by Reina Torres
Ellis nodded over and over, her words offering him some comfort for a loss he didn’t know he’d ever feel. Jed had been a part of the worst part of his life, so why was he feeling this kind of sadness?
Turning to look at Virginia, he had his answer. Ellis pulled his handkerchief from his pocket and gently swept if over her cheek. “He let you go, Virginia, truly?”
She nodded and leaned into his touch. “Even after they took me, before Cal left, Jed was uneasy about the whole thing. He asked me about you. Asked how I cared for you since you’d been to prison.
“I told him he could have a second chance too. That if he let me go, if he showed that he was willing to give himself up, then my father would take that into consideration.” She turned and met Levi’s gaze. “That people here would know that he did the right thing.”
A commotion turned their heads as Ransom pulled Pierson over toward them.
Levi’s disapproving look only seemed to make Pierson’s chin rise higher in defiance. “You want to explain why you shot him?”
“One less criminal to feed and transport to trial.”
The marshal was on his feet, turning toward Pierson. “Not your call.”
“My call?” Pierson pointed his hand at Virginia. “He could have shot her dead before any of you would have done something. Am I the only one who understands the kind of danger he put her in?”
Ellis wanted to argue, but he knew the kind of danger Pierson was talking about. Jed and Cal had done so many crimes, ruined so many lives, it was hard to admit to himself that Jed’s death had solved a lot of problems for them, but he was even more upset for another reason entirely. “He wasn’t going to hurt Virginia.”
“You can’t know all of his thoughts, boy. He could have changed his mind in a second and the Marshal’s daughter would be dead now instead of him.”
The man’s words rang in his ears, but Ellis couldn’t escape the feeling that Pierson was just saying the words he thought people wanted to hear. A man like that was a rabble-rouser, someone who didn’t mind stirring things up. And from what Ellis could garner from the tight lines around the man’s eyes he didn’t have a problem with much of anything. A man that calculated in his thoughts was just too hard to trust.
“I don’t know you, sir,” Ellis shook his head, “so I don’t have to talk to you. I’m sure the Marshal will want to speak to you.”
“You’ve the right of it, Ellis.”
He felt the solid weight of Marshal Halston’s hand on his shoulder.
“Mr. Pierson, is it?”
“That’s my name, Marshal.” He gestured down the street. “I run the Stage Depot around here. You’d do yourself a favor to remember the service I provide the people of this town.”
“Huh.” Marshal Halston stepped up past Ellis and looked hard at the man who’d just done his best to impress him. “Fancy that. Such an important man explaining the ways of the town to me.”
Ellis saw Ransom’s expression narrow on the man and wondered what story there was behind the look.
“So, Mr. Pierson, perhaps you can do us another service and join me in my office for a bit of a conversation.”
“I’ve work to do, Marshal.”
“And I do too, Mr. Pierson. And since you saw fit to kill a man in this town, you’ll take the time to sit down and speak with me.”
Ellis was ready to drag Pierson down to the office by his collar, but the man saved him the trouble.
“Fine. I’ve got things to do later, keep that in mind.”
The Marshal turned back to Ransom. “Mr. McCain? Would you do me one more favor by escorting Mr. Pierson to my office, make sure he’s comfortable.”
“Comfortable,” Ransom sighed, “you had to go ruin it, didn’t you, Marshal?”
Ellis barely saw the smile on Marshal Halston’s face, but it was there.
“Just keep him there.”
Ransom’s hardened face lightened with a grin. “Yes, sir.”
Ellis turned to the Marshal. “Sir, if you don’t mind, I’d like to take Virginia to see Mrs. Hawkins. See to her comfort.”
The Marshal passed a curious look over his daughter. “Virginia? How are you feeling?”
“I am a little tired. I could do with some company if Mrs. Hawkins wouldn’t mind.”
Levi appeared at her side. “She’d be delighted to see that you’re safe, she’s been beside herself since we heard the news. I’ll head over now so that she’ll be ready for you.” He looked at Ellis. “You’ll see her safely to our door?”
