Pony Express Special Delivery

by Rhonda Gibson

  * * *

  Clayton carried his meager belongings into the ranch house. His room was next door to Maggie’s. A door connected the two rooms. She’d explained that before Jack had died, he’d had the door put in so that they would have their new baby close when he was born.

  He heard Maggie talking to Dinah in the little girl’s bedroom across the hall, so he continued through Maggie’s room and into his own. On the ride back to the ranch, they’d agreed to keep the fact that theirs was a marriage of convenience a secret from the children and the ranch hands. He opened the adjoining door and stepped into the room.

  It was small with a small bed and dresser. He laid his belongings on the bed and looked about. Better than the barn, he reminded himself as he walked over and looked out the window. He could see the well and large tree and realized his room was right over the kitchen. Soft footsteps sounded behind him.

  “If the room is too small, we can switch.” Maggie stood in the doorway.

  Clayton shook his head. “No, this is fine. It’s much nicer than the barn, and I’m sure it will be warmer also.”

  Maggie nodded. “I’ll show you something.” She walked into the room. “I think you’ll like this during the winter months.” When she came to the back wall, she stopped and knelt.

  For the first time, he noticed a handle beside the wall. Intrigued, Clayton stepped closer so he could get a better view.

  She looked up and smiled. Then Maggie pulled on the handle, and a square opened up in the floor.

  Clayton looked down into the kitchen. His gaze questioned hers.

  Maggie sat back on her heels. “In the winter, you can open this and the heat from the stove will rise and warm the room. Isn’t that clever?”

  “Very.” He examined the door in the floor.

  “Jack was a kind man. He wanted to make sure that the baby didn’t get too cold up here. So he cut a hole in the floor and then made the door to cover it so that it’s hidden, unless you know where to look.” She smiled up at him.

  She was beautiful. Her hair still hung about her shoulders and she’d yet to change into her normal housedress. Green eyes sparkled with joy. Was the joy from sharing the door with him? Or was she reliving happy thoughts about her late husband?

  Clayton lowered the door back into place. “Maggie, would you mind telling me more about your relationship with Jack?” He held his hand out to her.

  Maggie took his hand and allowed him to help her up. She dusted off her skirt and then answered. “What would you like to know?”

  Clayton sighed. “Never mind, it’s not important.” He couldn’t understand why he’d asked about her late husband. What had he hoped to learn?

  “I don’t mind telling you, Clayton. I’m just not sure where to start.” She sat down on the edge of his bed.

  He leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. Clayton wished he’d never asked. When he was around Maggie he felt as if he did and said the stupidest things.

  Maggie smiled at him. “I believe I told you I arrived here as a mail-order bride. Jack wanted an heir to leave this ranch to, and I needed a roof over Dinah’s head. Jack was a good man. He treated me right, doted on Dinah, and then when he found out about the baby...well, he became even kinder. He added the door and then opened the floor to let in heat for the child.” She looked to her folded hands.

  Clayton said, “He sounds like a wonderful man.”

  “He was.” She looked up. “Jack wanted the best for baby James. He cared about family.”

  Clayton saw the troubled look cross her face. “Is that why Gus was working on the ranch?”

  Maggie nodded. “Gus showed up one night and told Jack he needed a loan. Jack would give the shirt off his back to anyone he thought needed help, so you can imagine my surprise when he refused to give Gus money but told him he’d hire him on as a ranch hand.” She walked over to the window and looked down at the ground. “Gus was madder than an old bull. He yelled so loud that Dinah and I could hear him all the way up here. Said he was kin and that as kin Jack owed him.”

  Clayton picked up his Bible and put it on top of the dresser. “What did Jack say to that?”

  He opened his saddlebags and pulled out his clothes.

  “Said he didn’t owe Gus anything. Asked if he wanted the job or not.”

  He nodded. “And Gus took the job.”

