Always, Ellis

by Reina Torres

  And as such things happened in small towns all over, she’d struck up an agreement. She would mend their clothes and sew some things for the baby and in turn, she earned her usual fee for sewing and mending and could purchase items she needed from the store for a discount. It made her breathe a little easier to say the least.

  Her father’s salary at the Marshal’s office was decent enough and would increase as more people and businesses moved to town. And of course, if he were to capture any criminals with a bounty on their heads.

  Until then, she still had to find a way to stretch his meager salary to provide them with what they needed to survive.

  Her next opportunity had come from her next visit to the general store. One of the other customers had overheard her talking and before she knew it, he’d stopped by the Marshal’s office with a request for her to meet with the men to see if she’d take on their mending. According to him, they were in real danger of wearing actual holes in their clothing and thankfully they were more than eager to bring their things into the Marshal’s office to drop them off there.

  Even the timing worked out. She hadn’t wanted to give up the chance to share breakfast with Olivia Hawkins. The family ate after she prepared the food for the riders so that they could enjoy a more leisurely meal.

  And there she was, finishing her breakfast with the Hawkins family and trying to settle the nerves in her middle. She picked up a plate with the fork still on its surface and felt the rattle before she heard it.

  Olivia took it from her hands with a laugh. “Don’t be afraid, Virginia, the men should all be on their best behavior. Folks out here do not like to see women mistreated.”

  Levi agreed. “Like the gold and silver men pull out of the ground, women are as rare of a commodity in the west that most will treat them with the respect due them as the gentler sex.”

  “Gentler?” Anna smiled. “They’ve never seen a woman whose wash has blown down into the dirt.”

  Virginia gave her a confused look.

  “I had just finished pinning up the sheets on the line when a wind blew through and pulled two right off and into the dusty earth. I was livid!”

  Virginia saw Olivia’s rueful smile over the head of her daughter.

  Levi smiled at his daughter before turning back to Virginia. “As I was saying. You shouldn’t have any trouble from the men. Even if their manners fail them, your father is the Marshal.”

  Olivia was stacking plates on the other side of the table while Virginia copied the motion on her side. Mrs. Hawkins cleared her throat as her husband walked out of the room. “We don’t advocate the use of violence, but men respect the badge as well as they respect a weapon, just be cautious.” She set another plate on top of the other, “Would you like me to send one of the riders with you?”

  Virginia felt a rock settle in her chest. “I am sure that I can handle things as long as they come and see me at the Marshal’s office. The sight of an open cell makes quite the impression, even without a weapon, Mrs. Hawkins.”

  That brought a bright smile to Olivia’s face. “I have no doubt that you will be just fine, Virginia. I dare say you might end the time with more than work. You might even have a few invitations for a walk, or perhaps a meal, or even a ride.”

  Virginia paled at the mention.

  Olivia set the plates down in a clatter of sound and moved to Virginia’s side. “What’s wrong, dear?”

  Laughing, Virginia waved off her concern. “Nothing. It’s silly really.”

  Lowering her voice, and gently taking one of Virginia’s hands in hers, Olivia met her eyes with a concerned glance. “Silly or not, it is something that makes you sad. You don’t have to tell me, but I would like to help where I can.”

  Virginia shrugged. “I can’t ride a horse. Buggy? Barouche? I can ride in one, but take the reins? My father would tan my hide! Sit in a saddle? No.”

  “Is that all it is?”

  Virginia turned, leaning back against the table, “It’s hard for me to admit. Most people expect to hear that my father had me in a saddle before I could walk, but the truth is my father never let me near a horse unless he was there. And then it was only to sit in the wagon or hitch it up.”

  She saw the confusion on Mrs. Hawkins’ face. “My mother fell from a horse when she was out riding. I don’t think my father wanted to take a chance with me.”

  Lifting her hand, Olivia brushed back an errant wisp of hair at her temple. “As a mother I can see why he’d worry, but living out here? Unless you plan to walk everywhere you go or have someone take you in a wagon? What exactly does your father plan to do with you?”

