“Sorry, Hazel. I thought I heard the dog wanting to go out, so I tried not to disturb you. Was just going to get the dog and let you rest.”
She swept by them, the dog on her heels. She opened the door, the dog ran out and she shut the door with a bit more force than necessary.
Oh, no, Thomas thought. I’m in the doghouse now. He turned to Josephine. Teasing laughter filled her eyes. She knew it, too. He cocked one eyebrow, pointed at her, and she shook her head. She pointed back at him, then with both hands made a twisting motion as if breaking his neck.
His laugh was low and throaty. He sauntered to the kitchen, where Hazel loudly banged pots and pans.
“I’m so glad you’re up, Hazel. Now maybe I can get a good breakfast instead of pancakes again.”
The moment the words left his mouth, he wanted to call them back. He heard more than saw Josephine’s quick intake of breath.
“Boy, you’re in for a goose or a gander this morning, aren’t you?” Hazel chuckled. “Gonna love watching you worm your way out of this one.”
* * *
Revenge was such sweet contemplation. Thomas didn’t like pancakes for breakfast? Oh, she’d teach him a thing or two. Josephine whirled around and all but ran for the bedroom. As she pushed the door closed, she glanced back at Thomas seated at the table. His arms were stretched out in front of him, hands clasped and his head down as if he were trying to pray his way out of the corner he’d backed himself into.
In her short time knowing him, Thomas had only shown kindness to everyone he met. Even with Hazel, he was considerate and tried not to upset her, and he always went to great lengths to make sure that she was cared for. So Josephine knew he had not meant to hurt her feelings over the pancakes, and though she needed him to know she didn’t wear her feelings on her sleeve, her natural instinct urged her not to pass up a chance to tease him just a little. As she hurriedly dressed, she planned. And plotted. As she pushed her feet into her boots, she gleefully rubbed her hands together and had to stifle her giggles.
Assuming an expression of sadness, she opened the door, kept her head down and went to let Hazel’s dog back in. Josephine stepped onto the porch to call the mama dog inside.
The dog bounded through the snow at the sound of the door opening. Josephine quickly gathered what she needed to get back at Thomas and then reentered the house, careful to keep her expression neutral. She walked up behind him and placed a hand on his back. His eyes swept over her face, eagerly assessing her mood.
His voice full of entreaty, he said, “I’m sorry, Josephine. I love your pancakes. I have no idea why I said that.”
“Thomas Young, do you think I wear my feelings on my sleeve?” She let her hand sweep the back of his shirt where his hair met his collar. He accepted the touch, even seemed to lean into it. “Why, I’d never have made it as a Pony Express rider had I let little things such as that trouble me.”
“But I am sorry.” Thomas looked back at the table after a swift glance in Hazel’s direction. “And I’m glad you’re being so mature about it.”
Josephine quickly pulled the neck of his shirt out. She dumped the handful of snow she’d been concealing behind her back down his shirt. Then squished it into his back.
He yelped and jumped from the chair, twisting and turning to get away from the cold spreading over his body.
“I didn’t say anything about being mature.” Josephine raised her voice to be heard. “Hazel, did you hear anything about maturity in my speech?”
“Not nary a word. No sirree, I sure didn’t.” Hazel bent double at the waist, laughing loudly.
When Thomas finally stopped dancing around, a puddle lay near his chair and water soaked the back of his shirt. He started toward Josephine, but Hazel stepped between them on her way to the table with a frying pan full of ham and eggs.
“Sit down, Thomas, and enjoy your breakfast. You’ve earned it.” A trace of laughter made her voice sound a bit strangled.
Thomas took the seat directly across from Josephine. He waited for Hazel to take her seat, not once glancing in Josephine’s direction. He prayed over breakfast, then filled his plate.
Josephine sat in the chair, her thin fingers tensed in her lap. Surely he wouldn’t let a little thing like freezing snow down his back upset him. She stirred uneasily in the chair.
“Eat up there, girlie,” Hazel prompted. “We’re late getting started this morning and I, for one, want to catch up. We’re burning daylight.”
Josephine looked at her plate. She’d lost her appetite. The light seemed to have gone out of her day. There had to be great significance in that, but she could only wrap her mind around the fact that she had wrecked a wonderful, glorious morning with Thomas.
She glanced at Thomas again and froze. Her pulse skittered alarmingly. Thomas stared back at her, his eyes alight with merriment and a faint glint of something she couldn’t identify but that gave her a warm feeling, nonetheless. Powerful relief filled her. She rested her chin on her hand, a smile tipping the corners of her mouth.
He wasn’t angry. Hallelujah. He quirked his eyebrow questioningly. She shook her head, then picked up her fork.
“The barn dance is coming up, isn’t it, Thomas?” Hazel drizzled honey over a biscuit that made Josephine’s mouth water. Her appetite returned with a vicious roar.
“Shouldn’t be too long now. I figure Ma is working up a storm getting everything ready.”
“It’s at your parents’ farm?” Josephine felt the stirring of excitement. A get-together during the cold season when everyone had been snowed in for days was just the thing they needed.
“Yep. Been held there the last two years. But each year Ma tries to change things up. Let’s hope we make it through this one without a fight.” He and Hazel laughed together.
