Grooms with Honor Series, Books 1-3

by Linda K. Hubalek

  Mr. Daniels pushed his chair away from the other desk, also piled with papers, on the opposite wall.

  “About time you got here,” Mr. Daniels huffed as he noticed Angus and limped toward the window. He held out a piece of paper, shaking it a bit, meaning Angus should take it. “Get this telegraph over to the marshal, pronto! And don’t dawdle on your way there and back!”

  “Uh, Mr. Daniels, I’m not...” ten years old anymore? Gosh how many telegraphs had he delivered around town when he was young? Dozens, and always hoping to collect a few cents from the receiver. It was his first paying job, if he was to be truthful about it.

  And now after working his way up to railroad detective, he was back to this?

  “If Marshal Wilerson needs to send a reply, do it. I’m going home,” Mr. Daniels grumbled while struggling to pull down the frosted glass ticket window.

  How old was the man? Angus thought Mr. Daniels was old back when he was a kid. Probably mid-seventies and still working.

  Mr. Daniels came out of the office, locked the door then walked up to Angus still standing at the closed window.

  “Here’s the key to the office door when you come back.” Mr. Daniels held out a key, and slapped it in Angus’ hand when he reluctantly held it out, then Angus opened the door for the man to walk out of the depot.

  “Uh, sure I can stay here until you come back from lunch, Mr. Daniels.” Angus felt he needed to help the agent down the board walk the way he was limping but didn’t think the man would like that. The man should be using a cane, but was probably too proud to use it.

  Angus looked both ways, then crossed the street to walk over to the jailhouse. How many times had he done this in his youth? Until he finished his schooling and headed west.

  Angus opened the door and found the marshal at his desk. Good thing so he didn’t have to walk all over town looking for him. “Howdy, Marshal. Mr. Daniels asked me to deliver this telegram to you.”

  “Thanks, Angus,” the marshal took the paper and started to read it while digging into his vest pocket.

  “Uh, Marshal, you don’t owe me anything for delivering it.” Angus knew the marshal did it out of habit but it was still embarrassing.

  Marshal Wilerson caught on and laughed. “You sure you don’t want a few cents for some penny candy? Wasn’t peppermint sticks your favorite?”

  “Yep, still are.” Angus used to buy candy for himself and his brothers whenever he felt like he could part with a few pennies. Often times the preacher’s pay was in food so they always ate, but candy was a rare treat.

  “Have a seat, Angus. I need to write a reply for Daniels to send back right away.”

  “Mr. Daniels left for lunch and gave me the key to his office.”

  “He gave you the key and left?” Wilerson’s voice almost sounded...incredulous.

  “Yes, why?”

  “The man has never left the depot for lunch. Always brought it with him. Was he sick? What exactly did he say?”

  Angus thought a minute. Mr. Daniels hadn’t mentioned lunch.

  He said he was going home and ‘here’s the key to the office door when you come back’.”

  If Marshal Wilerson needs to send a reply, do it.

  Marshal Wilerson slowly shook his head and chuckled. “You realize what Daniels is doing, don’t you?”

  “No...” But warning bells were going off in Angus’ mind as he denied it to the marshal.

  “Well you better put two and two together real quick, because the train’s due here in...” the marshal paused as he pulled his pocket watch out of his vest pocket, “eighteen minutes, and Daniels put you in charge of the depot when he handed you the key and left.”

  “What? You’ve got to be kidding me!” Angus gasped at the man grinning back at him.

  “He’s been wanting to retire. Looks like he picked his replacement. Don’t forget to telegraph my reply too.”

  “It’s been years since I used the key device to tap out a telegram, let alone listen and write down an incoming telegram!”

  “Hope you’ve got a good memory then.” The marshal looked at his watch again. “Better check to see if any freight going on the train is on carts, ready to load.”

  “Mail bags!” Angus’s mind was jumping from one task to another.

  “Cullen usually has them ready to throw on the train.”

