Page 11 of A Groom for Millie
“You got any luggage, mister?” a young man asked. Robert estimated him to be in his mid-teens. No more than a boy. He had skin the color of coffee with too much milk. His eyes were golden, a color Robert had never seen before, surrounded by long lashes. He had delicate features and was small in stature. One could almost say that the boy was …pretty.
“My bag is on the horse. I just have that and what’s in my saddlebags,” Robert said. “I don’t travel with much.”
“That’s my son,” Cletus explained. “Name’s Par. Don’t talk too much, but he’s a hard worker.”
Robert raised his eyebrow and he examined Cletus’s pale skin. “You don’t look anything alike.”
“Family comes in all kinds,” he said slowly. He pointed to the horses Robert was holding. “Hitch the horses to the back of the wagon, Par, and then let’s get this luggage up top.”
Robert held out the reins to Par and watched as the young man walked the two horses behind the wagon. Tanner was Robert’s horse that he had won in Cincinnati. Tanner was a trick horse, riding the vaudeville circuit and entertaining fans nationwide. The animal was best known for responding to a whistle and throwing riders to the ground. Robert wasn’t sure about riding him, hence taking the train and stage on his travels.
The second horse was the one that Robert won from Bart Carson. It had a rich chestnut coat, with white stockings. Robert decided to name the horse Ace, after his winning hand.
“Tell me again, why there isn’t a train. Because I see tracks right there.”
“Those tracks only go about ten miles out and then they stop.”
“In the middle of nowhere?”
Cletus nodded and handed a carpetbag up to Par who popped his head over the side of the stage. “That’s ‘bout right. Ran right out of money.”
“Why didn’t someone else finish it?”
Cletus shrugged.
“Hey, mister?” Par asked as he grabbed another bag. “If you have two horses, why are you taking the stage?”
“It brings less attention than a man riding alone with two horses.” The boy looked at him with golden eyes as if he were contemplating the answer. “The stage is more comfortable.” The boy nodded his agreement.
“Par,” Cletus said, “We ain’t got all day.”
“Right.” Par reached down for the small trunk and tugged until both disappeared over the side.
“Excuse me, young man. I’d like to get on board. It is way too cold to be standing around prattling on about nothing.”
Robert turned to spy an elderly woman dressed in a dark blue cloak with silver braiding along the edge and black frog closures near her throat. It was more of a blanket than a cloak, the way she had it wrapped around herself. Robert guessed the woman was in her early fifties and must have been stunning when she was younger.
She had deep auburn hair with strands of silver throughout. It was fastened in a knot at the top of her neck, stretching her skin as it pulled. On her head, she wore a matching hat with black lace and silver trim that was not practical in the colder weather. Even Robert knew to wear a muffler around his ears and neck.
The coach was cool to be sure, but the brick box at their feet kept the interior warmer than outside.
Robert tipped his hat. “My apologies ma’am,” he said moving out of the way. The woman climbed in the coach and Robert could hear her mumbling as she settled in her seat on the far side of the door.
Cletus looked around. “I guess that is it. Normally we have a full coach.”
“You have five people.”
Cletus shrugged. “The coach holds ten.” Robert looked at the inside of the coach. He couldn’t imagine getting ten people in there. Robert climbed in and took his seat.
“Excuse, me,” the woman in the blue dress said. “Can we exchange seats?”
“What for?” Robert inquired.
“I get the vapors in closed spaces. I need to be close to a window.”
Robert stood, hunched over in the small space. “I certainly don’t want you to have the vapors,” he said smiling. He waited until the woman moved over before sitting on the other side. She placed a carpetbag on the seat as if it would protect her from the other travelers. She looked completely out of place.Must be from back east, Robert thought.
As soon as Robert sat down, he knew exactly why the woman wanted to move.
