by Becky Lower
She’d have to figure out a way to not let anyone stare into her eyes until she cut her lashes. Samantha pulled the brim of her hat down low over her eyes. She might be able to shear her hair without a mirror, but she didn’t want to trim her eyelashes without seeing what she was doing. If her hat were low, she’d only seem mysterious, not feminine. She’d keep her distance from everyone and work hard as a Pony Express rider. One more year—eleven months and thirteen days to be exact—until she became legal. She could do this.
Evening was closing in, and Samantha found a spot in the woods where she was hidden by brush. She opened her knapsack and pulled out the last of her food stash. She savored the beef jerky and cornbread, her final ties to Aunt Hilda.
“I miss you and Momma every day, Aunt Hilda,” she whispered as she tried to get comfortable on the hard ground. “I’m going to miss your good cooking. But I am getting kind of excited about my next adventure. Won’t it be fun to be in a position where I don’t have to listen to a man tell me where we’re going to live and what we’re going to do? I can make my own way in the Wild West. It may take its toll on women, but men fare better. I can be a man for a year. A Pony Express rider.”
Maybe if she kept repeating it to herself, she’d eventually come to believe it. She pulled her jacket tightly over herself and forced her eyes to close. She’d be in St. Joseph in the morning. Her future awaited.
• • •
Valerian strode into the offices of the Pony Express. The horses were being offloaded by the Lafontaine brothers, but Valerian had been given the task of announcing their arrival to Mr. Russell, which suited him just fine. He had business of his own to take care of with Mr. Russell. In his gut, he understood the significance of this most recent addition to American history. Some of the riders would become legends, and he wanted to be one of them. He’d told Joseph he’d head to the Patee House and check in with William Russell about the horses. But what he really wanted was to sign up before his brother-in-law could stop him.
Not only did he have the experience the Pony Express was looking for, but he also fit with their description of a rider. He had cursed his luck being on the small side his entire life instead of tall and strapping like his brothers, but now it was working to his advantage. Plus, with his connection to the Lafontaines and their horses, he didn’t think he’d be turned down as a rider. But he didn’t want to chance being left out because he was late to the sign-up.
Valerian stepped into the offices of the Express ahead of the line of men waiting to be interviewed. He had to tell the man in charge about the horses being offloaded from the railcar. Plus, he wanted a job. He eyed the tough, rough-around-the-edges man behind the desk. “Valerian Fitzpatrick, reporting for duty, Mr. Russell. Your horses have just arrived and I want to stay and ride with the Pony Express.” He tipped his hat and grinned at the man, hoping for a return smile.
“We’ll see,” the man gruffly replied. “Fitzpatrick, eh? Aren’t you related to those half-breeds, the Lafontaines?”
“Yes, sir, Joseph is my brother-in-law, and I’ve been helping his family out with the horses for a year now. They’ve taught me well how to survive in the wild. We’ve just arrived on the train with our first railcar full of horses.”
“What’s your background?”
“Been rounding up and breaking horses for a year now in the part of Kansas where you’re running the Express route. I can find my way along the trail with my eyes closed.”
“Well, since my riders will be galloping through the land by night sometimes, they’d best know their way around with their eyes closed.”
William Russell’s gaze studied Valerian from his hat to his boots. Valerian tried not to squirm under the scrutiny.
“You’ll need every bit of that knowledge of the trail when you carry the mail.”
“Does that mean you’re giving me the job?”
“Yep, son, it does. You can do the leg from Seneca to Marysville for starters. It’s eighty miles long, so expect to be in the saddle, riding at a gallop, for at least eight hours at a stretch. All I need you to do is sign our oath and then go next door and gather up your duds and your Bible.”
“What kind of oath are you talking about?”
“The Pledge every Pony Express rider has to sign before he gets hired. We won’t abide the use of profanity, there is to be no drinking, and no quarreling or fighting with other employees. You must conduct yourself honestly, be faithful in your duties, and win the confidence of your employer.”
