Billy beamed at her. “Aw . . . it was nothin’.”
Beth swept past April without looking at her. Willard and May struggled to join the rest, huffing and out of breath. “Whew! That was some hike,” Willard said, supporting May by the arm. Her chest heaved in and out until Morgan thought the buttons on her shirtwaist would pop.
“I’m just glad it wasn’t a hot July day,” May said between gasps of air. “I really shouldn’t have to do this, you know, with my health like it is.”
“Yours is no worse than mine now, sweetie.”
April walked up to the front where the team was being attended by Leon. “Some nice horseflesh, but they are looking tired.”
“Yes, ma’am. They are, but we’ll be changing them out at the next stop.” Leon paused to look at her. “You like horses?”
April laughed. “Yes, I do. Especially riding them. My father has a cattle ranch, so I grew up around them.”
Leon scratched his beard. “Excuse me for saying so, but you don’t look the part.” His eyes traveled over her smart traveling dress and shoes.
“Don’t let my looks fool you,” she said, reaching out to stroke one of the horse’s withers.
Morgan strode to the front of the stagecoach. “Please go ahead and get back in the coach. Mrs. Reed will be back any second, and we’ll be ready to leave.”
“I hope we won’t get behind schedule, Mr. Kincaid, because of her and our having to trudge that long road.” April’s eyes flashed at him. “I’m supposed to be at my brother’s wedding late tomorrow afternoon. I will be sorely upset if I miss it because of this! I had no idea this trip would be so hard. I’m covered in dust and getting bounced around like a US mailbag.”
Like the world revolves around her, Morgan thought. He gave her a level stare that spoke volumes and cleared his throat. “I always do my best to stick to the schedule, and I’ve been late only a few times because of weather. Changing a baby’s diaper, and your complaints, won’t stop us from making it.” He touched the brim of his hat to her, then signaled to Leon to get started as he climbed back to his perch on the coach. He hoped that would stop her griping. She needed to learn a few lessons about life. Too bad she didn’t know Miss Margaret. She could teach April a lesson or two.
Morgan knew he hadn’t heard the last of Miss McBride by a long shot. There would be more complaints when she had to eat Abigail’s beans and potatoes. He chuckled under his breath, and Leon cast him a quizzical look. “Never mind me, Leon. Something just struck me funny!”
When the stagecoach finally pulled away from the roadhouse after a brief respite, April found herself anxious to get back on the road toward Lewistown. The roadhouse was little more than a primitive log cabin with a kitchen and large open room where they all shared a questionable meal of beans, potatoes, and tough roast beef.
The cook was known as Abigail, a rotund, middle-aged woman with a gregarious nature. She piled their plates high and served them coffee and water.
April had tried her best to eat, but about the only thing she could keep down were Abigail’s biscuits. The coffee was bitter and the boiled potatoes had little taste. She shuddered when she thought about where they would be spending the night before driving on to Lewistown. Her body was already sore from being tossed about on the rough road. And if she had to listen to May’s and Willard’s ailments for another day, she thought she might lose her mind. She cocked her head. Apparently this was the couple’s usual way of conversing. Was that how things were when you’d been married a long time? She did not want her marriage—if she ever got married—to be like that.
She’d tried to talk to Beth when they walked outside after lunch before boarding, but she wasn’t very friendly and seemed intent on seeing to Anne. April looked at the baby now curled up in her mama’s arms. Her eyes were slowly drooping, now that she’d had her bottle and a diaper change. Soon she was fast asleep with the rocking of the stage. April had to admit that Anne was a cute little one, and even Mark had commented to Beth that the baby was indeed a beautiful child.
This time April sat facing forward with the older couple next to her. April closed her eyes, feigning sleep to keep May’s constant chatter out of her ear.
By late afternoon, everyone was tired and cranky, and they had only one other brief stop before traveling on again. Even the good-natured doctor showed signs of fatigue. April felt the stage slowly roll to a halt, and she looked out the window as Morgan and Leon walked over and opened the coach doors.
