Maggie and Kid had never seen anything like the preparations that preceded a mail run. The first rider was due in around ten that morning, and since half-past seven, the station had been a flurry of activity.
Lou had wakened them early, much to Maggie’s chagrin, and was now grilling Kid with instructions on everything from how to place the lightweight, regulation saddle on his horse, to what he was to do in the event of an attack. She showed him how to pack his satchel, drilled him on the best clothes to wear, and warned him that he would be expected to keep up, no matter how fast she was going, no matter how rough the terrain.
For his part, Kid was practically jumping up and down with excitement. He hung on Lou’s every word, his face bright with enthusiasm, following eagerly behind the tiny young woman as she led him around the barn. Maggie noted with amusement that he was as animated as a child on Christmas Day. He had been disappointed to learn his beloved Katy would have to be left behind in favor of a horse that had been trained for the course, but his elation soon overtook his disappointment once again.
Taking care not to act as Kid’s shadow, Maggie kept a measured distance away from him and Lou as they prepared for the run. She couldn’t help smiling at Kid’s excitement and bright smile; they went a long way toward assuaging her fears.
During the night Maggie had tossed and turned, wrestling with her insecurities regarding Lou, and by daybreak she seemed to have won them over. But another fear was buried in the back of her mind: She was petrified at being left alone at the station with the riders. She wasn’t afraid of the boys themselves, just the notion of being on her own in the midst of strangers. She would miss Kid’s reassuring presence. Teaspoon had told her the ride would keep them away at least ten days, and Maggie saw the time stretching ahead of her like an interminable distance.
Leaning up against the corral fence, Maggie watched and smiled, the morning breeze stirring her bangs. After a moment, Noah sauntered up to her and tipped his hat teasingly.
"Mornin’, Miss Maggie."
"Morning, Noah."
"You look a mite anxious."
Maggie threw him a sheepish glance. "That obvious?"
He chuckled. "You really don’t have to be. Lou’ll take good care of him. He’s one of the best riders the Express has got."
"Oh she is, is she?" asked Maggie with a grin.
Noah laughed outright at that and shrugged. "Yeah, she is."
"I know Kid’s right; I do get like a big mother hen sometimes. I can’t help it, though," Maggie admitted. "You spend enough time seein’ someone you love in pain, you get to where you worry about it happenin’ when you’re not around to help." She squinted up at him as the sun rose higher behind him. "Did that make sense?’
"Of course it did," he nodded. "And I know I’m gonna sound like Teaspoon when I say this, but it don’t do no good to worry about someone when they’re out of your sight. And more than that, you can’t always stop someone else’s pain. If you’ll forgive me for speakin’ plain, Miss Maggie."
His words sank deep into Maggie’s conscience, more so than she was willing to admit. She was a bit unnerved that Noah had spoken so bluntly; she barely knew him, after all. But he was earnest, and she couldn’t help appreciating that he was trying to help. She looked at him for a moment and then her lips curled into a smile. "Just call me Maggie," was all she said.
* * *
By the time Kid had a chance to look up again, it was half-past nine, and Lou was leading their horses out of the barn. He felt his heart rate accelerate, thudding in his ears like a tin drum. This was it. This was what he had been waiting for, what he had been counting on since his editor had assigned him to this story.
He was going to ride with the Pony Express.
Ducking his head against Katy to hide the smile spreading across his face, Kid fought back a whoop of delight. He was getting a taste of adventure - of life - at last. At last, at last, at last.
"You'd like to do cartwheels around the barn right now, wouldn't you?" Maggie's voice, full of laughter, came from behind him.
Kid whirled around to find her standing in the doorway of the barn, arms folded over her chest as she regarded him with amusement. She was so pretty in the bright sun of early morning, and he was so excited, that he wanted to hug the world. He just felt so damn good inside. He grinned back at her. "I could probably do a somersault or two," he admitted.
She moved to stand beside him, both hands reaching up to pet Katy's soft mane. She didn't look at him as she spoke. "You're going to be gone for quite a while."
"Lou said it'll be closer to nine days if we make good time."
Maggie glanced over at him. "Look at you."
"What?"
"Your hands are shakin', you're so excited."
Kid ducked his head, grinning sheepishly. "Yeah, I guess they are." He paused. "Oh hell, Maggie, you know what this means to me."
"Sure, I know; ridin' horses at breakneck speed, prancin' across the prairie like a coupla wild men, and gettin' to write about it all. Must be your idea of heaven."
"Pretty near to it."
"Are you ready, DC?"
Kid looked at her then, directly into her warm, golden brown eyes, and they were both silent for a moment. He knew Maggie was asking more than a simple, polite inquiry as to whether or not he was ready for the trip. She had any number of questions hanging heavily in those few words: Are you sure you feel up to it, DC? Are you sure you'll be all right? Do you need anything? Will you take care of yourself?