“What?” Josephine looked between the two of them, her interest piqued.
“Well, last year there was a little skirmish between two men fighting over the same lady. It’s not like we have enough women to go around out here,” Hazel said.
“Did anyone get hurt?”
“No.” Hazel pointed a bony finger at Thomas. “You better thank the Lord you had this pretty woman hand delivered to your doorstep. The rest of the bachelors here would be trying to snatch her right out from under your nose if she wasn’t already hitched.”
Josephine watched Thomas closely.
He grinned. “Well, if she keeps stuffing my shirt with snow, I may just give her to them.”
A smile touched her lips. Her new husband knew how to tease and that gave her a feeling of warmth that she didn’t want to feel. Having a fun husband was one thing, but these warm feelings were another and Josephine vowed to keep them at bay.
Chapter Fourteen
Thomas slunk out of the saddle. Weariness poured through him as if he was a man who’d walked the desert without water. The only bright spot was that Josephine would be waiting for him when he arrived back at the house.
It was hard to believe they’d been married a month. Even so, they’d lost some of the playfulness of the first week. She’d become guarded and quiet. Thomas blamed this on the fact that he was gone more often than he should be.
He wondered what she’d think when he told her he’d resigned as a Pony Express rider. His back ached. Putting one foot in front of the other, he climbed the short stairs to the front door.
A small yelp announced his arrival. Thomas opened the door and was immediately attacked by the growing puppy. He bent down and rubbed her ears. “Hello, little girl. Thanks for this warm welcome.” She licked at his gloves.
Philip sat before the fireplace with his Bible in his lap. He looked up and grinned. “Welcome home. You look like how I normally feel after a hard ride.”
“That could be because I feel like how you look after a hard ride.” T
he two brothers smiled at each other. They had the same initial conversation after every ride. His gaze moved about the room looking for his wife and Hazel. Neither was present.
As if he could read Thomas’s thoughts, Philip said, “She’s over at Hazel’s.”
Thomas took off his gloves, hung his coat up and pulled his boots off by the door. Disappointment ate at him. A warm meal and Josephine’s smiling face were the only two things he’d been looking forward to all day. “Did she leave me any grub?” he asked as he dropped into the rocking chair closest to the fire.
“Sure did. I’ll get it for you.” Philip put the Bible on a small side table and headed for the kitchen.
“I see we have a new table,” Thomas called after his brother, admiring the sturdiness of the table that now held the Bible.
Harsh laughter came from the kitchen. “Yep, that wife of yours has been working me like a horse while you were gone.”
Thomas chuckled. It was true. Over the past month, Philip had built a bookshelf, a table and chair for Josephine’s room, a cabinet for her washbasin, a closet for her dresses and now a small end table in the sitting room. His gaze moved to the wood bin. It overflowed with wood and the basket of kindling was just as full.
“Ma wants to know if you are coming to the winter barn dance.” Thomas took the bowl of soup and coffee mug from Philip. He set the cup on the floor beside his chair.
Philip sighed. “Yes, but I hope she’s not matchmaking again this year.”
Thomas bowed his head and said a silent word of thanks for the meal and then looked up at his brother. “Well, this year, thanks to you, I will be matchmaker free.” The scent of creamy potato and sausage soup had him dipping his spoon in and sighing with contentment as the rich flavor coated his tongue.
Josephine was turning out to be quite the cook. Over the past few weeks she’d perfected several soups, casseroles and desserts. Thomas made a mental note to make her a box to put all the recipe cards in that she and Hazel had written up. At the moment, they sat on the counter with a pretty ribbon holding them together.
“I wish you wouldn’t put your mug on the floor like that.” Philip sat back down.
Thomas looked down. “Why not? That’s how we used to do it before Josephine insisted we take all our meals at the table.”
“Because if Josephine sees it, she will make me build another end table, like this one.” Philip indicated the table by his chair.
“You do realize that she wants a new couch, don’t you?”
Philip yelped. “What? She hasn’t said a word to me about a couch. I’m not even sure I know how to build one.” He ran his hand down his face.
Thomas laughed. “When you decide to quit the Pony Express, you could go into the furniture business. And you’ll have Josephine to thank for all the experience you’re getting now.”
“That’s not a bad thought.” Philip sat forward in his chair. He gazed into the fire while Thomas ate.
Once he’d emptied his bowl, Thomas set it on the floor and picked up his coffee mug. “Philip, I sent a letter to St. Joseph today, resigning as a Pony Express rider. My last ride was tonight.”
His brother turned to look at him in shock. “What will you do now?”
“I’ve told them I’d like to stay here and remain the relay station manager, just as I’ve always done.” He watched as Philip’s shoulders relaxed.
“Good. I’m not ready to stop riding just yet,” Philip confessed. “And I wasn’t looking forward to your leaving, either.”
Thomas grinned. “Glad to hear that. But eventually Josephine and I will need to move to our own place.” Where that would be, he wasn’t sure yet.
“You have someplace in mind?”
“No, but I’m thinking I’d like to buy a ranch and maybe raise some cattle.” Thomas picked up the empty bowl and carried it to the kitchen. When he returned, Philip was staring into the fire.
