Mail Order Victoria

by Caroline Clemmons

  He strode to a box on top of the china cabinet. When he’d set it on the table, he used a key to open it and revealed a revolver and ammunition. “This belonged to Cora but I hope you won’t resent me passing it to you. With rustlers in the area and snakes on the move, I’ll be easier in my mind knowing you have this and know how to use it.”

  Here she’d thought she was away from threats and unusual danger. She stilled her shaking hands then took a deep breath. Training was ingrained.

  After picking up the gun, she checked to see if it needed cleaning and oiling. Since it didn’t, she loaded it. She wasn’t carrying the gun on her person so she didn’t leave the chamber under the hammer blank.

  “My father said a gun was no good unless it was loaded. I’ll keep this one on the pie safe. Only Cindy is tall enough to reach that.”

  She shook her head. “If Sid scooted a chair, he could reach it. I don’t think he would but without temptation there is no sin. I’ll put it back where you had it.”

  He handed her the key. She put that in the pie safe.

  He pulled her into his embrace and kissed her tenderly. “Thank you for taking us on. I know you’ll take good care of the children while we’re gone.”

  His tone scared her. “Greg, don’t speak as if you won’t return.”

  He caressed her cheek. “I didn’t intend to but want to be sure you know I’ll miss you.”

  She rested her hands on his broad chest. “I’ll miss you. In case you didn’t know, I always miss you when you’re not here.”

  He grinned. “That’s good to hear. Don’t worry if we’re out late. I’m determined to find the missing cattle and whoever is responsible.”

  She handed him the lunches she’d packed. Of course she’d worry. How could she not?

  When the men rode off she went to check on the children. Both Regina and Hattie were awake but not crying. She changed their diapers and left them in their beds. Mattie was still asleep so Victoria let her rest. Sid and Frankie were dressing.

  Sid buttoned his shirt. “Those cows are gonna be bawling cause we’re late. We’ll eat after we see to the cows.”

  “Your father and I thought the milking could be a little late today. You had a very late night and needed your sleep. He also said to remind you snakes would be out from the rain.”

  Sid tied his boot laces. “We’ll watch.” He and Frankie hurried toward the front of the house.

  Cindy practically flew out of her room. “I’m late getting the eggs and feeding the hens.”

  “Wait and I’ll help.” Victoria thought she should learn how to do the milking and care for the chickens.

  Cindy carried the basket across the muddy yard to the henhouse. The hens were squawking and fussing as if complaining about their late breakfast.

  Cindy strode fast. “I don’t need your help, you know. If I’m sick or something then Sid can take care of the hens.”

  Victoria thought the girl was trying to leave her behind but she kept in step with her. “What if you’re both sick? Have you both had mumps and measles and chicken pox? The flu can also attack an entire family.”

  “Oh, suit yourself.” Cindy was angry when she yanked on the pen door and let the chickens run free. They hung around until Cindy opened a barrel and dipped out a scoop of feed. She scattered it on the ground outside the pen then resealed the barrel.

  As if she was mad at the world, the girl gathered eggs and placed them into the basket. “At least being late meant they were all hungry enough to leave the nest. I hate having to reach under a hen.”

  Victoria watched carefully. She couldn’t imagine reaching under a hen and not getting pecked. She was surprised none of the eggs broke under Cindy’s rough treatment.

  Cindy reached for the next space.

  Victoria knocked her hand away. Two yellow eyes stared from the nest. “There’s a moccasin in that nest.”

  The head moved their way. Her breath caught in her throat and her heart pounded. If that huge moccasin bit Cindy or her, it could be deadly. There was no one nearby to help them.

  Dear Lord, help us.

  Cindy squealed, stepped backward, and tripped. She dropped the basket and eggs rolled across her lap, skirts, and the ground. The snake slithered from the nest toward the spilled eggs and Cindy. It was huge—bigger around and longer than Victoria had known they grew.

  Victoria didn’t know what to do. She glanced around for any weapon but there was nothing close enough to help. The snake was heading for the eggs on Cindy’s skirt and maybe even for the girl.