  Virginia couldn’t help the smile tickling her lips. “That would be the question now, wouldn’t it?”

  Movement outside in one of the corrals caught Olivia’s interest and taking Virginia’s hand, she lead her across the room and pointed out into the early morning sun.

  Virginia watched as a man climbed up and over the high walled corral. Once he’d scrambled up to the top he dropped down inside the open aired structure with barely a puff of dust from his feet.

  The horse standing in the center of the corral gave him a long sideways look and then turned its head away to look in the opposite direction.

  The man grew still and remained in the same place, waiting until the horse swung its heavy head back in his direction before he took another step forward.

  Tilting her head to the side as she watched the unfolding scene, Virginia wondered aloud, “Why doesn’t he mount the horse when it’s not looking. I’ve seen others do it that way. It gets them up on the horse faster.”

  As soon as she said the words she realized the answer just as quickly.

  “And that means he’d be off the horse just as fast,” Virginia let out a low whistle. “I don’t think I should watch if he’s going to fall off the horse. That’s not going to help me try to change my father’s mind.”

  “Just watch.”

  The man was finally within reach of the horse, close enough to touch the dappled grey coat. And yet he didn’t. He didn’t walk so much as he found just the right height to look at the horse as if they were playing chess and it was the horse’s move.

  “How long has he been working with that horse?” Virginia could feel her nerves dancing under her skin. She wasn’t used to standing still for long periods of time. She could only imagine how frustrated she would be working with a horse and how frustrated the horse would be with her.

  “Hmm,” Olivia pondered her answer for a moment, “I would say nearly a week. When we first got the horse, he’d been a diamond in the rough as far as Levi was concerned, but he’d been allowed to run wild and mean for a bit. The first rider who tried to get anywhere near him nearly lost a bit of his arm when the horse decided to take a bite out of him.”

  Virginia was startled and squinted out the window to get a better look. “He hasn’t tried to hurt that young man who’s working with him now.”

  She saw Olivia nodding from the corner of her eye. “That,” she grinned and gestured toward the corral, “is Ellis Cooper. We hired him on a little while ago.”

  “Cooper,” Virginia wondered, “any relation to the blacksmith?”

  “Yes,” Olivia beamed, “Samuel is Ellis’ uncle.”

  As they watched, out in the corral, Ellis stepped up to the horse’s shoulder in clear view of the dark glassy eyes of the gelding. Reaching out his hand, Ellis slowly set it on the neck of the horse and then let his hand slowly descend along the horse’s neck.

  Virginia clutched her hands together. “I can barely breathe.”

  Olivia tucked her up against her side. “Don’t worry. I wouldn’t let you stand here if I thought he was in danger.”

  Her face coloring with shame, Virginia murmured an apology.

  “Now, now,” Olivia chuckled, “no need to apologize. You’ve a good heart and if you’ve a mind to learn how to ride, I could talk to Ellis. I’m sure he would teach you.”

  Virginia w
atched the horse actually lean into the touch of the rider, almost eager to have him near. “I don’t have money for lessons.”

  Again, Olivia gave the younger woman a smile. “I’m sure you could work out some kind of exchange. I’ve seen Ellis wash out the same two shirts over and over again since he’s been here.”

  Nodding, Virginia felt a genuine smile touch her lips. “Then I’ll offer to make him some shirts and see if he’ll teach me.”

  “I’ll speak with Levi. He’ll let you use our horses.”

  Impulsively, Virginia turned and pulled Olivia into a hug. “Thank you for this. Really. I am so grateful for the idea.” The clock in the hall chimed and Virginia pulled back startled. “Well I have to go and see about mending for the others and then I’ll find Mr. Cooper in the next few days and ask him for his help.” Crossing to the settee, she picked up her basket and turned to give Olivia one last hopeful smile. “Thank you for everything. I know this is going to make all the difference in making Three Rivers feel like home.”

  .

