Picture by Jane
The riders lounged on the porch of the bunkhouse, watching the townspeople pass and waiting for Rachel to call them in for lunch. It was a warm day, and they were all glad to escape their chores for a while to entertain a guest.
Cody's low whistle broke the comfortable silence. "Now there's a sight for sore eyes."
The others all looked up to see what had attracted his admiration this time. A young woman was riding down the street from the other end of town, looking comfortable in the saddle atop a bright chestnut mare. She wore a divided riding skirt and lace-up boots, and a simple white blouse. Her coppery hair hung in a thick braid over her shoulder, and her hat had blown back to reveal a pair of large, intelligent hazel eyes. The girl's creamy skin was slightly freckled and flushed from her ride, and she was smiling softly as she approached.
"Looks like our guest has arrived," said Lou, smiling to herself over Cody's startled reaction.
"That's O' Sullivan's daughter?" he exclaimed. "You never said anything about her bein' beautiful!" he accused Noah in a half-whisper.
The black rider rolled his eyes. "The last time I saw her she was about to shoot a man. I wasn't really thinking about whether or not she was beautiful," he retorted.
"Yeah? Well Buck saw her again yesterday, and he never said nothin' neither," complained Cody, watching Buck step down to greet their guest. "I think he's been holding out on us."
"Now hold on, Cody, don't go gettin' any funny ideas," warned Lou. "That girl's just lost her father, she ain't lookin' to be swept off her feet just yet."
"Certainly not by the likes of you," quipped Noah with a grin, elbowing his friend.
"We'll see about that," muttered Cody, straightening his jacket and running a hand through his hair. He walked out to meet Kate with a broad smile, leaving the others to shake their heads helplessly over his amorous tendencies.
Kate let her horse trot slowly through town, glancing around curiously. She spotted the pony express station at the far end of the street and squinted to get a better look. She recognized Buck's tall form leaning against one of the bunkhouse posts, and the other riders who had come with the marshal sitting behind him. There was also a blonde man wearing a fringed jacket, and an amiable looking man with a white hat and a blue shirt. A skinny younger boy sat on the steps fiddling with a pocketknife. They were all staring at her by the time she rode up and smiled shyly at Buck, who hopped off the porch to greet her.
"I hope I haven't kept you all waiting," she said, sliding off her horse.
Buck opened his mouth to reply, but the blonde rider suddenly appeared beside him, shaking his head and grinning. "No, not at all, you're right on time." He gripped her hand and shook it warmly. "Welcome to the express station. William F. Cody, at your service."
"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Cody," replied Kate, stifling the urge to laugh. She had a sudden vivid image of him dripping in pork fat. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Buck shaking his head in disgust.
"Cody, why don't you take Miss O' Sullivan's horse to the barn," he suggested pleasantly.
Cody shot him a dirty look, but quickly covered by sweeping off his hat and taking the horse's reins. "It would be my pleasure."
Kate turned back to Buck expectantly, and he flashed her an apologetic smile. "You'll have to excuse Cody, he just gets a little carried away sometimes."
"Yeah, with himself," said Jimmy from the porch, eliciting a ripple of good-natured laughter.
"Let me introduce you," continued Buck, leading her onto the porch. "You already know Jimmy and Noah and Lou, and this here's The Kid, and this is Jesse. Everyone, this is Katherine O' Sullivan."
There was a chorus of friendly greetings as the riders politely tipped their hats to their visitor.
"I'm real glad to meet you all," said Kate sincerely, already beginning to like this odd group. "Please, call me Kate."
Just then the bunkhouse door opened and a woman's head peeked out. "Boys, supper's on the table!" she announced, then smiled when she saw Kate and stepped out to meet her. "You must be Katherine. I'm Rachel Dunne."
Kate took Rachel's offered hand and shook it warmly. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Dunne. Please, call me Kate."
Rachel smiled, her beautiful eyes twinkling. "Alright, but only if you call me Rachel."
"Alright then, Rachel, I want to thank you for invitin' me, and for all the delicious food you sent yesterday," said Kate. "I'm much obliged."
"Well it was the least I could do," replied Rachel, then grinned. "Besides, it's nice to make something for someone who really appreciates it now and then. Feeding these boys is like sloppin' the hogs!"