“Yes, sir.” Ellis turned and looked at Virginia, reaching out his hand. “I’ll see she gets there safely.”
Virginia took his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
“Goodness, Virginia,” Ellis lifted their hands up, so he could look at them. “You’re chilled.”
Her wan smile set him in motion. Pulling off his coat, he draped it around her shoulders.
“We should stop by your house and get you your shoes and something warmer to wear,” he started walking with her toward the lower end of town, stopping when he saw the dirt road. “Maybe you should wait on the grass. I can go get your shoes. Your feet have got to be sore walking across the dirt.” He started to let go of her hand to make his way across the road and she only held on tighter to him.
“Ellis.”
He smiled at her. “Yeah?”
“I don’t want to be by myself. Not now.”
Ellis nodded. “I don’t want you to be alone either, Virginia.”
Turning back, he looked down the street. Freedom was walking about in front of his Uncle’s Smithy nipping at the grass. Wetting his lips, Ellis whistled and turned his horse’s head. Ellis tilted his head and Freedom started in his direction, the dust and stones stirred up by his hooves peppered Pierson’s pant legs, making the man cuss.
Ellis saw his over-sized puppy of a horse press his broad nose to Virginia’s shoulder. With a cluck of his tongue, Ellis nudged the gelding’s grey nose away from his girl. “Back up, Free.”
The horse drew in a big breath at Virginia’s shoulder and she laughed. The sound did Ellis good. That she could laugh after what she’d been through, was just what he needed to hear, hoping that she would be able to get past the experience without any injury to her heart.
Touching his hand to Freedom’s neck, he asked the horse to stay put. Linking his hands, he offered her a lift up onto Freedom’s back. Setting her hand on Ellis’ shoulder she put her foot in his hands and he lifted her onto the horse’s back before swinging up behind her and turning the gelding toward the station.
It was fast approaching Summer and the Merrick’s dance had come and gone. Life for Virginia had become a wonderful thing indeed. Time spent with her father had changed greatly since the day Jed had set her free.
Her father saw her more. He spoke to her and interacted with her as more than just a daughter who made his meals and mended his shirts. The conversations they had were about more than the law or the next time that he planned to move. In fact, her father was talking about setting down roots.
After the dance at the Merrick Ranch, her father had gone to visit the Captain’s mother on a number of occasions and he was walking about town with a joyous spring in his step.
And Ellis, even the thought of his name brought a gentle smile to her face. Rather than the few months that they’d known each other, she felt as though they’d known each other for years.
She’d never been courted before and with all the gentle reminders of his affection for her, just the thought of Ellis Cooper made her blush and smile. It didn’t hurt that most of the townsfolk saw him as some kind of hero since he’d foiled the plot to steal from the Express.
The knock that sounded on the front door had her smiling again.
Taking a moment to look in the mirror beside the front door she made sure that she’d schooled her hair into a style that would withstand the gusting winds and maybe even a nip or two from Freedom. Ellis’ horse had apparent
ly decided that giving her ‘kisses’ was his particular right.
Opening the front door, Virginia grinned down at Ellis. “Hello, Mr. Cooper.”
Ellis gave her an indulgent smile. “Good Morning, Miss Halston. Can I assume that you’re feeling well today since you’re pretending we don’t use each other’s names?”
“I wouldn’t assume anything, Mr. Cooper. Are you here to take me to see the horses?”
She almost laughed at his strange expression. Ellis was usually so easy in his manner, but this morning he seemed a bit tense.
“I am here to take you to see the horses, Miss Halston. If you’ve a mind to come, that is.”
He stepped back and held out a hand to her.
One hand pushing her skirts away from the steps, Virginia took his hand and stepped down to the grass with the grace of a fancy lady and the smile of a woman with a heart full of love.
