about it, but your brothers benefited from your taking charge. Your parents were helping a whole congregation of families, and they knew they could count on you to take care of your brothers.”
“That’s another reason I want to take our time to court before marriage. We’re not the same people we were when we left town. I want to learn about Daisy, the woman, now.”
“So that means picnics, drives and dances are in my future?”
“And kisses,” Angus grinned, his serious concerns behind him now that he had talked about them.
“You know I think I’ll like being courted. Surprise gifts of chocolates, a bouquet of roses, an escort to every event in town,” Daisy said as she leaned over the basket, waiting for Angus to take the hint to give her a kiss.
He wrapped a hand around her neck and held her still for a nice long kiss.
“I suppose you’d like some jewelry too?” Angus sat back and asked before resuming eating his sandwich.
“Actually, yes I would. Besides the watch I always pinned on my dress, I lost all my jewelry since we didn’t recover my carpet bag from the train robbery.”
“I’m sorry. I guess I forgot about that. Did you have many pieces?”
“A few brooches and necklaces, but the worst was I lost my mother’s pearl drop earrings, and my father’s tie pin.”
“I remember the pin. You wore it often, because your initials, D E C were the same as your father’s and grandfather’s.”
Daisy’s throat constricted, holding back the tears and memories her parents jewelry held for her. She took a deep breath to put things in perspective. She and Angus had survived the robbery, and were back together again. Those facts were more important than the lost jewelry.
Chapter 10
Angus kept busy the two weeks since he and Daisy had their picnic up in a cave in Horsethief Canyon. In some ways the days flew by and other ways they dragged. Basically he was getting antsy to hear about his job. It was always in the back of his mind.
He and Daniels had gone through the piles of papers in the office, tossing what wasn’t needed and filing what should be kept. Angus scrubbed the walls, windows and floors making the office and waiting room look and smell better.
If he got the job, he’d request a budget allowance for repair on the building. Besides needing a new coat of paint inside and outside, there were two window sashes that needed repair. It had been years since any upkeep had been done on the depot. If being the depot agent was going to be his livelihood, he wanted to keep the depot building clean and inviting to passengers. The depot was the first glimpse and reflection of Clear Creek and the town council was working hard to make it grow. A run-down depot was not an option in his opinion.
“How’s that? Is it straight?” Mack called out to Daisy standing across the street. Right now he and Mack were on two ladders holding up the opposite ends of the sign for Daisy’s store.
“Go up a little more on your side, Angus!”
Angus pushed the heavy sign up a couple of inches.
“Not that much! Go down a little.”
“This could take all day,” Mack muttered. “Angus, pound a nail into the top corner of the sign to hold it in place and I’ll wiggle this end a little to make her happy. I’ve already measured and marked on the siding where it should be square.”
“Wait Angus! I’m not sure if that’s the right spot yet!” Daisy yelled as she ran up to his ladder.
“The sign’s getting heavy, Daisy! Mack has it marked and knows what he’s doing!”
Angus leaned his body against the sign to hold it still while he used his left hand to hold the large nail in place and his right to pound the nail in with his hammer. All while standing on a ladder about fifteen feet in the air.
He sure hoped the depot agent job came through because he did not like cat walking high in the air across a framed building like Mack did. How Mack had such agile ability at his height and weight was beyond comprehension to Angus.
It had taken weeks for Daisy to decide the name of her business. First it was going to be Clancy Pharmacy, then Clear Creek Drug Store. Angus was sure she thought about naming it Reagan Pharmacy, but he refused to officially ask for her hand in marriage until the job came through.
So Mack finally talked her into putting up a board saying “Pharmacy” for now, and left room to add another board on top if and when she wanted to add to the name.
Daisy may have been undecided on what to call the business but she was organized inside. The majority of her orders had come in as of last week. The medical items were categorized by type, in other words for stomach ai
lments or bandages for wounds, then those items were alphabetized on their shelf. This was the layout she’d worked with in the Denver pharmacy and it made sense when Angus spent any time looking around in the store. A customer could practically help themselves and bring it up to the cash register.
“Perfect!”
Angus about slid down the ladder when Daisy yelled below him.
