CHAPTER ONE

Jesse Branson stood halfway up the rungs of a ladder, tightening the last of the bolts she was using to hang a swing from a support beam of the porch roof. She tested the chains now attached to the beam, assuring herself that the swing was secure. Satisfied that the porch swing, a surprise for her wife, was secure, Jesse hopped off the ladder. Taking a step back to view the results of her labors, Jesse smiled while she imagined what Jennifer’s response to seeing the swing would be. She knew her wife was upset over missing the children during the day when she performed her duties as Sweetwater’s schoolteacher. Jesse hoped the swing would provide a place for her and Jennifer to sit at the end of the day, watching the sun going down and their children growing up. She bent down to place her wrench back into her toolbox, her daughter’s urgent calls breaking into her thoughts.

“Mommy,” KC stomped over to the porch, stopping at the bottom of the steps. She wasn’t allowed to climb stairs by herself and she knew all too well how unhappy her momma got when she tried. “Mommy,” she insisted.

“Yes, sunshine,” Jesse straightened back up, examining her mud-covered daughter.

“Cha-wie bein’ bad,” KC wrinkled her nose. A piece of drying mud was making it itch and she swiped at it with a mud-caked hand.

“Oh,” Jesse lifted her eyes from her daughter to look at her son sitting in the middle of a mud puddle at the edge of the garden. “What’s he doing?” she asked as Charley happily slapped at the mud surrounding him.

“He makin’ mud pies,” KC scowled.

“Umm,” Jesse gave her daughter’s statement due consideration. “Well, aren’t you making mud pies too?”

“Yep,” KC’s head bopped up and down.

“So why is Charley being bad if he’s making mud pies?”

“He’s oosing my mud,” KC said indignantly, stomping a bare foot into the sloppy ground.

Struggling to keep a smirk off her face as she watched the antics of her strong-willed daughter, Jesse scratched the back of her head. “Well,” she drawled, surveying the ranch yard. The melting winter snows and spring rains had turned most of the area into a sea of mud. “I’m pretty sure there’s enough mud in the yard for both of you. So, you go back and share it with your brother.”

KC frowned. She studied her mother for a moment before twisting her head to look back over her shoulder at Charley playing without her. “Otay,” she grunted, stomping back to her brother and the contested mud puddle.

“Oh, boy,” Jesse chuckled, “I better get those two cleaned up before Jennifer gets home.”

“You want me to heat water for a bath or shall we just dump them into the horse trough?”

Jesse turned to see her mother standing in the doorway of the house.

“Hi, mom,” Jesse greeted the older woman, leaning down to pick up the toolbox, “didn’t know you were inside.

“Needed some flour,” Marie Branson stepped out onto the porch. She and her husband lived on the ranch with their daughter’s family. They had enlarged a small hut and used it for their living quarters but were free to make use of the larger ranch house’s accommodations, including the well-stocked kitchen. “You sure got your hands full with that little one,” she laughed.

“Yep,” Jesse reached for the ladder.

“So about that bath?” Marie asked as she watched KC diligently pat mud into a flattened round shape and hand it to Charley who immediately threw it down causing mud to splatter both children.

“Better start the water heating,” Jesse chuckled as she shook her head at her giggling children. “Dusty and Boy will never speak to me again if I dump them in the trough. But I think I’ll wash them off out here first. No sense in takin’ half the yard into the house.”

“I’ll get a couple of buckets ready for you,” Marie smiled.

“Thanks, mom,” Jesse stepped off the porch carrying the ladder and toolbox, she headed for the barn. “Sure be glad when this starts to dry out.”

“Kids won’t,” Marie turned to go back inside.

“They’ll adjust,” Jesse muttered, her boots squishing across the soft ground.

Jennifer Branson watched as the children filed out of the schoolhouse, another day of lessons finished. She gathered up the papers spread over her desk, creating a neat pile she tucked it safely away in the desk drawer. Pushing herself up from the chair, she took a moment to stretch her tired back before reaching for the cane leaning against the wall behind her. It was more than two years since she’d been attacked by the mountain lion but her leg would heal no more and she required the cane to walk more than a few steps. She limped to the row of coat hooks near the door of the schoolhouse, retrieving her coat she started to pull in on. She was surprised to hear the sound of someone climbing the steps outside. She smiled, wondering if Jesse had come to pick her up.

“Jennifer?” a deep voice reverberated though the almost empty room.

“In her, Ed,” Jennifer called out to the storekeeper, a gentle giant of a man who had become her surrogate father.

