Page 1 of That Fateful Ride
1 860, Nebraska Territory
“I have to do this, Mama,” Rebecca Freeman insisted. She never paused in hefting the heavy saddle to settle upon the back of her dun gelding, Polaris. Hot dry air flowed over her as the wind picked up, swirling and sending up little dust cyclones and bringing the smell of baked earth to her nose. She blinked a few times, doing her best to keep the dirt from stinging her eyes.
“You’re a girl who’s got no business riding there.” The disapproval was so strong she could taste it. “None!”
Rebecca sighed and flipped up the stirrup to settle upon the seat. She understood the hesitation and reluctance. Heck, she had her own amount of it, but none of that mattered.
“Mama, I have to. We have no choice. We need the money. Robert’s laid up with his injuries. I can do this. They’ll never know.” She refused to budge an inch. This was something she could handle.
Full lips flattened with annoyance and a healthy bit of concern. “You get caught and you’ll be wishin’ you was dead. We can figure something out. Stay home and take in more washing.”
Her mama spoke a hard truth and she didn’t want to think about how much it worried her. best not to imagine what it would be like to be discovered as a lone woman without any protection. Especially one of her skin color.
Cinch tightened, she patted Polaris on the neck as she dropped the stirrup back down and went to stand before her mama. Sally Freeman was a tall beautiful woman who had seen more than her share of difficulties. She could cook a mean meal out of next to nothing or shoot the wings off a fly if she so chose.
She was intimidating and a hard woman to live with as a mother. Still, she’d not raised any wallflower, but a proud young Black woman, so Rebecca lifted her chin and held her mother’s sharp gaze, ignoring the dirt and grit whipping around them.
An omen.
A bad one if she was to believe the stories.
“I won’t get caught. I ride and shoot better than Robert. Besides, I can’t take in extra washing, it won’t do enough.” She didn’t point out that her mother knew that. They both knew additional washing wasn’t going to compare to his wages they would be losing out on.
Her mama scowled and crossed her arms. Acceptance slowly pushed into her stare. “You come back in and let me fix yer hair. You done gone and made a mess of it.”
She nodded and dutifully followed her back inside their small house. It was as much of a blessing as she’d get. It wasn’t much of a reprieve for what was coming next, her mother worked fast. Once her hair had been fixed and wrapped along with her breasts, she peeked in on her brother. Shallow, rasped breaths filled the room and she blinked back tears as she kissed him on the head.
“Stay alive, Robert.”
“Becca,” he said on a graveled, pain-filled voice. “You can’t. I changed my mind. It’s too dangerous.”
“I know the trail and the oath. I can do this. I am doing this.” One final kiss and she headed out. Her mother waited by the door and handed her a small bag.
They exchanged no hugs or words. Rebecca stepped back outside and did her best to ignore the pile of thick black locks, which lay on the hard packed dirt fluttering around courtesy of the wind. There was no reason to have cut it inside where her mother would have to sweep it up. All the housekeeping would fall on her as well as everything else.
Guilt swamped her and she squeezed her eyes shut one more time. When she looked again, most of her cut hair had blown away.
It was a sign. Another one. However, this one was one she couldn’t ignore.
The loss of innocence. The changing of times and it unsettled her.
By Polaris, she adjusted the red neck cloth as Robert always wore. She preferred blue, but from this moment on, she was no longer Rebecca Freeman. Now she was Robert Freeman.
Resting her head on Polaris’ shoulder for a moment, she took a fortifying breath. Gathering his reins in one hand, she swung up with considerable ease into the saddle and rode off towards the station to await her first pickup. She spared no looks back. Robert wouldn’t, so neither would she. Robert typically rode out of the Buffalo Creek Station, one past the one she headed toward.
She had gone to the station before and had met the station master, Ethan Wilson. A crotchety yet fair old man, which was all that mattered to her. He’d never paid her much mind before and that was going to work in her favor. It took her a good while to get there. Once she arrived, she tied Polaris in some welcome shade and headed up the wooden sidewalk to the door. At the last minute, she remembered Robert walked heavier than she did and so she stomped a bit harder, ensuring to jangle her spurs.
A bell clanged above her head, announcing her arrival. It all looked the same. Dusty and dirty, her mother would tan her hide if she kept their house like this.
“You’re early.”
Her heart pounded. This was the first test, to see if she could pull this off. “Yes sir.” Sweat glistened on her brow and she worked hard to keep her mouth set in a hard line. Tugging the brim of her hat low on her head, she looked around the darkened interior and found him behind the front counter.
