face. It’s just that my full name is Clayton James Young.”
Maggie didn’t know what to think when the baby kicked his legs and made what to every new mother sounds like a happy noise. “If you don’t want me to name him...”
“No, it seems the little man likes his new name. If you want to call him James, that’s all right with me.” He stood and collected his and Dinah’s plates. “Now, if you ladies will excuse me, I have a kitchen to clean up and a stew to get on the stove. Then I’m going into town to get the doctor so he can look over baby James.” He nodded once and then left the room.
Maggie heard his boots clomp down the stairs. She looked to Dinah, who stood by the door watching him leave. “Dinah, come here for a moment.”
Dinah hurried to her bedside. “Do you want me to help you get dressed, Maggie?”
Maggie shook her head. The baby began to fuss for breakfast. She swung her legs to the edge of the bed and then stood slowly. “No, I’m curious. You seem to like Mr. Young.”
Dinah nodded. “He’s a nice man.”
She eased into the rocker. “What makes you say that?” Maggie moved the now-howling baby to a more comfortable position. He immediately stopped crying with the warmth of breakfast filling his small tummy.
“He saved baby James and rocked me to sleep last night.”
Maggie’s head came up as concern filled her heart. Men weren’t to be trusted, so why had he taken it upon himself to comfort Dinah? “He did?”
“Uh-huh. I was scared and Mr. Young picked me up and rocked me while I cried. I went to sleep and he put me in bed with you.” Dinah smiled. “He told me everything was going to be all right. And it is.” Dinah jumped on the bed. Her smile filled the room.
Maggie rocked the baby. Not only had he saved James, but he’d also soothed Dinah’s fears. He’d made them all breakfast and was already planning a trip to town to bring back the doctor. What kind of man was Clayton James Young? Unfamiliar words whispered through her heart: the kind who took care of the people around him.
She didn’t need that kind of man in her life. He’d turn out just like all the others who had let her down. Maggie refused to be hurt again, so she hardened her heart against Clayton Young.
Maggie cuddled the baby close. Her job was to make sure that she could hold on to baby James’s ranch. Gus Fillmore, her late husband’s cousin, had insisted on becoming the ranch manager and she’d let him because he’d promised to keep her up-to-date on the running of the ranch. Maggie’s new fear was that he’d soon begin to demand ownership. She couldn’t allow that. With Jack’s dying breath, he’d asked her to make sure baby James would inherit the ranch, and she’d promised to do just that. It was a promise she intended to keep.
Clayton made his way out to the barn. There were no riders scheduled for arrival so he felt all right about going to town to get the doctor. But he didn’t feel comfortable leaving Maggie, Dinah and the baby alone. His gaze moved about the front yard once more. Still no ranch hands. Where was everyone?
He’d been so tired the night before that all he’d managed to do was put the horses away and return to the house. He’d checked on Maggie and the children then returned downstairs, where he’d fallen asleep on the settee. Clayton hadn’t seen anyone other than Maggie and the children since his arrival.
The trip to town could wait a few more minutes. He entered the barn and saw that the horses had already been fed and watered. In a matter of minutes, Clayton saddled his horse and headed out to find the ranch hands.
It didn’t take long to spot two men working on the south fence. They were both bent over when he rode up. “Morning.” Clayton stopped Bones and leaned on his saddle horn.
“Morning. You must be the new Pony Express manager.”
The taller man took his hat off and wiped the sweat from his brow.
“That I am. I’m looking for the foreman.”
“I’m Gus Fillmore.” The shorter of the two men stood up. He shaded his eyes as he looked up at Clayton. “What can I do for you, Mr. Young?”
“To start with, you can call me Clayton.” Clayton extended his hand.
Gus took it and squeezed hard, then released Clayton’s hand. “We’re kind of busy here, Clayton.” He indicated the fence behind him.
Clayton nodded. “I can see that.” He paused until he had the man’s full attention then asked, “Did you know that Mrs. Fillmore had the baby last night?”
“Nope.” Gus motioned for the other cowboy to get back to working on the fence. “Maggie’s family ways are no concern of mine.”
“That so?” Clayton watched as the two men returned to their work. How could Gus not think that his boss having a baby didn’t concern him? And since they had the same last name, Clayton knew they were kin by marriage, so why didn’t Jack’s relative care about his wife?
“Yep. This ranch is my only concern.” He grunted as he lifted a log into place.
Clayton shifted in the saddle. “What if she’d had complications?”
Gus turned to eye him. “You a doctor or something?”
“Not today. But I am concerned that no one was around when Maggie was having her baby.”
Gus snorted rudely. “Look, Young. My job is to run the ranch, yours is to run the Pony Express, and Maggie is none of our concern.”
“I see. So, if she had died in childbirth?”
Gus shrugged and then spit. “Then we would have buried her and continued on with the running of this ranch.” He locked eyes with Clayton. “Now, if you will excuse me, I have a job to do.”
Clayton nodded. He turned the horse back toward the ranch house. Gus Fillmore had made it clear he didn’t care what happened to Maggie but that he did care about what happened to the ranch. If Maggie had died giving birth to baby James, would Gus have claimed the ranch as his? Clayton was pretty sure the callous, uncaring man would have done just that.
Clayton thought about the situation at the ranch. His concerns for Maggie and the children’s welfare grew. He couldn’t help but wonder if Gus had deliberately made sure no one would be around when Maggie went into labor. Had the man been hoping she’d die giving birth?
* * *
Maggie moved slowly about the kitchen. Coming down the stairs had taken much longer than ever before. She’d not expected to be quite this sore after having the baby.
“You all right?” Dinah asked. Worry etched her little face.
Maggie smiled at her little sister. “I’m fine. I just had a baby and I’m still a little sore.”
“Oh.” Dinah climbed up on one of the chairs at the table. “Are you sure you
