by Bobbi Smith
“If you need me, I’ll be ready.”
She smiled at him warmly. “Thank you. Everything else looks smooth for the rest of the day. We’ve got a freight shipment due in sometime this afternoon, but that shouldn’t be any trouble. The driver who’s bringing it in is scheduled to take it on to Eagle Rock. Do you have any questions?”
Jack was glad that she hadn’t sent him on the run with Ted. He had strict instructions from Dan to stay with her, and that would have been hard to explain without revealing the real purpose of his being there. “When are you going to need me?” he asked as the other men rose to leave.
It was on the tip of Amanda’s tongue to say “never,” but she controlled herself. “I’ll let you know.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
* * *
Isaac and Ted pulled out of town right on time, and Amanda finally allowed herself to relax for a while. The peace didn’t last long, though. Less than an hour later, the freight wagon of lumber that was bound for Eagle Rock arrived. Amanda went out to meet the driver.
“Good job,” she praised him. “You’re right on schedule.”
“Who are you?” Dave Wilson asked as he climbed down from the driver’s seat. He looked around. “Where’s Isaac?”
“Isaac’s out on a run right now. I’m Amanda Taylor. I’ll be taking over managing the stage line until my father’s able to come back to work.”
“You’re going to run the line?” He stared at her, making no effort to hide the disgust he was feeling.
“That’s right.”
“Well, lady, you’re going to have to find yourself another driver.”
“What?”
“I quit.”
She was shocked. “Why? This load has to get to Eagle Rock on time.”
“You’re the new boss. You figure it out.”
“I need your help. I want to keep the line running as close to normal as possible. You can’t just quit.”
“Sorry, but I just did. I ain’t working for no woman.”
Amanda bristled at his stupidity. “Mr. Wilson, you are an employee—”
“Who just quit. Find yourself another driver. I heard about all the trouble, and I don’t trust no damned woman to keep things going right.”
“What if there was a bonus involved for delivering this load on time?”
“No, thanks.” He turned his back on her and walked away.
Amanda hadn’t sworn often in her young life, but she did then as she watched him go. She tried to figure out what to do. With Isaac and Ted gone, it was up to her to see that the lumber got delivered.
Returning home, Amanda dug through her clothes to find what she was looking for. When she found the trousers in the back of her closet, she shed her ladylike daygown and button shoes. In the blink of an eye, she transformed herself into the girl she’d been, growing up in West Texas. Even so, though she was wearing men’s pants, boots, a long-sleeved shirt and a leather vest, there was no mistaking her for a male. The pants fit almost too perfectly, showing off the fullness of her curves and the long, slender length of her legs. Amanda knew she would draw looks when she went back to the station, but she didn’t care. She had neither the time nor the patience to worry about it. The lumber had to be delivered, and she was going to do it.
Stopping at her father’s room, Amanda peeked in to see if he was awake. She was pleased to see that Eileen had already been in, for the window shade was up and sunlight brightened his chamber.
“Papa?”
He was propped up in bed by several pillows and had glanced up when she knocked softly at the door. “Amanda . . . This Miss Hammond of yours is a wonder. Your grandmother certainly chose well when she picked her to travel with you.”
“Like her, do you?” She entered the room and crossed to the bed.
“Very much, but from the look of you, we’ve got more to talk about than Miss Hammond. What are you doing dressed like that?”
“I’m going to make the freight run to Eagle Rock.”
“Like hell you are,” he said with more energy than he’d had since being shot.
“I have to,” she countered just as stubbornly. “The driver just quit on me and the lumber has to be delivered.”
“I won’t have it.”
“Papa, I don’t want to fight about this. The lumber has to get to Eagle Rock and I’m doing the driving.”
“You can wait for Isaac and Ted to get back.”
“I can’t. This load is supposed to be delivered by late tomorrow, and as the person responsible, I intend to see that it gets there.”