  “Cindy, don’t move until I say go then roll away fast. Get ready… go.” She stomped on the serpent’s head as hard as she could.

  The large moccasin writhed and she put her other foot on the spine. If she didn’t lose her balance it would be a miracle. This was like nothing she’d ever imagined. If that thing managed to trip her, it was sure to attack.

  “Cindy, hurry to the barn and bring a hoe or a shovel. Please move fast. I’m not sure I can keep from falling for long.”

  Cindy raced to the barn. She yelled at Sid and Frankie. Within seconds she was racing back to the chicken pen carrying a shovel. Sid and Frankie and both dogs followed and Sid carried a hoe.

  Victoria didn’t want them near the snake. “Boys, wait outside the pen. Keep the dogs away, too. If Cindy needs help then we’ll talk about how to do that.”

  Sid held the hoe but stopped at the entrance. The dogs barked until he told them to be quiet. They still pushed their noses up to the wire enclosure.

  Cindy was sobbing as she stood holding the shovel. “What should I do? Oh, what should I do?”

  Victoria feared her legs were going to collapse. “Take the shovel and place it as close to my boot as you can then shove down with all your strength. I hope that will cut off the head.”

  The girl was shaking so much she had trouble handling the shovel. Her first try missed the snake.

  Victoria laid a hand on Cindy’s shoulder for balance. “Take a deep breath and see if that helps you focus… Take your time, dear… There, that’s the place... Now, shove down with all your weight.”

  This time Cindy drove the shovel into the pen’s earthen floor and completely severed the snake’s head.

  “You did it, Cindy. Thank you for working so quickly.”

  Cindy dropped the shovel. She leaned against one of the enclosure support posts and wept as if she couldn’t stop.

  Victoria felt like doing the same thing but she couldn’t rest yet. She picked up the shovel and scooped up the serpent’s head. The head was ugly and disgusting. “This must be buried because it could still kill the dogs if they played with it.”

  She carried it behind the pen and deposited it while she dug a hole. At least the ground was soft enough for her to make a deep enough hole. She dropped the horrible looking thing into the hole and covered it with dirt.

  “Sid and Frankie, we need a couple of rocks so the dogs won’t dig up my hole. Be careful you don’t tread on another snake.”

  She leaned on the shovel for support. Soon the boys returned with a large flat stone it took them both to carry. They dropped it on the spot she’d just filled.

  “Thank you for your help, boys. I think the chickens can eat the rest of the snake. Would you boys return the shovel and hoe to the barn where they belong? I’ll check on Cindy. Then I’ll go in and prepare our breakfast.”

  She walked to where Cindy was still waiting. Tears still ran down her cheeks but she was staring at the snake carcass.

  “I didn’t know a cottonmouth moccasin got that large. It looks like the pictures of a python.”

  Victoria picked up the basket and added the unbroken eggs. “I’m surprised that one only went for eggs. They can kill a chicken.”

  Cindy wiped her mouth with her hem. “I threw up from being so scared. I’ve never been so afraid in my life. That… that snake looks so scary.”

  Tears still streamed down Cindy’s face when came up to Victoria and hugged
her. “You risked your life to save me after I’ve been mean to you. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I won’t be mean to you ever again.”

  “Thank you for saying so, Cindy. How about we go in and get breakfast for everyone. I’ll bet the babies and Mattie are awake now.”

  They went into the kitchen to find Mattie standing there with her hands on her hips and a scowl on her face. “Where has everyone been? Those babies waked me up again and I need my breakfast.”

  Hattie and Regina’s wails came from the bedroom.

  Cindy dropped onto a chair. “I’ll see about the babies in just a minute.”

  “And, I’ll start your breakfast in a moment.”

  Mattie stood in front of Cindy. “What happened? Cindy, why are you crying?”

  Victoria caressed Mattie’s cheek. “We’ll tell you all about it at breakfast. Go tell the babies that Cindy will be there in a minute and Mama is preparing breakfast.”

  Chapter Nine

  After the breakfast dishes were done, Victoria took Cindy’s hand and guided her to the kitchen table. “Sit down and let’s talk.”

