Always, Ellis

by Reina Torres

  Ellis nodded. “Perhaps they sought to save on the wood of two walls?”

  They shared a laugh at his comment.

  “I can see that,” she nodded, “so you probably have a better idea of what to do than I do. What do you think?”

  He crossed to the wall and Virginia took the chance to look him over from head to toe. He wasn’t more than a few inches taller than she was, but it was a difference she liked. If he was much taller she’d have to crane her neck to look up at him and she was sure that would be very inconvenient if she had to tilt her head so far back to-

  “What do you think?”

  Blinking, she cleared her thoughts again, pushing aside the thoughts of Ellis with his hands on her shoulders, leaning closer to-

  Again, she drifted and forced herself to look at him.

  Ellis made his way to her side and set the bottom of the post down beside her hip. “What if we set the top to the post and then measure it so that you can reach the line. That’s all that really matters.”

  She looked at how tall the post was. “It seems like a waste and an awful lot of digging.”

  He shrugged. “I don’t mind the work, it gives me something to focus on, so I don’t notice people staring.”

  That caught her attention and tugged at her heart. “Do they?” She saw a muscle in his jaw tighten and realized how silly her question had been. “I’m sorry, if you said they are, then they are… I just can’t see how someone can get to know you for any time at all and not see what a good man you are, Mr. Cooper. Why, I had only just met you and I knew.”

  Silence followed the ends of her words and she met his troubled gaze.

  “Mr. Cooper,” he met her gaze but didn’t move a muscle. She wasn’t sure he was even breathing really. He looked almost like one of those statues they had outside a tobacco shop back in St. Joseph, his eyes staring straight through her like glass. “Did I say something wrong?”

  “I know it is a lot to ask now,” he seemed to think through his words a second time before continuing, “and I probably shouldn’t even ask. So, I won’t?” He ended the words with a questioning tone. “But I hope one day that you might consent to call me by my name,” he drew in a long breath and let it out just as slowly. “I think,” he smiled before lowering his gaze away from her face, “that having you use my name would be my finest accomplishment.”

  “Oh?” She found herself rocked by his odd statement. “Why would that be an accomplishment?”

  “It would mean so much to me.” He set his shoulders and met her gaze again. “Because I’d know that you considered me a friend.”

  Chapter 5

  Ellis was more than happy to see Levi open the bunkhouse door during the evening meal and summon him outside with a pointed look and a nod. He doubted that he was in trouble. There didn’t seem to be that kind of look in the eyes of his boss, but that didn’t stop Matthew from making a comment to the man next to him, James Burroughs, who Ellis had discovered was Ransom’s brother-in-law. The two were the only ones living in the bunkhouse that were still giving him grief over his past, so he tried to ignore the snide asides and comments for the sake of peace. With a hasty wipe of his napkin across his lips, Ellis stood and stepped back over the bench to leave the table.

  It only took a moment to get outside and breathe in a full breath. Levi was waiting for him a few feet away. “Sorry to interrupt your meal, Ellis.”

  Waving off the thought, Ellis gave his boss a smile. “Not a problem, sir. Is there something you need done?”

  “Yes, but not right at this moment. I thought you’d like to know that we have a route opening up tomorrow.”

  “A mail route, sir?”

  Levi nodded. “There’s a special packet of letters that was sent to me. I have to get them to the Warm Springs Station. You’ll need to find the Marshal there. He’ll accept the package and read through the letters in it. He’ll likely write some letters or notes back and send you on your way with instructions. You’re to listen to him and follow what he says to the letter.” Levi chuckled at his own sense of humor. “Does that sound like something you can do?”

  “Of course!” Ellis felt a warm bloom of pride in his chest. “I can absolutely follow the instructions.”

  “There is a chance,” Levi met his eyes with a pointed look, “that the Marshal might send you on to another station before coming back here.”

  A shadow passed over Ellis’ features, one he tried to hide, but Levi wasn’t just a smart man, he was incredibly observant. “Something wrong?”