“If I could just get out of this bed—”
She kissed his cheek. “Don’t worry, Papa. I’ll make the trip and be back as soon as I can.”
“Take Jack with you for protection.”
“I don’t need Jack with me.”
“You heard me, Amanda. I don’t want you on the road alone. What if something happened to you? What if the wagon broke down?”
“Then I’d ride for help. I’ll be fine.”
“You’ll take Jack with you, or I’ll get out of this bed and make the trip myself. You can send for him or I’ll do it. It doesn’t matter which one of us does it, as long as he’s on the wagon with you when you ride out of town.”
Amanda knew her father was bull-headed enough to do just what he said if she didn’t obey his wishes. “Yes, sir.”
“That’s more like it.” He settled back on the pillows.
“Are you going to be all right while I’m gone?”
“I have Miss Hammond and Maria to take care of me. I’ll be fine. You just make sure you stick close to Jack. You’ll be safe as long as you’re with him.”
“Papa, I don’t need Jack Logan to keep me safe. I can take care of myself. In fact, I was just going to ask you where my gun is. I want to take it with me.”
“It’s in the locked compartment of my gun case. Take a rifle, too.”
“I will, Papa, and I’ll see you when I get back.”
He watched as she walked from the room, and he had to admit he was proud of her. He didn’t know many women who were brave enough to take on what she had. For all that she had the knowledge and the courage to attempt to run the line without him, though, she was still a female in a man’s world, and that could be very dangerous.
Dan hoped Jack upheld his part of the bargain and kept a close watch over her. He didn’t want anything to happen to Amanda. She was too precious to him.
Amanda unlocked her father’s gun case and took out her gun and holster. The weapon felt strange when she strapped it on, but she knew she would have to get used to it. She wasn’t about to ride off into the wilds unarmed. She selected a rifle and took all the ammunition she needed. That done, she sought out Eileen and Maria and explained to them what had happened.
“I should be back within three days. The hard part is going to be getting there. The trip back without the load should be easy.”
“Is Jack riding with you?” Eileen asked, wanting to make sure she’d be protected.
“Father has insisted on his going, though I don’t know why. I could handle it on my own,” she told her.
“I’m sure you could, but why take chances? It’s far better for you to be safe. Have you told him yet?”
“No. I’m on my way there right now. I hope he can be ready to ride within the hour.”
“Be careful. We’ll be worrying about you, but with Jack along, I’m sure you’ll do fine.”
“I’m glad you have such a high opinion of him.”
“I do, but I also have a very high opinion of you. Do you realize how brave you are? Why, some of those friends you have back East wouldn’t even recognize you now, let alone believe what you’re undertaking.”
Amanda glowed under Eileen’s praise as she looked down at her clothing a bit self-consciously. “I suppose I would shock some of them, but there are others who actually took to wearing bloomers every chance they got.”
“Well, those a
re hardly bloomers you’ve got on.” Eileen eyed her figure, which looked anything but boyish in the boyish garb.
“When I was young, Papa used to let me wear boys’ clothes all the time to play in. For the work I have to do, these clothes are the only thing that’s practical. I could hardly drive a team in a daygown.”
“I agree with you. Just be careful and hurry back. I know your father will be worrying the whole time you’re gone.”
“I’ll be back, and Eileen—thanks for staying and taking care of my father.” Amanda gave her a hug, then grabbed a pair of leather work gloves and left the house. She had a lot of work to do and very little time.
“You Jack Logan?” a little boy who was about ten years old asked as he came up to Jack at the poker table in the saloon.
“Who wants to know?”
“Miz Taylor sent me over here to give this note to Jack Logan. She said he’d look like you—tall, dark-haired, kinda mean-looking—so that’s why I thought you was him.”
“I am,” Jack told him, trying not to smile at the boy’s recital of Amanda’s description. “You guessed right. What can I do for you?”
“Nothing. Miz Taylor just said to give you this.” He thrust the one-page missive at him and darted from the saloon. His mama had told him all about the evils of drinking and gambling, and he didn’t want to stay in there too long.