“Folks, this is where we stop for the night. Supper is served at 5:30 sharp. The cost of a room with cots is two dollars. We’ll be pulling out at 6 a.m. sharp once again. Enjoy your respite,” Morgan announced.
The passengers were eager to find the outbuildings before going inside the roadhouse. April held her nose as she stood waiting her turn.
“Do you think you could hold Anne for me when it’s my turn?” Beth asked.
“Uh . . . sure . . . if she’ll let me.” April had never held a baby and was unsure of what to do.
“Hold your noses, ladies,” May squawked as she staggered out of the outhouse. “I’m warning you. I wonder when it was last cleaned.”
Beth handed the baby to April, who cooed up at her. It felt funny to be holding something so helpless and small, but she smelled good and wasn’t heavy at all. The baby reached up for April’s shiny locket with her tiny fingers. April marveled at Anne’s delicate features and thick lashes sweeping against flawless skin. With surprise, April found her heart warming to the baby who smiled up at her with her fat baby cheeks, and she didn’t hear Beth step out of the outhouse.
“Don’t let her break your locket.”
April lifted her head from the small bundle, looking at Beth. “Oh, she can’t hurt it. She’s been a perfect angel.” She handed the baby back to her mother.
“Thank you, April.” Beth’s expression was warm and friendly. “You’ll have your own baby someday.”
April shook her head. “I’m not so sure about that. At least, not in the near future. I wouldn’t know what to do with a baby.”
May harrumphed. “If you can handle a horse, you’ll do great raising a baby.”
But April remained skeptical where babies were concerned.
After a miserable night sharing a crowded room with Beth, Anne, and May, April’s back ached from the cots they called beds. The baby had cried for a long time because she was not in familiar surroundings, and May snored most of the night. Add to that a breakfast of hard biscuits and greasy bacon that left an uneasy feeling in April’s middle. Lunch was hardly any better, and the bouncing ride hadn’t helped her stomach either.
Morgan was waiting for her after another stop. She didn’t want to hold up the stage. Far from it.
“If you’re ready, we really must leave now, Miss McBride.” April thought he seemed annoyed with her. She couldn’t help it if her stomach was clamping her insides.
“I believe so. It was not my intent to interfere with your schedule. I can’t help it if breakfast disagreed with me. Perhaps if the meat had been fresh, I wouldn’t be feeling this way. What I wouldn’t do for a decent cup of coffee. I guess that’s not likely to happen. The conditions of what was called a room were disgusting for two dollars a night.”
She lifted the hem of her skirt to climb into the waiting stage, and Mark reached down to give her a hand up.
“Not to worry,” Morgan said with clenched teeth. “We will get back on schedule. It’s best if you don’t grumble about things you have no control over along the stage trail. The stage companies try to provide the best that they can out here in the wilderness. I did warn everyone. Just be glad that we’ve not had any robberies along the way this trip.”
Before he walked to the front, April leaned out the window. “Bandits won’t scare me, Mr. Kincaid. Just get us back on schedule so I don’t miss my brother’s wedding!”
Morgan gave her a hard stare. “You’re not the only one who’s paid eighteen dollars for this t
rip. I want to accommodate all my passengers.” He strode to the front of the stage and hauled himself up to where Leon and Billy were waiting. He picked up the reins, and after a sharp snap of his whip, the team quickly trotted off, leaving the dust behind them.
Soon after lunch it was apparent that there was trouble. April could feel the stage slowing and finally roll to a complete stop. Mark looked at her, his brow furrowed in question.
Willard, who’d been lounging against May’s shoulder, sat up straight. “Why are we stopping?” As he said it, the back left side of the stage seem to lean to one side.
“There must be a problem.” Mark opened the door and leaped out. Everyone else piled out of the coach. Leon was stooped over at the rear of the stagecoach, and it was obvious at first glance that the rear axle held a broken wheel.
May gasped. “Oh my goodness. Whatever will we do?”
“Can it be repaired?” Mark asked, walking back to where Leon stood scratching his head.
“Afraid not,” he answered glumly.
Morgan joined them. “What rotten luck! Leon, you’re gonna have to go back to the last station and see if they have another wheel to replace this one. If not, they’ll have to send us a replacement coach if one is available.”
