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  Roslyn sat straight on the bench. She glanced over to see Elam had opened the butt of his weapon and now refilled it with ammunition. Next, she felt Elam’s arm across her back as he pulled her to him and spoke into her ear.

  “Keep them animals moving, Roslyn. Not no full run, but we best get ourselves to the station.”

  Searching for reassurance, Roslyn turned and studied his face. “I wish the escort had stayed with the stagecoach. Should they have gone off like that?” She watched as he turned his gaze forward and narrowed his eyes. A tick disturbed the surface of his cheek.

  Elam shook his head. “Don’t feel right. Them Cheyenne give up too easy.”

  “Off to the left. Here they come.”

  Roslyn jerked her gaze in the direction Danny called out. Several painted warriors rode toward them, headed for the livestock while they aimed their weapons at the men. She felt the comfort of Elam’s arm leave her back as he brought his Spencer in position and began firing once more.

  At the sound of gunfire, Roslyn flinched. You can’t give up now. Think of Emmy. She called to her team as she snapped the whip over the heads of her leads. “Go, Starlight, Tulip, run for me, ladies! Josie-girl! Yip! Yip! Go, Bubby. It’s the same bunch as yesterday, and you won’t like them any better today than you did then. I need your strong front legs to work for me, Bubby. Keep these mares running.”

  “Down!”

  Before Roslyn could say anything or figure out what was happening, Elam pushed her upper body against her lap. She tightened her grip on the leads and angled her head up far enough to keep her eyes on the team as she felt him lean across her back. She jerked upon hearing the report of his rifle. He levered another bullet in the chamber and shot again.

  He straightened on the bench and turned his aim to the left.

  Roslyn sat up and flipped the leads. She positioned them in her left hand as she once again grabbed the handle of the whip. Although she sensed the animals were giving her all they could, she continued to reinforce the need for them not to slacken their pace.

  In horror, Roslyn watched as a painted warrior rode forward on her side of the coach.

  He gained on the team and reached for Beelzebub’s cheek strap.

  Beelzebub jerked his head and snapped at the enemy.

  Roslyn screamed as she cracked the whip, catching the man on the shoulder. “Get away from Bubby!”

  The man spun his horse and lifted his gaze to her as he brought his rifle up to his shoulder.

  A shot from Elam’s rifle exploded next to her ear. Roslyn cringed and instinctively buried her ear in her shoulder. She watched as the Cheyenne warrior clutched his side, and bent over his horse’s neck as he rode away. Realizing Elam spoke, she turned to him. “Huh?” She twitched her left cheek. “Can’t hear.”

  Roslyn felt like the firefight went on for hours, even though a more sane part of her brain assured her it was a relatively short period of time. Their attackers moved away from the stagecoach. In the distance, shots rang out from behind and to the right. She turned and watched the sergeant and his men return. Her heart sank when she realized she saw only three horses. She felt somewhat better when she realized the two privates with mounts were riding double.

  The second group of Cheyenne rode off. Roslyn saw no indication of them returning. She turned toward Elam for confirmation. “Are they gone, do you think? These animals need a break.”

  Elam nodded. “Reckon so. We got enough of them, don’t figure they’re coming back.”

  “Danny? You see anything?”

  “Looks clear from where I’m sitting.”

  Roslyn faced forward. She watched the horses toss their heads. Beelzebub voiced his complaint. She pulled on the leads. “Whoa, now. We can’t stop moving, but let’s slow it down, give you a breather.”

  The sergeant rode up next to her. “Who gave you permission to slow down the stagecoach?”

  Roslyn tightened her lips. She kept her gaze focused forward as she gradually pulled the team to a stop. She turned to the man. “Glad you could join us, sergeant. Who gave me permission? Since I am an employee of the B.O.D., and this is a B.O.D. coach, and the men in charge of protecting the coach told me it looked like the danger had passed, I gave myself permission to slow down so I could save my stock from being run to death when there was no need. As you can see, I also just gave myself permission to stop.”