Jack gave his fellow poker players an apologetic look. “Excuse me for just a minute.”
He unfolded the letter and read it quickly.
“Gentlemen, I’m afraid I have some business to attend to. Thank you for an enjoyable game.”
They watched him leave and wondered what had come up to drag him away from the table. It had to be important. They’d been playing some pretty serious poker before the interruption.
Jack went straight to the stage office to seek out Amanda. As he entered, he saw her for the first time in her working clothes. His gaze was riveted upon her. He’d always known she was beautiful, but he’d had no idea just how perfect her figure was until this moment. The trousers she wore hugged her hips as if they were a second skin, and his gaze grew warm as he traced a visual path over her. Heat filled him against his wishes, and he was forced to look away from the sight of her so dressed.
“Amanda, what do you mean, you’re driving the wagon?”
“I mean just that,” she said, turning on him. She put her hands on her hips as she glared at him across the room. It had been difficult enough facing her father about this trip; the last thing she wanted to do was argue with Jack. The job had to be done, so she was going to do it. There was nobody else. “I’ll be driving, and my father insists that you come along as shotgun. How soon can you be ready to leave?”
Jack could tell just from the way she was standing before him so challengingly that there would be no talking her out of going. He could see, too, that she was wearing a gun and holster. For some reason, he thought it looked almost sexy on her. It certainly made handling her even more of a challenge, that was for sure. “I’ll be set in less than half an hour. I’ll meet you back here. Is the team ready?”
“I’ve got the stable hands harnessing them up this very minute. I’ll be ready to ride when you are.” She met his gaze levelly, daring him to say more.
“Nice gun,” Jack said. Then he turned and walked away.
He went back to his room to pack the few things he needed and to get his own sidearm and rifle. When he returned to the freight wagon, Amanda was already in the driver’s seat, leather driving gloves on, reins in hand, ready to roll. She had her own rifle propped in the driver’s box next to her.
He stared up at her. She’d donned a Stetson and looked every inch the cowgirl. He’d seen her in day dresses and evening gowns, but he’d never thought she looked more lovely than she did now. She looked wild, as if she needed to be tamed. He wondered if he was man enough for the job.
When he realized the direction of his thoughts, Jack berated himself. She was Dan’s daughter. He was her protector. He would keep his mind on business and off the thought of how great she looked in the form-fitting trousers.
Jack was scowling as he climbed up to sit next to her, his rifle in hand.
“You ready?” she asked, casting him a sidelong glance and wondering why he looked so angry.
“As I’ll ever be,” he answered, sounding annoyed.
Amanda slapped the reins against the team’s backs, and they were off, heading for Eagle Rock. With any luck, it would be a smooth, uneventful trip.
* * *
The going was slow and rough, and it was after dark when they reached the first way station.
“Who the hell are you, and where’s Dave?” Wes Bayless asked as he stood before his house, rifle in hand, eyeing Amanda and Jack. They were late in arriving, and he’d been worrying, what with all the trouble that had been going on. Now, seeing two strangers bringing in the load, he was cautious.
“Dave quit and left at San Rafael. I’m Amanda Taylor, Dan’s daughter. We didn’t have another driver available, so I decided to take this run. This is Jack Logan. He’s riding shotgun for me.”
Wes eyed her in the light coming from his cabin. “I’ll be damned. So you’re little Amanda? If this don’t beat all.” He laughed loudly. “Dan done told me all about you lotsa times, but I never thought I’d meet you driving a freight wagon. Come on in, honey. My missus has got a meal all ready and waiting. She’s been keeping it warm for you.”
“Thanks, Wes.” Amanda jumped down. Every inch of her body was aching. She’d forgotten just how rough riding on a freight wagon could be. She stretched wearily. “I’ll see to the mules and be right with you.”
“There’s no need for you to do that. Me and Jack, we’ll take care of them. You go ahead on inside.”
