Montana Sky: An Unexpected Gift (Kindle Worlds Novella) (The Jones's of Morgan's Crossing Book 3) Read online

  Much to the consternation of Viola’s poor mother. Young ladies do not rope calves, she’d scold. Viola, however, had never been a conventional girl. She’d never cared for being swaddled in lace and petticoats, preferring denim and boots. If only she’d been born a boy!

  But such was not the case, and after a good talking to by her father, her days of lassoing strays and helping with branding were numbered. In the end her mother got her way, and Viola grew into a respectable woman, even getting married as young ladies were expected to do. And Edward was a caring and compassionate husband.

  But then Edward died and everything changed.

  At this point Viola really wished she was a man, because then she wouldn’t feel so dependent on Clarence, her only living relative. He worked in the mine in Morgan’s Crossing, an occupation she was surprised he’d undertaken. She never pictured Clarence as a miner – a school teacher, perhaps, or grocer. Her only conclusion was that the money had to be good – that or, Heaven forbid, he loved it. But what man, especially one as fastidious as Clarence, wanted to spend his day working in a dark, dusty old mine?

  She sighed and shook her head at the thought. “Silly man.”

  “Mama?” little Katie said.

  “Yes, honey?”

  “When are we going to be there?”

  Viola leaned forward and rested her arms on the seat in front of her. “Tomorrow, sweetie.” She brushed a wisp of hair off her daughter’s cheek. “Are you excited to see Uncle Clarence?”

  “Yes. Will he be surprised I’m five?”

  “I’m sure he will – and just as surprised Wylie is seven now.”

  “Am I taller? Last time I saw Uncle Clarence he called me a shrimp.”

  “What’s a shrimp?” Wylie asked as he scrunched up his nose and turned to his mother.

  “A little sea creature. But you’re bigger now,” she added, tweaking Katie’s nose.

  “A bigger sea creature? Am I a fish?” Katie giggled.

  Best to get them on another subject or this could go on for hours. “You’re not a fish, sweetie – you’re a big girl now.” And Heaven help you. “Are you hungry?”

  “Yes!” Wylie and Katie said at once. Viola stood and reached for the basket she’d placed on the shelf above her seat.

  A movement caught her eye, and when she looked, Mr. White was fast approaching. “Here, let me help ya with that.” He plucked the basket from its perch and handed it to her.

  “Thank you.” She took a step back. He was taller than she’d first realized. Now that she was standing next to him, he seemed broader than before too. In fact, she started to notice quite a few things. His eyes were light brown, his hair the same, and he had a small dimple on the right side of his mouth when he smiled.

  “Is there anythin’ else I can get down for ya?” he asked.

  “No, thank you.” She forced herself not to stare.

  He nodded like before and smiled. “I’ll just be headin’ back to my seat, then.” He glanced at the children, winked and went to sit down.

  “What a charming man,” she said without thinking. She quickly sat, embarrassed at the slip, and began to dig through the basket.

  “Do we still have jam sandwiches?” Wylie asked.

  Viola pulled out two sandwiches, tore one in half and handed part to each of them. “I’m afraid these are the last ones, children. If you want anything more, you’ll have to wait until we stop again.”

  “Will we spend the night?” Katie asked.

  “Yes, sweetie, we’ll be spending the night.”

  “I hope the next place we sleep doesn’t have spiders like the last one,” Wylie said. “I don’t like spiders.”

  “I like them!” Katie said.

  “You would,” Wylie said with a grimace.

  Viola had to smile. Katie had definitely taken after her, whereas Wylie was more like his father. Not a bad thing, mind – Edward was an intelligent man, forthright and fair. Too bad the influenza that took him two winters ago didn’t respect that.

  She sighed as she tore the last sandwich in half, wrapped up one piece and began to nibble at the other. “I wonder if Morgan’s Crossing has spiders,” she muttered to herself.

  Katie turned and smiled at her. “I hope so. I think their webs are pretty. And they eat flies.”

  “Stop it, Katie!” Wylie scolded. “People’ll think you’re loco.”

  Leaving Baker City to go live in a little speck of a town like Morgan’s Crossing led Viola to wonder if they were.

