by Kit Morgan
Text copyright ©2017 by the Author.
This work was made possible by a special license through the Kindle Worlds publishing program and has not necessarily been reviewed by Debra Holland. All characters, scenes, events, plots and related elements appearing in the original Montana Sky remain the exclusive copyrighted and/or trademarked property of Debra Holland, or their affiliates or licensors.
For more information on Kindle Worlds: http://www.amazon.com/kindleworlds
Gifts of Love
The Joneses of Morgan’s Crossing, Book 4
(A Montana Sky World Novella)
by
Kit Morgan
Dear Reader,
Welcome to Montana Sky Series Kindle World, where authors write books set in my 1880s and 1890s “world” of Sweetwater Springs and Morgan’s Crossing, Montana. Aside from providing the backdrop of setting and stock townsfolk, I haven’t contributed to the stories. The authors bring their own unique vision and imagination to the KW books, sometimes tying them into their own series.
Gifts of Love is written by Kit Morgan. I first met Kit at a writer’s conference in San Antonio, Texas in 2014. Conferences are a great place for authors to meet, network and get to know one another. It’s one thing to interact on social media, quite another to do it in person – not to mention a lot more fun. Right after meeting Kit, we got our picture taken together with some handsome cowboys, two other authors and a chicken – a toy chicken, Kit’s idea. And that’s Kit for you. She writes with a lot of humor and her books are known for being fun and whimsical. She’s also a very prolific writer, something her readers enjoy and I’m in awe of. Like me, Kit likes to dabble in the fantasy romance genre.
Have fun reading Kit’s fourth contribution to my world.
Debra Holland
Table of Contents
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
About the Author
One
The Jones Ranch, outside Morgan’s Crossing, Montana, late August 1891
“Do you trust him?”
Jess Jones noted the seriousness in his cousin Anson’s voice. “If Michael Morgan says we can, then I’m going to take his word for it. Jonas Cummings worked for him how long?”
Anson shrugged. “About six months, I guess. Still, there’s something about a man that keeps to himself.”
Jess and Anson leaned against the fence rails of the corral and watched Jonas expertly lasso a young colt. “He’s mighty good with horses,” Jess said. “So what if he keeps to himself? At least he doesn’t have to ask a lot of questions. He knows his stuff, Anson.”
“True,” Anson agreed with a nod. “I guess maybe I like folks that flap their gums – like you.”
Jess looked affronted. “Who says I flap my gums?”
“I do. But I suppose it’s on account of your wife. You have to do enough talking for the both of you.”
Jess laughed. His wife Lillie had lost most of her hearing. When Jess spoke to her, everyone on the ranch knew it. Unfortunately for Jess and Lillie, some things were meant to be unheard. “Which of us is going to Sweetwater Springs to pick up my little sister?” Jess asked, changing the subject.
Anson chuckled, shaking his head. “She’s your sister.”
“And your cousin.”
The sound of a baby’s wail from the main house caught their attention. Anson sighed heavily. “Sounds like mine.”
Jess slapped him on the back. “Don’t worry, Viola’s in the house.”
“No one warned us fatherhood would be so tough.” Anson rubbed his tired eyes. His son Trent was only six weeks old; Jess and Lillie’s daughter Bella was barely two weeks younger. Both fathers were plumb tuckered out.
And they weren’t the only ones. Caleb White, their ranch hand, had married a woman he’d met on the train while on his way to come work for them, and got two stepchildren, Wylie and Katie in the bargain. Their mother Viola was now eight months pregnant and exhausted from helping the two new mothers.
This had led the men to call for reinforcements. Jess’s younger sister Luella was on her way to Montana from Clear Creek, Oregon. When Anson’s father, Seth Jones, received Anson’s letter, he showed it to his brother, Ryder, who in turn showed it to his daughter, Luella. Luella, twenty years old and unmarried, jumped at the chance to leave Clear Creek for a change of scenery and a purpose. She liked taking care of other people.
Her parents, Ryder and Constance, had an ulterior motive. They knew the supply of eligible young bachelors in Clear Creek had dried up of late, and hoped their daughter would have better luck landing herself a husband near Morgan’s Crossing, which was newer than her hometown. Frontier towns usually had a lot more unattached men.
Another high-pitched wail. Now Jess cringed. “Okay, that was definitely Bella.”
“Yeah, she squalls a lot better than little Trent.”
Jess nodded and sighed. “All right – since Lulubell’s my sister, I’ll fetch her. But I don’t like leaving Lillie and the baby so long.” His eyes drifted back to Jonas in the corral, leading the colt around in a circle and talking to it softly. “What sort of supplies do we need?”
“I’ll have to make a list. Right now I can hardly think. When is Caleb supposed to be back from town?”
“Should be a few hours. But you know I’m talking about going to Sweetwater Springs? Since I have to make the trip I might as well pick up a few things we can’t get here, and order anything we need that they don’t have there.”
“We should order a plow.” Anson glanced at Jonas. “You could take Cummings with you. He can help with the supplies and keep you company on the trip over. I’m sure Luella will talk both your ears off on the trip back.”