“Angus, pound one more nail in, at least partway in the bottom of the sign, then get down. I’ll pound in the rest of the nails along the top and bottom of the sign.”
Mack looked like a monkey hanging on the side of the building as he reached far away from the ladder to pound in another nail.
“Gladly! Hang on to the ladder, Daisy. I’m coming down.”
Angus sighed with relief being on the ground and looking up at the sign. He had been a ways up there.
“Now I feel as if it’s official. I’m ready to open my business tomorrow!” Angus looked down at Daisy’s shining eyes as she hugged his waist.
He kissed her forehead, then her lips. “And I’m proud of you and your dream. It will be a great success and an asset to the community.”
“Thank you, Angus. It means a lot to me.” Daisy reached up and gave him a kiss herself. “Now whenever your brother swings down from his high perch, I have coffee and cinnamon rolls ready for you two upstairs.” Daisy patted his chest, which swelled with pride at her touch. She was going to make a wonderful wife and helpmate.
“Angus!” Daisy pulled away from him when Mr. Daniels called his name. The depot agent was walking down the street with a paper in his hand.
“Yes, sir?”
Angus walked to meet him halfway.
“Here, read this. Just got this telegram that the railroad representative will be here this afternoon to interview you.”
Angus scanned the simple words stating what Mr. Daniels had just conveyed and nothing else.
Angus felt Daisy’s hands wrap around his elbow and squeeze it. This message was so important to both of them.
“So he’ll be on the next train. I have an hour to change clothes and sweat with worry then.”
“You have nothing to worry about, son. You’ve been preparing for this job since you were a young lad. Come over when you’re ready.” Mr. Daniels patted his shoulder, sighed, and turned around to walk back to the depot.
“His life will change this afternoon too,” Daisy said out loud what Angus was already thinking. “Think he’s ready to retire?”
Angus patted Daisy’s hand on his elbow. “We’ve talked a lot about it this past week. He’s reminisced about his early days of railroading back east before the war, and since moving to Kansas. I know his body is ready for a slower pace. I can’t believe he kept going as long as he did with the way his left leg gives out on him now and then.
“He’s been waiting for you to return and kept going until then.”
“Yes, he hinted about that more than once.” Angus looked up to see Mack finishing the sign.
“I’ll go home and change clothes before coming up for a quick cup of coffee. Be sure Mack saves me one roll, okay?”
“See you soon.” Angus watched Daisy walk back to her store before taking off for the parsonage. Maybe he should stop in church and say a prayer first.
***
“Wish me luck,” Angus asked as he stood up from her table and pushed the chair back in its place. Daisy’s apartment was sparse, but it did have a table and four chairs in the kitchen. The room came alive when filled with the happy sounds of family and friends, and very quiet when she lived here alone. In other words she couldn’t wait until Angus moved in with her.
“You’ll do fine. You know everything there is to know about running a depot and then some.” Daisy brushed her hand across Angus’ shoulders to calm him down besides brushing off any stray lint.
Mack stood also, but then reached back to the table to grab the last cinnamon roll to take with him.
“Don’t worry, big brother. You’ll get the job.” Mack looked sideways at Daisy and winked. “Might even be planning a wedding this evening after you’re hired.”
“Mack, I don’t have the job yet,” Angus growled impatiently.
“Don’t tease him, Mack. I know not to make wedding plans until he’s comfortably employed.”
“He’ll be employed today, and we’ll be welcoming our first sister into the Reagan family in the near future.” Mack gave her a sideways hug like he’d done so many times in the past. Daisy already felt like part of the Reagan family, but she was ready to make it official.
After the brothers left, Daisy stacked the coffee cups and plates they’d used and set them on the side table. She would wash them later with her supper dishes.
Curiosity made her walk downstairs and out the door leading to the boardwalk. She could spend time in her shop, but she wanted to see the train come in and watch Angus meet the railroad man.
“Where should we go stand so he won’t see us watching him?” Mack asked behind her as she stepped outside.
“Mack! You scared me!”
“Oh, sorry. But you knew I’d be thinking the same thing. I want to see Angus doing his best just like you.”
“Nothing can go wrong today for Angus. Are you sure we should be nearby? What if he sees us?”