The indignant riders made half-hearted protests, laughing in spite of themselves, and they all filed into the bunkhouse. Cody miraculously reappeared just in time to beat everyone to the table, but remembered his manners when he caught Kate's look of amusement. Rachel moved to the far end of the table and indicated for Kate to sit at her right while the others all clambered over the benches. Buck sat next to Kate, then Lou and Kid, while Cody sat across from her next to Noah, Jimmy, and Jesse.
"You've got yourself a fine horse," said Cody as Rachel started serving the meal. "She seems real spirited-like."
Kate smiled. "Yes, Ginger has a mind of her own. She won't let anybody ride her besides me. My father bought her for me when I first learned to ride, so we sort of grew up together."
Buck noticed the flicker of sadness in Kate's eyes when she mentioned her father and tried to distract her. "Better watch out, Kid, it looks like Katy's gonna have some competition," he joked.
Kate looked at Kid with interest. "Who's Katy?"
"Only the fastest, smartest, most beautiful, and just plain best horse in the whole world," answered Jimmy before Kid could reply. "At least, that's what the Kid thinks."
Noah shook his head and winked at Kate. "Well, if you ask me, she can't be that smart if she likes the Kid," he quipped with a grin.
Kate laughed as the conversation dissolved into light-hearted bickering. So this was what it was like to have a large family. She couldn't help feeling a little envious of the riders' camaraderie and obvious devotion to one another.
The teasing banter was soon interrupted by the arrival of Teaspoon, who tipped his hat to their guest. "Glad to see you could join us, Miss O' Sullivan. How are you?"
"I'm fine marshal, thank you."
Teaspoon sat down and smiled broadly. "I'm glad to hear it. I've got some good news for you."
Kate looked at him expectantly. "What is it?"
"Well, first of all, Jake Fetterson and his gang are now on their way to Ft. Kearney for hanging. And secondly, I just received word that Russell, Majors, and Waddell were offering a reward for the capture of the thieves." He paused for effect. "A reward of five hundred dollars."
The riders gave a collective gasp. "Five hundred dollars?!" repeated Cody incredulously.
Teaspoon nodded, grinning. "That's right." He looked at Kate. "That oughtta go a long way in helping you fix up the ranch."
Kate shook her head. "I can't take all that reward money."
"Why not?" asked Lou.
"I didn't capture the gang, at least not by myself," protested Kate. "And anyway I was just trying to defend myself."
Teaspoon quirked an eyebrow at her. "Maybe so, but the way I see it you earned that reward money more than anybody else."
"He's right, Kate," said Buck. "You deserve that money."
She turned to face him. "What about you? You all helped, and brought in the rest of the gang. You should at least get some of the money."
Jimmy scoffed. "Nah, we ain't got any use for that much money. We'd end up loaning it all to Cody to squander on poker games and snake oil."
"Hey!" protested Cody peevishly.
Teaspoon chuckled. "Well there you have it. You'd best take that money, you'd be doin' us a favor."
"Alright," Kate finally said with a smile. "I surely could use it."
"Good!" declared Teaspoon triumphantly. He looked around the table. "And now that that's settled, who's up?"
Kid quickly downed the last of his milk and stood up. "Me, Teaspoon."
"You'd best get going. I hear a rider comin' right now."
"Ride safe Kid!" called Lou as he ran out the door.
The riders reluctantly returned to their chores after finishing the rest of their meal without further interruptions or arguments. Rachel laughingly informed Kate as they cleaned up the dishes that the boys had been on their best behavior on her behalf. Kate could only imagine what they must be like most of the time, but she found herself liking them all in spite of their rowdiness and rough ways. She gratefully accepted Rachel's invitation to visit as often as she liked, and left the bunkhouse feeling more cheerful than she had in days. But she had one thing more to do before it was time to go home.
Kate found Lou brushing down Lighting in the barn. She made sure none of the other riders were around before approaching.
"Hey Lou," she said shyly. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"
Lou smiled. "Sure. What's on your mind?"
"I need some advice."
"Maybe you ought ta talk to Teaspoon," said Lou, half-jokingly.
Kate shook her head. "Can't. What I mean is, I need a woman's opinion."