  * * *

  By the time the train reached Sweetwater Springs, Viola was as sick of the journey as the children were. Wylie and Katie, angels the first half of the trip, had turned into the Devil’s own the second leg. Thank Heaven for Mr. White, who’d mercifully kept them entertained for a few moments here and there. He’d told them stories, played with them and taught Wylie how to tie any number of knots using nothing but one of Katie’s hair ribbons.

  Viola had to admit she was impressed. She didn’t mind the man’s company either. The tales of his hometown and he and his siblings’ shenanigans were amusing. And the rest of his traveling companions were just as entertaining, especially the women’s British accents. They were sisters, as it turned out; their husbands were brothers and Mr. White’s employers.

  But despite the pleasant company, children were prone to boredom. “Are we finally there?” Katie said, rubbing her tired eyes.

  “Yes, sweetheart, we are.” The train came to a stop and Viola gingerly stood and stretched, her every limb on fire. “Gather your things, children.”

  “Is this the last stop, Mama?” Wylie asked.

  “Yes, which is why you don’t want to leave anything behind.”

  “Like Wylie’s ball?” Katie teased.

  Wylie curled his lip up and pulled his ball out of his coat pocket. “It’s not lost, see?”

  She rolled her eyes and held her doll close to her chest. It was Katie’s most prized possession. Viola definitely wanted to make sure she didn’t leave that. Once the children had a good hold on their toys, she reached up to retrieve her basket and satchels.

  “Need any help, ma’am?” Mr. White asked.

  How he got to her with the other passengers standing in the aisle gathering their own belongings, she had no idea, but was glad he was there. “Why, thank you, Mr. White,” she said with a smile.

  He tipped his hat, reached up and easily retrieved her things for her. “Here ya are, ma’am.”

  “Thank you ever so much,” she said. My, but he had nice eyes …

  “Well, it was mighty nice meetin’ ya.” He bent down to Wylie and Katie. “Ya mind yer mother now, ya hear?”

  Wylie nodded. “Thanks for teaching me to tie knots, Mr. White!”

  “And for telling us stories,” Katie added.

  He chuckled. “My pleasure. It ain’t often I get to tell younguns such stories. I’m glad ya liked them.”

  “I especially liked the one about how your boss’ wife Mrs. Jones saved Mr. Jones after he got bit by a snake!” Katie chirped.

  “What?” Constance called loudly over the noise of the other passengers. “Oh Caleb, you didn’t!”

  “I saw no harm in it,” Caleb replied.

  “I liked it,” one elderly man quipped. “Mighty romantic.”

  Constance smiled as she shook her head. “Well, I’m glad you find my heroics so entertaining.”

  “I bet your husband finds them more than entertaining, ma’am,” the old man said with a laugh. “Otherwise he wouldn’t be here.”

  “That’s true ‘nough,” Ryder said as he retrieved their luggage. “Best go see the porter ‘bout the rest of our things. C’mon, Seth.” Seth nodded, took his wife Eloise by the hand and began to disembark along with the other passengers.

  Viola ushered Wylie and Katie forward, acutely aware of Mr. White right behind her. He grabbed her elbow as she started to get off the train. “Watch yer step now, ma’am.”

  “Thank you,” sh
e said as an unfamiliar tingle ran up her spine. “Thank you very much.”

  He stood next to her and gently ushered her out of the way of the other passengers leaving the car, then stuck his hands in his pockets. “Well, I guess I’d better go join Seth and Ryder.”

  She smiled again and nodded. “Are you staying in Sweetwater Springs?”

  “No, ma’am. We’re headin’ on to Morgan’s Crossin’.”

  “You are? So are we.”

  His eyes lit up. “Really? Ya’d think on such a long trip we’d have found that out ‘bout each other.”

  She looked at her children now huddled against her. “We were so busy trying to keep Wylie and Katie preoccupied, it never came up.”

  “Sure ‘nough didn’t.” He mussed Wylie’s hair. “I guess we’d both best be on our way.”

  “Yes, of course,” she agreed, then wondered why she would feel reluctant to say goodbye to the man.