  “Yes, but he immediately began bossing the other men around and even tried to tell Jack how to raise cattle. But Jack was patient with him.” She turned from the window. “Then when Jack died, Gus told me that the ranch was rightfully his. I refused to argue with him. Jack had told me he’d been to town and had drawn up papers with the lawyer there. After the funeral, Gus and I went to the lawyer’s office and listened to the reading of the will.”

  Clayton placed his saddlebags in the bottom drawer of the dresser. “That’s when Gus discovered the ranch belonged to baby James.”

  “That was a little over three months ago. I got sick and Doc Anderson said I wasn’t to think or do anything more than take care of Dinah and myself until the baby was born.” She laid her hand on her now-flat waistline.

  “I take it that’s when Gus decided to become your foreman?”

  Maggie nodded. “I don’t think Jack would have let him stay here, if he’d known that Gus would try to take the ranch.”

  “And that’s why we need to pay him his wages and send him packin’.” Just thinking of the man irritated Clayton. How could Gus sleep at night, knowing his actions would have left Maggie and the children homeless? Didn’t the man have a conscience, or any sense of right and wrong? The more Clayton thought about it, the madder he became.

  Once more, Maggie nodded. “How soon do you think it will be before he finds out we’re married?”

  Clayton had been thinking a lot about Gus. The ranch foreman left every day. He’d learned from the other men that Gus usually rode into town. With the money from the bank payments, Clayton figured Gus was going to the saloon and either drinking or gambling the money away. Since none of the men complained he was drunk when he came back in the evenings, Clayton was pretty sure that Gus was gambling. The saloon was the meeting place for both drunks and businessmen. By now the banker or someone who worked at the bank had undoubtedly already spread the news. “He probably already knows.”

  “Do you really think so?” She wrung her hands in front of her. Worry creased her brow.

  Clayton crossed the room and pulled her into a hug. “Don’t fret, we’ll do this together.”

  “Sissy, baby James is crying.” Dinah walked into the room.

  Maggie pushed against Clayton’s chest. She stepped back and smiled at the little girl. “Thank you, Dinah.” Then she hurried from the room.

  Dinah followed. “You’re welcome. I think he’s hungry. I’m hungry, too.” Her voice drifted farther away. “Now that Clayton lives here, too, will you be sleeping in your bedroom again? With baby James?”

  Maggie’s voice was muffled. Clayton walked to the doorway and tried to hear her answer. But her soft voice was too muted to hear her reply. Why had she moved into Dinah’s bedroom with her? Had she been worried she would go into labor in the middle of the night and need the little girl to run to the bunkhouse and let Gus know? That made sense, but she’d had the baby over a week ago. Why hadn’t she moved back into her bedroom earlier?

  Chapter Seven

  Maggie relaxed in her favorite rocker in the sitting room. She listened as Clayton read the story of Jonah and the whale to Dinah. Clayton read with such enthusiasm and animation that Dinah was mesmerized. Maggie hoped he knew Dinah would be requesting he read more stories.

  The two were so cute sitting on the settee with the Bible in their laps. Maggie picked up her knitting needles and the stocking hat she was making for James. She loved the pale blue.
The color would bring out the blue in the baby’s eyes even more.

  As she added stitches, Maggie marveled at the changes in her life during the last year. Her first husband had died, her son had been born and today she’d remarried. A year ago, she’d been happy just knowing that she and Dinah had a roof over their heads. The fire crackled comfortingly, but it couldn’t quell the uneasy feeling of knowing that soon Gus Fillmore would have to be confronted and fired as the ranch foreman.

  As if her fears were coming to life, the sound of boots pounded across the front porch. It was late for visitors, and the only person who would come to the house at this time would be Gus. She looked across the room at Clayton, grateful for his presence. Knowing Gus, the situation was bound to escalate.

  Clayton closed the Bible and said, “Dinah, why don’t you head upstairs? It’s getting late.”

  Someone pounded on the wood, causing Dinah to jump. The little girl’s gaze moved to the front door. She looked up at Clayton.