  Ellis considered his words carefully. During his time in a cell he had mulled over his decisions over and over until he was exceedingly well at over thinking things. This situation was no different. “No, sir.” He meant the words too. “I was just wondering if I might have some time tomorrow to see Miss Halston.”

  That caught Levi’s attention and made him smile. “Made plans, did you?”

  Shifting uncomfortably on his feet, Ellis consulted the empty corral behind Levi as if it held all the answers in the world. “Not in the way you might think. I helped Miss Halston with her laundry line the other day. If I am gone for more than three days I might not be able to help her with her next project.” Even more unnerving to Ellis, he softly admitted. “She’s paying me for the job. I’d do it for free in a heartbeat, sir, but she won’t let me.”

  Levi kept silent for a moment and Ellis looked up into the older man’s face. “When I met the Halstons for the first time, I believe Miss Halston gave you the same impression. She’s a young woman of integrity, but she is also a young woman used to adversity and change. She’s followed her father around from town to town for years and she knows what it’s like to work.

  “No doubt she understands your willingness to help her out of the goodness of your heart, but she also knows that you’re trying to make your way in the world. She wouldn’t want to take advantage.”

  Ellis nodded at his words, pondering them over and over in his head. He wanted to tell Levi that it wasn’t just the goodness of his heart that made him want to help Virginia Halston.

  It was his whole heart.

  It was silly, he knew. Virginia was a beautiful woman. A mite clumsy, but she had a heart that shone for miles like a lighthouse reaching out into the darkness. And he was helpless to ignore the pull he felt toward her.

  “Well, I appreciate her generous spirit,” Ellis explained, “but I’m keeping the money she pays me for work in a separate pocket. When these jobs are done, I hope to buy her something.”

  He saw the raised brows over Levi’s eyes, and he continued with his explanation, quickly.

  “Along the lines of a welcome gift to Three Rivers. Something to make her stay here a memorable one. Maybe,” he ventured to ask, “Mrs. Hawkins might have an idea about what might be a suitable gift?”

  “When you’re ready to purchase it,” Levi smiled, “I’m sure my wife would be more than happy to go with you to the store.”

  Ellis felt some of his nerves roll off of his shoulders. “That would be very kind of her.”

  “Olivia would be even happier to accompany you if she thought that your gift was one for courting. She celebrates every time one of my riders is married off.”

  “I doubt Marshal Halston would think I’m worthy of his daughter, sir. Still, in case it does take a few extra days to return to Three Rivers, I’d like to go and see her. And explain.”

  Levi held up his hands in surrender and smiled. “Ellis, son, you don’t have to ask my permission to leave when you have things to do. As long as you’re not needed here for work or chores your time is your own.”

  Ellis felt his cheeks heat. “I’m sorry, sir. It’s just that when I was… away. We didn’t go anywhere without asking first. I was hoping that once I walked out of those gates my life would be completely different, but it seems like I’m carrying a lot of that life with me without even trying.” Ellis took a step back and leaned over with a rushed exhale. Planting his hands
on his knees he tried to steady his nerves.

  He felt Levi’s hand on his shoulder. “You all right, son?”

  Another few breaths and Ellis was able to straighten himself and stand up tall enough to look Levi in the face. “I’m fine.”

  There was a shadow of concern in Levi’s eyes. “Are you sure?” Levi’s countenance bore heavy markings of worry as he looked at Ellis. “If you have any second thoughts, I would be happy to assign another rider, but-” He held up a hand to hold off Ellis’ instinctual response, “you should know that you’ll still have your job here. I am just saying that if you need more time, you shall have it.”

  “No,” Ellis was sure of his response, “I am ready. I just wasn’t prepared for the memories.”

  Levi reached out and gave Ellis’ shoulder a squeeze. “They snuck up on you. Bad things have a way of doing that. Make sure you tell me if this happens again. We can find a way to fix it, if you just let me know.”