“Good,” Ed entered the room, standing in the doorway for a moment while his eyes adjusted to the change in lighting from outside. “I was hoping I’d catch you before you left. A letter came for you on the stage today.” Ed rented a section of his store to the stage company and accepted any mail delivers. He would hold the letters and packages for the folks living in town to come pick them up. Any belonging to folks living out of town or in the mining camps scattered in the surrounding mountains, he would add to any delivers he made in that area. Since Sweetwater lacked a freight company, Ed was forced to also provide delivery service to his customers.

Jennifer accepted the letter.

“Aren’t you going to open it?” Ed asked when the schoolteacher shoved it into her coat pocket within even a casual glance.

“No, I’ll wait until I get home. Jesse and KC like to open the mail. They feel cheated if I’ve already opened the envelopes,” she grinned. “It’s probably just another letter from Mother asking me when we’re going to come east.”

“You thinking of going back for a visit, are you?”

“Haven’t given it much thought,” Jennifer’s smile had faded. “But I can’t say that the idea would make me happy.”

Ed nodded silently. The schoolteacher had told him of her childhood sharing a house with a father who thought nothing more of daughters than an arranged marriage to further his business interests and brothers too busy to spare a moment for her. And even though her father was now confined to a mental hospital and she had made peace with her brothers, he could understand her reluctance to return to the town she was born and raised in.

“Besides,” Jennifer continued as she led Ed through the doorway to the small porch at the front of the schoolhouse. “I doubt Jesse would be too happy cooped up on a train for the time it would take to get back there. And can you imagine her once we got there?” she said as she thought of her wife, used to wide open spaces, being in the cramped, noisy city for any length of time.

“That would be a sight,” Ed laughed, pulling the door shut behind them. “She hates to spend a full day in Sweetwater.”

“And let’s not forget about KC,” Jennifer laughed, locking the door. “I’m pretty sure that even with my three brothers keeping a tight hold on their reins, the two of them could get into more trouble than the city was willing to accept.”

“Ain’t that the truth,” Ed chuckled. He assisted Jennifer down the steps then fell into step beside her as they made their way down the gravel path to where her horse, Blaze, was tethered in the shade of a cottonwood tree beside the creek that ran alongside Sweetwater’s main, and only, street.

“Yes,” Jennifer smirked, “I think it’s best I keep my two wild horses in the west where they can run free.”

“It is truly interesting how much little KC takes after Jesse,” Ed commented. “For someone who wasn’t sure she would be a good mother, she sure has a knack with your young ‘uns.”

“She does doesn’t she,” Jennifer said, the pride clearly evident in her voice. “She adores KC and Charley. And they adore her,” she untied the reins to Blaze.

“Seems to me,” Ed said as he helped Jennifer into the saddle. “Them young ‘uns adore the both of you.”

Jennifer smiled down at the big man. “I can’t imagine my life without Jesse or the children. I love him to death, Ed.”

“Then you better quit yakkin’ to me and get back out to your ranch and family. I bet they’re all sitting on the porch waiting for you to ride into view,” Ed knew that to be a good bet because as much as Jennifer loved her family, her family loved her back just as much and more. “Tell Jesse and the young ‘uns hello for me.”

“You can tell them yourself tomorrow, Ed,” Jennifer said as she tapped her heels against the flanks of her horse. “Jesse is bringing the wagon to town for supplies.”

“Thanks for the warning,” Ed called after the schoolteacher. “I’ll make sure everything in the store is nailed down.”

“That would be a good idea,” Jennifer laughed as she waved without turning around. It wasn’t unusual for her active daughter to create havoc in Ed’s store given half a chance. It was a good thing Charley was less adventurous than KC but given time, and KC’s guidance, her son would probably match his sister for creating trouble. As she rode, Jennifer wondered about her children and what activities might have kept them occupied while she was in town. Tears clouded her vision as she thought about another day spent away from her family.

Jesse was bent over the washtub that sat on one end of the back porch, something Jennifer had insisted on when they built the house after their log cabin was burned to the ground. Concerned about privacy when she and Jennifer were bathing, Jesse had hung a rod for a thick curtain to be pulled around the tub when necessary. But it wasn’t used when the children bathed.

Charley looked up at Jesse, his head covered in soap suds as his mother washed the mud off of him.

“How you get so dirty,” Jesse grumbled, “I’ll never know.”

“He jus’ like you, momma says,” KC giggled from a chair set beside the washtub but far enough away to keep her dry as she had already had her bath.

“Seems momma says the same thing about you, sunshine,” Jesse carefully poured warm water over Charley’s head.

“Yep,” KC grinned.

Charley sputtered water out of his mouth.

“You’re s’posed to keep that closed, Cha-wie,” KC advised helpfully. “Tha’ what momma says.”

