36
"Jenny." Buck whispered. He touched her face gently trying to wake her up. She looked so peaceful and pretty laying there with her long satin, blond hair spread across the pillow. "Jenny, Honey, wake up. I gotta get to work."
She moved her head and mumbled, "Mmmhnm".
"I have to leave and I don't want to leave you alone asleep. I have to take my gun with me or else I'd leave it with you. I tried looking a bit for your Pa's gun but I didn't see one. I can leave you my knife." He said still in a whisper. "Ike's up. You can stay here or come back with me. " Buck said at a more normal tone as Jenny rolled over and looked at him.
"I'll go with you, give me a minute to get dressed." She said sitting up and yawning. Then she stretched. "Don't bother leaving me with a gun, I wouldn't know how to use it. And I have no idea where a gun would be; here or down stairs in the shop." She said as she gathered her clothes.
"Tompkins most likely kept a rifle down stairs. You never noticed one?" Buck asked.
"Well, the time I spent there was looking at figures and books. Adding money, checking prices. The topic never came up. Mr. Dobbs never once said, 'This is the cost of a bar of soap and over there is the rifle to take down as many injuns as you can.'" Jenny took her things and went to the next room.
Buck smiled and picked up Ike from the cradle and got him dressed to go out on this chilly morning. Jenny soon came back, " I'll keep Ike with me today and we'll stay out of the way." Jenny said putting on her shoes. "We'll leave everything here and pick it up later." She said.
It wasn't quite light out and the couple walked back to the station. Jenny brought one of Sally's shawls. She was holding a well bundled Ike with both arms and her mother's purse hung from her wrist with the house key, and all the accessories to show Rachel. She shifted Ike so she could put one arm around Buck's then back to holding Ike. "You really don't know how to use a gun?" Buck asked.
"No. I know a bit of how a bow and arrow works, but I never went on hunts and guns were a precious commodity. So no. "Jenny said shaking her head.
"Emily knew how to shoot." Buck said.
"You told me Emily's father was a gambler and raised her around saloons and gaming places. I'm sure learning how to use a gun was a great necessity. I grew up in an Indian tribe with a mother and the chief for protection. Then I moved to an all girls school. Any one of those instructors would faint if they heard of me handling a weapon. Any weapon. Besides Emily had a father who taught her that. I had a father I didn't see but for a week in almost 9 years and all he was concerned about was the fact that I had an Indian little brother."
"Well I'll have to fix that."
"I guess if you think it's important." Jenny shrugged, "Thank you."
They arrived at Rachel's house as she was just about getting up. She opened the door quickly to the knock. "I thought you'd be coming back home and spending the night here." Rachel said. "No matter, come out of the cold." She said and ushered them inside.
"I gotta go get ready for my run. I'll be seeing you later." Buck said to Jenny. He wanted to kiss her good bye but he hadn't kissed her in the presence of anyone before. So he turned and walked to the bunk house.
Inside Rachel's house she handed Jenny a ring. "Here. Put this on."
"What is it?" Jenny asked.
"It was my wedding ring. You just put it on and go along with anything I say. I don't know what that inspector will be looking for. He didn't pay much attention to me." Rachel explained.
Buck was let into the bunk house so he could get ready for his run. He was greeted with smiles all around.
"Jenny still back at Tompkins'?" Noah asked with a huge grin on his face.
"No, she's with Rachel."
"The baby too?" Jimmy asked.
"Yeah."
"I missed the little feller." Cody said. "It was too quiet without 'em."
Lou and Kid just smiled at him.
Rachel and Jenny came over and Buck was ready for his shift. "But we haven't even gotten breakfast ready." Jenny said holding Ike on her hip.
Buck shrugged. "I'll be ok."
"You gotta eat something. I wish I'd known, I would have grabbed you some dried meat at the store."
"Thanks for your concern. There was a left over biscuit and I do have a slice of dried meat. Really, I'll be ok."
"Rider coming!" Rachel shouted.