  “Go on, I’ll take care of our late-night visitor.”

  Dinah grabbed him and hugged tightly. Then she released Clayton and smiled. “All right.” She slid off the settee and looked to Maggie.

  Maggie gave what she hoped was a reassuring smile at her little sister. “I’ll be up in a few minutes to say good-night prayers. Get ready for bed, and then you can play with your baby doll until I come up.”

  The knocking on the door began again. Dinah dashed up the stairs.

  When she was safely in her room, Clayton pulled the door open.

  Gus stood with both hands resting on the doorjambs, one on each side. His head had been hanging down between his outstretched arms. He looked up and frowned.

  Maggie stood to the side where she could see everything the two men did and hear every word. Gus glared at Clayton. His sides heaved as if he’d run to the house.

  “Gus, is something wrong?” She took a step closer to the door but caught the slight shake of Clayton’s head, so she stepped back to the rocker.

  Gus dropped his arms to his side. “I’ve come to talk some sense into you.”

  Clayton continued to block him from coming inside.

  Cold air entered unbidden through the open door. Maggie rubbed her arms. “What do you mean?”

  Realizing that Clayton had no intentions of inviting him inside, Gus huffed, “I hear you got married in town today.” His tone was accusing.

  Clayton finally spoke. “That’s right. And, we’ve been talking and now that I’m Maggie’s husband and living here on the ranch, we no longer need a ranch foreman.”

  Gus’s head snapped backward as if he’d been punched. “He’s speaking for you now?” he demanded, his gaze locking with hers.

  Maggie straightened her shoulders and stood a little taller. “No. I should have fired you months ago. You are a thief, Gus Fillmore, and if Jack were alive—” She let the rest of her words hang in the air.

  Clayton’s back stiffened and his legs locked into place.

  Gus didn’t deny that he was a thief. Instead, he balled his fists and took a swing at Clayton’s face.

  Maggie realized Clayton had anticipated Gus’s next move. Her quick-witted new husband ducked and then punched Gus in the stomach. She gasped and then covered her mouth to contain any other noises that might erupt and scare the children upstairs.

  The foreman doubled over with a grunt and stumbled back a few steps. Clayton followed him and shut the door behind them.

  Maggie rushed to the window and watched as Gus continued to back off the porch. Clayton kept his fist balled and his gaze locked on the former foreman. “You’re fired, Fillmore.”

  “You can’t fire me. I quit.”

  Clayton stepped to the edge of the porch. “I just did. Don’t step foot on James’s ranch again.”

  Gus spun on his heels. “I’ll get my things and be out of here.”

  Maggie could only assume he was headed to the bunkhouse. Clayton said, “Leave now, Gus. I’ll send your things to town in a few days.”

  Gus snarled over his shoulder, “You can’t do this, Young.”

  Clayton crossed his arms over his chest and didn’t answer.

  Maggie watched from the window as Gus climbed on his horse, which had been tied to the hitching post. Had he come straight from town and not even taken the time to put away his horse? It seemed that way.

  Gus snarled, “I’ll be at the Grand Hotel. If you don’t supply my personal belongings by tomorrow night, expect a visit from the sheriff.”

  Clayton nodded. “I would love a visit from the sheriff. Why don’t you come, too? I’d like for you to explain to him what happened to the last three bank payments Maggie asked you to pay.”

  Gus kicked his horse in the ribs and shot across the yard. Maggie waited until he was out of sight and then opened the door. She walked out to stand beside Clayton. “He’s pretty angry. Do you think he’ll be back?”

  Warm blue eyes met hers. His voice held an edge that sent a chill down her spine. “If he’s smart, he won’t.”

  She rubbed her cold hands together. “I hate to say it, but I don’t think we’ve heard the last of him.”

  Clayton draped an arm about her shoulders. “Don’t worry about him. I’ll make sure he never bothers you or the children again.”