  Chapter 3

  Ellis shook his head when Virginia Halston waltzed into the stable looking like she had a purpose. She set her eyes on each and every horse in the room and seemed to take measure of them in turn. He found himself wishing that she would turn her eyes on him in that same manner, even though he knew she would probably find him wanting in comparison.

  It wasn’t just that they hadn’t been introduced, that would have been an honor that he would have treasured, but he had not been lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time for the privilege.

  In fact, he’d only learned her name because once a new person came into town information about them and most times gossip, rushed through town like a wildfire.

  As the daughter of the Marshal, he thought he’d never even have the chance to breath the same air as she did, but here she was.

  In the barn

  With him.

  Well, not with him, but close enough that he could really see her.

  He paused his comb on Freedom’s shoulder and looked over the horse’s back at the young woman. She was certainly pretty, but with the look in her eyes and the tight set of her lips, he couldn’t help but feel like she was about to cause some trouble.

  When she didn’t look at him or speak, he shrugged and went back to brushing his mount.

  Freedom leaned into the heavy strokes, almost staggering Ellis back against the wall. Just to put his horse on notice, Ellis leaned right back.

  Challenged, Freedom lifted his head and flicked his tail, giving Ellis a moment of notice before the horse side-stepped and flattened his rider against the wall.

  All the air seemed to rush out of Ellis’ lungs. “Hey, you flea-bitten bag of bones, get off me!”

  Freedom’s head tossed back again in a rather unrepentant display.

  Shaking his head and struggling to breathe, Ellis struggled to push the gelding back and failed. “Come on,” he grumbled, “now you’re just rubbing it in my face.”

  “Really?”

  Ellis froze, startled by the sound of her laughing tone.

  Craning his neck to see over Freedom’s back, Ellis met the shining eyes of Virginia Halston. “Really, what?”

  Taking a few steps closer she gave him a careless little shrug. “Do you honestly think your horse is doing it on purpose?”

  “Well of course he’s doing it on purpose,” Ellis shot back with a laugh, “he just loves to make things difficult. He really oughtta have more gratitude if you ask me.”

  “Well, I don’t think I was asking you about gratitude. I was asking you about your horse.”

  Freedom seemed to take exception to the interruption of his game and took a few steps backward to put his neck in between the two. When Ellis released a disgusted sigh, the horse tossed his head back again and gave Ellis a face full of mane.

  “Can I,” she took another few steps closer, “may I touch him?”

  Ellis pressed his lips together for a moment and gave the horse a pointed look. “I dunno, Miss. It’s up to the horse, actually. When he’s in a mood to be a pain in the… I mean, when he’s in the mood to be difficult, he’s a real…”

  She waited for him to finish and then she likely gave into her curiosity. “A real… what?”

  “Sorry, Miss. I can’t think of a word that would be safe to use around a fine lady like yourself.”

  “A fine lady,” she gave him a hint of a smile. “That’s a fine compliment.”

  Ellis felt his cheeks heat up as she looked him square in the face. “It’s the truth, Miss.”

  When she looked away, her cheeks coloring as well, he took a chance to get a good look at the Marshal’s daughter. He’d heard from the other riders that Miss Halston was a beauty. At least now he knew he could trust their eyesight from now on.

  Still, the others hadn’t told him to watch out for her sharp tongue. Nor did they tell him that she had the most amazing laugh. Maybe, he hoped, they didn’t know because she hadn’t found them the least bit funny.

  “What’s his name?” she blurted out the question as she edged closer, keeping her eye on the gelding’s head.

  “This ungrateful reprobate is called Freedom.” Goodness. He heard the slight catch in his voice when he gave her the name, and Ellis hoped that the pretty young woman hadn’t heard it as well.

  He watched her gentle fingers brush over the horse’s shoulder.

  “Would you rather I not ask you about it?”

  Nope. No such luck for Ellis Cooper.

  “Ask me about the name?” He laughed, but his attempt at deflection fell short of the mark.

  “You don’t have to tell me.”