"Company rep coming!" Cody yelled.
Buck jumped on his horse and was off before the inspector reached the station. Jenny watched Buck ride off then went inside and began preparing biscuit dough. Maybe she should have stayed in Rachel's house. Stayed hidden away. She might be able to sneak out the back door. Rachel seemed to be reading her mind. "You stay put and keep doing what you're doing."
Teaspoon had arrived as well and could be heard outside conversing with the representative.
"Good morning, Mr. Hunter. I was hoping I'd be able to see off all your riders and observe how the operations go here."
"Good Morning Mr. Sellers. Well you missed my first boy, Buck. He's already headed off."
"I'm sorry I missed him but I'm pleased to see the transition was punctual. I'll sit out here and simply watch's others ride off."
Jenny continued to make breakfast including the eggs that Lou brought in.
"Are you nervous?" Jenny asked her in a whisper.
"A bit. I haven't actually met the man. I had some trouble yesterday and got in real late."
"Does 'trouble' happen a lot?" Jenny asked. "Buck woke me up this morning wanting to make sure I was up. He mentioned how he needed his gun so he couldn't leave it with me. I don't know how to use a gun."
"Trouble happens on occasion. It ain't just men but it could be a wild animal. But trouble could even be fallin' off your horse, or catching something on their hoof. That's why the pay is so good. For me, it was a fall. A snake or somethin' musta spooked Lightning and I got thrown off. Landed on a sharp rock and cut my arm bad" Lou said hold up her arm.
"That looks bad Lou. Did you put something on it?"
"Usually Buck's the one who knows the concoctions, but he wasn't here." Lou said with a smile.
"It wasn't a secret where he was. You could have sent for him. I could make something for you now." Jenny said.
"It's ok. Rachel had a salve. It ain't broke. It was worse yesterday. As far as a gun goes, you should learn how to use one. A girl can't ever be too safe."
Teaspoon and Mr. Sellers sat outside as Rachel called breakfast. "You wanna come inside, have a meal, Mr. Sellers?" Teaspoon offered.
"No, I'll eat over at the diner, I don't want to take from your supplies. I still have yet to meet .." Mr. Sellers said looking at his papers. "Mr. Lou McCloud."
"He should be inside. I'll send 'em out." Teaspoon said.
"Let him have his meal first. I can wait." was the reply.
Lou gulped. "I'm suddenly not hungry anymore." She said after overhearing the conversation.
"It'll be ok. The baby and I are the ones who shouldn't be here." Jenny whispered squeezing her hand. The others gathered around the table and began to eat.
Preferring to get it over with, Lou left her food and went outside.
Mr. Sellers talked with her for a minute and then she came back inside. She let out a sigh of relief. "That wasn't so bad." She said. "He even asked what kept me out so long and asked how my arm was doing."
"Rider coming!" Kid said looking out the window.
"That's me!" Noah said and jumped up.
The rest talked and finished their food. Teaspoon went out to sit with the company representative. Rachel enlisted the help of Cody to take dishes to be washed at her house. Ike was starting to get fussy. "He'll be wanting a bottle soon." Jenny said. "I still think I should got back to your house. Or I can even go to the store. Mr. Dobbs will be there soon."
"Nonsense. Come with me, we'll get this over with." Rachel said. They walked around the back of the bunkhouse. "Mr. Sellers, I'd like you to meet my niece. Jenny and her baby Ike. She lives way on the outskirts of town and rather than leave her home alone, her husband brings her into town with him and drops her off with me to sit in a warm house, for the baby. Just for these colder months. It'll change come spring."
"How hospitable of you, Mrs. Dunne." Mr. Sellers said. He stood up to greet her. So Jenny did what she remembered as a formal greeting to a male non relative who visited your home. "Nice to meet you, Mrs..."
"Tompkins, sir. Very lovely to make your acquaintance." Jenny said after a pause. "If you can excuse me, I have to attend to... other matters inside the house." Jenny said lifting up Ike higher. He was going to start voicing his desire for food very loudly any minute now.
