Logan draped his old saddlebags over the back of Bootstrap and led him out of the livery stable. He glanced at Gus on his way out and smiled his appreciation to the old man. Being able to keep Bootstrap there for free really helped out. There certainly wasn’t a place for a horse over at the law office where Logan lived. And Logan couldn’t afford the rates his boss normally charged.
“Off to deliver the mail, I see?” Gus said.
“Yep. With Sam gone . . .” Logan paused for a moment to let the pain work its way out, trying yet again to fathom how his brother could shoot the man, such a right nice man, in the back. “Lavender needs more help with the mail. Her daughter, Rosie, has stepped up to help, but it’s not enough.”
“You delivering mail in town now?”
“Sometimes. But mostly just the RFD routes.”
“You need more time off?” Gus winced as he smiled.
“That would be nice.” Logan felt his shoulders relax at the thought. “At least until they get that new post office finished. The postal service is going to hire themselves a man to run it. Imagine that; it’s all the man does, take care of the mail and boss us mail carriers around. No running a mercantile on the side for him.”
“If the mail service has all that money, maybe you could hit them up to buy you a new set of these.” Gus slapped Logan’s worn-out saddlebags. “Heck, they should be supplying you with an official-like set, with some sort of fancy seal on it anyway—not making you use your own.”
“Aw, I don’t mind none,” Logan said, feeling good about being able to save people money whenever he could, even the government. “Well, I’d better get going. The mail’s waiting.”
“I might be cutting my own throat here.” Gus rubbed the stubble on his chin. “But why don’t you go apply for that job at the new post office? Sure as shootin’, the government can afford to pay you more than I do.”
“Nah.” Logan swept a hand at Gus and resumed leading Bootstrap out of the stable. “I’ve thought about it once or twice, but sitting inside at a desk all day ain’t for me,” he said over his shoulder.
He took a deep breath of the warm morning air, mounted up, and adjusted his hat against the rising sun. “Come on, Bootstrap. Let’s get going.” He prompted his pal into a brisk walk in the direction of the mercantile.
Rosie greeted him with a smile the moment she let him into the store. “Always on time; that’s our Logan.” She motioned for him to follow her through the empty store and to the back room where the mail was sorted.
“Say, how’s your ma doing?” Logan draped the saddlebags over his shoulder, noticing the clomp of his boots on the floor seemed to echo more than usual. He glanced around, realizing it wasn’t just because the store had yet to open for the day, but also because the shelves were half bare. It’d been two months since Sam died and over a week since Stanley was hanged. A stifling sense of forlorn seemed to fill the half-empty store. He wondered if Lavender would ever feel happy again and the mercantile get back to where it used to be.
“As good as could be expected under the circumstances.” Rosie led him into the back room.
“I am so sorry about my brother.” Logan removed his hat. He wished he could do more.
“You’re not responsible for your brother.” She pulled the saddlebags off his shoulder and laid them on the table. “Stanley was his own man.” She stuffed bundles of mail into each pouch. “I’m just grateful you’re not like him.”
Logan grabbed a bundle and shoved it into the biggest pouch with force. “Oh, believe me, I am glad for that too!”
“Save room in that big one for this.” Rosie handed Logan a package wrapped in brown paper and tied off with a white string. It was about the size of a book but felt much softer.
“Ah, a package. They’re always fun to deliver. Makes folks feel like it’s Christmas when it’s not.” Logan felt himself smile. “Where’s it going?”
“Out to the McCurdys’.” Rosie glanced up at Logan. “It’s for their daughter, Celeste. You heard she was home now, haven’t ya?”
“Yeah, I’ve heard.” Memories of his time out there a few days ago filled his thoughts with fondness. He liked how he was able to lend the listening ear Celeste seemed to need.
“Five years at a fancy finishing school!” Rosie pulled a face. “Oh, please, God have mercy on the poor child. I hope she survived. I’m afraid I’d have shot myself in the foot the first year so I could come home and stay if it had been me.”
“She survived without too much damage.”
“That’s good.” Rosie chuckled. “So I take it you’ve seen her? Has she changed much?”
“Yeah, I’ve seen her,” Logan said in a wispy tone, visualizing Celeste’s flawless face. “In some ways, she’s changed. And in some ways, she ain’t changed at all.” He scratched his head. “It’s all good.”
“Nice to hear pleasant news for a change.” Rosie pulled the loaded saddlebags from the table and handed them to Logan. “You better get going so you can get back before dark. Oh, and thank Gus for lettin’ us borrow you more than usual.”
“I already have.” Logan draped the bags over his shoulder once again. He hurried toward the front door, meeting Stuart Hoy on his way.
“Is the place open?” Stuart asked. “The door was open.”
“You’ll have to ask Rosie.” Logan cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled toward the back. “Rosie, you got a customer.”
“Dang it all!” came Rosie’s reply.
“Have a good day, Stuart.” Logan tipped his hat and rushed outside.
