Messenger by Moonlight by Stephanie Grace Whitson Read Free Book Online Page A

Jo.
together.
’”
    Slowly, Annie stood up. As she headed for the ladder, she called over her shoulder. “Yes. Blue trim. But before you paint the trim, I want those window boxes so I can plant flowers.”

    Annie had barely stepped off the last rung of the ladder when Emmet joined them, clearly bent on doing his part to prove that working for the Pony Express was a wonderful opportunity. “We’ll use Pa’s cash box. When the paymaster comes through, Frank and I will hand every penny over to you. You can keep the key on that ribbon around your neck.” He looked over at Frank. “Did you tell her how much she’s earning?” Frank shook his head, and Emmet said, “Twenty dollars a month. Between the three of us, in just two years we could have almost
five thousand dollars
.”
    Annie tried to envision someone handing her a twenty-dollar gold piece at the end of every month. She’d never had that much money in her life. And
thousands
of dollars? It was too much to take in.
    “There’s more,” Frank said. “All the Pony Express riders stay and eat at the Patee House. And since you’ll be working at Clearwater, so will you. Starting today and going until we leave.”
    “When’s that?”
    “Not for a few days at least. We’re going out with Luther’s outfit, and he has to wait for supplies to arrive from downriver. There’s a dance in the ballroom tonight. Think you can remember how to waltz?”
    What could a girl say to all of that? It was only for a couple of years. And the money. She’d seen the Pony Express flyer with her own eyes or she wouldn’t have believed it. It wasn’t as if Frank and Emmet had tricked her into swallowing a tadpole. Or tasting the frost on the pump handle. And when it came right down to it, she couldn’t imagine life without her dad-blasted brothers.

    “I, Franklin Emory Paxton, do hereby swear, before the Great and Living God, that during my engagement, and while an employee of Russell, Majors, and Waddell, I will, under no circumstances, use profane language, that I will drink no intoxicating liquors, that I will not quarrel or fight with any other employee of the firm, and that in every respect I will conduct myself honestly, be faithful to my duties, and so direct my acts as to win the confidence of my employers, so help me God.”
    Even as he said them, the words gave Frank pause. Firstbecause he’d never taken an oath before and the solemnity of the moment carried weight. Second because it was obvious that the owners of the freighting company organizing the Pony Express—Russell, Majors, and Waddell—were darned serious about what they expected of the men who worked for them. Not that Frank intended to be anything but a trustworthy employee. Promising not to use profane language was all right—especially for Annie’s sake. Not fighting with other employees only made sense. In-fighting among the jockeys during that short season he’d worked for Hiram Hillsdale had dragged everything down. The promise not to drink was problematic, though. After all, even educated men like doctors knew that whiskey had its benefits. Still, they were paying him $100 a month. He supposed they could make the rules.
    After the oath, Superintendent Lewis shook each man’s hand and presented him with a leather-bound Bible printed especially for the riders. Emmet expressed heartfelt thanks for his. Frank wondered how many would get “lost” as soon as the riders left town. Still, when he walked out of that office a Pony Express rider, Frank felt just a little taller.

    Frank and Emmet returned to the livery to retrieve the three trunks stowed there, leaving Annie to sign them all in at the hotel desk. As if there was nothing to it. As if she was used to sashaying into a fancy hotel and signing the register as a matter of course. When an elegantly clad woman followed an equally well-dressed gentleman into the hotel and headed for the registration desk, Annie skittered toward a seating area