Jenny hurriedly went into Rachel's house. The forgotten bottle Jimmy had in his pocket was placed in her kitchen so Jenny opened one of the cans of milk they had stored in her house. After feeding Ike, he fell asleep on her shoulder. Jenny thought it'd be a good idea to bring the company representative a cup of tea. She found Rachel's best cup and held Ike on one arm and the tea in her other hand. She carefully balanced both and brought the cup over. "Here you go, Mr. Sellers, I made a fresh cup of tea. I thought you would like it."
The man smiled, then Teaspoon did too. "Thank you so much for offering. I'd gladly accept." He said taking the cup. "It's a fantastic cup of tea. Usually at the stations I get offered coffee but I find tea more dignified." Since Ike was napping, Jenny sat down the porch from Mr. Sellers. Recalling her training at school there were topics one of genteel status could talk about and others that were completely taboo to discuss, so Jenny discussed the weather a nice safe topic. One by one the riders left on their runs. By late morning, Mr. Sellers stood up from his seat and said, "I must say I had a lovely time here. I'll go get my meal then compose my report. Thank you for your time and hospitality." He tipped his hat. "Good day Mrs. Tompkins. I had such a charming day. Your upbringing is of high regards. It was a pleasure."
As soon as he was out of eyesight, Teaspoon whistled. "It's over now." He told Jenny who was the only one left. Today would have been Rachel's day to take care of Baby Ike.
"He didn't seem like a stringent , stern man." Jenny said, "he seemed even more chipper after I brought him a cup of tea."
"You sure charmed him." Teaspoon said with a smile.
Jenny went back to Rachel's house and showed her the things in her hand bag. "I'm real glad you found your family's things." Rachel told her.
"I was so happy too." Jenny told her. The two women began to prepare lunch. Buck got back first since he was the earliest to leave. "Are you hungry? Any trouble on your run?" Jenny greeted him with a smile as he walked through the bunk house door.
"Yes, I'm starved. And no, no trouble." Buck replied. Ike was sitting on Buck's bunk playing with his socks and toes. Buck picked up the child. "Hey, Buddy. I missed you." And then he kissed him, "I love you." Then he bounced him up and down. That got a giggle out of him. "Where's Rachel?"
"She preparing the rest of lunch. It's going to be light. I'm making some biscuits since it's most likely going to be just you and maybe Noah."
"Well in that case," Buck said and walked over to where Jenny was mixing the dough, "I missed you too." And he kissed her. Jenny smiled and tucked a stray hair behind her ear and Buck noticed the ring. "Did ya happen to get married in the short time while I was gone?"
"Oh, that." Jenny said looking at her hand, "It's Rachel's she told Mr. Sellers I was her married niece and Ike was my baby." Jenny said and she told him about her day. She had pinned one of her mother's brooches to her blouse and planned on wearing one every day. "I should go give it back to her."
"After lunch do you want to head out to the Family M with me? I want to get some work done." Buck asked.
"Sure, I'd love to." Jenny said.
"We can stop in at the store and see if Eric knows where your Pa's gun is."
The couple walked into the store and Eric was behind the counter helping a customer. "Hello Mr. Dobbs," Jenny said walking into the store alone. Buck was in the wagon getting Ike's things from up stairs as well as Jenny's things from her mother's chest.
"Hello Miss Tompkins. I missed you this morning. Will you be coming tomorrow?"
"I'm not certain yet. I'm working on a few other things at the moment. Do you know where my father kept his firearms?"
"Oh, we hadn't even gotten to that part of the store. His rifle is right there behind the front door. Easy to miss if the door is open." Eric said pointing in the direction of the main door. "And his personal pistol, is here in the drawer below the cash box and in the very back. We've never had a need for it. As far as I know, the store has not been robbed."
"I'll take both, thank you." Jenny said.
"Both? What are you planning on doing?"
