Pony Express Special Delivery

by Rhonda Gibson

  After a few minutes, Maggie sniffled and looked up at him. Clayton led Maggie to the bench in front of the bank. Maggie sat down with a heavy sigh. Dinah continued to hang on to his thigh. He bent down and picked her up. “Maggie. I’ll loan you the money to make the payments.” He swallowed hard. He’d been saving his money since day one of working with the Pony Express and knew he’d have enough to cover whatever her payments were.

  Dinah laid her head on his shoulder and stuck her thumb in her mouth. In the last couple of weeks, he’d never seen her suck her thumb. He hugged her against him, hoping to offer the little girl comfort.

  “I can’t let you do that.” She wiped her face with the corner of James’s blanket and then looked up at him.

  He knelt in front of her. Dinah continued to cling to him. Clayton lowered his voice so that passersby wouldn’t overhear him. “Why not?”

  Her hazel-green eyes stared deeply into his. “For several reasons. One, it wouldn’t look right for a stranger in town to pay my debts. Two, I’d still have Gus Fillmore to deal with, and three, I’m not sure I could ever pay you back.”

  “One, no one has to know it was me who gave you the money. Two, you can always fire Gus, and three, I’m in no hurry to get the money back.” He searched her pretty face.

  She shook her head. “I’ll know.” Tears filled the depths of her eyes once more. “I promised Jack I’d protect James’s inheritance, and now I’ve let them both down.”

  Clayton wanted to protect her and the kids. He didn’t want to fall in love with her and he really didn’t want to do anything foolish, but at the same time Clayton knew he’d never let Gus have James Fillmore’s ranch. His fiancée had taught him that women were fickle and money would set them to running into another man’s arms. Nope, he wasn’t about to fall in love with Maggie, or any other woman for that matter. “No, you haven’t. I’ve got an idea, but you’ll have to agree to it.”

  He looked to Dinah, who shivered against him. Clayton tried to shield her small body from the cold wind. He softened his voice and offered the little girl what he hoped was a warm smile. “Dinah, dry your eyes and let’s go to the restaurant and get a big slice of peach pie.”

  She rubbed her face on the sleeve of her pretty coat. “All right, Clayton. I like peach pie.”

  He turned back to Maggie. “We’ve got a couple of hours yet. We’ll go have dessert and coffee and figure something out.” Clayton expected her to protest but instead she stood up, wrapped James tighter in his blanket and nodded.

  Maggie started walking down the boardwalk. “The closest restaurant is at the hotel. I’ve been there a couple of times and they make a pretty good peach pie.”

  “Yours is best,” Dinah said. She looked up at Clayton with big hazel eyes.

  “Sissy makes the bestest pie crust.”

  “I’m sure she does.” He watched the gentle sway of Maggie’s dress. Was it crazy to go to the extremes he was about to, just to help her keep her word to her late husband? Or had God intended this all along?

  Maggie pushed through the door of the Grand Hotel where warm air enveloped them. Clayton and Dinah followed. He was curious as to why the hotel was called Grand. It wasn’t all that big and he’d seen fancier ones.

  She turned to the right and walked into the small restaurant. Once they were all seated, she said, “I can’t even begin to think of a solution, Clayton.”

  The waitress took their orders of coffee, milk and pie. As soon as she left their table, he leaned toward Maggie. “What if I told you I know how to take care of the back payments, get rid of Gus and make sure that James keeps his inheritance?”

  Her eyes turned a deep shade of green. “I’d say that would be wonderful.” Maggie tucked James closer to her. She smiled down into the baby’s open eyes.

  “You might not like my plan.”

  She smiled across at him. A heartwarming smile that made him think his plan might just work. “Well, I won’t know until I hear it.”

  The waitress brought their drinks and pie on a large tray. She set Dinah’s milk in front of her before serving the adults their coffee.

  Dinah picked up her milk and took a big drink. She smiled with a milk mustache. “It’s cold.”