It was all so familiar. In the years since the accident that had mangled his leg and bestowed him with a permanent limp, Maggie had turned into his chief protector, and a champion worrier to boot. Nothing he did seemed to ease any of the fears she carried with her
He lifted one hand, cupping Maggie's face in his palm. He regarded her for a minute with a penetrating gaze, trying to see down into the infinitesimal depths behind her eyes. He was searching, searching for some sign that he meant more to her than someone to worry about. And after a moment he caught it - just a glimpse; a flash of brightness in her eyes, and it was enough for now. Kid's smile lit his face.
"I'm ready, Maggie."
Maggie sighed softly in relief. "Then that's all I need to know."
Someone stirred behind them and both Maggie and Kid turned to see Lou standing in the doorway, her feet shuffling in the hay. She flashed a quick, shy look at Maggie before glancing away again. "It's time, Kid. We gotta be leavin' any minute. You ready?"
"As I'll ever be," replied Kid, his smile growing broader.
Maggie followed both riders out of the barn. She was surprised to see that the porch was empty. "Doesn't anyone come out to see you off?" she asked Lou.
Lou shrugged and turned her attention to tightening her horse's saddle again. "Rides are pretty routine, Miss Maggie. Sometimes someone comes out to wave us off, but it ain't a real special occasion. It's just work, that's all."
Suddenly Kid raised his arm and pointed in the distance. "I see 'im!" he cried excitedly. "He's headed this way. That's him, ain't it, Lou?"
"I reckon it is. Get ready, Kid. The minute I get that mochila we've gotta be out here like the devil himself is at our backs."
The rider was as yet just a speck on the horizon, but he was drawing nearer. His horse was rapidly eating up each mile, hooves thundering, dust clouds billowing behind as the figure approached. Maggie watched, breathless, as the novelty of the moment suddenly hit her. She realized she was witnessing something truly amazing.
Kid and Lou were poised beside their mounts, hands perched on the saddle horns, watching the rider with sharp eyes. Kid's spine, taut and ready to spring at a moment's notice, told Maggie just how anxious he was for this moment to arrive. She touched his back with a gentle hand and he looked down at her.
"You be careful, DC."
"I will, Maggie," he said tenderly. "Long as you promise to be careful, too."
Maggie nodded in response. Her breath caught in her throat as she looked up into his beautiful, kind face, at the blue eyes staring so intently into hers. She loved him; loved the curl of his lashes and the earnestness of his gaze. She even loved the stubble on his chin that told her plainly he had forgotten to shave yet again. Worry was suddenly the furthest thing from her mind; all she was conscious of was how much she was going to miss him.
The rider was growing steadily nearer. Thunderous hoofbeats filled the air.
"Get ready, Kid," Lou shouted in a commanding voice.
Jimmy, Noah, and Rachel gathered on the porch, talking amongst themselves. Kid slipped an arm around Maggie's waist and pulled her to him, grazing his lips across hers for one fleeting moment.
"Bye, Maggie."
She smiled breathlessly in response. "Bye, Kid."
And then the rider was in the yard, jumping down from his horse, yanking the mochila from his saddle. With a firm nod he threw it to Lou, and in one swift motion she had tossed it over her own saddle. She jumped onto her horse with a fluid, easy grace, and Kid followed suit.
Within seconds they were gone, and all that was left behind was a cloud of dust surrounding Maggie, the retreating sound of hoofbeats, and Jimmy, Noah, and Rachel waving from the porch.
* * *
For the first few days after Kid had gone, Maggie shyly did her best to avoid the rest of the Rock Creek family. She explored the station grounds, visited with the horses in the corral, and wandered into the outskirts of town. Mostly she sat by the stream at the edge of the Pony Express property, her sketchbook and pencil in hand. It had quickly become her favorite spot and she could spend hours there in silence.
One afternoon, her skirts spread out around her, Maggie relaxed in a small clearing of daisies, her eyes closed as the sun warmed her all over. It was gorgeous here. Not as pretty as the Rocky Mountains of course, but gorgeous all the same. The prairie had a beauty all its own, and it greatly appealed to her.
She didn't know how long Jimmy had been standing there, but when she opened her eyes he was just a few feet away, smiling to himself as he watched her. Maggie jumped in shock before smiling sheepishly up at him.
"Sorry," Jimmy murmured, ducking his head. "Didn't mean to scare you." He gazed back up at her. "Rachel sent me to find you. She thought you might want some lunch." He raised the pail in his hand. "She had me bring it to you in case you weren't in the mood for company."
Maggie blushed. "She must think I have terrible manners."
Jimmy came closer, gesturing to the spot beside her. Maggie nodded in encouragement and he dropped to the ground beside her. He shook his head and smiled. "Nah, Rachel don't judge people that harshly. I reckon she knows you're just a bit on the shy side. Long as you warm up to us in the end, she’ll leave you alone." He handed her the pail. "Here. The chicken's a mite cold, but the biscuits are still nice and warm."
"Sounds good," Maggie said softly, setting the pail aside and gazing back out across the stream. "Thank you for bringin' it. " She gave Jimmy a playful kick with her boot. She had forgotten rules of propriety out here in the wilds of the prairie. The strict sense of decorum that had been instilled in her in Denver was never far from her mind, but she no longer felt the need to obey it. She was still nervous around the boys, but she had learned to relax and disregard modesty when there was no call for it.