“Is that all?” Valerian grinned as he picked up the man’s pen to sign the oath. “I’m surprised you didn’t ask for my firstborn.”
The man glanced up at him. “Do you have a firstborn? You’re supposed to be an orphan, with no family to speak of.”
“Only parents, siblings, and an Indian brother-in-law. No children.”
“We’ll overlook your family for now, since you are so familiar with the route.”
“Not only am I familiar with it already, but Joseph has also put me in charge of getting our horses to the relay posts, if that’s what you want us to do, so I’ll be riding it daily for the next couple of weeks, getting the horses in place.”
“Go on with you now, and get the railcar of horses into the corral. We don’t have time to waste. Our first run is in two weeks. Welcome aboard, son.”
Chapter 3
Samantha stood in line with nearly fifty men in front of the Pony Express stables in St. Joseph, waiting for the chance to interview for a position as a rider. At least she thought they were all men. Perhaps there was more than one trying to impersonate a man, such as she was doing. She had no idea there would be so many wanting the same chance she did. She guessed none wanted it more than she, though. None were as desperate.
A young man walked past leading two horses. A stray dog ran into the dirt road in front of the horses, startling them, and when one reared up, the bridle ripped from the man’s hand. Without thinking, Samantha reached for the horse’s bridle and brought him under control. The man held onto the other one, and nodded his head toward Samantha.
“Thanks, man. If that horse had broken free, he could have mowed down this entire line as if they were fence posts.” He stuck his hand out to her.
Be forceful, Samantha, not ladylike. She grabbed his hand and shook it. While she’d been on the road, she thought she’d perfected her walk. Now she had to remember everything else. There would be no second chances.
Deepen your voice before you answer. “I’m, uh, Sam. Sam Hughes. Nice horse flesh you’ve got here.” She ran her hand down the horse’s flank and turned her gaze to the man standing in front of her. He was short for a man, but still taller than she was. Yet even for someone on the small side, he was nicely muscled, with sandy-colored hair and piercing brown eyes. When she took his outstretched hand, she registered its strength and hoped her own return grip matched.
“Nice to meet you, Sam. I’m Valerian Fitzpatrick. You can call me Val. Maybe we’ll meet up on the Express road. I’ve already been hired by William Russell and will work the relay from Seneca to Marysville, at least to start. But I’ve got a feeling we’ll be moving all over the place, wherever we’re needed.”
“I’m hoping to be positioned even farther west of here.”
“Do you know the area?”
“I grew up in the part of Kansas the Express route will use, so I think I could do the run.”
“Well, good luck.” He took the reins back from Samantha and moved on.
Samantha—Sam, she reminded herself—had passed her first test. Val Fitzpatrick, with his magnificent horses, hadn’t questioned if she was a man. He’d accepted her as Sam Hughes. She breathed a sigh of relief.
The line slowly inched forward, their movement so slow they didn’t even kick up any dust. There was dust aplenty, though, as riders trotted by on the busy dirt road, the stagecoach lumbered out on its way west from the hotel, and covered wagons drove by, searching for the next wagon train out of to
wn. By noon, it was finally her turn. She swallowed the dust that had made its way into her throat and stood in front of the man who’d concocted the idea of the Pony Express. He had already closed his book.
“Sorry. We filled the last position a few minutes ago. We’ve got the eighty riders we need for this part of the route. We’ll probably be hiring more later on if you want to check back in a couple months.”
Samantha couldn’t speak. She blinked, nodded at Mr. Russell, and moved away from the table so he could tell the next man the same news. What could she do now? She couldn’t hang around St. Joe for a few months. She needed to get as far away from here as she could. Fighting against the panic threatening to overwhelm her again, she walked outside the big Patee House where the Pony Express had its offices, and stood in the cold, March air, her eyes on the ground.
“So, are you now an Express rider?”
Sam’s eyes came up. It was the same man she’d met earlier. Valerian. Val. He had another pair of horses, which he was leading to the corral.