  “And the pie is warm.” The waitress winked at Dinah. She set a dessert plate in front of each of them and then left once more.

  Clayton took a deep breath and then said, “We could get married.”

  Maggie dropped the pie-laden fork she’d just raised to her lips. “Excuse me?”

  He rushed the words past his lips before he lost his courage. “It wouldn’t be a real marriage. I’m not looking for love and I’m not even sure if marriage is fair to you, but it will take care of your current problems.”

  Dinah looked from one adult to the other. “You going to marry Clayton?” she asked. Her innocent question reminded them that the little girl was old enough to understand their conversation.

  “I don’t know, Dinah. We’re just talking. Go ahead and eat your pie.” Maggie smiled at the little girl.

  Clayton tried to read Maggie’s face. What must she be thinking? Was she going to hold out for true love and lose the ranch? Unable to decipher her expression, he took a bite of the dessert. Its sweetness coated his tongue and caused his stomach to churn. Or was it the present topic that had his belly in knots?

  Dinah looked to Clayton. Seeing him chewing, she nodded and went back to eating.

  He felt Maggie’s gaze upon his face. She asked, “How is it not fair to us? You are the one who would be giving up your freedom. I can’t ask you to do that, Clayton.”

  “I believe I was the one who brought up...” He paused, then whispered, “Marriage.”

  She frowned. “Yes, but...”

  Clayton stopped her. “Look, I’m not giving up anything. My fiancée left me for the banker’s son. Which is fine because I want to be a doctor, and as a doctor, I wouldn’t really have time for a real family anyway. I’m not interested in falling in love, so it isn’t hurting me at all. But you have to realize that love is off the table, and as a doctor, I will be away from you and the kids a lot of the time.”

  She swallowed hard, then admitted, “I’m not interested in love either. The only reason I married James’s father was to put a roof over our heads. Don’t get me wrong. Jack was a good man and never mistreated us, but it wasn’t a love match. I answered his mail-order bride ad and shortly afterward came to the ranch. We were married six months and then he died.” She paused. “You should probably know, I really don’t trust men not to leave when the going gets tough, and I have no intention of falling in love either. Not now, not ever.”

  Clayton’s impulse was to tell her that as long as she wanted him to be around he’d not leave her. But the hurt in her eyes spoke volumes, and he knew she’d never hear him over the echoes of the disappointments in her past. “So, are you saying a marriage of convenience would work for you?”

  “How will it help my situation?”

  So, she wasn’t ready to commit to his suggestion just yet. “Well, I could catch the bank up with your payments, and if I’m your husband there wouldn’t be any gossip. You can fire Gus and explain that your new husband is taking over running the ranch until James is old enough to take the reins. And then, we’d make sure that the ranch grows and will be something James will be happy to inherit.” He returned to eating his pie. Maybe if he let her have a few minutes to think about it, Maggie would see that this was her only solution.

  Dinah gulped her milk. “Sissy, can I have some more pie?”

  Maggie pushed her untouched dessert toward her sister. “You can have mine. I’m not hungry.”

  “Thanks.” Dinah pulled the plate to her and began eating once more.

  “What about your dream to be a doctor?” Her soft question took him by surprise.


  Clayton’s head came up and his gaze met hers across the table. “I’ll still study while working for the Pony Express and the ranch. When the Pony Express stops, I’ll continue helping you with the ranch while studying to be a doctor. I’m not giving up on that dream.”

  She took a sip of her coffee. After several long moments, she asked, “Are you sure you want to do this?”

  He didn’t know what more he could do besides propose to her. Clayton pushed his chair back and walked around the table. He knelt on one knee and asked, “Maggie Fillmore, will you marry me?”

  Chapter Six

  Maggie felt as if every eye in the restaurant was watching them. She answered, “Yes.”

  The room exploded in clapping hands. People nodded their congratulations to them. Clayton stood and grinned down at her. She had to admit, as far as future husbands were concerned, she’d found a handsome one.