Amanda was grateful for his help, and she smiled at him as she made her way indoors. It had been a very long day.
“I heard Wes say you were Amanda Taylor,” the woman inside told her. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Charity Bayless, Wes’s wife. Come on in and get something to eat. You must be tired.”
“Just a little, but tomorrow’s going to be a lot rougher. We’ll have to head out right at dawn.”
“Well, we’ll get you up and going in plenty of time, don’t you worry none. You can wash up over there.” She pointed to a washstand.
Amanda quickly washed the trail dust from herself and then sat down at the table. Charity put a plate of steaming stew before her, along with a thick slice of hot, fresh bread. It smelled delicious. Amanda hadn’t realized until then just how hungry she was. She smothered the bread in butter and took a big bite. It tasted as good as it smelled, and she thought she was in heaven.
It occurred to her then just how much her life had changed in the last few weeks, and she found herself smiling.
“Do you like it?” Charity asked.
“It’s wonderful. You’re a marvelous cook.”
“Why, thanks.”
“I was just sitting here thinking about how much my life has changed in the last few weeks. Not so long ago, I would have been attending the theater with my grandmother or shopping or going out to a fancy ball in Philadelphia. And now here I am, back in West Texas, right where I started from.”
“Your life before sounds like a dream. Did you like it? Shopping and going to the theater? The only shopping I get to do is in San Rafael, and there isn’t much there to choose from. I’ve never been to a real theater.”
“It was different,” Amanda admitted. “And I did enjoy it, but somehow, being back here feels right.”
“You’re home.”
“Yes, I’m home.”
The men came inside just then.
“Something sure smells good in here,” Jack said as he was shown where to get cleaned up.
As soon as he’d finished washing, Charity served him a hot meal, too.
“So you didn’t have any trouble between San Rafael and here?” Wes asked when he sat down at the table with them.
“No, things went smoothly. We’re not carrying any cash, so I figure it’s a pretty safe trip for us,” Amanda told them.
“I hope you’re right. We’ve done had enough trouble. I wish the law would find the ones causing it, but it don’t seem like they’re doing much. It’s been weeks now.”
“I checked with the sheriff in San Rafael the other day,” Jack said. “And he didn’t have anything new to go on. He said it seemed like they all just vanished into thin air.”
“Somebody out there knows something. They’re just not talking,” Wes said.
“Well, I’m going to make sure they find the men who killed my uncle and shot my father. They can’t just get away with it. Somehow, we’ve got to figure this out.”
“I just say thank God your father wasn’t killed,” Charity said.
“Me, too. I didn’t even know about it until I got back here.”
“It must have been quite a shock to you,” Wes said.
“It was, but the good news is that he’s improving. With any luck, he’ll be back on the job in a month or so.”
“What will you do when he’s better? Surely, you don’t intend to keep working as a driver all the time,” Charity asked.
“I don’t know,” she answered thoughtfully. “I really haven’t had much time to think about it. Right now, all I care about is making sure Taylor Stage and Freight stays in business. And if I have to drive to do that, I will.”
“Dan’s lucky to have you,” Wes said.
She smiled at him. “Thanks. I aim to make him proud.”
Jack saw the gleam of happiness in Amanda’s eyes when Wes complimented her, and he realized how much this really meant to her. For a while, he’d thought that she might just be playing at it, but it seemed she really did want to keep things running to the best of her ability. Not many women could do what she was doing.
Amanda had impressed him that afternoon on the drive. It had been hot and dusty, but she’d never complained. She’d handled the team well, and she’d listened and learned the few times he’d offered her advice.
“What about you, Jack?” Wes said. “How’d you come to be working for Taylor Lines?”
“I’m a friend of Dan’s and Amanda’s.” As he said that, Amanda gave him a quick look, but he just kept on talking. “They needed some extra help right now, so I volunteered. I’m handy with a gun, so I’ll be riding shotgun mostly, just in case there is any trouble.”