Rhonda Gibson - Pony Express Special Delivery

Maggie nodded. “I think I would like your ma.”

“I’m sure you would. Everybody loves Ma.” He washed the first cookie down with a big gulp of the coffee. “So, what do you want to know?” His blue gaze met hers.

She sighed and put down her cup. “As you know, I can’t very well get out with the children to check and see for myself what Gus is doing to James’s ranch. Bill used to come and give me updates on how things were going so I was hoping you would do the same.” Maggie waited to see if things were as bad as she felt in her heart that they were. She hadn’t seen the books in over three months. She prayed the ranch finances were in order.

Clayton set his cup down and reached for another cookie. “Well, according to Hal, Gus isn’t around much so hasn’t given any orders other than for the men to do what they normally do. I’ve noticed that the calves haven’t been rounded up or branded and there are a lot of repairs on the place that are being neglected.”

Maggie leaned forward in her chair. “How many calves do you think we have this year?”

It seemed to Maggie that Clayton was doing a mental head count. “I’ve seen about three hundred, more or less.”

“That sounds about right. Gus said we lost over half the herd this winter and that’s about half of the calves Jack said we’d have this year.”

Clayton’s eyes narrowed. “How did you lose half the herd?”

“Gus said that last big snow we had trapped some of them in the gully and they froze to death. He and the men couldn’t get to them because of the weather.” She sighed. “We took a big loss on them.”

“If you don’t mind my asking, how is the ranch making money?” Clayton pushed the plate away as if he’d lost his appetite.

“Jack always took the cattle to market in the late spring, but with us losing half the herd, I’m not sure what Gus has planned.” She hated admitting that she didn’t know what would happen next.

Clayton’s frown deepened. “Maggie, there aren’t enough cattle on this ranch for a cattle drive to anyplace.”

She shook her head. “We are a small ranch. Every spring Jack teamed up with our neighbor, Mr. Morris, and they’d take our cattle and his to market.”

“Doesn’t it seem odd to you that half the herd froze to death in the gully? Isn’t the gully supposed to help protect them? And where were the men when the cattle were freezing?”

Clayton’s blue eyes had hardened to deep sapphires.

Maggie realized just how little she knew about her own ranch. She sighed. “I don’t know.”

“I’m not trying to be rude, Maggie, but why haven’t you asked Gus these questions?”

She swallowed. “I didn’t know what to ask at the time, and lately, he isn’t talking to me.”

Clayton nodded. “Yeah, I noticed he hasn’t been to the house. I just assumed that you two meet once a month instead of weekly.”

Maggie shook her head. “No, he’s still sore because I won’t sell the ranch to him.”

They sat in silence for several minutes. Then Clayton said, “You could fire him. Since the Pony Express riders come through about every two or three days, I would be happy to help you with the running of the ranch. At least until you can find someone who would do an honest job for you.”

Maggie hated to admit it, but Clayton really was a good man. Not a man whom she’d ever fall in love with or want to marry. Jack had been a good man but he hadn’t loved her. Her marriage to him had been out of his desire for an heir and her need to put a roof over Dinah’s head. Then just as she’d started to fall in love with her husband, he’d up and died. Maggie didn’t want to feel the disappointment of lost love again. But he seemed to really want to help her. “Thank you, but I don’t feel like I can do that at this time. Gus wouldn’t leave quietly, and since he’s Jack’s relative he might go as far as to try to take the ranch away from me legally. To be honest, I’m not sure if I have a legal right to the land.”

“Did Jack have a will or a piece of paper saying the ranch belonged to the child?” Clayton reached for another cookie.

Maggie nodded. “Yes. Right after the funeral Jack’s lawyer called both Gus and me to his office. He had Jack’s will. Jack had left the ranch to our unborn child and given Gus a hundred dollars. Of course, Gus wanted it all, but the lawyer said that as long as the baby lives, he legally owns the land.” She watched as he finished the cookie.

“Well, doesn’t that answer your question? Sounds like you do have a legal right.”

She shook her head. “No, James has the legal right. Not me.”

Clayton drank the rest of his coffee and stood up. “You know, maybe we should make a trip to town and check with Jack’s lawyer. I think that as long as you are James’s mother, you have as much right to this land as he does.”

She stood also. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt to ask.” Maggie followed him to the door.

Just before leaving, Clayton turned to face her. “Maggie, I’ll do what I can to help you with Gus.” His blue eyes softened into clear blue pools.

Maggie’s heart skipped a beat. Her palms grew moist. She wiped them on her apron. Confusion clouded her mind. What was it about Clayton Young that had her brain turning to mush?

* * *

Clayton walked to the barn. He didn’t understand why he cared so much about this family. But the thought of Gus Fillmore taking advantage of Maggie and the children infuriated him.

Over the last week, he’d tried to keep to the barn and do the job of Pony Express manager but had found himself watching the house and wondering what Maggie and Dinah were doing.

He missed his family and decided maybe that was why he felt protective of Maggie and the kids. Clayton went to his room and picked up one of the medical books Doc Anderson had given him. Flipping through the pages, he couldn’t focus on the book. His mind continued to drift to Gus, Maggie and the turmoil with the ranch.

He tossed the book onto the cot and pulled his coat and hat back on. Not expecting another rider for a couple of days, Clayton decided he needed to get some fresh air.

Bones snorted his greeting.

Clayton chuckled and said, “You miss our rides, too, don’t you, ole boy?” He saddled the horse and led him outside.

Within a few minutes, Clayton was riding the fences of the ranch. He wasn’t sure what he was looking for but felt the need to have a good look around.

The ranch was flat in most places, and after riding about a mile he circled around and came upon the river. It gurgled along, and new green grass and shrubs lined its banks. He continued and was pleasantly surprised to come upon a wooded cove with the river running past and a pool of clear water that had washed out a peaceful inlet.

Clayton dismounted and allowed Bones to drink his fill while he looked about. He inhaled the fresh air and closed his eyes to enjoy the sweet sound of running water behind him. His shoulders relaxed and his thoughts moved to visions of having a picnic with Maggie and the kids in this spot.

His eyes snapped open. What was he thinking? This wasn’t his family. He had no business thinking about family picnics. Still, he liked Maggie and the kids. What would it hurt to have a picnic with them? Who said a man and a woman couldn’t share a meal together and enjoy this wonderful fresh air? As friends, of course. Just friends.

Bones snorted a warning. Clayton turned and saw Gus riding in his direction. Clayton remounted Bones and waited for the ranch foreman to arrive.

“I see you’ve found my favorite spot on the ranch,” Gus said as a greeting. “What are you doing so far away from the barn?”

Clayton leaned on the saddle horn. “Getting fresh air.” He looked about at the new leaves and grass. “This is a nice spot.”