Jess laughed. If there was one thing his little sister could do, it was talk. Not that anyone minded – she had a quick wit and told good stories. “She might even get Jonas to open up.”
Anson watched Jonas continue to work with the colt. “Good luck with that. I hope Mr. Morgan has forgiven us for stealing one of his workers away.”
“Michael doesn’t mind – having Jonas come here opened up another place in the mine. I’m sure Clyde Rossmore filled it in no time. Besides, cousin, having to hire another hand means we’re doing well. And it looks like we’ll have to hire more soon.”
Anson smiled and slapped him on the back. “Too true. Now what say we go make that list?”
They turned toward the house. The sound of crying babies had stopped, but who knew when it would start again? “Let’s make it fast,” Jess suggested.
“Good idea.”
It didn’t take long for the men to figure out what they needed that could only be obtained elsewhere. The railroad hadn’t come to Morgan’s Crossing yet, so major purchases had to be made or ordered in Sweetwater Springs – a four-day round trip from Morgan’s Crossing and the Jones Ranch. A series of cabins along the route gave travelers a place to sleep before continuing on. Throw in an overnight stay in town, and even in perfect weather you lost the better part of a week on the journey.
Granted, whoever made the trip would also miss listening to wailing babies and grouchy wives. But neither Jess nor Anson could stand to be away from their families for that long (grouchy or not). Still, one of them had to go – Luella was family, so neither of them f
elt right sending Caleb or Jonas Cummings.
Jonas … now there was a puzzle. He’d come to Morgan’s Crossing in January and found a job in the mines. Michael Morgan, the mine owner, noticed Jonas was good with horses, mentioned it to Anson one day and the rest was history. But neither of the Joneses knew him well – and frankly, neither did Mr. Morgan. No one seemed to.
Jess had that in mind when he said, “I think I’d best make the trip on my own. I have a feeling you’ll need all the help you can get while I’m gone.”
Anson shoved the list across the kitchen table. “I suppose you’re right. I want Jonas to help me finish a few things on the new house. Sure you don’t mind?”
“Are you kidding? Of course not.” Jess and Lillie had been living in the main house with Anson and his wife Zadie since Caleb and Viola married last Christmas and moved into the small cabin next to it. The Joneses’ first priority had been to add two bedrooms onto the cabin – one for Caleb and Viola, the other for Katie and Wiley. They’d hired men from town and got it done in no time, then started building Jess and Lillie’s home – a two-bedroom cabin not much bigger than Caleb and Viola’s, but it was all they needed.
Of course, neither was like the main house – a pretty, two-story, three-bedroom Queen Anne house, complete with a turret. Zadie had taken one look at Michael and Prudence Morgan’s home in Morgan’s Crossing, fallen in love with it and begged Anson to build her a similar house. A good thing, too, or now they wouldn’t have room for everyone living on the ranch. Actually, they still didn’t have room – Jonas had to sleep in the barn at present.
The ranch had grown by leaps and bounds since it was founded a couple of years before. Seth and Ryder Jones owned one of the biggest horse ranches in Oregon and had grown prosperous over the years. Cousins Anson and Jess came to Morgan’s Crossing to expand the business, and wound up creating a name for themselves aside from their parents.
So the building would continue – finishing Jess and Lillie’s cabin, then a bunkhouse so Jonas could move out of the barn. And so Anson and Jess would have someplace to put more hands, which they already needed desperately.
And speaking of room for people … “I hope Luella doesn’t mind sleeping in the parlor while she’s here,” Anson said.
“We get my place done and she can stay with us,” Jess said.
“Oh no – Zadie’s going to want her in our house” Anson countered. Which was true enough – they were all tired from taking care of the four (soon to be five) children on the ranch, in addition to keeping the ranch running. When Viola’s was born, they’d have three babes in arms. Everyone wanted help, so Luella’s arrival would be a godsend.
Jess laughed. “I hope we don’t start fighting over her. Maybe she can stay a few nights in your house and a few nights in mine?”
Anson shook his head, looking worried. “I hope we don’t wear her out. She’s liable to take one look at all the work around here and run. Thank Heaven we at least have Jonas – let’s just hope he sticks around.”
Jess glanced out the kitchen window at their new hand. “Maybe we better start praying now.”
Anson nodded solemnly. “But first, let’s ask our wives if they want to add anything to this list.”
Jess nodded his agreement, and the men went upstairs to see their wives and children.
* * *
Jonas Malcolm Cummings patted the bay colt on the neck. “You’re a fine fellow,” he said softly. The colt was barely two years old and skittish, but most thoroughbreds were. He didn’t know why the Joneses had bred such an animal for this part of the country, but they were professional breeders and knew what they were doing. Jonas knew how to break and handle a horse – when it came to fancy bloodlines and such, he was ignorant.
But he did know a good horse when he saw one. And this was a good horse.