  Maggie wondered how he planned on keeping that pledge. She knew Gus, and he wasn’t a man to give up so easily. Clayton’s arm felt warm about her shoulders. Maggie nodded. “I’ll try not to.” Even as she said the words, Maggie knew she could no more keep her pledge than he could.

  She worried her bottom lip as they walked back to the front door. Would Clayton be able to keep Gus at bay? His pledge had sounded sincere, but in her experiences, no man had ever stayed long enough in her life to keep his promises. She wasn’t about to start hoping Clayton was any different.

  Maggie had lost all trust in men and their ability to stick around. Clayton’s promises were just as empty as those of all the other men in her life. She glanced up at his profile. What would it be like to trust him? Maggie ducked her head and fought off the intriguing thought. She hardened her heart. It was better to not trust him or any man. The thought saddened her.

  * * *

  “I’m going to walk out to the bunkhouse and update the men on what has happened today. Is there anything you want me to tell them?” Clayton opened the door.

  She stopped and turned to face him on the other side of the doorway. “Tell them I hope they will continue to work here at the ranch but if they choose to move on, I’ll understand. A couple of them are friends of Gus’s.” Maggie sighed. “I just hope we can trust them now that he is gone.”

  “I’ll tell them.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, then quickly lowered his hand. What was he thinking? They weren’t really married, and she couldn’t possibly want him to touch her in such a manner. But there was a sadness in her eyes that he couldn’t resist.

  Was she unhappy that Gus Fillmore was out of her and the kids’ lives? He shook the thought off. No, Maggie had expressed her dislike of the man earlier. Clayton found himself wanting to hug her close and chase away all her sadness.

  She lowered her head and said, “Thank you,” then proceeded into the house and up the stairs to where the children waited.

  Clayton closed the door and then hurried across the dark yard. The chill in the night air bit into his skin. He should have grabbed his coat off the nail beside the door. What was it about Maggie that made him feel as if he would protect her with his life? And that made him forget even the simplest of things, such as his coat.

  At the pace he was walking it didn’t take long for Clayton to get to the bunkhouse. He squared his shoulders and entered without knocking. The men inside looked up at him. There were questions in their eyes but none of them spoke. Not even Hal
, who normally talked his arm off.

  “Care if I join you?” he asked the room in general.

  George, the cook and man who took care of the chickens and pigs, stood. “You’re always welcome here. Would you like a cup of coffee?” He limped toward the woodstove where two coffeepots sat.

  His steps reminded Clayton that George was the oldest of the group and the man he needed the most. Seeking out counsel from the oldest man in any group was just good practice. At least that’s what his stepfather, Seth, had told him a few weeks ago. Seth had never led him astray before. Clayton intended to heed his advice.

  Remembering to answer George, Clayton nodded and said, “I’d appreciate one.” He walked farther into the room.

  The older man nodded and picked up a tin cup. He filled it from the nearest pot and then walked to Clayton. “We missed you at supper.” He handed Clayton the cup.

  What had caused the man’s limp? It hadn’t been there at breakfast. “Thank you.” Clayton took a sip, then said, “I am guessing you all know that Maggie and I got married today.” He waited for each of them to nod. “A few moments ago, I fired Gus Fillmore. He stole from the ranch and, as you all know, he has not been doing his job.”

  The men looked at each other and nodded.

  Hal spoke. “Well, I, for one, am glad to see him go.”

  Again, the men nodded. Clayton looked each of them in the eye. “Maggie wanted me to tell you that she hopes you will continue to work for the Fillmore Ranch but understands if you want to quit.”

  “I can’t speak for the rest of the men, but I’m not going anywhere,” George said. He sat down on his cot with a grunt. “Gus Fillmore wasn’t an easy man to work for, and there was no love lost from me at his departing.”

  “I agree with George. I’m staying,” Hal said. “I enjoy working with the horses.”

  Clayton couldn’t help wondering if Hal was afraid he’d change his current duties. He reassured the young man. “You do a good job with them, Hal. I can’t imagine replacing you. Glad you’re staying on.”