  He half-smiled as if he felt the same, tipped his hat and strolled off. She watched him go with a pang of regret and wondered if she’d ever see him again. All she knew was his employers’ sons owned a horse ranch outside Morgan’s Crossing. Perhaps Clarence knew them. She made a mental note to ask her brother about it as she took stock of their luggage and, Wylie and Katie in tow, headed down the platform in search of him.

  She was tired, hungry and wanted nothing more than a hot bath and a soft bed. She certainly hoped Clarence had access to both – she knew there’d be a bed, but how soft? She’d find out soon enough, she hoped.

  But as she continued down the platform, she saw no sign of Clarence. “Oh, I do hope he’s not late,” she griped.

  “That’s okay, Mama.” Katie pointed. “Look, there’s benches over there.”

  “I hope we don’t have to use them. You’d think that man would’ve learned to be on time.”

  “If Uncle Clarence was ever on time, Mama, he wouldn’t be Uncle Clarence,” Wylie argued.

  Viola laughed. Wylie knew his uncle too well. “He did say it was a long ride from Morgan’s Crossing to Sweetwater Springs. I suppose he’s allowed to be a little late.” She glanced at her fellow passengers leaving the platform with friends or relatives come to pick them up. She spied the handsome Mr. White and smiled. He’d been a delight to talk to and she wished him well.

  She also wished it was warmer. If Clarence didn’t hurry, they’d have to go inside the ticket office to wait for him. Bench or no bench, it was too cold for the children to be waiting outside.

  “Is everything all right, ma’am?”

  Viola turned and looked once more into the gentle eyes of Caleb White. “Oh – how nice to see you again. And so soon,” she added with a little laugh.

  “Who’re ya waitin’ for?” he asked. His expression said he didn’t get the joke.

  She quickly sobered. “My brother. He seems to be running late.”

  “Mighty inconvenient, ain’t it?” He glanced around, searching.

  Viola smiled when she realized he didn’t know what Clarence looked like. Why even bother? “I haven’t seen him at all.”

  He turned back to her and smiled. “And so far I ain’t seen our ride to Morgan’s Crossin’.”

  “Maybe your party is going to be as late as my brother,” she mused with a playful shrug. Oh good heavens, was she flirting? She tugged at her coat and quickly noted what Wylie and Katie were doing – standing still for once. Meanwhile, she was fidgeting nervously. That figured. Good heavens, what if Clarence got the date wrong? That would be like him …

  “I wonder if he’s travelin’ with the fella comin’ to meet us?” Mr. White scratched his chin. “Would make sense, considerin’ how far Morgan’s Crossin’ is from here.”

  “An entire day’s ride, so I’m told,” she agreed.

  He looked at her, his eyebrows raised in amusement. “Oh no, Mrs. Todd. Morgan’s Crossin’ is two days’ ride from here.”

  “Two days?” she said in shock.

  Mr. White nodded. “Uh-huh. And there ain’t much ‘tween here and there, so’s I’ve heard. Couple of stops is all, if ya can call ‘em that.”

  A hand flew to her chest as thoughts of Clarence not showing up for days flashed through her mind. “Oh dear, this is terrible! My brother has to show up – he has to get us!”

  Mr. White held up a hand to calm her. “Now hold on there. Our party ain’t arrived yet neither. For all we know they’re travelin’ together and had trouble with the wagon or somethin’.”

  “But what if they’re not?” she asked in a panic. At this point she didn’t care how she sounded – she was fairly sure she didn’t have the money to stay overnight in Sweetwater Springs. Certainly not that and feed herself and her children.

  “Tell ya what I’ll do,” he said. “Let me speak with the Joneses. If yer brother ain’t shown up by the time we’re ready to leave, why don’t you three ride along with us?”

  “Really? Do you think your bosses will mind?”

  “Seth and Ryder? Course not – they’re some of the nicest folks ya’ll ever meet. ‘Sides, from what I understand, if yer brother’s that late, we’re bound to run into him along the way.”

  Viola sighed in relief and smiled. “Oh thank you, Mr. White! You don’t know how happy you’ve just made me.”

  He studied her a moment as a smile slowly formed on his face. “My pleasure, ma’am.” He tipped his hat. “I’d best go talk to Seth and Ryder. Wanna come with me?”