Lou put down her brush and turned to face the other girl. "How'd you know?" Seems like she'd been saying that a lot lately.
Kate looked a little surprised. "What, that you're a girl? I thought everyone knew."
"Just Teaspoon and Rachel and the other riders," said Lou, shaking her head. "Everyone in town still thinks I'm a boy. Guess I'm just not as good at hidin' it as I used to be."
"It's not that," replied Kate with a smile. "I probably wouldn't have noticed either, at least not right away, except I kinda have some experience in that area."
Lou raised her eyebrows, instantly curious. "What do you mean?"
"I used to dress like a boy too, when I was younger," explained Kate. "Nobody would hire a single man with a little girl always in the way, but they didn't mind if he had a 'son' to help him instead. I didn't mind helping my father, and being a boy taught me a lot of things I never would have learned as a girl. But as I grew older it got harder and harder to keep the disguise, and after a while it didn't matter anymore." She sighed a little wistfully. "Actually I kinda miss it. I never did have much use for dresses, and acting like a man sure gives you a lot more freedom. I guess that's why you do it too, right? The Pony Express doesn't hire women?"
"That's right," said Lou. "But I figured I shouldn't have to do anything else if I could prove I could cut the work as well as any man."
"I know the feeling." Kate grinned. "I promise I won't turn you in to the company."
"Thanks," said Lou, picking up the brush again. "So what did you want to ask me about?"
"I guess you all know by now that I'm planning on staying at the ranch and running it myself. I know I can do the work, it's just…I've never had to do it alone, and I'm worried that people won't give me a chance because I'm a woman. I guess I was wonderin' what you think of my chances. Am I completely crazy for trying to stay?" Kate looked at her anxiously, hope and determination mingling in her eyes.
Lou studied the other girl for a moment. She could see the resolve in Kate's eyes, and a stubborn spirit to match Lou's own. "I don't think you're crazy for trying to do something you've been working for your whole life," she answered finally, earning a small smile of relief from Kate. "But I ain't gonna lie to you and say it's gonna be easy. You'll have to work twice as hard to prove yourself, and it may take a long time for people to accept you. Probably some people never will. I don't know what else to tell you, except that you just got to keep trying and hope for the best. But I do know one thing." She placed a sympathetic hand on Kate's arm. "Whatever happens, you're not alone. Me and the boys can help you. If you ever need anything, all you got to do is ask."
Kate's eyes had filled with tears at Lou's gesture of friendship. "Thank you," she said huskily. "But you all have helped me so much already. I'll never be able to repay you."
Lou grinned mischievously. "Just give us a good deal on those new horses."
Kate had to laugh, wiping away her tears. "You can count on it."
They smiled at each other for a minute before Lou spoke again. "I'm glad you're staying, Kate. Now we're neighbors, and it'll be nice to have another woman around to help me keep the boys in line."
Kate laughed to herself at the idea of tiny Lou bossing the boys around, though she had no doubt that was the case. "What's it like?" she asked curiously. "Living with the boys, I mean."
"It hasn't been easy," Lou admitted. "At first I didn't think I'd ever get used to it. They could be so disgusting sometimes, and rude, and immature…." She shuddered a little at a memory of her first week at the station. Then her voice softened as she continued, "But then I got to know them all better, and I found out they could be really wonderful, too. Now I don't mind living with them anymore, I like it. It's kinda nice, going to sleep every night knowing they're all there around me. It makes me feel safe, like a family." Lou blushed. "You must think I'm pretty silly."
"Not silly," said Kate seriously. "Lucky."
Lou seemed a little surprised, but she realized Kate was right. "I never looked at it that way before. I guess I am lucky," she said thoughtfully.
Kate nodded vigorously, a wicked gleam in her eyes. "It's not every woman gets to sleep with five very handsome young men," she said, trying to look innocent and failing miserably.
Lou pretended to be shocked. "Why Miss O' Sullivan!" she exclaimed, and they both laughed.
After that Kate was always a welcome visitor at the station. She began to look forward excitedly to her trips into town for supplies, because they gave her an excuse to see her new friends. She quickly came to admire and like each of them in their own ways. With Lou she found the female companionship that had been lacking all her life, and they soon formed an almost sisterly bond. In Rachel she found the mother she had never known, while the gruff marshal with the soft heart began to feel like a grandfather to her. She regarded Jesse with sisterly affection, and never failed to be amused by his habit of constantly getting into scrapes.