“That’s right, Charley.” Jesse held another pitcher of water up, waiting for her son to close his mouth and eyes. When they were shut tight, she poured the clean, warm water over her son. “That should do it, Charley. Let’s get you dried off and dressed so you’ll be nice and clean for momma.” She lifted the boy out of the tub, setting him down on the porch floor to wipe him dry.

“Momma?” Charley looked in the direction Jennifer would come from town.

“Soon,” Jesse told the boy, wishing Jennifer didn’t have to be away so much. But she would never say anything to her wife because she knew how much her position as Sweetwater’s schoolteacher meant to her. She was just glad that lessons ended in the early afternoon and Jennifer was able to spend the rest of the day at the ranch.

“We wait for momma on porch?” KC asked hopefully.

“Sure,” Jesse agreed instantly. “Let’s get Charley dressed and we’ll sit on the porch and wait for momma. Does that sound like a good idea?” she asked her son.

Charley nodded happily.

“We sit dere?” KC pointed to the swing Jesse had spent most of the morning attaching to the porch roof at the opposite end of the back porch.

“We can’t see momma from back here,” Jesse explained to her daughter. “We’ll sit on the front porch. Grandma was backing some cookies earlier; maybe she’ll bring you and Charley some.”

“Cha-wie likes cookies,” KC dropped out of the chair, her bare feet thumping on the wood surface of the porch.

“And you don’t?” Jesse smirked.

“Nope, I like cookies too,” KC stood, her head cocked to one side as she watched Jesse dress her brother. “But Cha-wie really likes cookies,” she emphasized for her mother.

“That’s because he wants to grow big and strong like you,” Jesse poked KC in the belly, causing the girl to burst into giggles. “Don’t ya, Charley?” she asked, lifting her son up as she stood. She settled the boy into one arm before heading for the back door of the house.

“Yep,” KC answered for her brother, her arms stretched skyward.

Jesse reached down; grabbing KC’s hands and effortlessly pulling her up into the crook of her other arm.

Jennifer could hear the squeals coming from her children as soon as she passed under the arched log announcing she had entered the ranch property.

Charley spotted Blaze trotting down the hillock to the ranch yard and had begun to yell. “Momma,” Charley pointed excitingly towards the rider. “Momma.”

Jesse quickly made her way to stand at the foot of the porch steps, the children waited impatiently on the porch. Charley started crawling towards the edge of the porch but his sister stopped him.

“Ya got’s to let them kiss first,” KC whispered loudly into her brother’s ear.

Jesse chuckled at the comment, it hadn’t taken KC long to figure that out but her brother was having a harder go at the concept. As soon as Blaze stepped alongside her, Jesse reached up to lift Jennifer out of the saddle. Hugging her wife tightly, she pressed their lips together. It was several heartbeats before Jesse set the schoolteacher on the ground.

“See,” KC told Charley.

The women smiled knowingly at each other when they heard their daughter’s comment.

“Missed you, darlin’,” Jesse said, placing another tender kiss on her wife’s lips.

“I missed you too,” Jennifer sighed, resting her head against Jesse’s for a moment before she went to her waiting children.

Jesse pulled the cane out of the otherwise empty rifle scabbard and handed it to Jennifer. “Go on,” she smiled. “I’ll take care of Blaze. Mom’s in the kitchen,” she called out as she led the horse to the barn.

Rather than climbing the porch steps immediately, Jennifer pressed her body against the edge of the porch opening her arms wide for the children. KC rushed into her mother’s arms, kissing her several times before her brother could crawl beside her. Jennifer lifted the baby up so he could wrap his arms around her neck.

“Were you good today?” Jennifer asked between kisses and hugs.

“Yep,” KC answered, a little too forcefully her mother thought.

Charlie’s head bopped up and down in agreement with his sister.

“Ah uh,” Jennifer smiled, sure that they was more to learn about the children’s activities.

“Gramma make cookies,” KC reported. “Cha-wie eat two all by hims’lf.”

“Oh, and how many did you eat?” Jennifer asked.

KC smirked, “two.”

“KC?” Jennifer’s tone told the child she wanted the truth.

“Twee,” KC frowned. “They was goods,” she said as if the explanation would get her out of the trouble she had gotten herself into by not telling her mother the truth to begin with. Her lower lip quivered as it poked out, her pout beginning.

“Hmm,” Jennifer fought to keep the smile off her face. “Let me get up there with you and we’ll go see what gramma is up to.”

“Otay,” KC hopped back a few steps, hoping she would avoid any further punishment. “Come on, Cha-wie,” she tugged on the boy’s britches.