  She almost groaned when the traveling preacher stood up and walked to their table. “Well, Maggie Fillmore. Congratulations. I’ve been praying the right man would come along and marry you.”

  She looked up at Clayton, who grinned as if he was the happiest man in the room. “Thank you, Reverend White.”

  “How soon did you two plan on being wed?”

  Maggie swallowed.

  Clayton answered, “I’ll marry her today, if she’ll have me.”

  The minister turned to look at her. She knew that the sooner she married Clayton, the better. Maggie nodded. “I would like that.”

  “Well, then, let’s walk over to the church.” He turned to leave. Lifting his voice, he announced, “Maggie Fillmore is getting married today. Let as many people know who you think would like to attend. We’ll be performing the service in about thirty minutes.” He continued out the door as if his inviting the whole town to her wedding was an everyday event.

  Clayton laughed. “Well, he doesn’t waste any time, does he?”

  Maggie shook her head no. She looked to Dinah, who hadn’t spoken during most of their conversation. “What do you think, sis? Is it all right with you if I marry Clayton?”

  Happiness lit up her sister’s small face that looked so much like their mother’s. Maggie wished her ma were there. For the hundredth time, she silently asked the Lord why her mother had died. Why she’d been left to raise Dinah on her own and why her father hadn’t loved her enough to stay with the family. Dinah had suffered much loss in her young life. Maggie hoped that their new life with Clayton would bring some stability to the little girl’s world.

  Dinah nodded. She scooted down from her chair and came to stand beside Maggie. “Will we have to move out of our nice house?”

  Clayton knelt in front of Dinah. “No, you can stay in the ranch house. If it’s all right with Maggie, I’ll move in with you two.”

  “Of course it’s all right with me.” Maggie pushed her chair back, along with the sorrow of losing her mother and father. She stood. “I suppose we’d best hurry or the preacher’s going to think we’ve changed our minds.”

  An hour later, Maggie stood on the church steps with her new husband. Clayton had said his vows with his shoulders pulled back and his gaze locked on her face. He now held baby James and was looking down on the child with warmth in his pretty blue eyes. Dinah stood beside her also looking up at Clayton. It was obvious that Dinah adored her new brother-in-law.

  Clayton turned his gaze upon her and smiled. “Are you ready to go to the bank, Mrs. Young?”

  The warmth in his eyes for James seemed to include her. But Maggie knew he’d never love her. He’d said as much. She nodded. “But first we have to get through our well-wishers.” Maggie looked out at the people who stood in front of the church. It seemed as if the whole town had come to witness her wedding.

  Clayton tightened his grip on James, took her hand in his and proceeded to walk down the stairs of the church. He stopped at the bottom and smiled at the crowd. “Thank you all for attending our wedding. We will see you all Sunday at worship services. If you will excuse us, I need to get my new family back to the wagon and home where we will start our lives together.”

  Maggie clung to Clayton’s hand as he led her and the children through the center of the cheering crowd. The thought that Clayton would probably make a good politician brought a smile to her lips. She felt people reach out and pat her shoulder or touch her hair as she passed.

  For the first time since Jack’s death, Maggie felt as if this was her hometown. She saw the ladies from her quilting bee and stopped long enough to receive their hugs and promised to be at the next meeting.

  When they got back to their wagon in front of the bank, Clayton stopped. “Shall we go in and show Mr. Jones our paper from the preacher? Then I’ll have him transfer the payments for the ranch from my account to James’s.”

  She smiled up at him. “Mr. Jones never did like the fact that I was a woman with a bank account and loan at his bank. He’ll be much happier now dealing with you.”

  He nodded. His blue eyes hardened, but he grinned at her just the same. “Well, it will always be yours and James’s ranch. The ranch stays in your names, but I’ll be happy to represent you both from now on.”

  She felt at a loss for words. Any other man would have demanded she put the bank note in his name, giving him ownership. Maggie swallowed around the lump in her throat. “Thank you.”

  Clayton put his arm around her shoulders and gave her a gentle squeeze. “My pleasure.” Then he led them into the bank.