  The man stiffened and lifted his chin. “I don’t take kindly to that tone of voice, Mrs. Welsh. Besides, I find it incredible that the B.O.D. would hire a woman to be a driver.”

  “I’m on their records as a stock tender.” Well, Ross’s name is on the records. “Right now, I’m filling in for Mr. Peterson who’s sitting in back nursing his injuries.”

  As the sergeant turned his horse in a circle and returned to the driver’s box once more, Roslyn heard him grumble under his breath about women having no business driving a stagecoach. He glared at her and raised his voice. “All right, Mrs. Welsh. Let’s get your team going so we can carry on to Spring Creek. We’ll continue to ride escort that far.”

  “That’s fine, sergeant. But if you’re providing escort, stay with the stagecoach. You took off and left us to deal with the second wave by ourselves, although I noticed you showed up about the time we drove the enemy away. We now have two more of your men on our coach because they lost their horses to the Cheyenne. That was no help at all. Don’t do it again.”

  The sergeant’s face turned red. “Do not attempt to issue orders to me, Mrs. Welsh.”

  “I’m not. That was a strongly-worded suggestion.”

  Next to her, Elam coughed and shook his head.

  The sergeant jerked his attention to Elam. “You think that’s funny? You’re just sitting there and letting her speak for all of you?”

  Elam shook his head. “She don’t need no help. She’s doing right fine.”

  “She has no business telling me how to escort the stagecoach.”

  Elam turned and stared at the man. “Sergeant, she ain’t wrong. I fought four years before taking a bullet in my leg. I seen it more than once. Them Cheyenne ain’t stupid. They was wanting the horses and to burn this coach. Best not talk about what they was planning on doing to us. That there first bunch were aiming to draw you off so the rest could come for us without having no blue coats to deal with. Done set you up, and you took the bait. Left us fending them off by ourselves.”

  Silence filled the air while the sergeant stared at Elam and worked his jaw.

  “Sergeant?” Isaac’s voice floated out from the inside of the stagecoach.

  The sergeant clamped his lips tight and walked his horse back so he could talk to Isaac. “Glad to see you survived, sir. How are you feeling?”

  “I’ve felt better. I want you to know, sergeant, that Mrs. Welsh does work at my station. She has my permission to drive the coach. I think she did a fine job getting us out of that scrape with the hostiles. I doubt I could have done better myself. I appreciate your escort but ask that you do as she suggests. Stay with the stagecoach until we reach the station.”

  The sergeant nodded. “Yes, Mr. Peterson, I plan to do that. Just so you know, once we reach Spring Creek, your coach will be on its own. I’ll send a man ahead to summon the ambulance from Fort Riley to collect our wounded. They should meet you somewhere between Abilene and Salina.” With a huff of resignation, the sergeant turned to Roslyn. “If it agrees with your suggestions, Mrs. Welsh, let’s get this stagecoach to the next station.”

  Roslyn clenched her jaw upon witnessing the sergeant’s obvious disdain. I’ve gotten us this far, you prideful, pig-headed man. I can drive the rest of the way without you telling me how. As much as she felt like flicking her whip in the direction of the obnoxious soldier, she instead focused on snapping the leads and calling out to start the team once again. “Yip! Yip!”

  Other than wiggling his ears back to better hear her, Beelzebub kept his head forward. Even though Starlight and Tulip were in the lead, he set t
he pace. Josie kept up with him as they continued east.

  Roslyn relaxed as she felt the heat from Elam’s body against her side. His softly spoken words sounded clearly in her ear. “Ain’t worth it none, you getting yourself riled up over someone like him.”

  She briefly closed her eyes in an attempt to memorize this feeling to carry with her. “I know. He still annoys the devil out of me.”

  “Best to just show him. Even if he don’t never admit he done wrong, he’ll know. It’ll eat at his craw.”

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  Chapter 18

  ~o0o~

  Spring Creek Station, Kansas

  A s she exhaled a breath of relief, Roslyn’s cheeks puffed. The buildings and corrals she saw in the distance must be Spring Creek Station. Not only was she ready to finish this section of their journey with its memory of the Cheyenne attack, but she could hear Emmy’s complaining cries drifting through the open coach windows.