  Cindy did as asked. “What about? I said I’m sorry and I meant what I said.”

  “I believe you, Cindy. I hope you’ll tell me what upset you so much. If others hadn’t mentioned you were upset for more than a week before I came, I would have thought it was about your father marrying me. But, you were troubled before you knew about me. Please tell me what had distressed you so.”

  At first Victoria thought Cindy would refuse. Then, she realized the girl was trying to speak but her lips were trembling.

  “When Sonny’s brother Sam and cousin Kirk came, I thought they were both handsome. Kirk is sixteen but he talked to me as if I was his age. Then, one day he asked me to go walking by the creek with him. I was so excited. I thought it was like stepping out and being courted.”

  She sobbed. “Stupid me. He had other things in mind. When I resisted, he called me names. Some I’d never heard before but I’m sure they were dirty and mean. I ran home.”

  “I’m so sorry that happened to you, Cindy. He should be flogged or worse.”

  “Every time he saw me after that, he’d say something mean no one else could hear. They ate with us so I couldn’t avoid him. I was so glad when they left.”

  Why she had a crawling sensation up her spine she didn’t know. “Did Sonny know?”

  Cindy brushed at her tears. “I didn’t think so at first. The last day I heard Sonny laugh with Sam and Kirk about me. I was surprised Sonny knew and that he would laugh about how his cousin acted. Since then I steer clear of him, too.”

  A cold chill seized Victoria. “This is important. Can you recall exactly what Sonny said to his brother and cousin?”

  Cindy shook her head. “I was so upset that they were laughing at me that I didn’t listen to all of it. Something about the Hardys and a surprise coming. I ran to my room.”

  “My word, I wonder if Sonny is part of the rustlers. I can’t think of any other explanation for his comment, can you?”

  Cindy looked up and grew pale again. “Oh no, I should have listened to everything. Now he’s with Papa and Miguel and Kansas and they don’t know Sonny is a rustler. What can we do?”

  “Nothing except pray God watches over them. We have to have faith God will protect your father. We must trust your father to know how to overcome the rustlers. Your father is a smart man and very capable. Miguel and Kansas are clever men also.”

  All the same, Victoria retrieved the key and got down the gun box. To be safe, she put the revolver in her skirt pocket. It was so large she hoped it wouldn’t tear the fabric. Although she hoped she was being silly, she felt better with the loaded gun in her possession.

  Greg led the way with Miguel close. Sonny and Kansas followed. They reached the spot where they believed the rustled cattle had turned off. They slowed and kept watch for a likely turn off for the rustlers.

  Riding while staring at the edge of the road slowed them. They traveled for several miles.

  Greg hoped only his foreman heard, “Miguel?”

  “Sí, I see it. Careful.”

  Greg didn’t think the other two would have heard the exchange. He pretended not to see the cattle whose brand he recognized as his. He rode past then turned his horse off to go behind the cabin nearby. Three horses were in a lean-to attached to the cabin. He and Miguel rode to a small copse of trees before they dismounted and pulled their rifles free of the saddle scabbard.

  Sonny and Kansas followed to the trees.

  Sonny was grinning as he pulled his rifle from the leather scabbard attached to his saddle.

  His smile died when he realized three rifles pointed at him. “Hey, why are you aiming those at me. Remember I work for the outfit.”

  Greg looked him in the eye. “Yeah, but you’re working for the wrong outfit and rustled cattle. You want to live, toss down your rifle and sidearm on the right side of your horse.”

  Sonny didn’t have to think about it long before he complied. “What tipped you off? Was it that girl of yours, Cindy?”

  Kansas shook his head. “It was you. You aren’t careful what you say. And, you insisted I fix the fence while you chased after the cattle and pretended to lose the trail. You aren’t as clever as you think you are. I felt like stabbing you last night while you slept.”

  Hearing his daughter’s name mentioned increased Greg’s rage. He sure as heck wanted to know what prompted that remark. “Sonny, get down from your horse on the left side. Stand still while I tie your hands. I’m so angry that you’ll be smart not to give me an excuse to shoot you.” Greg bound the cowboy’s hands behind him.