Ellis tucked her hand in the crook of his arm and shook his head, but she saw the smile on his lips. “You do so like to keep me on my toes, Virginia Halston.”
“Miss Halston to you, young man.”
He laughed, a full-throated sound that had her echoing his tone. “Why yes, my apologies, Miss Halston.”
They crossed behind the Smithy and Samuel stopped his work for a moment to greet the young couple, but they were quickly on their way.
When they caught sight of Delia and Ransom McCain standing beside one of the corrals, Ellis walked Virginia over to the McCains’ and hovered just at Virginia’s shoulder as she fawned over the little boy. When she cuddled the baby against her chest, babbling nonsense to him she thought she saw Ellis’ eyes go soft with some kind of a look she couldn’t name.
And the look sent a warm kind of shiver through her from her heart down to her toes.
“Uh, Virginia- uh, Miss Halston?”
She heard an odd tremor in his voice. “Yes?”
“Maybe we can visit with the McCains a little later?”
“Oh?” With Delia’s reassuring smile, Virginia handed little Oliver back into his mother’s arms and turned back to Ellis. “Where are we going?”
Clearing his throat, Ellis tugged at his collar. “To look at the horses.”
She gave him a curious look. “We’re standing at the corral, and the horses are in the corral.”
He nodded slowly. “There are other horses in the other corral.”
Virginia heard the door to the Hawkins’ porch swing open and closed a few moments later. As she let Ellis walk her around to the other side of the Express yard she thought she caught sight of Anna standing beside her parents on the porch.
Leaning into her beau, Virginia wondered aloud. “Is there usually this kind of excitement about the new horses?”
Ellis shrugged, and she felt the rise and fall of his shoulder against hers. “We live and breathe horses around here. New horses are always a cause for excitement.”
She heard his words, but she also saw a bunch of curious onlookers stepping out onto the porch of the bunkhouse.
“Then why do I feel like most of the people out looking are looking at me?”
Ellis turned them toward the second corral and gestured at the horses kicking up the dust. “Maybe they heard how good you’re doing at your riding now that we’ve had time to work together without people looking to hurt the station.”
Setting one hand on a rung of the corral and the other on the far side of her waist, Ellis nodded toward the horses inside. “What do you think?”
Virginia spared him a glance. “Of the horses?”
“Sure. Yes. Of the horses.”
“Oh,” Virginia took a time to look over the horses in the corral closest to them, “well, they’re all nice.”
“Nice?” His voice sounded the least bit strangled as he forced out his words. “That’s what you think?”
She shrugged. “I’m not sure what you’d like me to comment on in particular.”
“Well,” he reached up and tugged on his collar again, “if you had to pick… one.”
“One? You mean a horse?” She turned to look at him and saw the uncertain look on his face. “To ride?”
“Yes. Yes.” He seemed like he’d stumbled on the answer. “If you had to pick one to ride. Which one would you choose?”
“Oh,” she turned back to the corral and was surprised when it took her one sweeping look to pick. The horses were all beautiful, some even looked regal, but there was only one that caught her heart as well as her eyes. “The one that looks like the color of wheat,” she leaned closer to Ellis, “that’s the one I’d choose.”
“That one?”
She tried to listen to his tone but couldn’t hear much more than his warm tone.
“That’s a palomino,” he explained, “you’d really like that one?”
His voice sounded rough and she turned to look at him. “What’s wrong?”
Ellis shook his head. “Nothing! Nothing.”
“You’re acting awfully strange, Ellis. What’s wrong?”
Clearing his throat, Ellis turned to look at Virginia, his hands nervously patting at the outsides of his thighs. “Nothing is wrong, I just wanted to check.” He drew in a deep breath and smiled. “That’s the one I thought you’d like.”
She opened her mouth to speak, her eyes filled with confusion, but she couldn’t find a word to say.
“And I’m really happy to hear that I didn’t make the wrong choice.”
“Choice?”
“For a horse.” He leaned a little closer and she felt a rush of warmth through her chest. “She’s yours.”
