“I know you included Beni so he could feel important. I’m grateful.” To her annoyance she heard herself start to stammer. She forced her voice to steady and reined in her thoughts. “I just feel Noah is too young and small to be a rider and Beni shouldn’t be burdened with such a heavy workload.” She searched his eyes, looking for signs of anger.
Seth offered her a grin. “Benjamin is too young to ride. That’s why I made him Jacob’s assistant. The boy wants to prove himself and who would be a better teacher than his oldest brother?”
Rebecca recognized a spark of amusement in his gaze and relaxed a little. “Yes, Beni wants to do what his big brothers do.”
“As for Noah, Jacob seems to think Noah is the best horseman on the farm and stated that he is good with his gun. Both are important skills I need in riders.”
She clutched her hands tightly in her lap. “But he’s twelve and I’ve only had him a few months. I don’t know if he’s ready for this responsibility.” Rebecca searched Seth’s face. Did he understand what she was saying?
Seth leaned forward again. “What do you mean you’ve only had him a few months?” His eyes searched hers, looking for what she could only assume was both confusion and truth.
“Noah is adopted, Mr. Armstrong. All of the boys are. I thought Mr. Bromley would have told you that.” From the look on his face it was obvious Seth hadn’t known.
“No, he didn’t,” Seth said. “I thought it odd that none of them look like you or each other. Well—” his voice broke in midsentence “—except Joy, she looks like you.” He offered her a smile.
Rebecca couldn’t help but smile. “Joy is my daughter by birth. She is the only child John and I have. But that doesn’t change the fact that I love the boys just as much as I do Joy and I don’t want to see them get hurt...or die.”
Seth met her gaze and held it. Sincerity rang through his voice as he vowed, “I promise as long as I am the station keeper here, I will do everything in my power to keep the boys safe and alive. Safety is the reason I will teach them how to ride, shoot and avoid trouble while out on the trail.”
She understood that the boys would be in danger and that she didn’t consider them to really be men. The orphanage had called them men at the age of twelve, the same age as Noah, but to her they were still her little boys.
“I know you are still concerned and I can’t blame you. Being a Pony Express employee is dangerous. The only thing I can do is teach them how to survive and pray that God keeps them safe. It’s either that or I fire them all and have Mr. Bromley send me a new set of men.” He shook his head. “I really don’t want to do that, Mrs. Young. I truly believe these young men have what it takes to be riders. I’ll leave that decision up to you.”
Rebecca didn’t want him to fire the boys. She’d promised John that she wouldn’t interfere when this time came. John had wanted his sons to become honorable, strong individuals who could take care of themselves and their families, should the Lord one day bless them with such. He firmly believed the Pony Express would provide the training that life had cheated these boys out of. “No, they would never forgive me if I asked you to fire them.” She didn’t tell him that the money the boys made would provide for their future well-being, establishing them in whatever careers they chose.
He exhaled as if he’d been holding his breath. “Thank you. I know this is hard for you and I want to make it easier on both of us. How about we have a nightly meeting? I can fill you in on what I’m doing with the boys in regard to their duties as Pony Express riders and you can tell me if you need them to assist you with something specific around the farm.”
It was a reasonable request and far more than some men would have offered her if they had been in Seth’s position. Rebecca nodded. “That would be nice, thank you.”
They sat still for several moments. The sound of boots retreating down the hallway alerted Rebecca that one or more of her children had listened in on their conversation. A grin crossed Seth’s lips. He’d heard it, too.
“Mr. Armstrong, I’d like to suggest that we have our conversations out on the porch if the weather permits. I’m sure there will be times when we don’t want others hearing your reports.” Rebecca unclasped her hands and then stood.
“That sounds like a good idea to me. If the boys think you need a chaperone, they can watch us through the window of the bunkhouse.” He picked up his hat from his knee and stood also. He pulled a piece of paper from his hip pocket and handed it to her.
Rebecca looked down at the paper. “What’s this?”
“The letter from Mr. Bromley. I should have shared it with you sooner. You can return it to me in the morning.” Seth walked to the door and left.
She sank down onto the couch. Was she doing the right thing letting the boys continue working for the Pony Express? Sure, they each would need the money they’d make, but... Rebecca warred with her conscience—did they need the money so badly that she’d allow them to put their lives in danger? Wasn’t her job as the adult and their mother to protect them until they were old enough to know what they were doing?
Not wanting to answer that question, Rebecca pressed on with her thoughts as she looked down at the letter. Without the money, the older boys would have to leave home and seek out work. Her family would swiftly break up.
So soon after losing John, Rebecca knew she wouldn’t be able to cope with losing any of the boys. And there was always the likelihood that they’d find other work, maybe even more dangerous work. She shuddered at that thought.
She couldn’t allow that to happen to her precious boys. No, to keep her family together Rebecca would allow the boys to continue working for the Pony Express.
* * *
Seth looked up at the framework of the barn. He stood amazed at how quickly he and the boys had gotten the structure up. Sawdust floated in the sun’s rays and the pleasant smell of pine mingled with their sweat and filled the air around him.
He placed a hand on the pole closest to him and gave a shove. It didn’t budge. Solid and stable. His smile broadened in approval. They’d worked hard and accomplished a lot in one morning. Could be that this little group of misfits would accomplish much more than he had hoped for. But one thing had been proven to him as they worked. The boys needed a firm hand to stay at the job; they worked as long as you kept your eye on them, but fun was uppermost in their minds.
His gaze moved to the boys now washing up for lunch. It wasn’t hot outside, but all of them had cast off their coats while they worked. Even little Benjamin had worked hard alongside his brothers.
Seth had been aware of Rebecca watching them all morning. She’d frowned when he’d yelled at Philip for playing around instead of doing his work. It wasn’t hard to figure out that the boys worked on their own time schedule. Seth wondered how long their adoptive father had been dead. Had he allowed them to play when they were supposed to do chores?
A good while later, Seth left the bunkhouse feeling refreshed. Thanks to his time alone with the Lord, he now had more direction. Clayton carried a sandwich and a glass of milk out to him. The rest of the boys followed.
“Ma said you need to eat something.” The young man handed him the sandwich and milk.
He grinned his thanks and took a big bite. Thick ham and cheese coated