  Danny pulled the coach horn from beneath the bench where it had gotten tangled with Elam’s crutches. He raised the mouthpiece to his lips and sounded the announcement that a coach approached the station.

  Roslyn knew some drivers drove their teams at a reasonable pace until just before they arrived at a station. Then, to impress the passengers, they whipped the team into a gallop so the stage arrived at a healthy clip. The driver then shouted “Whoa!” the animals while they pushed the squealing brake to stop the vehicle with a flourish. Why they thought passengers enjoyed arriving at a station covered with the dust that billowed up because of such tactics, she had no idea. Roslyn coaxed her team to a comfortable lope as she approached, then slowed them to a walk as they drew up to the station itself.

  Starlight and Tulip needed no urging. They both had traveled this route often and knew it was time for them to be unhitched, fed, and groomed.

  Two stock tenders stood in the yard. The older one put his hands at his waist and grimaced as he shouted his greeting. “You’re late. We expected you over an hour ago.”

  Roslyn pulled the animals to a stop and stood in the box. As the coach began to rock, she grabbed for the rail attached to the roof. She felt Elam’s grip tighten on the back of her waistband to steady her. She pointed at the other man who walked toward the team. “Don’t touch that mule! I’ll take care of him. Just stay in front of the leaders and pull them off when I release their harnesses.”

  She took off her hat and dropped it on her seat before she climbed down. On the ground, she turned toward the animals only to have the man who complained about their tardiness block her path.

  “Who do you think you are, driving into this station and shouting orders at my man? What do you mean, don’t touch the mule? Taking care of the animals is our job. I haven’t seen it before, but it’s B.O.D. stock, isn’t it? Your job is…” He stopped and stooped his shoulders as he squinted. “Wait. You’re a woman. Where’s Isaac?”

  Roslyn bit her lip to hold back a sharp retort regarding his powers of observation. Instead, she nodded toward the coach. “Inside. The Cheyenne hit Ellsworth Station. He was injured in two places and can’t drive. Now, let me take care of Beelzebub so I can feed my baby.”

  The man lifted his eyebrows. “Beelzebub? I’ve heard about that mule.” He turned to the other stock tender. “She says that’s Beelzebub.”

  Roslyn pushed past him. “Yes, and he doesn’t like men or anyone wearing wide-brimmed hats. We usually keep him on the runs west of Ellsworth. You’ll probably have to deal with him when he gets sent back that direction. Whatever you do, keep him together with this bay mare.” She turned to the other tender. “I want the lead pair replaced, but for now, I just need water and feed for my wheelers. Josie and Beelzebub go with me to Salina. A woman and teenage daughter live there. Between the two, I hope he’ll let one of those women near him.”

  Isaac’s voice sounded from inside the coach. “Ed. I’m here. Please leave Mrs. Welsh alone and do what she asks. She knows what she’s doing.”

  While Roslyn moved in front of Beelzebub and released Tulip and Starlight, she watched Ed walk over and rest his forearms on the window of the coach door. She barely heard the conversation.

  “I haven’t heard her ask anything yet. All she’s done is give orders. Isaac, you don’t look so good.”

  “I’m not doing so good. Soon as everyone on top climbs off and this thing stops rocking, help me out, would you, please? Nature calls.”

  Aware Emmy’s cries grew shriller by the second, Roslyn rushed through bringing water and feed for Beelzebub and Josie. She raced one last time to the water barrel. She dipped out water, took a few sips, took off her gloves, and poured the rest on her hands. She attempted to scrub them clean as she met Caroline in the middle of the yard and took Emmy.

  Hugging her tight against her chest, Roslyn climbed inside the coach. The only passenger remaining there was the soldier injured at the station. His eyes widened as Roslyn untied her fabric belt and tugged up the tail of her shirt. “Soldier, if you’ve never seen a woman nurse a baby before, you’re about to get an education. This child can’t wait any longer.” She reached beneath the shirt and loosened the camisole, then she positioned Emmy so she could latch on. She knew Emmy’s head and body blocked her breast so she was not exposed, but there was no disguising the nasal nursing noises.