He spoke in a low voice. “Everything is changing.”
Thomas sat back down in the chair, even though he’d rather go climb into his soft, warm bed. “I know. But I’m not leaving anytime soon. I haven’t even talked to Josephine about it.”
“I like her, but I wish I’d minded my own business.” Philip’s gaze met Thomas’s. “I had no idea how much having a woman about would change everything.”
Thomas smiled. “There have been good changes. We now eat regularly and what she cooks isn’t burned, like it would be if we had to cook it. Our clothes get washed weekly. She makes sure to air out the mattresses.” He looked around. “This house has never been cleaner.”
Philip nodded. “I know, but I still wish I hadn’t done this. You and I were close and now, well...I feel like I’m losing you.”
“You can always come with us,” Thomas offered.
“No, you now have a real family. Besides, chasing cows all day isn’t the life I want.” Philip grinned. “Can you just see me branding, feeding and moving cattle?”
Thomas laughed. “Naw, you would hate that.”
“Well, I don’t know about hate, but I do enjoy sleeping in a bed at night instead of under the stars.”
“Who says I have to sleep in the cow pasture?” Thomas asked. Had Philip lost his mind or did he have no concept of what running a cattle ranch was like?
“Oh, I assumed you’d have to do a yearly cattle run and take them to market to sell. That would require several nights of sleeping under the stars. And when you brand the new calves, are you going to bring them all up to the house or do it in the pastures?”
Thomas shook his head. He was tired. He’d not thought of either of those events. What would Josephine think of his plans? Would she like living on a ranch where he’d be gone nights to take care of cattle? He stood.
“Headed to bed?”
“Yep. I’m beat.” Thomas started to walk away. He stopped at the bedroom door. “Philip?”
Philip turned to face him.
“Don’t say anything to Josephine about me not riding or about the cattle ranch. I’d like to break the news to her myself.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
Thomas ran his hand down the scar on his face. “Thanks.” He headed to bed. Again the questions plagued him as he undressed.
What if Josephine didn’t want to live on a ranch? Would she leave him? He’d not seen hide nor hair of her uncle. Was it possible she’d lied to him? If so, what had she gained? A loveless marriage. She might be ready to move on.
He crawled between the sheets. His heart felt as heavy as his eyelids. Was it possible he’d lose Josephine? Thomas touched the scar once more. If only he wasn’t scarred. Then maybe she’d fall in love with him.
* * *
Josephine fussed with some material. “This dress doesn’t look right, Hazel. No matter how hard I try, I can’t get the gathers right.” She pushed the fabric away and rubbed her eyes.
“You’re just tired, child. Why don’t you put it away for tonight? It’s about time we head over to your place, anyway.” Hazel tucked the quilt square she’d been working on back into her sewing basket.
Maybe it was time to quit. Josephine folded her dress up and placed it in her sewing box. “I think I’ll take it with me and work on it tomorrow. The dance is only two days away and I really want to wear this dress to it.”
“I don’t know what you are fussing about. It’s almost done. I could finish it for you,” Hazel offered. She walked to the door and pulled on her hat, gloves and coat.
Josephine followed and did the same. “No, I really want to do this one myself.”
The mama dog, officially named Mama, looked up from her spot by the fireplace. She started to rise, but Hazel stopped her by saying, “You stay here, girl. I’ll be back shortly.”
Josephine picked up her sewing box and followed
Hazel out the door. Cold wind blew against her cheeks as they made their way to the barn. The setting sun winked over the mountain ridge.
Both their horses neighed as they walked inside the warmth of the barn. “We better hurry. I didn’t realize it had gotten so late.” Hazel saddled her horse and then waited for Josephine to finish saddling hers.
The two women left Hazel’s small farm. Darkness descended around them. For the first time in a long time, Josephine wondered if her uncle would ever find her. She shivered.
Josephine’s mustang raised her ears, alert to the night. A soft neigh sounded in front of them. The mustang responded. Josephine held her breath as she and Hazel pulled to a stop and waited to see who was approaching.
Philip pulled his horse to a halt. “I was beginning to worry about you two.”
Both women set their horses into motion. “I’m sorry, Philip. It’s my fault we’re running late,” Josephine said when they came even with him.
“That doesn’t surprise me.”
She ignored his sarcasm. “Is Thomas home yet?”
“Yep, he rode in over an hour ago. Looked worn-out, too.”
Josephine wondered why her husband hadn’t come to get them. Normally he did. Was he angry at her? Or had this ride been especially hard on him? “Is he all right?”
“He’s fine, just tired. He went to bed about an hour ago.”
Hazel spoke up. “I don’t know how you young’uns can ride like that. I’d be plum tuckered out if I had to ride one day in the saddle like you boys do.”
The little cabin came into sight. Josephine found herself wanting to check on Thomas. She knew that wasn’t going to happen, because theirs wasn’t a real marriage and he probably wouldn’t appreciate her waking him up just to find out how his ride went and if he were all right. She looked over at Hazel. “Are you coming in for a cup of tea? I still have some left over.”
Pony Express Christmas Bride Page 12