  Oh Chronicles! As soon as the train left the station he’d be knocking on Daniels’ front door. Unfortunately he didn’t have time to do it now.

  Angus snatched the marshal’s scribbled note out of the man’s extended hand and bolted out of the jailhouse. A quick look to the eastern sky showed the first hint of smoke of the arriving train.

  Angus’ chest tightened in a mixture of anxiety and excitement as he ran to the depot. Could he pull this off? His mind raced, trying to think of the sequence of getting ready for the train’s stop. Freight, passengers, their baggage, their questions, tickets...mail bags switched...what else?

  “Need help?”

  Angus twisted around as Cullen hurried out the front door of the post office, which was across from the depot. Cullen had a heavy canvas mail bag slung over his shoulder but kept up with Angus’ pace.

  “Why did Daniels leave? Has he been sick?” Angus asked his brother as he pushed open the depot door and fumbled in his pocket for the office key.

  “He was whistling when he went by here after you two left the depot.” The mail bag gave a loud thud when Cullen dropped it on the wooden floor. I guess there was no use holding it when Angus worked to get the key to unlock the door. After he tended to Daniels’ train duties, he was going to find some graphite to make the key work better.

  “Here, give me the key,” Cullen held out his hand. “I know there’s a certain way to twist the key to get this sucker open.”

  “How’d you know that?”

  “Mr. Daniels showed me after the last man failed trying out for his job.”

  “What?!” Angus stood still and stared at his brother. “He’s done this stunt before?”

  “Twice, and neither man passed the key test to get inside the office, let alone got things ready for the train’s arrival.”

  “So why are you helping me know?”

  “I want you to stay in town, and Daniels is getting too old to lift heavy stuff.”

  “Give me that key so I can do it myself, but give me directions,” Angus grunted as he jammed the key back in the lock.

  “Pull the key back out half way, then slowly turn it to the right, half way, then all the way back to the left.”

  “That’s not how the key should...” Angus heard a click and the door opened. “...work. Okay we’re in.”

  “I’ll open the ticket window and help you get the freight outside,” Cullen called as he moved to push the window sash up.

  “I need to send a telegram for the marshal so I’m laying it on the desk. Don’t let me forget it in this pile.”

  Next Cullen unlocked and rolled the big freight door open. There were two carts ready to be pushed out. Cullen threw the mail bag on top of one of the piles so they wouldn’t forget it in their haste.

  “Wait, Cullen. This could be another test. Let’s be sure all these crates and boxes have address labels on them to ship out.”

  “The train’s pulling to a stop! Let’s go! Let’s go!”

  Each shoved a heavy cart out onto the platform, parking them nearby so the freight could be loaded after the arriving trunks and crates were unloaded off the train. Three empty carts already sat next to the platform dock.

  Angus took a slow breath into his lungs to calm himself. Thanks to his brother’s help, the depot was ready for departing passengers. A couple was waiting nearby, apparently to board. They must have bought their tickets from Daniels before he closed the ticket window.

  Angus’ mind clicked back to the depot office. What was missing? He looked at the stack of crates on the carts ready to be loaded.

  “Cullen, pick up that top box on the so
uth cart. I want to look at the label on the crate below it.”

  Cullen lifted the box and Angus searched the top of the crate for an address. Nothing on it.

  “What are you thinking?” Cullen asked as Angus pushed the crate off the cart.

  “I didn’t see the telegraph desk chair in the office. Want to bet me a steak dinner at the Paulson Hotel that the chair is in this crate?”

  Angus heard Mr. Daniels let himself into the office but didn’t look up. He wanted the man to see he was sitting in the recovered chair, after finally tapping out the marshal’s telegram. It was a short note, but it took Angus a while to find the code chart for the alphabet and numbers hidden in the pile of papers on the desk. Mr. Daniels knew them by heart, but Angus didn’t remember them. It was something Daniels had taught him as a boy though.

  The chart had hung above the desk for so many years there was a light spot on the dingy wall. Mr. Daniels probably took it down before “interviewing” his replacement.