On his way out of town, Logan’s mind drifted to the package he’d be delivering to Celeste. He hadn’t looked at the return address. Curiosity niggled his insides. He lifted the reigns, ready to slow Bootstrap to a crawl so he could turn in the saddle and pull that package out. Instead, the reigns got a good flick. There wasn’t time for such nonsense. Besides, it was probably from one of Celeste’s many suitors. It’d sounded like she had plenty of them. When he delivered the package, he’d be careful not to look at the return address. It wouldn’t sit well with his gut anyway to see the name Dudley scrolled across the upper left-hand corner in fancy, highfalutin handwriting.
He stared at the dusty road ahead, keeping Bootstrap at a good pace and concentrating on the list of names Rosie had given him. He appreciated how she wrote down which homestead had mail each time and which didn’t.
But he didn’t appreciate how Celeste kept creeping into his thoughts. It wasn’t like he was planning on courting her.
Or was he?
No, I can’t—I’ve nothing to offer a wife.
True, Celeste had done a thing or two that led him to believe she was interested in him. Like touching his arm when she’d said goodbye the other morning. But she had been pouring out her sorrows, and that was her way of saying thanks for him listening. He shouldn’t be reading more into it than there was, especially since she’d mentioned more things that pointed the other way. She had suitors galore: ones with the means to support a family; ones who were polished; ones who were closer to her age; one who was named Dudley. Logan and Celeste’s friendship was one forged years ago. That was something perhaps he had over all those other fellows. And as such, he meant to keep it that way—for Celeste’s sake. Friends, nothing more.
Logan concentrated on his job, delivering mail to five different ranches and two homesteads before he reached the turnoff to the McCurdy place.
“Friends,” he muttered as Bootstrap brought him closer to Celeste. “We’re just friends.”
The whitewashed cabin came into view. He saw Rob out front, chopping wood. Patrick could be seen in the side yard working in the garden, and Celeste knelt on the ground by her brother’s side.
Logan’s heart slipped in an extra beat. He’d feared he might have to deliver the McCurdys’ mail without seeing her. But there she was, looking as lovely as ever, even in a pair of men’s trousers. She looked up. Did she recognize him? Maybe—she jumped to her feet, dusting off her knees, keeping her eyes on him.
She ran toward him. “Logan!”
Was she possibly excited to see him? Logan waved back. “Hello there. I got mail. Come and get it.”
Patrick made it to Logan’s side before Celeste. “Anything for me?”
“Afraid not.” Logan reached into his bag for the bundle holding the McCurdys’ mail. He undid the string, sorted through it, and pulled out a letter for Lucas. “But I got one for your pa. Can I trust you to deliver it to him?” Logan winked.
“Of course.” Patrick snatched it from Logan’s outstretched hand and then ran into the house.
Celeste stood a few feet away now. The noonday sun lit her face and highlighted flecks of gold in the mossy green of her eyes. She shielded her face as she gazed at him. “Is that all?”
“Why do you ask?” Logan said in his teasing voice. “Are you expecting something?” Why had he done that? He really didn’t care to hear she was waiting for a package from Dudley.
“No, not really,” she responded. “I had hoped maybe you’d—” She sounded disappointed before she cut her words short and stared at the ground. “Ah, never mind.”
Logan couldn’t stand to pain her like that, knowing she was prone to melancholy now and again. At least, she had been before going away to school. That’s why he’d taken her with him to deliver the mail at times. It had always put a smile on her face. And from her morning “bedtime” story, it sounded like school hadn’t helped her bouts of sadness. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to tease.” He reached into the big pouch and pulled out the package. “I do have something else,” he said, handing it to her. “It’s addressed to you.”
“Me?” Celeste perked up. She examined the package while a skeptical expression contorted her face, and then she shook it. “I wonder what it could be.”
Rob was by her side now, reaching for the package. “Let me see. Who’s it from?”
“Probably Dudley,” Logan mumbled. He held his breath. Why had he said that? He’d delivered the mail and needed to get going. No sense waiting around to hear the man’s name uttered by her lips.
Celeste shot him a sidewise glance and then examined the package. “It’s from Grandma Donahue.” She pulled the package in close, away from her brother’s reach.
Logan exhaled. “Your grandma? Like the one who held you hostage in New York all those years?” He winked at her, and she smiled. His heart warmed from her reaction and her news. Since it wasn’t from Dudley, and from the way she ran to meet him just now, maybe there was a chance they could be more than friends after all.
Rob turned away from the package and stared at Logan. “Grandma did what?
“Nothing.” Celeste dismissed her brother’s question with a brush of her hand and proceeded to open the package. She ran her fingers across something made of white fabric, not seeming to care that they left a smudge of dirt.
“What is it?” Rob helped her tear the paper further.
“Looks like pillow cases for me to embroider.” Celeste stopped her brother from tearing the paper away entirely.
“Why?” Rob’s eyebrows bunched up.
“I’m sure she sent them for my trousseau.” Celeste moved the package around to her back and out of sight. “I’ll read her letter later.” She gazed at Logan. “How much more mail do you have left to deliver?”
“Most of it. Three bundles, if that helps answer your question.” Logan patted his saddlebags. “My turn. What’s a trousseau?”