“Then he’ll know we’re rooting for him. After the train pulls in, we’ll walk across the street and stand by the stacks of freight. We won’t acknowledge him at all. We’ll just look like a couple waiting for a passenger.”
“There’s the smoke on the horizon. The train’s early today.”
Mack peered in the distance, gauging how far out of town it was. “Probably because they have an important railroad man on board today.”
They didn’t speak as they watched the train roll to a stop in front of the depot.
“Okay, let’s go. Angus and Daniels are out on the platform, waiting for their employer.”
Daisy reached up to adjust her wide-brimmed hat she usually wore when she was out riding. It hid her face making Daisy feel like she could spy on the scene easier.
“There’s Daniels walking up to greet a man now,” Mack whispered behind her.
Daisy had to let a couple pass by before she could see what Mack could see with his height advantage.
The way cleared and Daisy got a good look at the man shaking hands with Mr. Daniels.
“Oh no! It can’t be him!”
“Huh? What’s wrong, Daisy?”
“That’s the railroad man from Colorado who fired Angus after the train robbery. He must be in charge of the Kansas lines for the railroad company too.”
“Oh, surely not.”
“Yes! I’m positive. Look at the man’s face and now Angus’. They recognize each other.”
There was animosity blistering from the railroad man’s face, but Angus kept his face calm. What was the man’s name? Mr. Murfitt.
“Looks like Daniels is arguing on Angus’ behalf.” Mack sighed. “This does not look good. Sorry, Daisy, but you might not be planning your wedding tonight after all.
“Oh, some other people are with him. You might not be able to see, but Murfitt just turned to talk to three more men who just got off the train. Maybe more railroad men?”
Daisy stood up on her tiptoes to see better, then dropped down and turned towards Mack’s chest.
“What’s wrong, Daisy?”
“I sat with those three men on the robbed train and they were some of the robbers!”
“No way!”
“They introduced themselves as Misters Nelson, Smith, and Johnson. Angus said one of them pushed him into the washroom before the train stopped!”
“So what does this mean?” Mack tried to watch Angus as they talked.
“Either the railroad man was in on the robbery, or he doesn’t know who’s traveling with him. Either way I doubt he knew Angus was the one Mr. Daniels was recommending.”
“Or did, and planned to take care of him so to speak. I want y
ou to go get the marshal right now.”
Mack started pushing her behind him but she resisted. “No, I’m staying near Angus.”
“No, Daisy. I need to stay here and stand with Angus if it becomes a fight. Slide through the people on the platform and get help!”
Daisy took a quick look over her shoulder at Angus and hurried away. Mack was already moving toward Angus and possibly danger.
The Lord is my Sheperd...
And she wished she could hear Angus say “and he better be here.”
“Marshal, grab guns and get to the depot platform!” Daisy yelled as she opened the jailhouse door. Thank goodness he was there...but Pastor Reagan sat in a chair opposite the marshal’s desk, a coffee cup in his hand. Oh Matthew, Luke, John! She didn’t want Pastor to see his sons in a gun fight!
“The railroad man is here to interview Angus, but there’s three men with him...and I’m positive they had a part of the train robbery Angus and I were in!” Daisy blurted out while trying to catch her breath.
Chapter 11
Angus’ mind was trying to decipher ten things at once and was about to explode. Somehow he had to keep everyone safe while figuring out if Mr. Murfitt was innocent or part of the group who robbed the train.
Daniels ushered Mr. Murfitt into the depot office while Angus took care of the passenger’s baggage and freight. The three men stayed outside of the depot, watching passengers, and him.
“Sorry I’m late with the mail bag. Train’s early today,” Cullen called out as he hurried to Angus’ side.
“The mail is the least of our worries at the moment. Do not look right now...but three men who were part of the train robbery in Colorado, are loitering on the west side of the depot.”
Cullen lifted one end of the trunk Angus was moving to the open baggage car so he could angle a discreet look.
“Positive?”
“Yep, and the railroad man who’s here to hire me—he went inside the office with Daniels—is none other than the man who fired me after the robbery.”
“So today’s not your best day is it, Angus. So what’s the Reagan brothers’ game plan?”
Grooms with Honor Series, Books 1-3 Page 9