  “Any problems, Angus?”

  “No. Only one couple got on the train. Five got off here. Freight and mail exchanged. Did you have a good, long lunch?” The depot agent had been gone for three hours.

  “Yep. Had a nice nap too.”

  “Good. I’ll move out of your way then so you can get back to work,” Angus replied as he stood up.

  “Sit back down, Angus. We need to talk.” Daniels rolled the other desk chair over near Angus and sat down. He folded his hands over his large stomach and stared at Angus for a long minute.

  “Although I don’t want to admit it, I need to look for a new depot agent. I could say I need to retire because the Missus wants to visit the grandkids who don’t live around here. But the truth is my back’s going to give out one of these days lifting a heavy trunk.”

  Angus stayed quiet, knowing the man needed to talk. Mr. Daniels had held this position since the town started, so it had to be difficult to retire.

  “I’ve interviewed a few other men, but none know the depot and the agent’s role as you do. You were my young shadow for many years and I always hoped you’d take over for me.”

  Angus started to speak but Daniels held up his hand.

  “I can only recommend my successor. The railroad company hires my replacement. Would you like me to write a letter to the company on your behalf?”

  Angus let out the breath he’d been holding. Is this what he wanted? Yes and no. He’d be stuck in the depot most all day, not traveling like he was used to. But if he wanted a future with Daisy in Clear Creek...

  “While you think about it, I could hire you to work part-time here. I’m sure Mack could use help any hours you could give him too.”

  “That’s a possibility. How soon would you need an answer?”

  “I’d like to retire by November 1st, if not before. The missus would like to go to our daughter’s in St. Louis for the holidays.”

  Angus looked at the wall where the calendar had always hung. It was still on August because Mr. Daniels hadn’t changed the page to the current month. “That’s less than six weeks away. How long does it take to give notice to the railroad?”

  “I’d like to write the letter say, by the end of next week. Don’t know how long it will take them to respond.”

  That would give Angus eleven days to think about the job. He could work with Daniels part-time until the man retired and help Mack frame his new building too. His folks would approve, no question about that. What about Daisy?

  “It would be the perfect setup for you and Miss Daisy.”

  “Why’s that?” Angus knew his face was starting to flush.

  “You could work here to provide for that family you want with Daisy. Live above her store.”

  “How’d you know that’s what I want?”

  “You see a lot of the town’s goings on from the depot window. I didn’t miss you kissing Daisy in the front window of her store the other day.” Mr. Daniels grinned.

  “Don’t worry, me and the Missus sparked forty years ago too.”

  And the Daniels were still in love all these decades later. Theirs was a match he admired as much as his parents.

  Could he have a long and loving marriage with Daisy? He’d never thought of another woman standing by his side through thick and thin, good and bad times.

  Angus stood and walked over to look out the depot window. Low and behold there stood Daisy on the boardwalk, laughing at something Adolph Bjorklund, the butcher was saying.

  If Angus didn’t make his move soon, it would be a matter of “when” not “if” someone else asked Daisy to be their wife.

  “Mr. Daniels, please go ahead and write your letter to the railroad. I’d like to take over the job for you.” Because I want the woman I’ve missed for eight years.

  Chapter 9

  “Nope, don’t bother sitting down, Bjorklund. I’m sitting with Daisy and her family.”

  Daisy was following her grandparents into the church pew when she heard Angus speak behind her. Her grandmother bent forward, then backward trying to look past her husband. Her grandpa pulled his wife down beside him and then grinned up at Daisy.

  Daisy had said hello to Adolph, but didn’t realize he was planning on sitting with them.

  “You always sit in the front pew with your ma and brothers,” Adolph quietly challenged Angus.

  “Not any more, Bjorklund.”

  “And why not?”

  “Because I’m courtin’ Daisy.”

  She had turned to greet him but his words froze her eyes wide. What did he just say?

  He reached past her and shook her grandpa’s hand. “Good to see you this morning, Mr. and Mrs. Clancy.” Then he sat down on the pew while she was still standing. “Good morning, Daisy. Mind if I start sitting with you on Sundays?”

