LITMIR.BIZ

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suggestion he decided it might be better to have the boys go to her. Plus, she’d have to bundle up Joy and Beni, so it would be easier on her if he brought the boys to the house. “I’ll get the boys and we’ll be right in,” he offered.

      “Thank you.” She turned and walked back to the house.

      Ten minutes later, they assembled in the living room, Joy propped against Rebecca’s legs, her corn-silk doll in her lap. There was an air of expectancy among them, an excitement about the unknown.

      Seth cleared his throat. “This is an important day as you boys take your first step into manhood. When a boy can handle responsibility, can be depended on to carry out a job, then he is thought to be a man. I trust that each of you will with honesty and pride uphold your position in the United States Postal Service.” He reached to pick up his Bible from the table. “If you young men will step forward we will commence with the swearing in.” They walked forward, shyness preventing them from showing how eager and proud they were to be involved in something bigger than themselves.

      When they stood in front of him, he paused a moment, his gaze moving from one to the other. “Lift your right hand and repeat after me. ‘I—’” he waited until each boy had voiced his name, then continued “‘—do hereby swear, before the Great and Living God, that during my engagement, and while I am an employee of Russell, Majors and Waddell, I will, under no circumstances, use profane language, that I will drink no intoxicating liquors, that I will not quarrel or fight with any other employee of the firm, and that in every respect I will conduct myself honestly, be faithful to my duties, and so direct all my acts as to win the confidence of my employers, so help me God.’”

      The boys repeated the words with force and pride. Seth glanced at Rebecca and noticed Benjamin standing beside her, holding the same pose as the other boys. He walked over to him. “Benjamin, did you say the oath, also?”

      Benjamin nodded his small head, his eyes down.

      Rebecca dropped a hand onto the little boy’s shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. Her eyes begged Seth to let the boy pretend to be a Pony Express rider.

      Seth kneeled down in front of him. “Do you understand what you’ve agreed to?” he asked.

      Benjamin bravely met his gaze. “Yes, sir.”

      Seth nodded. “Well, in that case, go get in line with the other men. You’ve pledged to be a Pony Express man.” He stood and met Rebecca’s gaze as the little boy darted around him and went to stand beside Jacob. Gratitude and moisture filled her eyes.

      For a moment, Seth understood her burden. She had a houseful of children to care for and she did it on her own. His respect for her inched up a degree. Seth nodded at her then returned his attention to the young men now fully in his charge.

      Seth picked up the stack of Bibles that he’d carried with him to the farm, now a full-fledged Pony Express station. He handed one to each of them. “You are now employees of the Pony Express. Jacob, I have decided that you will be the station’s stock tender. Your job is to take care of all the horses and make sure that a horse is ready to ride at all times. Andrew, Clayton, Thomas, Philip and Noah, you will all be riders. Your job is to make sure that the mail goes through.” Each young man nodded in turn.

      Benjamin studied the tip of his brown boots. Seth knew the boy felt left out. He ran his small hand over the engraving on the front of his new Bible.

      Seth fought the grin that threatened to break across his face. He steeled himself and then said, “Benjamin, you are too young to be a Pony Express rider, so I am making you the stock tender’s assistant. It will be your job to help Jacob take care of the horses and barn. Whatever Jacob or I ask you to do, you will do it.”

      A smile split Benjamin’s lips. “I’ll be the best stock tender’s ’sistant that anyone has ever met.”

      Seth wasn’t sure there were other stock tender assistants in the Pony Express, but he nodded just the same. “I’m sure you will.” He motioned for everyone to sit down, then pulled up a stool for himself and faced them. “I’m not sure what Mr. Bromley told you about your jobs, but let me assure you they are dangerous. You will face bad weather, robbers, outlaws and Indians. None of these should be taken lightly. You’ll have to think on your feet, learn to outrun, outsmart, and you need to trust your gut. The main point is, stay alive but get the mail through. Do you have any questions?” Seth immediately looked to Benjamin, but the boy remained silent along with his brothers. “Since there are no questions, let me explain to you exactly what my job entails. I am called a station keeper for a home station—that’s what the farm is called. I make sure that you men are ready to ride. That the station runs smoothly and that the horses are tended well. I also make sure that during your stay at the home station you aren’t idle. You will follow my orders. If I say build a fence, you build a fence. If I say ride on out, you ride on out. Is that understood?”

      “What about Ma?” Benjamin asked.

      Seth looked at the boy. “What about your mother?”

      “Does she have to take orders, too?” His eyes challenged Seth, something Seth hadn’t expected. He smiled at the boy.

      “No, your mother isn’t a Pony Express employee.”

      “Oh.”

      Clayton asked, “What if Ma says to chop wood and you say to ride out, then what?”

      “You ride out,” Seth answered, aware they walked a tight line here. “But if you aren’t working for me and your Ma says chop wood, you best chop wood.”

      Rebecca spoke for the first time since they’d all arrived in her living room. “Mr. Armstrong, I can understand the boys’ confusion.” She pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “They simply want to know who has the most authority, you or me?”

      Seth knew that. How many other station managers had to answer questions like these? He doubted any of them did. “It’s really very simple. They work for me. Each boy will have time off and that is when they can do whatever you need or want them to.”

      Her eyes flashed but she simply nodded. He noted her growing quietness as he outlined the job. First the barn had to be rebuilt and second they’d need to work on their riding skills.

      Did she disagree with him on what her sons would be doing? Or did she just not like the way he’d come in and replaced her deceased husband? Confrontation wasn’t his strong suit when it came to women, but Seth had known from the start that he and Rebecca Young must have a heart-to-heart discussion about what might and would happen to her farm and children.

      * * *

      Rebecca finished making Jacob’s bed then headed to the living room to wait for Seth and Jacob to return to the house. Joy and Benjamin were both tucked in for the night and the house seemed very quiet. Normally she relished this time, but tonight the stillness seemed to grate on her frayed nerves.

      Earlier, as the boys had filed out to return to the bunkhouse, Seth had stood beside her and quietly asked if he could speak to her in private. She’d agreed. Not because he’d asked for the meeting, but because there were things she needed to say to him.

      She’d have to be both blunt and gentle in her words to the man. Rebecca knew without him having to say so that he wasn’t going to agree with her thoughts, but she had to speak them.

      Would he fire the boys? Tell Mr. Bromley that the Young farm wouldn’t make a good home station after all? What would she do if he did that? What would become of her boys?

      If they worked for the Pony Express, each one of them could potentially earn enough to buy a parcel of land, or go to a college back east. They would have a foot up to a better life. John had left her well-off, financially, but the boys would need to earn their own way.

      But at what cost? Their lives?

Chapter Four

      Rebecca heard

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