  Ellis felt his throat tighten. “Thank you, sir. It means the world to me to hear you say that.”

  “Everyone deserves a second chance, son, and you’re making the most of yours so far. Keep that up and you’ll be all right.”

  The day of his first run for the Express, Ellis found himself fighting off his nerves. He’d shadowed another rider heading in the same direction the day before and studied the maps both from the home offices of Russell, Majors, & Waddell and the hand drawn maps by the other riders and felt confident that this was a big step in moving on with the rest of his life.

  Up since before dawn, he’d seen to the horses and managed a fine breakfast since Matthew was out on a run toward the fort. Without his dark glowering expression at the table, James didn’t seem to notice him at all.

  The only thing that dampened his spirit was a silly mistake made at the table when he couldn’t get out of the way of one of Luke’s stories.

  Staring down at his stained shirt he shook his head. “That’ll teach me,” he sighed as he walked toward the barn.

  “Teach you what?”

  He drew up short and stared at the young woman standing before him.

  Women, really, for beside Anna, the Hawkins’ youngest child, was Virginia.

  And while they continued to wait for his answer he grew more flustered with each passing moment. Reaching up a hand, he rubbed his palm over the back of his neck and struggled to string together any line of coherent syllables.

  “I… uh-”

  “What happened to your shirt?”

  It was Anna who’d asked the question, but his gaze was focused on Virginia and her eyes met his with concern.

  “I… uh-”

  His voice faded into silence and that was when someone slapped him on the back. “I leave you alone for a minute, Cooper, and you end up monopolizing the two sweetest single ladies at the station!” Luke dropped his arm over Ellis’ shoulders.

  Anna rolled her eyes. “We’re also the only two single women on the property, Luke.” She gave the other rider an outrageously flirtatious smile. “You’ll have to do better than that if you’ve a mind to court Virginia.”

  Ellis saw Virginia’s face flush a scarlet red.

  “Oh?” He leaned in toward the Hawkins’ daughter and almost choked on a laugh. “And why is that?”

  Anna leaned in as well, and Ellis could see that she’d stretched her arms out behind her back and linked her hands together, giving Luke a smile that could turn any frown into a broad grin. “Because I believe Ellis beat you to it.”

  Ellis turned his gaze to Virginia and stammered. “I… I…” He’d been caught squarely in a trap. If he said no, which was only proper, he’d be caught in a lie and would likely hurt Virginia’s feelings. Surely, she had no interest in him in that manner, but no one wanted to hear that they weren’t held in regard by someone else.

  He was desperately trying to find some way to get Virginia out of this mess without hurting her feelings, but what he hadn’t counted on was her own resourceful nature.

  “I really wish you both wouldn’t tease Ellis in such a way.”

  Turning to look at Virginia he saw her gaze turn from Luke to Anna. “It isn’t fair to put him in that kind of position. He’s too sweet to know that you’re teasing him. Both of you can go on with whatever you need to do.” She made a shooing motion with her free hand. “Ellis has a ride to ready himself for.”

  Luke was duly chastised, but even Ellis could tell that Anna wasn’t the least bit cowed by Virginia’s words. The mischievous glint was still sparkling in her eyes.

  It was Luke that cleared his throat. “I haven’t been so gently set down since Mrs. Hawkins’ gave me a talking to when I first joined the Express.” They all saw the endearing blush on Virginia’s cheeks. “I’m not arguing over your words and meaning, Miss. You were right to say that. Ellis may be the newest of us, but he’s as hard working as the best of us.”

  Ellis was stunned by the other man’s words. “Thank you.”

  The serious set of Luke’s face changed in a moment when he cuffed Ellis on the shoulder. “Don’t let it go to your head, yeah? You’ve got to get going soon and you’re going to need to keep your wits about you.”

  Nodding, Ellis felt his smile growing. “Right.”

  Luke looked at Virginia before giving Ellis one final shot. “You come back in one piece, so I can make more fun of you, you hear?”