  “Well it’s a free country, except when it comes to where people sit in church. Why aren’t you sitting with your family?” Did she dare hope Angus had decided to stay in town? It probably wasn’t right to be praying for a preacher’s son to stay in town, but she had been doing just that the past two weeks.

  “How about we go for a ride after church and talk about that?”

  “I’d need to fix my grandparents their lunch first,” Daisy whispered, worried that half the congregation was listening in on their conversation.

  Daisy’s grandpa leaned over and whispered, too loudly, “No you don’t. I can fix sandwiches for our lunch. You go on with Angus.”

  Pastor Reagan loudly cleared his throat to get his wife’s attention but it didn’t work—as usual—so he spoke up. “Kaitlyn, let’s start the service. There’s a young couple in here who have plans after church.”

  Mrs. Reagan walked up the aisle, but paused, searching the pews for...her missing eldest son. It didn’t take her a second to zero in on where Angus sat. A raised eyebrow, a nod and a smile said she approved.

  Daisy accepted Angus upturned hand by winding her fingers between his. He’d taken the first step toward proclaiming a possible future together and she wanted to meet him halfway. If they were to marry, it needed to be a partnership.

  “I love coming up here in the fall.” Daisy scanned the scenery below them. Angus had driven the horse and buggy to Horsethief Canyon, then they had hiked up twenty feet to one of the caves jutting out from the side of the sandstone walls. The sea of green grass below them was turning golden and brown in spots. The occasional clumps of sumac bush boasted bright red leaves this time of year.

  “Look down toward the river, Angus. The cottonwood leaves are turning yellow.”

  “Reminds me of a hike we took not too long ago where another tree species was turning yellow.”

  “At least it’s been long enough that your leg, and my face have healed,” Daisy laughed.

  “Thank goodness. Grab a corner.” Angus had set down the picnic basket and was flipping the quilt towards her. She caught one end, then the other and then stretched the quilt on the ground.

  Both sat down crossed-legged on the
quilt and Angus set the basket between them. “Okay, let’s see what Ma packed for our picnic.”

  “So you had this all planned for today, huh?”

  “Yep, since I talked to Mr. Daniels on Thursday actually.”

  Daisy looked up but Angus didn’t meet her eyes. They’d both been busy and hadn’t really talked this week. She thought Angus had spent most of the time helping Mack frame the new building.

  She realized Angus had taken food containers out of the basket but wasn’t putting anything on his plate yet.

  She waited for Angus to continue the conversation but he seemed to be stalling.

  “So, did you have a nice visit with Mr. Daniels? I believe you were his favorite Reagan of the bunch of you.” And what did you two talk about?

  Daisy took a roast beef sandwich and laid it on her plate. She didn’t want to take a bite now and choke on it, depending on what he might say.

  “Mr. Daniels requested he write a letter to the railroad, to recommend me as his replacement.”

  Daisy held her breath a second but Angus didn’t continue, so she pushed him. “And...”

  She wanted to pump her fists in the air as a big grin spread around Angus’s face. “I told him I’d like the position but...I have to be approved first so it’s not a done deal yet.”

  “Oh, you’ll get it! When do you start?”

  “I’ll work with Mr. Daniels part-time now, and hopefully be full-time by November. I don’t know if I’ll have to go for an interview somewhere, someone will come to Clear Creek, or if it will be done by mail by Daniels’ recommendation.”

  “So, you’ll be living in Clear Creek again.” Daisy picked up the sandwich and took a small bite, trying not to look nervous.

  “Yes, I will, if I get the job.”

  “And if you do...” Daisy prompted.

  Angus took the sandwich from her hand, laid it on the plate and took both of her hands in his.

  “If I do, I’ll be asking you a very important question. After I talk to your grandfather of course.”

  “You could ask me the question now...in case I need to think it over.” She squeezed Angus’ hands, wishing he’d just say the words!