“Mine?”
He smiled. “Yes, yours. You’re going to be an excellent rider and you deserve a horse that matches your spirit.”
She felt a cool breeze brush over her cheeks, making her feel a little flushed underneath it all. “Mine…” she sighed, “I’m not sure-”
“Not sure about the mare? If you’d like another-”
“No,” she reached out a hand and set it against his chest, “I’m not sure… as a gift… it might be seen as-”
“Too much?”
She winced but nodded. “Yes. A horse!”
“This is because I’m courting you.”
Virginia nodded. “Yes, I just don’t know how I would explain-”
“A wedding present from your fiancé?”
She drew up short, her eyes blinking so she could try to focus on his face. “I’m sorry… what?”
Ellis reached into the pocket sewn into the back of his britches and withdrew something. When he took it out he got down on one knee in the dirt and held out a ring. “I bought the ring before I bought the horse, but they kind of go together for me, Miss Halston.” He grinned at her soft spate of laughter. “I’m hoping that someday soon, you’ll answer to Mrs. Cooper. Would you like that, Virginia? Would you be my wife?”
Virginia felt like her knees were likely to fail her and then she could end up kneeling beside Ellis in the yard. The thought wasn’t entirely upsetting.
“Virginia?”
She heard worry and uncertainty in his voice and she rushed on to ease his mind. “Yes.” She nodded her head and reached out to squeeze his arm. “Yes, Ellis. Yes.”
He stumbled to his feet and wrapped her in his arms. “I love you, Virginia Halston.”
“And I love you, Ellis Cooper.”
Ellis stepped back a little and fumbled for her hand, his own shaking as he slipped the ring on her finger. “For always?”
Virginia intertwined their fingers and set their joined hands over his heart. “Always.”
Epilogue
June 26, 1862
The Cooper Family
Bower, Colorado
Dear Uncle Samuel,
I hope my letter finds you as well as this new season of Spring finds us. The Coopers of Bower, Colorado now number three. Along with my beautiful wife, the walls of our home now ring with the insistent cries of our son. Aaron Cooper made his entrance early in the mor
ning several days ago and I find myself exhausted one moment and exhilarated the next.
My darling wife is braver and stronger than I will ever be. She has already trained me in the proper way of things. Changing the baby is something that I am quite good at, if you listen to her evaluation. I have also learned the correct way to burp our son and then wash my own shirt when I make a mistake.
Surely, you worry that I have lost all control of my household, but I will assure you that control is in the hands of the person best suited for it. Virginia wants me to let her write the next letter to you for she is sure I have made a mess of even this simple missive.
I am truly blessed that she doesn’t take me to task for my outrageous comments in this letter, she truly is the best of all women in my life. She makes me laugh and laughs at my horrible jokes and daily she reminds me of all the good there is in the world.
If our son grows into a man with even a tiny bit of her strength of person and character, the world will be a better place.
She has also determined that we will have another child by this time next year. Apparently, she is not yet afraid of the terror that two of our children will rain down upon this poor unsuspecting mining town.
And I am too in love to try to stop her. I will, I fear, bend my will to hers, for when she is happy, my world blossoms with possibilities.
Take care, Uncle. Come and visit when you can. We look forward to seeing you again. Even more, we would love for you to move to Bower. The blacksmith here is looking to move on to another town. And while I’m sure you’re quite happy where you are, I know that our family, including Freedom and Flaxen would be happy to have you close. We’re planning on a few more horses in the family and we’d likely keep you in business all on our own.
You gave me a chance at a new life, and for that you will have my gratitude. That you are family, makes me truly blessed.
Always,
Ellis
Always, Ransom - Book 1
Ransom McCain was the last man hired to ride for the Three Rivers station, but he was chosen to take the first ride west because he could think on his feet. Tensions are high because there are people determined to make the express fail, and little does Ransom know that he would fall for a woman caught in the crossfire.