"Pretty here, ain't it?" asked Jimmy.
"It's beautiful." Maggie paused for a moment, searching for the right words. She didn't know why she felt comfortable talking to Jimmy, but something about him was so calming that she found herself relaxing in his company. "Jimmy?"
"Yeah?"
"You've been on a lot of rides, right?"
Jimmy's eyes danced. "Yeah, you could say there's been a 'lot'."
Maggie flushed again. "All right, it was a silly question. What I'm tryin' to ask you is --"
"Is if I think Kid could be in danger?"
She gazed at him in astonishment. "How did you know?"
"Well, I wouldn't say you were an open book, Maggie, but...well, I did see the way you looked at him. I'd have to be blind not to know you were worrying' over him right now."
"It's stupid, I know. He's a grown man. He can take care of himself, but I still --"
"You don't have to apologize. You got a right to care what happens to him. If I were the Kid I wouldn't mind if a pretty girl was worried about me."
"It's just..." Maggie's eyes skittered over to the brook again, her voice going soft and slow. "I know it's only been four days, but I can't help wonderin' what may have happened."
Jimmy shrugged. "Well, I won't lie to you, Maggie. Anything coulda happened between now and the time they left the station. It's a wild world out there, and the boys and Lou and me have been caught in the middle of it more times than I care to think about. But they'll be all right. Lou's tough, and Kid looked to me like you could count on him to do more than his share if push came to shove." He caught her eyes and nodded reassuringly. "They'll be just fine."
"I hope you're right."
"Can I ask you somethin', Maggie?"
"Fair enough."
"It ain't any of my business, so you just feel free to tell me to keep my nose out, but...is there any reason you worry over the Kid like you do?"
Maggie bristled, though she knew full well just what Jimmy meant. "'Like I do'?"
"Now don't get all huffy on me," protested Jimmy with a laugh. He had known Maggie only a few days, but they had already fallen into an easy rhythm of teasing. "Tell me to keep my nose out, but don't go stickin' yours in the air."
Relenting, Maggie began to chuckle. She drew her knees up against her chest, clasping her arms around her legs. "It really isn't for me to say, but...something happened to Kid a long time ago. It was back when we were just kids. It was - it was really bad. It changed things."
"Is it what happened to his leg?" asked Jimmy softly.
"Yes," Maggie said, nodding in response. "I saw it happen - I tried to stop it and I - I couldn't."
She stopped then, and Jimmy sensed there was more to her tale than she was willing to let on. But he had learned a measure of patience from Teaspoon, and so he kept his mouth shut, waiting for her to go on. When she didn't, he said, "And now you can't help but fret over what could happen to him when you're not around."
"It sounds silly."
"No, it don't." Jimmy shook his head firmly. "It don't sound silly at all. It sounds to me like Kid's a lucky fella."
Again a blush crept up Maggie's cheeks. She had grown comfortable with Jimmy, it was true, but she still felt shy speaking to him so candidly. Still, she couldn't deny that it had felt good being able to talk to someone about Kid. It didn't do any good to talk to Kid himself because he invariably shrugged off Maggie's worries and tried to placate her. Jimmy was at least acknowledging that she had a right to her fears.
Was Kid right to say she acted more like his mother than his fiancée these days? Maggie shuddered at the thought. Yet she had to admit to herself that lately she had been less than her usual playful self. It was this trip, she reasoned. She had known from the day Kid had accepted the assignment that a trip of this magnitude was going to take a considerable amount of his energy and possibly his strength. Her usual worries, which tended to lay dormant from day to day, had flared to life with twice their usual strength.
She had watched him push himself on the trail for weeks on end, trudging through mud and rain and harsh sun, sleeping on cold, hard ground, pretending his pain didn't increase with each mile that passed. Had her fears turned into badgering? Her mother had said that this trip would teach them to live as man and wife. Did Kid see her turning into a nagging shrew? It was too awful to contemplate.
'I'll make you a deal, DC,' Maggie said to herself, 'You come back safe to me and I'll...I'll do my best not to act like your mother anymore.'
* * *
15 April 1861
I am writing this by firelight. I hardly even know where to begin. My God...Where do I begin?
Do I begin at the beginning? Do I write this down as it happened, from moment to moment? Or do I simply start with the conclusion, the shocking conclusion of this most unexpected journey? I reckon a true storyteller would just start from the beginning.
Lou and I rode for two days, pausing at waystations every twenty-five to thirty miles, changing horses at each stop. There was never time for conversation, even when we stopped. We both just collapsed into our bunks, or quickly wolfed down the meals provided for us. It was thrilling, the most exciting two days of my life. I felt like I was taking a part in history.
How was I to know it would all change with the sound of gunfire and the sight of Lou falling to the ground? How was I to know I would discover something that could turn the Pony Express world upside down?
I must go now. Lou is awake and in pain.
She needs me.