  “Yeah,” Ellis chuckled as he shook his head, “I can’t wait to come back to your relentless sense of humor.”

  “Relentless,” Luke smiled, “that’s a good word for me.” He turned on his heel and walked away with Anna tight on his heels.

  When they were out of sight, Ellis turned back to look at Virginia. “I’m really sorry, Miss Halston,” he explained, “you shouldn’t have been put in that position. Luke’s one of the nicer riders, but he should have been more careful with his words to you.”

  She shook her head and he found himself watching the sunlight as it lightened the sheen of her coffee-brown hair to a golden shimmer.

  “I didn’t mind it,” she told him. “It’s good that he can joke like that with you, isn’t it?”

  He could hear the hesitation in her voice and when he looked into her eyes he saw the intent way that she searched his face.

  Ellis found himself hoping that she may be starting to care for him, even if it was just the littlest bit?

  So, smiling, he nodded in answer to her question. “I guess so. At least when Luke and some of the others joke with him, I can see them smiling instead of taunting me.”

  Her expression changed again, this time filled with more concern than anything. “I’m sorry, Ellis. You shouldn’t have to suffer that kind of behavior.”

  “Don’t you worry, Miss Halston. I can hold my own.”

  “Unless,” she gave him a solemn look of concern, “it involves coffee, it seems.”

  “Miss?”

  She nodded and looked pointedly at the stain on his shirt. “Looks like the coffee was out to get you this morning.”

  Wincing, he had to agree. “True enough. I don’t know what I did to deserve it, Miss, but I’m paying the price.”

  Virginia laughed, and he found himself basking in the sound as if her voice and laughing eyes were the sun in the sky. “Well, maybe I might have a solution to your problem.” A moment later she was holding out a small bundle to him.

  He recognized his handkerchief on the outside of the package and looked up to meet her eyes.

  “I had meant to return it to you earlier, I just kept forgetting.” He wasn’t sure if she felt the becoming blush that colored her cheeks a rosy color, but he wasn’t going to draw attention to it for fear that she might cover her face and hide from him.

  “That’s not a problem, at all, Miss Halston. I wouldn’t mind if you decided to keep it. I’d even call it an honor to have helped you that day.” He looked down at the package again and then back to her eyes. “May I open it now?”

  She shrugged and
took a little half step to the side. “It would probably be best if you do.”

  Now that was intriguing. Quickly untying the loose knot made from the corners of his kerchief he pulled the dark fabric back to see a brand-new shirt.

  Without thought, he laid his free hand on the shirt and smoothed his hand over the fabric. He felt the subtle bumps and edges from the buttons and the collar.

  “Go ahead,” she encouraged him, “open it up and see if it will fit.” He heard her softly swallow an indrawn breath. “I had to guess a little at the size and the length of the sleeves, if it doesn’t fit, I can always fix it or make a new one and-”

  She stopped short when he looked up at her. He wasn’t sure what she saw in his face, but he knew what he felt.

  Gratitude.

  And on top of that, love.

  Dear Lord in Heaven, he was in love with Virginia Halston and his life was never going to be the same.

  “You made me a shirt?”

  She flushed. “It’s not just a gift,” she explained, “I wanted to make you a shirt, it’s something I’m really good at given how many I’ve made for my father. He’s notoriously hard on his clothes,” she explained. “Still, I thought with all the changes you’ve made, you might enjoy something new to help celebrate.” She shrugged. “I could have made you a cake, but I thought this would be more helpful.”

  “And fortuitous,” he grinned at her. “Since I was going to have to change anyway, I’ll be able to wear this on my ride.”

  He took a step away and then turned back to her. “You said it wasn’t just a gift.”

  She shook her head. “It is. A gift.”

  “It’s more than that, Miss Halston.”

  “Virginia, please,” she told him. “I’ve already called you Ellis, but maybe you didn’t notice.” She moved her eyes off his face and looked down at the shirt in his hands.