“Stupid napkins and things for when Celeste gets married,” Rob spoke up, and Celeste glared at him.
Logan blew out a breath. So much for hoping Dudley was out of the picture. “Are-are you getting married?” The question stumbled out of his mouth.
“Eventually. I hope.” She batted her eyelashes.
“You got something in your eye?” Logan asked. He didn’t care to hear more about her marriage plans. “I know the cotton from the cottonwoods can get right-down annoying this time of year.”
“There’s nothing in my eye,” Celeste stated in a firm voice.
“I should be getting on now.” Logan patted his saddlebags to hopefully let Celeste know he wasn’t trying to be rude, but he really did need to go. Not so much because of the mail, but because he didn’t care to linger and have his feelings strengthen for Celeste. Especially when it appeared he should suppress them. “Good seeing you.” He tipped his hat.
“Do you really mean that?” she said, like she didn’t believe him.
“Of course,” Logan said. Sometimes she asked the dangdest things.
She looked off into the distance, as if she was thinking about something. Her eyes lit up as she turned and looked at him. “Where’s your next delivery?”
“The Thompsons’, about five miles from here.”
“I know how far away they are,” she said. “Perfect distance for a horseback ride. It’ll be like when I used to come with you to deliver the mail.”
“You want to come with me?” Logan asked, tempted to dig the wax from his ears. He must have misunderstood her. Or maybe she just needed a bit of cheering up, like when she was a kid. But could he handle having her ride behind him while trying to suppress his growing feelings for her?
“Yes, but of course.”
Logan turned and glanced at Bootstrap’s back. “This here’s a new horse since last time. I don’t know if he’ll let you. He’s not used to anybody but me on his back. I daresay you’re a lot heavier than last time.”
“Well! I never!” Celeste turned her back on Logan.
Rob laughed. “I don’t think you’re supposed to tell girls that you think they are heavy. Leastwise, that’s what Ma told me.”
“Sorry, Celeste.” Logan laughed this time. “I didn’t mean nothing by what I said. Promise. Of course, you’re heavier than last time we rode. You were nothing but a kid then. Now you’re all grown up and pretty as the day is long.”
“Really?” Celeste’s cheeks took on a lovely shade of pink. “You’re not just saying that . . . to make me feel good?”
“Of course I mean it.” Logan motioned to Rob. “Go fetch me a saddle blanket for you sister to sit on.” Then he smiled at Celeste. “If you want to ride with me over to the Thompsons’, I’m sure Bootstrap can handle that just fine. I was just teasing you before.”
While Rob ran into the barn, Logan thought about how he really didn’t have time for this, and it would be a challenge to keep his feelings in check. But what was life all about if you couldn’t help another person be happy when you got the chance?
After Rob returned and laid the blanket behind the saddle, Celeste handed her package to her brother. Logan pulled his boot from the stirrup so Celeste could mount.
“It’ll be just to the Thompsons’,” Celeste said as she grabbed Logan’s hand and let him help her mount. “I don’t want to keep you from your work, so I’ll walk home from there.”
“Nonsense.” Logan scooted a tad forward in the saddle, and she settled in behind him. “I have to backtrack somewhat anyway. I’ll bring you back. I’ve got time.”
She wrapped her arms around his waist, and he was tempted to say he had all the time in the world—so long as she continued to hold on to him like that.
Logan turned the horse around and headed back down the McCurdys’ road, and Celeste hollered to her brother, “Rob, tell Mother I went for a ride with Logan.”
Celeste didn’t let go of Logan as Bootstrap walked down the road. Logan liked that she didn’t hold on to the back of the saddle like she used to do when they took things at a leisurely pace.
“Sure is a nice day for a ride,” he said as they turned onto the main road.
“Yes, it is.” Her hold around his waist tightened.
It caused him to smile, and he got to thinking that being more than just friends would be mighty nice. “It was handy you were wearing trousers.”
“They’re Rob’s. He’s grown out of them, and they don’t fit Patrick yet. They’re more practical to wear than a dress when weeding the garden. I know Miss Bennett wouldn’t approve. Ma wasn’t too keen on it either, but I don’t care.”
“Well, you look right nice in them.” He wanted to make up for calling her heavy. “Not many a gal could wear ’em and still look so pretty.”
“Thank you.” Her arms gave his waist a squeeze.
He was careful not to shift much in the saddle or do anything that would force her to let go as they continued down the road.
“I like your new horse,” Celeste spoke up after a minute or two of silence.
“Thank you. Bootstrap will be glad to hear that. I realize he’s not the most handsome of mounts, what with his splotchy coat and gray-and-dirt-brown mane, but I got him awfully cheap, and me and him are best friends now.”
“I’ll bet it’s nice to have such a good friend,” Celeste said.
“Yep.”
“Why is it that you are so easy to talk to, Logan Jones?” Celeste leaned her head against his back.
“I don’t know.” Logan could definitely grow accustomed to having Celeste next to him for more than this single horseback ride. It was likely he was playing with fire, with his feelings and Dudley and all. But he’d enjoy it for just a moment, or two, or three, then he’d try to keep his distance.