"That's my concern." Jenny said with a smile. "Have a good day, Mr. Dobbs"
Jenny met Buck outside. "Hold a rifle pointing down. You don't want to shoot anyone on accident."
She nodded. Ike was laying in his basket. Buck lifted Jenny into the wagon and she put Ike on her lap as they traveled.
Once at the Family M, Buck described a bit of the layout of his bunk house. The stone foundation was just about set. It was planned on being one very large rectangular room with an added small singular square room to the back for storage, or a private room. He planned for it to be able to still be heated by the main fire place. The fire place is what would need to be set up next so his lumber wasn't quite ready to be used yet. Jenny's job was just to occupy Ike while Buck worked and talked with her. It was very hard work. Jenny would bring an occasional tool or supply but she didn't feel very useful.
"Where did you learn how to build a house?" Jenny asked sitting on a blanket in the grass watching Buck move. Ike was in her lap playing with her dangling earrings.
Buck continued to move. "When Ike and I graduated the Mission school, you're supposed to be 16. Ike was but I'm older, probably by maybe a year or so, but no one has a correct age for me. Anyways, we graduated at the same time then left. We had no place to go but we stood together. Got a job handling the horses for a new rancher. His son was wanting a house built near by so we sort of got roped into that. Took us the better part of a year, it was a grand house, but I learned all I could about building plans and such. Then when we were finished, we were asked to move on. Well I was asked to move on but another man needed help in building a house several miles away. Ike stood on with the horses. So I went for about 6 months, building this one house. Then I was in town picking up supplies when I saw the pony express sign. I went back and got Ike so we could be together again. We headed west and signed up. We didn't have our own horses or nothing."
"You and Ike have learned a lot in a short amount of time."
"Yeah we did."
After a few hours, Buck wiped off his hands and proclaimed himself done for the day. "Now we begin the shooting lessons. Cody is the best with the long range rifle. Jimmy is the quickest draw and best aim with a pistol but we've got neither of them here so you'll have to settle for me."
"That's perfectly fine with me. I don't think I'm settling at all."
—-
Jenny held up the gun. "Actually, try more like this." Buck said standing behind her. Ike was inside the back of the wagon behind them on a blanket. He held her hand up with his own as he stood right behind her. Her back up against his chest. "Keep your finger off the trigger unless your about to shoot. And if you are about to shoot, you put your finger here." He held her hand within his. "you never point a gun at anything you don't want to kill. Be it human or animal. Always treat a gun as of its loaded until proven otherwise." Jenny dropped her hand and turned to him.
"But I don't want to kill anything." Jenny said sincerely.
"I'm not saying you should walk around town with a rifle on your shoulder but if you were alone somewhere and someone, or something were trying to hurt you, I sincerely would want you to be able to protect yourself."
Jenny sighed. "Well I'm not putting on a gun belt." Then she turned back around.
"You don't have to. All I want is for you to be safe."
Jenny turned around again facing him and reached up to put her arms around him. "I am safe. Right here. With you." She hugged him then kissed him quickly. Returning to her position, holding the gun as Buck instructed, she said, "Let's get on with this."
—
They got back to the station as it was getting dark. Supper was already served. "What took you all so long?" Jimmy asked.
"I was working on my bunk house. I wanted to get as much done as I can." Buck explained.
"Oh.", Jimmy said, "Well, I got a surprise for Baby Ike."
"I'll get you all some food." Rachel said getting up. "Half of everybody ate, the other half we're waiting on. Teaspoon hasn't been in either."
"Let's see it." Cody said, excited about a surprise. Jimmy went outside and brought in the baby chair. Buck and Jenny both smiled.
"It's lovely." Jenny said.
"Now he can eat with us and nobody's got to hold him." Jimmy explained. He took Ike from Buck's arms and sat him in the chair. He buckled the belt he attached and scooted the chair forward. Ike happily slammed his hands on the table.
"I made mashed potatoes. Maybe Ike would like try some." Rachel suggested.