White hair curled around his wide skull. The man’s face showed he didn’t miss meals and his shirt and vest strained at the seams. While she couldn’t see, she imagined his black pants were like they had been the last time she’d seen him.
He lifted his watery blue gaze and looked in her direction. “Delivery won’t be here for about ten minutes, if he’s on time.”
“I’ll be outside.” She tugged briefly on the brim of her hat before heading back out.
Despite it being hot and unpleasant, she breathed a bit easier. Test one had been passed. He never even assumed she wasn’t Robert.
The wind had picked up again and she leaned against a pole of the shelter over Polaris. Simply being in his presence, calmed her. Behind them sat the barn, which housed The Pony Express horses.
Off in the distance a cloud of dust grew closer and closer. Like a lightning bolt piercing the sky, the air changed. Crackling with energy, it skated up and down her spine. Even Polaris must have felt it for he lifted his head, ears swiveled toward the incoming rider and snorted. She untied him and double-checked her saddle. She looked up to see Ethan nearing.
“You know you’re supposed to use our horses.”
Yeah she knew, but she trusted Polaris with her life, so she’d ride him. “This is my sister’s horse. He runs like the wind.”
Ethan stood beside her. He was a large man and she watched him run sure hands over her mount. A grunt of approval before he patted the horse’s side.
“Good and sturdy. Looks like one of those Injun horses from the Blackfoot region. Saw some of them a whiles back. Good stock. Keep an eye on this horse, people are liable to want to steal him.”
She hesitated, she’d not expected him to know the region she’d acquired him. Thankfully, the approaching rider made it so she didn’t have to. She mounted, the familiar feel calming her nerves. This was it. The time had come.
Polaris sidestepped beneath her, feeling her anxiousness. Absently, she patted the muscled neck. Easy boy, it’s almost time. She shifted and relaxed a bit more at the accustomed creak of leather.
Ethan hurried out into the sun yet she hesitated. Two deep breaths before she touched her heels to Polaris and moved him out. Butterflies swarmed in her belly and she sought to keep her doubt hidden.
You’ll be fine, she told herself. She knew the route, had gone over it numerous times until she was confident. Yet, all that assuredness slipped to a hiding spot back in the dark recess of her mind.
The hoof beats grew louder and she felt the tingle race up her spine again. Excitement began to replace the uncertainty. A brown horse thundered into view, wet with sweat and blowing hard. The man sawed back on the reins and the animal slid to a halt, almost sitting on the ground.
Ethan ran and grabbed the delivery and waved at her. “Let’s get going, boy!”
She moved Polaris near, ensuring to keep her hat low over her eyes. The moment he secured the mochila, the mail pouch, she set her heels to Polaris and they shot off. Part of her almost sent him off in a dead run, but she knew that would be stupid. He would exhaust himself. Therefore, they loped. Polaris had a large stride and they would make good time. Also, if they ran into any hostiles, he would have some speed left in his reserves to get her out of danger. As they headed out of sight, she cast a glance over her shoulder.
She’d done it!
Managed to fool them into thinking she was her twin brother and had set out on her first leg of running the Pony Express.
Cyrus “Cy” Spencer paused in the act of checking over the horse tied to a hitching post as a new sound broke through the fresh morning. It sounded like an incoming rider but surely, it couldn’t be. Overnight rides usually took longer and Robert had never been this early. If it was Robert.
The station, Stuart’s Station , was still recouping from the attack from a group of Indians, which had killed the old station manager along with stealing the horses. Stu’s death was why he had come on in replacement. He’d served with him in the Army. When he’d heard what’d happened and that needed someone to replace him, he’d stepped up and taken the job.
As close as I’ll get to being part of the Pony Express.
Shaking off his uncertainty, he ran to the bunkhouse and woke the next rider before hurrying to the stable. He knew he had about five minutes before the rider made it all the way in. The horse was saddled in half that and ready when Bill stumbled from the building, food shoved in his mouth buckling his woolen pants.
The riders who did this were amazing. Anytime day or night they were ready when called upon. Bill was no different from the others. An orphan, he’d joined the Pony Express when it started and was one of the more trusted riders.
“The boy’s early.”
Cy didn’t do anymore than grunt. Bill and Robert had a strenuous relationship, but it always remained professional. He handed over the reins and Bill swung up. Together they watched the dust cloud grow closer.
A large dun pounded into view and came to a halt. Gloved hands deftly undid and extended the pouch. Cy took it. He looked up and found himself staring into Robert’s eyes.