“Let me go. I can ride hard and fast,” Billy pleaded.
“But that’ll take hours!” April shook her head in frustration.
Morgan’s jaw flinched. “It can’t be helped.” He turned to Billy. “Leon will need to go.”
“Aw, shucks!” Billy frowned, and Morgan clapped him on the back. “Thanks anyway, Billy. I might need your help here.”
Morgan and Leon unhitched one of the horses. Leon hoisted a saddlebag from the front seat, mounted the big horse, and gave it a swift jab with his heels, heading back to the station they’d left just an hour before.
“Now what do we do?” April demanded. She looked pointedly at Morgan. The other passengers shuffled forward.
“We wait. Pure and simple. Looks like you’ll be a couple hours late to the wedding, Miss McBride. Maybe in time to send the couple off on their honeymoon,” Morgan replied.
“Let’s go sit down on one of the rocks just under the trees there. It’s a beautiful valley,” Beth said, apparently trying to get April calm.
“No, thank you, Beth,” April said with a slight shake of her head.
Willard held his arm out to May. “Come on, love. It’ll be nice to get some fresh air. We’ve no hurry. The grandkids will keep.” May slipped her hand through his arm, looking up at him as if he were the sweetest man alive.
Mark moved toward April. “Care to take a walk? Looks like we have time to explore.”
April stood thinking about the predicament and quickly formulated an idea. “No, Dr. Barnum. I have to get to Lewistown.”
“So do we all, and we will.”
April saw by the look on his face that he knew she was considering what she could do. She walked toward Morgan, who was taking a closer look at the wheel at the rear of the stagecoach.
Morgan looked up and said, “I’m gonna need the bags unloaded that are strapped on top of the coach. Mark, you think you and Billy could give me a hand with that?”
“Sure thing,” Mark answered. Billy hurried over and started climbing on top of the coach.
April shielded her eyes from the sun to look up at Billy. “Could you throw mine down first?”
Morgan threw her a questioning look, but she pretended she didn’t notice. “I’m going to change clothes.”
“Whatever for?” Beth asked, swinging Anne back and forth in her arms.
“If Mr. Kincaid will let me, I want to borrow one of the horses and ride on into Lewistown.”
April heard Beth gasp.
“What? Are you crazy? You’ll wait just like the others,” Morgan sputtered.
“Mr. Kincaid, I’m a good horsewoman, and you’ll have a fresh mount when Leon gets back. Besides, he may have to wait for another coach. In the meantime, I could take one of your horses and might be able to get to Lewistown before the wedding at five.”
“What makes you think I’ll let you do that, Miss McBride?” Morgan pursed his lips into a fine line. “You can wait right here like the rest.”
April dropped her shoulders, momentarily deflated. “Because I’m begging you. I’ll take care of your horse and you won’t be responsible—”
Mark interrupted. “I say if she can stay on one of those huge beasts, then let her give it a try. It’d be a shame to miss her only brother’s wedding.” Mark glanced at Morgan.
“I have a feelin’ that I’m gonna regret this . . . but since I know Josh personally, I’ll agree, Miss McBride, but my horse better not come back lame, and you better not fall off. I’m still responsible for my passengers.” He walked toward the team and started the process of unharnessing another horse. “I don’t know what you’ll do for a saddle, but that’s your problem.”
“I can ride bareback for a few hours, if you have a blanket.”
Morgan grunted. “I have one under the driver’s seat that we use for sudden cold spells. I’ll grab it.” He climbed up to the seat and came back with a woolen blanket and handed it to April.
“Perfect,” April said, taking the blanket. Morgan watched her, his eyes narrowing in thought.
“Billy, would you drag my trunk over to those bushes there?” April turned to Mark. “And thanks for the vote of confidence.”
Mark stood with his hands in his pockets, rocking back on his heels. “I feel pretty sure you can handle just about anything you set your mind to.”
April felt her face burn. “I’m not sure about that, but I’m determined to make it to Lewistown.”
“If I don’t make it to Josh’s wedding, please give him my apologies, and I’ll catch up with him and Juliana later,” Mark said.