  Mr. Jones looked surprised to see them back in his bank. “Can I help you, Mrs. Fillmore?”

  Clayton stepped between them. “It’s Mrs. Young now, and we are here to pay the mortgage on the ranch.”

  Disbelief filled the other man’s face, but he led them to his office. This time Clayton stepped over the threshold first while his new family followed. Mr. Jones shut the door behind Maggie and Dinah. “So, I assume we will be transferring the deed to the ranch to you, Mr. Young?” He pulled papers from the side drawer of the desk.

  “You assumed wrong, Mr. Jones. The ranch belongs to James Fillmore. The papers need to read that Maggie Young is James’s guardian and will be controlling all transactions regarding the ranch.” Clayton handed James to his mother. “As his mother, that is the way the papers should read.”

  Maggie saw the challenge in Clayton’s eyes. Mr. Jones saw it, too, and nodded. “I see. How do you intend to catch the loan up?” He glanced at the wall clock as if to remind them that their time was running out.

  “I will be pulling the funds from my account, which was transferred here two weeks ago, to pay for the past three months and the balance of the ranch, as well.” Clayton leaned his hip against the large desk.

  Maggie and Mr. Jones both gasped.

  Mr. Jones wrote on a scrap of paper and then held it up for Clayton to see. “Are you sure you have the funds to cover such a large expense?”

  “You are welcome to look at my account, Mr. Jones. I’m sure you will see that there are sufficient funds to cover the payments and the remainder of the mortgage.”

  “Very well. Please, have a seat and I’ll be back in a few minutes.” He hurried out of the room.

  Maggie walked across the wood floor. She felt like a woman who’d just been given her freedom. “Clayton, are you sure about this? That’s a lot of money.”

  He reached out and took her free hand. Clayton gently pulled her to him. “Maggie, I never want you to worry about money or losing the ranch again.”

  “But I don’t know when I’ll be able to pay you back.”

  Clayton leaned his forehead against hers. “Maggie, I don’t want to be paid back. I want you and James to make the ranch so successful that Mr. Jones will wish he’d married you.”

  She gasped and pulled back. Did Clayton mean he wished he’d not married her?
Maggie saw the teasing, happy glint in his eyes.

  “Honey, it did my heart good just now to see that man’s face when I told him I was paying off the ranch, and when you make it successful, Mr. Jones will think twice before harassing you again.” He chuckled.

  Maggie couldn’t contain her joy at knowing the ranch would be paid off and her son’s future secured. She giggled just as Mr. Jones returned.

  He looked from her to Clayton and lifted his chin. “We’re closing now, so the paperwork will have to wait until tomorrow to be completed.”

  Clayton stood to his full height. “No, that doesn’t work for us. You see, payment was demanded by the end of the day. If Maggie hadn’t returned, you would have taken possession of the ranch and sold it to Gus Fillmore for the amount of past-due payments. So, we will finish our business today, Mr. Jones.” His blue eyes no longer held warmth but cold, hard determination.

  The banker backed out the door once more. “I’ll see if that’s possible.”

  Dinah joined Maggie. She tucked one hand into Maggie’s and the thumb of her other hand into her mouth, a sure indicator that she felt unsure of the circumstances taking place. Her hazel eyes searched Clayton’s hard face.

  Maggie gave Dinah’s hand a gentle squeeze. She sat down in the closest chair and pulled the little girl to her side. “Clayton is buying the ranch for James. That’s good, isn’t it?”

  Dinah nodded but didn’t remove her thumb.

  Mr. Jones arrived back in the room. His face was flustered, but he held a stack of papers in his hands. “Mr. and Mrs. Young, I’ll need you to sign these papers and then we’ll all be free to go home.”

  Home. Maggie couldn’t wait to get back to the ranch. Back to her cozy house where life would return to normal. She stood to sign the papers. As she wrote her new name, Margaret Elizabeth Young, across several pages, she wondered if life would ever be normal again. For the second time in her life she was married to a stranger.