“Robert,” he said with a nod. “Made good time.”
No response so he glanced back up to find him still watching him. With a shake of his head, he turned to Bill and attached the delivery. Bill wheeled his horse around, said, “Boy,” and then took off.
Cy turned back to see Robert heading for the stable which thankfully hadn’t been burned completely to the ground during the attack so repairs hadn’t taken too long. Crossing his arms, he observed them. Something was different. He just couldn’t quite put his finger on it. True, he didn’t know Robert all that well, but he was a man who paid attention to the small things.
Most obvious was the horse. Yes, the Pony Express had plenty of mounts. Still most men he knew had a favorite. And Robert’s favorite was a roan not this dun. This horse looked barely winded as it continued to move easily. And, it wasn’t shod.
“Where’s Reaver?” he called out.
“Lame.”
The voice sounded a bit graveled as if he’d been sick. “So who’s this?”
“Polaris.”
He blinked. Robert had mentioned Polaris. His sister’s horse. She’d gotten him as a yearling from some Indians. Cy didn’t know much more about it than that but he knew the horse was strong, fast, and everything to the man’s sister.
“She let you take her horse?”
A slight stiffening followed by a brief nod. “After a fashion.”
He chuckled. Siblings. “I can take care of him.” It was part of his job. More hesitation before Robert slid free of the stirrups and hit the ground with a spur jarring thud. “There’re about four over there now sleeping but I reckon they’ll be getting up soon.”
Saddlebags slung over one shoulder, Robert walked off without a word.
Something still bothered him but Cy shook it off and went to take care of the mount. After he stripped Polaris, who hadn’t wanted to go with him but after Robert, he checked him over carefully to ensure he’d acquired no injuries. Content the horse was sound, he fed him and left him for some well-deserved rest.
The other riders other than Robert eventually woke and another dispatch heading the other way came in. About three hours later, he had just finished shoeing one of his horses when Thomas, another rider who was going to be heading toward Sacramento on the next run let out a yell.
“Cy! We’ve got a problem.”
Stripping off the leather apron, he hurried out into the bright sun. The urgency in the tone prompted him to not dally. The problem could be anything. Thieves, Indians, they had it all out here. Rifle in hand he headed to Thomas’ side.
“What?” he asked scanning the horizon.
Thomas gestured with his chin. Cy squinted in that direction and frowned when he saw a horse approaching at a trot. His scowl deepened when he recognized it as Bill’s horse…without Bill.
“What the…?”
They hurried toward the skittish gelding. When they captured him, Cy noticed the blood on the saddle and along one shoulder was a deep gash. Damn it! Thankfully, the mochila sat secured to the saddle.
“Do you think the Injuns got him?” Thomas asked as they hurried back to the stable.
“I have no idea.” He had a hunch though. And not a good one. “Take him and give him some water. I’ll be over shortly to patch him up.” He headed toward the bunkhouse, dispatches in hand.
Pushing through the darker and thankfully cooler interior, he paused to take it all in. Two of the guys were drinking which they weren’t supposed to do in excess. To the right he spied Robert lying on a bottom bunk, back to the wall.
“Bill’s horse came back,” he announced. “There was blood on the saddle. I need a rider to head out.”
Silence reined and he felt his disappointment rise. Then a graveled voice came to him.
“I’ll do it.”
Robert. He focused on him and not the two who were too busy pretending they’d not heard him. A few inches shorter than most of the riders, Robert often made him wonder if it wasn’t hard to be so small. Straightforward brown eyes met him from beneath the brim of his hat.
“Good. As soon as you can.”
Robert stood up and buckled on his weapons over his pants. He shoved into his boots before grabbing his saddlebags. Cy wanted to object but their top priority was keeping the delivery going. With a disgusted glare at the two who refused to step up, he led the way out.
“I have another horse—”
“Polaris will do.” The interruption came immediately. Firm and definitely expecting that statement to be followed.
He slowed so Robert’s shorter stride put them even. In the stable, he took a deep breath and saddled Polaris. He attached the delivery while Robert slid his rifle into the scabbard.
“Good luck.” Cy’s gaze travelled down to where the black handle of his revolver sat against one leg. Wait a minute. I thought Robert had silver ones. Before he could think on it anymore, the dun gelding had taken off.
Right now, Cy had more important things to attend but then he’d turn his attention to what it was about Robert that bothered him so much. Gathering the medical supplies needed, he went to tend the gelding.