“No, they have enough riders for now.”
“So what will you do?”
“I don’t know. I hadn’t thought beyond joining the Express.”
Val stared at her for a long minute, his glance moving from her head to her toes. Samantha tried her best not to flinch at his gaze. Had he figured out already she was a girl? Broken through her disguise?
“Come with me.” He tied his horses to the hitching post and grabbed her by the arm, pulling her back into the Patee House.
And because she had nothing better to do, she followed. Right back to the table where Mr. Russell still sat.
“Mr. Russell, this young fella is great with horses. Don’t you need some hands at the Seneca station to take care of the stock?”
William Russell showed Samantha the same kind of appraisal Val had. She stood her ground but gritted her teeth. The man held her future in his hands.
“I’ll tell you what. If you can get yourself to Seneca before they hire all the workers they need, you can be hired on there.”
Sam let out the breath she’d been holding. “Thank you, Mr. Russell. You won’t regret it.” She stuck out her hand to him, and was relieved when his big hand enveloped hers.
“You know the pay for a stable boy isn’t as much as for a rider, don’t you? You’ll only be making fifty dollars a month.”
“That’s all right. In fact, it’s fine.”
“So, get out of here and get yourself to Seneca.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Sam and Val left the office. Once they got outside, Val let out a whoop and flung his hat in the air. Sam didn’t follow his actions, but stared at the ground again. How could she ever get to Seneca before someone else claimed her job?
• • •
“Why so glum, Sam? You’ve got a job with the Pony Express. It’s what you wanted.”
“But Mr. Russell said to get myself to Seneca before someone else showed up and claimed my job. It’s got to be seventy miles or more away.”
“A good horse will get you there in plenty of time. Where’d you leave yours?”
“I, uh, I don’t have one. I walked here.”
Valerian sensed the tension radiating off the boy’s body. He needed a job with the Express desperately, Val guessed. And Val also guessed Sam was running from something. Or someone. He had noticed the haunted appearance. Was he running from the law? He couldn’t imagine Sam had done anything to arouse the authorities. And he couldn’t figure out why he was inclined to help him anymore than he had already done. But he wanted to.
“Where’d you come from?”
“Uh. Kansas City.”
Unless Valerian totally misread things, Sam had just told a bald-faced lie. But, until Sam was willing to tell him the whole story, Val would let things slide. He thought for a moment then whacked his hat on his leg before placing it back on his head.
“Why didn’t I think of this before? I know a way you can get there faster than walking. Come with me.”
Sam cast a wary glance his way but followed him readily enough. Valerian untied his horses, handed the reins of one to Sam, and then headed toward the large barn where hundreds of horses were stabled. The scent of hay and horse filled his nostrils. He found Joseph and spilled his plan.
“Joseph, I’ve found a rider for some of your horses. Sam here needs to get to Seneca as quickly as possible, and you’ve got two horses slated to go there to be stabled. Why not let Sam ride one and lead the other? That way, he can switch off when one gets tired.”
Joseph ran his eyes over the slight boy next to Val. “How do I know you are trustworthy, Sam?”
“I can only give you my word. But you’d be doing me a huge favor, and I won’t soon forget it.”
“And he’s great with horses. He helped me when I was taking the two over to the corral this morning. Don’t you see, Joseph? It’s a perfect solution. Sam needs to get to Seneca, and you’ve got horses that need to get there.”
Joseph continued to stare at Sam, who was exhibiting nervousness under his appraisal. Val attempted to lighten the mood. “Don’t let Joseph’s Indian stare get under your skin. He gives the same hard glance to everyone he meets for the first time.”
Valerian turned to Joseph. “I’ll tell you what. If you let Sam here ride the horses out to Seneca and he takes off with them instead of showing up at the station, you can take the cost for the horses out of my pay.”
“I would rather take it out of your hide, since you are the one putting me in the middle.” Joseph finally turned to Sam and blew out his breath. “So you are good with horses?”