  Viola smiled again and nodded. Unfortunately, her smile faded when she remembered she still didn’t have enough money to spend the night anywhere. If it took two days to get to Morgan’s Crossing, where would they sleep? She certainly hoped Clarence brought enough funds to cover all four of them. But now the bigger question was, what if he didn’t show up at all? There was still a chance he’d gotten the date of their arrival wrong. Then what would she do?

  She motioned Wylie and Katie ahead of her and followed Mr. White. There was only one way to find out. “Clarence,” she said under her breath, “you had better show up.”

  Three

  Two hours later the Joneses’ escort, as Viola came to think of him, arrived. His name was El Davis, and he was Morgan’s Crossing’s de facto postmaster, taking mail to and from the post office in Sweetwater Springs. “That’s your ride?” Viola asked Mr. White.

  “Sure ‘nough is,” he said with a smile. “But I wouldn’t want his job.”

  Viola watched the Jones brothers speak with Mr. Davis. One of them – Ryder, was it? – pointed at her. At the moment, she didn’t care which one was explaining her situation. She just wanted to know if the man had seen Clarence.

  After a few minutes of discussion, the three men approached. “Mrs.Todd?” the one she presumed to be Ryder asked.

  “Yes?” Her eyes shot to Mr. Davis. “Did you meet a man along the road? His name is Clarence Brown. He’s my brother.”

  “No, ma’am – ‘fraid I didn’t. These folks tell me ya and yer younguns’re waitin’ fer him. It’d be a tight fit to have ya along if’n he don’t show up, but I got room.”

  She looked helplessly at Mr. White. “Oh dear – what if Clarence gets here and I’m gone?”

  “I really wouldn’t worry about that, ma’am.” he said. “After all, there’s only one road ‘tween here and Morgan’s Crossin’. We’re bound to run into him if he’s on his way.”

  “Yes, of course.” She pressed a hand against her temple. “You already told me that, yet I can’t help but worry. Clarence isn’t the most punctual person, but he’s never been this late.”

  “Then it’s settled,” the other Jones brother (Seth?) said. He turned to Mr. White. “Caleb, get the lady’s things for her, then let’s load the wagon. We’re getting a late enough start as it is.”

  “Sorry again for making ya wait, Mr. Jones,” Mr. Davis said. “It was snowin’ purty bad over in Morgan’s Crossin’ when I left.” He looked at the sky. “Purty nice here. Hope the weather holds fer the trip back.”


  “I hope the weather holds for the time we’re here! I’d certainly hate to be trapped the whole winter in Montana,” Ryder said. “C’mon, Seth, let’s load up.”

  “Why don’t ya and yer younguns wait over there with the womenfolk?” Mr. White suggested to Viola.

  Viola nodded. She felt as if she was intruding, but there was no help for it. Clarence wasn’t here and that was that. “Wylie, Katie, come with me.” She took them by the hand and led them toward the Jones women.

  “Such a shame no one came to meet you,” Constance said once she’d joined them. “I do hope it’s nothing serious.”

  “Don’t worry, ma’am,” Wylie said. “Our Uncle Clarence is always late.”

  Viola smiled at him. “That he is.” She didn’t want to mention that this time dear Clarence was much later than usual, enough to worry her.

  “Are you going to live in Morgan’s Crossing?” the other woman, Eloise, asked. “Or just visiting?”

  “We’ve come to live here. My brother works in Mr. Morgan’s mine.”

  “Ah yes, the Morgans,” Constance said. “Our son Jess has written and told us all about them. Mr. Morgan saved his wife Lillie from a horrible ordeal, as I understand it. I can’t wait to get the story firsthand. People always leave things out in letters.”

  “Right you are,” her sister agreed. She looked at Viola as if ready to give a choice piece of gossip. “My son Anson rescued his wife as well.” She turned to her sister. “Do you realize both our daughters-in-law were rescued from their relatives? I never thought of that until now.”

  “Relatives?” Viola said. “That doesn’t sound good.”

  “Oh, it wasn’t,” Constance assured. “At least not according to our son’s correspondence. Perhaps we’ll tell you about it one day. Right now I simply want to get underway.”

  “I’m afraid that’s not going to happen today, sugar,” Ryder said as he approached.