Kate got along with the boys equally well. She could hold her own with them in any argument, and proved herself a fair hand at cards as well, much to the chagrin of those who happened to be on the losing end of the game. She had the utmost esteem for Jimmy, not because of his skill with a gun but because of the strong yet sweet character she saw beneath his tough exterior. She also respected the soft-spoken leader of the group, though sometimes she had to agree with Lou that the Kid's strict sense of honor could be more of a nuisance than a virtue. Kate admired Noah's keen mind and ready wit, which could be as sharp as his beloved whip. Even Cody seemed to grow on her, for his constant cheerfulness was contagious, and she soon discovered that despite his sometimes frivolous behavior he was also a very intelligent, loyal, and serious young man.
Of all the riders Kate remained closest to Buck, perhaps because of their shared ordeal and because they spent the most time together. Kate had used her reward money wisely to fix up the homestead and get her business on its feet. Word got around that the Pony Express bought stock from her, and forced people to take her seriously. She began to trade horses with the Lakota, and for this she enlisted Buck to teach her Indian sign. Kate was an eager student and a fast learner, and after only a few lessons she was already signing most of what she needed. So she then asked Buck to teach her to speak Lakota as well, knowing the Indians would respect her more if she knew their language.
Kate loved her lessons and the break they provided from the hard work on the ranch. She thought Lakota was a beautiful language, with its gentle sounds and melodic rhythm. Learning aside, she also enjoyed spending time with Buck. She liked his thoughtfulness and quiet humor, and the stubborn streak that equaled her own.
One day Kate was waiting for Buck to meet her for a lesson. They had decided to have a picnic as a change of pace and agreed to meet down by the stream outside of town. The spot they picked was a little grove of trees close to the water's edge, where the stream formed a small pool. It looked peaceful and inviting, so Kate pulled off her boots and let her feet dangle in the cool water. She leaned back on her elbows and closed her eyes, softly humming an old song.
"That's a nice tune." Buck's voice interrupted her thoughts as he came to sit beside her. "What's it called?"
Kate had been unaware of her audience, and blushed. "It's 'My Wild Irish Rose'," she replied, sitting up to smile at him. "It was my father's favorite song. When I was little he used to sing it to me." She looked dreamily up at the sky. "I used to stand on his feet, and he would teach me to dance."
Buck smiled at that mental picture as she continued a little wistfully. "I still miss him, you know. Sometimes when I look at the ranch, I think of how hard he worked to get us there, and it just hurts so much that he isn't here to see it now."
"You'd feel worse if you didn't miss him," he pointed out gently.
She blinked back the tears that had gathered and sighed. "I know. The funny thing is, sometimes what I miss the most is just the silly little things, like the way we used to dance."
"Will you show me?"
"What, the dancing?"
Buck nodded and stood up. Kate took his offered hand with a smile and let him pull her to her feet. She moved closer to him a little awkwardly and carefully stood on the tips of his boots. He steadied her with an arm around her waist and slowly began to waltz. Kate giggled and held on tight as Buck started to spin, barely noticing her weight.
"You know, you're not a bad dancer," she told him playfully.
Buck pretended to be hurt. "Not bad?! You try doing this with somebody standing on you."
"Don't worry," she teased. "You're doing a pretty good job."
Then Kate noticed a gleam in his eyes and looked at him suspiciously. Suddenly she felt water lapping at her ankles and realized that he was waltzing right into the pool. Her eyes widened and she gave a little shriek.
"Oh, no, you don't!"
But it was too late. With a triumphant laugh Buck let go of her and pushed her backward into the water. Unfortunately she managed to keep her grip on the front of his shirt, successfully pulling him off-balance and into the pool next to her. They emerged laughing and spluttering, and immediately proceeded to have a water fight. And by the time they decided to call a truce and have their picnic, the last traces of Kate's sadness had been washed away.
To Chapter 7
Copyright 1998-This work is not to be reproduced without the permission of the author
The Way Station
Campfire Tales