  Her voice had softened, and when he looked up to meet her gaze, he found that her eyes had softened as well. He’d thought her attractive before, she was suddenly nearly irresistible.

  “My father always said I was too curious for my own good.” She shrugged her shoulders and he saw the tiny ear-bobs dangling from her ears swing ever-so-slightly from the movement. “But I promise that I’m not a gossip. I’ve been on the receiving end of enough speculation that I wouldn’t ever want to put someone else in the same position.”

  Ellis couldn’t bring himself to speak and he feared that he’d been struck dumb.

  “And see?” She laughed, but even as her cheeks colored with a flush of pink, her skin had gone pale, her hand which she’d used to make a vague gesture looked like it was almost trembling. “I’ve made a simple moment into an awkward interaction fraught with worry. My father would certainly have a few words to say about this whole debacle.”

  She sighed, and it looked like she’d shrunk an inch or two. “I really should learn to keep my eye on the goal. You know?”

  Ellis could only smile back at her for a moment or two as he struggled to pull himself together. “If you don’t mind me asking, miss, what was your goal when you came in here?

  The question seemed to confuse her just as much.

  “My goal… what was-” she faded out for a moment, “oh! I remember!” She stepped closer and threaded her fingers through Freedom’s mane.

  Ellis was fairly sure his big gelding was leaning into her touch like a pup turning on his back for a belly rub. He only had to worry that the horse would actually roll and crush him against the wall. Yet, he couldn’t blame the gelding. It must be magical to have her hands on him.

  A knot appeared in his throat at the thought.

  “I wanted to see if Mr. Hawkins or Mrs. Hawkins were here.”

  Ellis hated to disappoint her, but there was only one answer. “They’re at the Merrick Ranch this morning, visiting with the ladies there.”

  “Oh.”

  Ellis was certainly in trouble now. Hearing her disappointed sigh didn’t sit well with him. “But if there’s something I can do to help, Miss. I’d be happy to help.”

  He worried when a crease appeared between her brows as she stood in thought.

  “Well, I could pu
t the question to you, although I’m not quite sure that you’ll believe me without the word of mister or missus Hawkins.”

  Ellis shrugged. “Go ahead and try me, Miss Halston. If you said something I wouldn’t doubt your word.”

  He thought he saw a flush on her cheeks, but he wouldn’t dare believe that it was for him.

  “Well, if you say so. I spoke to Olivia and she mentioned that I might be able to enlist the help of one of the riders to help me with some chores at the house.”

  He swallowed and struggled to control the tone of his voice. “At the jail, Miss?”

  She gave him a half-shrug. “Not in the jail part of the house,” she assured him, “in the home part of the building. Putting things up on the walls. Digging some holes for a clothesline. Nothing too dangerous or requiring you to pick up a gun.” Her laughter was soft and warm just like the look in her eyes. “Do you think you’d be interested in the job?”

  He turned back to look around the barn. “I have a few more chores around here before I could go, but the afternoon is free. I’d be happy to come and do whatever you need.”

  She gave him a look that held more than a hint of humor. “No rush, sir. Nothing is life threatening if we don’t take care of it today. And besides,” her smile turned into a little rueful twist of her lips, “you haven’t even heard what the job pays.”

  He waved it off. “Don’t really care, Miss.”

  That took her aback, but he was beginning to think Miss Virginia Halston wasn’t one to leave things well enough alone. Then again, what did he care? He’d do it just to look at her.

  But he certainly wouldn’t tell her that.

  “I’m happy to help if you’d like me to.” He held up his hands. “Fairly good with my hands.”

  She smiled and gave him a pleasant nod. “Then I-”

  Someone cleared their throat from the open doorframe of the barn.

  Ellis could feel the smile slipping from his face. Turning he saw Ransom McCain standing in the sunlight, his feet planted apart, arms loosely at his sides. It was a sham though. He looked calm and easy, but the look on his face said he was looking at Ellis for a reason. And it wasn’t a good one.