  “Hey, that’s too tight. I can’t feel my fingers.”

  “I don’t want to hear your bellyaching.” He gagged Sonny with his own neckerchief then led Sonny to a tree and tied his feet together.

  “To be sure you don’t wander from your nice shady spot, I’m tying you to the tree.” Greg removed Sonny’s boots, which included a knife.

  Greg removed the knife and set the boots near the horses. “I’m sure you won’t mind sitting in your socks with no boots while we call on your kin.” He looped his arm through the rest of the coil of rope so it hung from his shoulder.

  They circled to the side of the cabin without a window and approached cautiously. When they were at the wall, Greg and the other two separated. He peeked around the corner and made out a window frame. He waited until the others were in position. He hoped that the other rustlers were in the cabin and not outside.

  The privy door opened and Greg aimed at the belly of the young man stepping from the outhouse. Hard to say who was most surprised.

  The man resembled Sonny but looked younger. Greg had never seen him but the kid raised his hands. When Greg was near, the young man dived for Greg.

  Greg fired and shots rang out from inside the house and outside. Greg shoved his rifle stock into the young man’s head and the man dropped to the damp ground. Greg quickly used the man’s silk neckerchief to bind his hands. He removed the man’s boots. With the rope he had carried he tied the man’s feet and suspended him through the hole in the outhouse cinched around a corral post.

  “You’d better hope that post holds while we finish up with the others.”

  That used all of the rope he’d carried but Manuel and Kansas had more on their saddles. He hurried to the window to see what had happened inside. Manuel had Sonny’s brother Sam against the wall with hands raised.

  Kansas was bleeding from his shoulder but he had Kirk in his sites. Kansas wobbled as if he was going to pass out and Kirk rushed him. Greg couldn’t fire without risking Kansas.

  The kid fired at Miguel and made a dash for the door. The foreman fired at him and quickly cold-cocked Sam. Greg fired at Kirk but the boy was fast out the door. By the time Greg ran around the cabin the kid was riding off on one of the horses from the lean-to. Kirk rode hanging low, Indian style so Greg couldn’t hit him.

  Greg ran to
his horse and rode after the boy. That’s how Greg had thought of him because Kirk couldn’t have been over sixteen or seventeen. He recalled what he’d been doing at that age—he’d been a soldier killing men for no other reason than they thought differently from him.

  He’d thought he was through killing. Now he had to catch this kid. He was angry—too angry. If Kansas died, he feared he’d kill Kirk with his bare hands unless the kid killed him first.

  They raced but Greg couldn’t seem to gain on him. The younger man turned and fired at Greg and missed. Kirk was lighter and his horse rested. The distance between them widened.

  Greg continued his pursuit. Kirk was a speck in the distance, but Greg pushed on and wondered where the kid was headed. He didn’t want to be ambushed, which slowed him more.

  Victoria tried to keep busy enough that she couldn’t worry about Greg, Miguel, and Kansas. She’d have to spin like a top to accomplish that. Her husband remained in her thoughts.

  When she decided to become a mail-order bride, she reconciled herself to a marriage without love. She’d hoped for fondness. Now she realized she had developed more than that for her husband.

  Cindy was worried her father. “If anyone is hurt it will be my fault.”

  Approaching her eldest, Victoria hugged the girl. “If anyone is hurt it will be Sonny’s fault. I’m so angry with him and disappointed. He sat at our table and ate with us. He even slept in our home last night after he sheltered here in the cellar. All that time he was cheating us. How he could do that, I don’t know.”

  “Did you know Papa gives the men who work for him a percentage of the profit at the end of the year? I don’t think other ranchers do that.”

  “Your father is a fine man, the best man I’ve ever known. He should have only good things happen to him.”

  Cindy rested her head on Victoria’s shoulder. Victoria was tall, but Cindy was only a few inches shorter.

  Cindy said, “I’m glad you married Papa. You’re a good mother. We need you.”

  She hugged her daughter. “Oh, Cindy, you have no idea what pleasure you’ve given me. I wanted so much for us to be friends.”