April hurried over to where Billy had dragged her trunk and opened the lid with her key. Mark and Beth went to find a grassy area to play with the baby while they waited for Leon to return.
After digging underneath her dresses and petticoats, she pulled out a pair of men’s jeans, a light blue flannel shirt, and a pair of boots. She’d keep her split skirt that she normally wore for later. No point in getting it filthy. Making certain that she wasn’t going to be seen behind the chokeberry bush, April scrambled out of her traveling skirt and jacket, yanked on the jeans, then quickly buttoned the shirt, stuffing the tails into her waistband. She put a few necessary items in her tapestry valise, along with the soft yellow dress that she would wear to Josh’s wedding. The rest of her things, including their gifts, she would retrieve when the stage arrived in town. She pulled her long hair into a knot, shoved it underneath her felt cowboy hat, and donned her black duster.
Billy’s eyes opened wide at April when she stepped from behind the bush. “Wow, Miss April. I hardly recognized you!”
“Good! I’ll be safer on the trail that way. Which horse did you decide to let me borrow?” she asked, fixing her gaze on Morgan.
“This here’s Gus. He’ll get you there in a hurry and is easy to control. When you check into your hotel, just have the livery take him over to the stage station until we arrive.” Morgan led a huge sorrel over to April, then gave her directions to Lewistown.
“I’ll take good care of him. I promise.” April patted Gus’s broad face and he snorted.
Morgan raised his eyes heavenward. “Lord, I hope I don’t regret this,” he prayed underneath his breath.
“Did you say something?” She turned to Morgan.
“I was just telling Billy to get your trunk.”
Billy piped up. “I’ll take care of it myself, Miss April. Hope I’ll see you in Lewistown later.” He gazed at her sheepishly.
“Thanks, Billy. I’m sure we’ll run into each other.” April dismissed him with a wave of her hand and turned to Morgan. “Mr. Kincaid, if you could just give me a hand up, I’ll be on my way.”
Morgan laced his fingers together, and she placed a boote
d foot inside it, throwing her other leg across Gus’s broad back. Morgan handed her bag up to her. “Thanks, Mr. Kincaid. I owe you one.” April looked down at Morgan, probably knowing he wasn’t too happy about his decision.
“You’ve got that right, Miss McBride. Do be careful. You ought to make it to Lewistown in just under two hours.” Morgan stepped back to let her pass. He watched her gallop down the trail, kicking up a cloud of dust, looking like a man from the back with a long coat and hat. He admired how she held her seat in spite of not having a saddle. He watched as she and Gus became one fluid motion until he could no longer see her on the dusty road.
As much as he hated to let her take off on Gus, Morgan was glad to be rid of April and her constant grumbling and complaining. If it wasn’t the food, it was the stops they had to make and where they stayed. She complained about the other passengers too. He was sure that she was used to having her every need met whenever she snapped her fingers. He hoped she didn’t return home by his stage. He had just about all he could take of her and her attitude.
Morgan turned to Mark. “I pity the man who tangles with those beautiful blue eyes.”
Mark chuckled. “Shoot, she’ll have him roped and lassoed quicker than a wildfire spreads.”
3
Wes thought he’d be able to get a handle on Lars’s mare in the corral at the edge of town and still have time to make it to the wedding. He hadn’t seen a horse that he couldn’t break. It was something he was proud of. But this mare might become the first.
He stepped back, letting the rope that he’d looped around the mare’s neck go slack. She was a beauty for a fact. Jet black, about sixteen hands high. Her sides heaving, she stopped pawing the ground before her in anger and stared him down with her huge, gleaming black eyes.
“Hey, girl, nobody’s gonna hurt you none,” Wes whispered, keeping his distance for a bit. He had to earn her trust. He tentatively took a step toward her, and then another with his palm faceup. The mare rose up on her back legs, pawing the air with her front hooves and tossing her head, which sent her mane flying. Wes yanked down hard on the rope, and the mare screamed. He dug his heels into the ground, trying to hold the rope taut while speaking quietly to her.
A Love of Her Own Page 3