Sam stuck his thumbs in his waistband and swaggered. “I’ve never met a horse I didn’t like.” Valerian smiled at the confident air Sam had when he talked of horses and how his head snapped up to stare back at Joseph.
Joseph replied, “Then Valerian is correct. This is a perfect solution to our problem.”
Val didn’t miss the way Sam’s shoulders lifted, as if a huge weight had suddenly disappeared. Again, he wondered about Sam’s past. But here in the West, a man’s past was his own business. He’d leave whatever Sam was running from alone.
“When can I leave?” Sam asked as he patted the nose of the horse Joseph was working on.
“At dawn will be fine. It is a long ride, and there is no need to risk harm to yourself or the horses by riding at night.”
“Dawn it is then,” Valerian chimed in as he punched Sam lightly on the arm. “Let’s go get some grub at the hotel restaurant. My treat.”
“You don’t need to pay my way. I’ll be fine. I owe you enough already, Val. See you in the morning.”
Sam darted away before Val could say anything more. He shrugged as he stood beside Joseph. “Who in their right mind turns down a free meal?”
Joseph’s deep voice rang in Val’s ear. “Why do you want to help this boy?”
“I don’t know why. I only know I have to.”
Joseph raised an eyebrow. “You are zhawenjige, Valerian, kindhearted. In my culture, we call such feelings inendaagozi. You were fated to meet. It is a sign.”
“A sign of what?”
“That is what you will have to find out.”
Chapter 4
Samantha couldn’t believe her luck. Who would have thought a simple, reflexive action such as getting a horse under control so he wouldn’t upend a row of people would result in the most fortunate break of her life?
For the first time in two years, she inhaled deeply of the morning air as she moved the two horses out of the barn. When she’d taken the reins to the unruly horse yesterday, she’d taken back the reins of her life. Wrestled them away from Uncle Jack. Although she really appreciated Aunt Hilda coming to her rescue when her parents died and while she lay near death herself, Samantha had hated every moment of the intervening months she’d spent escaping Uncle Jack’s filthy paws and his drunken breath. Aunt Hilda had stepped in more than once to keep her safe, but now even that
small line of defense had been taken from her.
She’d hiked the twenty miles from Uncle Jack’s cabin in the wilderness to the big city of St. Joseph, but being on a horse would open up even more room between them. Until she turned eighteen, she was technically a ward of Uncle Jack’s, and the law was on his side. He could come after her. He would come after her. She had no doubt about it. And if Seneca were not far enough away, she’d keep running. As far and as fast as she could. She’d offer to shuttle the horses from one relay post to the other until she was so far west Uncle Jack would never find her.
She smiled as she settled into the saddle. Meeting Valerian and his brother-in-law, Joseph, was a fortunate development. She’d spent her entire life on the Kansas prairie before moving in with Aunt Hilda and Uncle Jack in Missouri, so she could spot an Indian, even a half-breed, a mile away. Even before Valerian had commented on Joseph’s Indian heritage, she had pieced it together. He had all the markings—long, straight, black hair; a strong profile; tall; broad shoulders.
He was a handsome man, she had to admit. But for Valerian to acknowledge him as a brother-in-law spoke to her louder than Joseph’s looks about the younger man’s integrity. Val had shown up this morning at the stables to see her off. He had a lot riding on this trip of hers, and had placed faith in her word. He would probably be a good ally, and he was handsome, too, in his own way, but she realized she’d be better off at this stage in her life not forming an alliance with him. For the next eleven months and twelve days, she could only count on herself. She’d be the best damn stable boy Seneca had ever seen. Or maybe Marysville, if she could get farther away from civilization. Or beyond.
She shook her head as she coaxed the horse out of a teeth-jarring trot into a gentle lope. The second horse ran alongside, both horses and rider enjoying the exercise. Samantha breathed deeply, the cold, March air offering the sweet smell of a hint of spring.