Pony Express Christmas Bride. Rhonda Gibson

family. Fay and Emma both thanked her for doing the dishes. Josephine learned that each household member had chores and that Emma and Fay were responsible for the lunch dishes, among other things.

      Thomas’s brothers Andrew, Clayton and Benjamin were funny and kind. They didn’t hang about the house but left shortly after lunch to “get back to work,” as they all said. She liked them all, even Noah, who was the quietest and most serious of the brothers. Benjamin had told her that his other brother Jacob had moved to California and he missed him very much. Josephine felt sure that he was just as friendly as his other brothers and looked forward to meeting him someday, too.

      While Fay put Joy down for a nap, Emma and Josephine talked on the front porch. Emma was a little shy and her eyes often searched the barnyard. Josephine couldn’t help but wonder if she was sweet on one of the Young men.

      “I’m glad you married Thomas.” Emma picked at a piece of lint on her skirt.

      Josephine smiled. “I am, too.”

      Where had her new husband and his mother gotten off to, anyway? Was Rebecca telling him about their talk in the kitchen? Was she scolding him for marrying without inviting the family?

      The sound of horse hooves pounding the ground drew her attention to the barn and yard in between. Clayton sat on a horse waiting for the Pony Express rider to arrive.

      Her heart picked up speed as she remembered waiting for the mochila, a leather bag that held the mail, to be passed to her. The mochila had to be kept safe at all times and moving down the trail. What important letters and messages were in this particular mochila? That question ran through her mind every time it was passed to her.

      Clayton caught it in midair and sped away. His horse knew its job and jumped in its hurry to continue on carrying the mail. The young man who had come to the end of his ride slid from his horse, much like she’d done several days before. His shoulders drooped and he slid to the ground.

      He’s hurt. The words thundered in her mind. “Get Rebecca,” she yelled at Emma. Josephine raced off the porch to his side.

      Andrew was already there. “Bill? Can you hear me?” He was picking him up with an arm around the man’s waist. Josephine moved to the other side and helped to lift him.

      The young man didn’t answer.

      “Should we carry him to the bunkhouse?”

      Andrew looked at her, his eyebrows raised, but he simply nodded. “That’s probably for the best.”

      Josephine grunted as the rider’s weight shifted more onto her when Andrew had to release him to open the bunkhouse door. Within a few moments they had him lying down on a bunk.

      Bill groaned and his eyes fluttered open. “Thanks, Andrew.” He turned his head and looked at Josephine. “Thanks, pretty lady.” A crooked smile spread across his face.

      Andrew groaned. “Billy, are you hurt? Or not?”

      The young boy, who looked as if he were fourteen or younger, pulled his buckskin jacket back, revealing a bloodstained shirt. “Shot.” His eyes fluttered closed once more.

      Josephine opened his shirt up further. “Yep, he’s been shot, all right. Turn him over, Andrew, we need to see if it went through or if he has a bullet in him.”

      Rebecca and Thomas hurried into the bunkhouse. Thomas immediately helped Andrew in turning the young man onto his side.

      “How is he?” Rebecca hurried to the cot.

      Josephine saw that the bullet had gone completely through and sighed with relief. “I think he’s going to be fine. The bullet went all the way through. Gently turn him back over.” She looked up into her husband’s admiring eyes.