He led the colt to the other side of the corral and freed it from the makeshift halter he’d fashioned from the lasso. “Go on, git.” He gave the animal a smack on the rear. The young horse cantered across the corral, circled around and came right back to him. “Oh, it’s like that, is it?” he said with a laugh and patted the horse again. “Well, if it’s any consolation, I like you too.”
He glanced at the main house of his employers. “I just hope they like me,” he added. “I need this job. Anything beats working in the mines – I’m not cut out for close quarters. I’d rather be out in the open with you.”
The horse nickered as if he understood, but Jonas knew better. The colt was hoping for a treat. “Sorry, boy, I don’t have anything with me today. Maybe tomorrow.”
The colt snorted and trotted off.
Jonas smiled at his departure and coiled the rope in his hand. He’d been working for the Joneses only a month, and just as he told the horse, he wanted to keep this job. When he first arrived in Morgan’s Crossing, he took a job in the mines because it was the only thing available and he had to eat. The pay wasn’t any different working here, but at least he was outdoors. He hated dark enclosed spaces – he could bear them, he just preferred not to be in them.
But being hidden away in a dark mine all day was better than being out in the open and getting spotted. The last thing he needed was trouble. He was done with it, had been running from it and didn’t need any more. His motto was to keep low, keep quiet and keep himself alive – it had worked well so far, and he was determined to make sure it kept working. He’d served his time in prison and didn’t fancy going back.
If he’d been smart, he never would’ve wound up there in the first place. But no, he had to listen to his stupid brothers and help them rob a stagecoach. He was the youngest of four – ten years separated him from Thomas, the next youngest. Thomas, in turn, was two years younger than Chester, who was two years younger than Clyde. He had naively admired his brothers, having no idea that they’d taken to a life of crime like fish to water.
So Clyde got them all into trouble and himself an appointment with a hangman’s noose. Chester and Thomas each landed in prison with thirty-year sentences. Jonas got off easy – five years – because the judge considered him just an accomplice, as he’d only helped rob one stage. Chester and Thomas had aided Clyde with loftier crimes, like kidnapping and bank robbery. Clyde was the only one who’d pulled off a murder.
Keep low, keep quiet, keep himself alive – and make sure the Joneses never found out about his past. That’s what would keep him working, doing what he loved and out of trouble.
Two
Luella Jones peered out the window at the platform as the train pulled into the station. From the looks of it, Sweetwater Springs was about the same size as Clear Creek, give or take a building. She switched her focus to the people waiting on the platform. Her big brother Jess should be among them somewhere.
With a screech of wheels, the train came to a stop. Luella abandoned her search long enough to retrieve her satchel from the overhead rack. Passengers began to disembark and she followed along, hoping she looked all right. Wisps of her light auburn hair escaped their pins on a daily basis and were a constant nuisance the whole trip. At home she didn’t mind, but traveling made it worse.
“Lulubell!”
Luella rolled her eyes. “Will you not call me that in public?” She turned to her right, saw Jess and smiled. “But I guess I’ll forgive you.” She threw her arms around her big brother. “How are you?”
Jess hugged her back, picked her up off the ground and swung her in a circle. “Great now that you’re here!” He set her on her feet and let her go.
“That bad, huh? The children keeping you up?”
Jess nodded. It was, after all, the reason she was there. “Anson’s in worse shape than I am.”
“You and Anson? What about your wives – they’re the ones that had the babies.”
Jess shrugged sheepishly. “True I remember having this same conversation with Caleb’s wife Viola.”
“See, she knows what I’m talking about. Where’s the wagon?”
“Anxious to get started?” he asked.
“I’m anxious for a hot bath. You said in your letter we’d have to spend the night here when I got in. So where’s the hotel?”
“Not far. And you’re in luck – for an extra charge you can have a hot bath.”
“Good – I need one. Especially if it’s a two-day trip to the ranch.”
“If our parents could visit and make it okay, so can you,” he said.
“Who said anything about Mother and Father? I’m not some wilting flower, Jess, and you know it.”
“No, that you’re not,” he agreed. “The wagon’s this way.” He took her satchel.
“And my trunks are that way.” She pointed.
“Trunks!”
“You heard me. Now come along.” She spun on her heel and headed for the growing pile of baggage two porters were handling amidst an equally growing crowd. “Mine are the big blue ones.”
Her brother scanned the stacks. “Good grief, are you planning on moving in?”
Luella put her hands on her hips. “Jess Jones, who knows how long I’ll have to stay and help? Would you rather I get back on the train?”
“No!” he said in a panic.
“Very well, then, let’s get my trunks and go. I’m dying for that bath.
He gave her his signature big-brother look – not quite grinding his teeth, but not smiling either – and followed her to the stacks of luggage and waiting passengers. After retrieving her trunks, he loaded them into the wagon bed, making a show of wiping his brow and going weak in the knees, then helped her onto the wagon seat.
“You haven’t changed a bit,” she commented. “I would think married life would have calmed your jesting.”
“Ha! Never.” He climbed up beside her, gave the horses a slap of the reins and headed for the hotel. “I have business to attend to – we need some supplies for the ranch. Do you think you can postpone your soaking until I’m done?”