"Ok." Buck said, as he sat down at the table next to the high chair. "Thank you, Jimmy. It was very thoughtful of you. Looks great."
Cody was sitting next to the high chair on the opposite side as Rachel set a plate down. Jenny was on the other side of Buck. Cody got the spoon and put a small amount of potatoes in the child's mouth. With it being something new, Ike was not sure at first but as another spoon approached his mouth, he opened his mouth wide.
Cody laughed and smiled. "He's going to need his own plate soon."
Teaspoon came in soon after. He was going to go out of town for a case and would be gone for the next two days. As he ate he said, "Before the inspector fella left, he gave me a copy of his report."Teaspoon said once everyone had returned, "He also gave me the official copy to get over to St. Joe's by tomorrow. Wants me to send my fastest rider." Everyone was listening closely. "It's ain't no competition, but I've chosen Lou to go. I figured she could stop at the orphanage on the way back. That's the only reason. At first light, Lou, you head out. How's the arm?"
"I'm just fine. Thank you for the opportunity Teaspoon. I'm always glad to see my brother and sister."
"I'll give you money if you can get me a case or two, as much as you can carry in milk." Buck told her. "I could always use more milk."
"Why don't you order milk through the store?" Jenny asked.
"At first I did. Just days after Ike was was born, but the cost is much cheaper to get straight from a company in St. Joe. You're Pa is the one who suggested it. The cost of shipping is high and slow." Buck explained. "Kid and Lou got me a case in a matter of days where I waited a good 5 weeks the first time for it to arrive. Good thing we have the goat."
"Teaspoon, can I go with Lou?" Kid asked.
"But you got a run tomorrow." Teaspoon said.
"I'll double up." Cody offered. "Then Kid can owe me another time."
"Well I guess it's settled." Teaspoon said. "Well some of us has gots a busy day tomorrow. Tonight I'll read the report. Tomorrow night you'll have to pick something Buck."
"No problem," Buck said.
"B'for I forget, Jimmy, you got a package. A mighty hefty one. It's over at the jail. I left it there in a rush to come share this report. Go pick it up tomorrow. Come from New York." Teaspoon said. "Let's get started on reading it."
They all settled in around the fire and Teaspoon read the report, "...Overall, " he continued, "I found the Rock Creek station to be a fine, reputable location. All the employees were professional, courteous, polite, punctual and respectable. They all had upstanding demeanor and were hospitable. I observed a great camaraderie among the Riders. The station master reads the holy bible aloud, which, in my opinion, contributed to this fellowship. All transfers and take offs worked well like a smooth machine. If there was a station that would need to be shown as an example to an exquisite-"
"What's that mean?" Jimmy interrupted.
"Means superb, excellent." Cody whispered.
Teaspoon cleared his throat. "Model station, Rock Creek would be it." Teaspoon finished.
Rachel clapped. Then the others followed. "Means we did such a good job, the company can come back again." Noah said. The others groaned.
"You boys... and girls" Teaspoon said looking around, "all did and DO a fantastic job. It don't matter that we have a girl rider or a baby in the bunk house or a guest at Rachel's. We work well together. That's what's important. And we all ready knew that. We didn't need no inspector to tell us that." Then Teaspoon handed Jenny a small card. "It's for you."
"What's it say?" Cody asked.
Jenny took the card. "It says, "This is not part of the report, I just wanted to thank you, Mr. Hunter for all your hospitality today. I truly had a delightful time. You have a pleasant station. And I wanted to comment on what a joy it was to have the lovely Mrs. Tompkins grace me with her presence today. I think it's very kind of Mrs. Dunne to share her home with the young lady and I had the good fortune of being in her company. I regret being unable to meet her husband to tell him what a lady he has for a wife."
"Seems to me like he thinks you're a lady." Buck told her, putting his arm around her and giving her a sideways hug.
Jenny looked at the card and smiled, "Yeah. It would seem so." If Jenny had a keepsake box of some kind, this would definitely go in it.