  Roslyn heaved a sigh as she closed her eyes and leaned back. She wished for her hat so she could fan her face. Now that the danger of the Cheyenne attack was past and they reached the station, she sensed all the starch and bravado she displayed earlier drain out.

  When she felt the coach rock, Roslyn looked toward the door. Elam stood there. They gazed at each other for several seconds before he turned and sat on the floor. Since she had seen him do this before, Roslyn slid to the far side of the bench.

  Elam pulled himself inside, and then he used his arms on the seat and center bench to hoist himself up and turn around until he sat on the seat next to the door.

  Roslyn did not wait for an invitation. She slid closer to Elam. After he raised his arm and rested it across the back of the bench, she leaned into him and used his bicep as a pillow.

  Elam brought his face close to her ear. “You been drinking water, Roslyn?”

  Roslyn kept her eyes closed and licked her lips. “Some, but I need more.” She reached up with her free hand and poked her cheek. “Even with the hat, between all the excitement and the morning sun shining in my face, I’m probably already as red as a spring radish.”

  Elam chuckled. “You done passed spring radish. You mostly favor a summer beet now.”

  Roslyn opened her eyes and raised her head. Her lips parted, she slowly turned to face him. “You sure know how to make a woman feel beautiful, Elam Stewart.”

  “Reckon you’ll always look beautiful to me. I done told you before, a man would be plumb crazy not to want you.” He opened his canteen and held it to her lips. “That sun’s sweating everything out of you. Best you drink all you can.”

  Roslyn downed several swallows and leaned her head against his arm once more. “You take such good care of me, Elam. Sometimes, I feel like I’m a burden.”

  “You ain’t no burden, Roslyn. Didn’t feel like there was no use for me to keep living until I saw you. I done decided, back in Junction City, making your life better is what I aim to do. Reckon I’ve a mind to spend my whole life looking out for you, long as you’ll tolerate me.”

  Roslyn straightened and turned toward him. She studied his face, reading the sincerity in his gaze. “Do you really mean that? You want to be with me your whole life to make my life better?”

  “I do. I wouldn’t want to burden you none, but I aim to be there for you.”

  “You won’t be a burden to me, Elam. I want to be with you, too. I accept.” Roslyn smiled as she held his gaze, aware of the dumbfounded expression that leaked through his usual stoic mask.

  “Accept?”

  “I care for you deeply, E
lam. If you mean what you said, I want the same thing, only I want it to be official. It’s what’s best for Emmy—and me. It will be best for you, too, I promise.”

  Before Elam responded, they both turned upon hearing the sergeant speak through the window next to the wounded soldier.

  “Private, we’re staying here to escort the next stagecoach going to Ellsworth, but you’ll continue on until the ambulance from Fort Riley collects you. You need some water before you go?”

  “Probably could stand some. Mrs. Peterson shared water with me before the Cheyenne showed up, so what I could use more is to find a bush or something.”

  “Let me call a couple of the men over to help you out.” Sgt. Baker turned his attention to Elam and Roslyn. “I see you two are just as cozy away from the driver’s box as you are up there.”

  A wide grin spread across the soldier’s face. “They’re getting married, Sarge.”

  The sergeant grunted. “It’s about time. That baby isn’t getting any younger.”

  “I don’t know if he actually proposed in so many words, but she accepted. Figured he was just about to kiss her.”

  Once they were alone, Roslyn wrinkled her forehead and turned to Elam. “They think she’s yours.”

  “That don’t discomfit me none.” Elam reached over and stroked Emmy’s reddish head fuzz with a forefinger. “She’s got hair like my ma. Reckon she’ll fit right in. No need for folks to know no different, unless you just want them to.”

  Roslyn shook her head. “No, I don’t. I’d love for you to claim her.”

  Elam narrowed his eyes. “You sure you want to tie yourself to someone like me?”

  “Elam, I don’t want to tie myself to someone like you. I want to tie myself to you.”