Jennifer made her way up the steps then crossed to the screen door, pulling it open for KC to scamper through. She waited for Charley to reach her then bent down, scooping the crawling baby up into her arms. “I miss you today, little man,” she buried her face into the boy’s neck, blowing raspberries against his soft skin. Smiling when Charley burst into loud giggles, she carried him inside and followed KC into the kitchen.

“Hi, mom,” Jennifer greeted her mother-in-law. “I hear you made some ‘goods’ cookies today.”

“Hi, honey,” Marie smiled at her daughter-in-law. “Did she tell you she snuck one off the table?”

“No,” Jennifer looked over at KC who was trying to look as innocent as possible. “That must explain the extra one she said she ate.”

“Would have had one or two more if Jesse hadn’t come in to sneak a couple for herself and caught her,” Marie laughed. The similarities between her daughter and granddaughter grew by the day.

“What am I going to do with those two?” Jennifer laughed. She pulled out a chair from the table and sat down, holding Charley in her lap. “Good thing my little man doesn’t take after them,” she nuzzled the boy’s head.

“Give him time,” Marie smiled, pulling out a chair for herself. “You look tired,” she studied Jennifer’s drawn features. “Want me to stay around and make supper tonight?” she asked as KC climbed into her lap.

“No, I’m fine,” Jennifer smiled but she didn’t seem convinced of the truth of her statement.

“You sure?”

“Yes,” Jennifer sighed. “I’m just a little tired. I didn’t sleep very well last night.”

“Anything wrong?” Marie asked, concerned that the young woman was trying to do too much with raising a family, teaching school, and helping to run the Silver Slipper and the dress shop she and Jesse had set up for their friend Ruthie.

“No, everything’s fine,” Jennifer tried to reassure her mother-in-law. “And thank you for the offer,” she smiled, “but Jesse and I should be able to handle supper for these two.”

“Alright,” Marie reluctantly agreed. “Then I best be getting back to start supper for Stanley.”

“Grump?” KC twisted her head around to look at her grandmother.

“Yes,” Marie laughed at the use of the nickname only KC could get by using. “He’s been out all day and will be hungry when he gets home.”

“Oh,” KC turned back around.

“What’s he been up do?” Jennifer asked.

“A few of the cows wandered off to the south end of the range again,” Marie explained. “With Jesse having to stay here with the children, he went off to find them.”

Jennifer sighed. Jesse would have done anything not to have her aging father have to spend the day in the saddle. Anything but leave her children, especially KC who continued to refuse to be out of sight of at least one of her mothers at all times. If only she had been home instead of in town, Jesse would have been able to ride after the cattle instead of her father.

“Ah, here you are,” Jesse said as she entered the kitchen.

KC scooted off her grandmother’s lap, running as quickly as she could for the rancher.

“Pop’s back,” Jesse told her mother as she swung KC up into the air.

“I’m better get moving then,” Marie stood then walked for the doorway out of the kitchen. “Let her do the cooking tonight,” she said, patting Jennifer on the shoulder. “It’ll do her some good.”

“Something I need to know about, darlin’?” Jesse asked as she leaned against the kitchen table in front of Jennifer.

“Your mother thinks you need to learn how to cook,” Jennifer lied, not wanting Jesse to worry about her.

“Mom hasn’t eaten enough of my cooking,” Jesse smirked. “Hey,” she turned to KC, “did you tell momma about her surprise.”

“Nope,” KC shook her head from side-to-side.

“What say we show it to her now?”

“Yep,” this time, KC’s head bopped up and down. With her mother’s help, she scrambled down to the floor and raced to the back porch.

“A surprise?” Jennifer asked as she watched her daughter waiting just outside the back door, bouncing from one foot to the other.

“Yep,” Jesse smiled as she offered a hand to Jennifer to pull her to her feet. “Got ya somethin’ to help you rest at the end of the day,” Jesse said as she took Charley out of Jennifer’s arms. She led the schoolteacher to the back porch.

“Oh, my goodness,” Jennifer gasped when she saw the muddy water still in the washtub and the dirty clothes and towels strewn about the porch.

“Oops,” Jesse shrugged sheepishly. “Guess I forgot to clean up after their baths. Leave it,” she told Jennifer who was bending over to pick up the mud encrusted shirt that Charley had been wearing earlier. “I’ll take care of those later. Come see your surprise.”

Jennifer looked up to see her wife, daughter and son standing beside the swing, all beaming widely.

“Oh, Jesse,” Jennifer cried as she walked towards the swing. “When did you do this?”

“Today,” Jesse held the swing still for her wife to sit down on it. “While the young ‘uns were seeing how much mud they could wear, I hung this up for you.” She sat beside Jennifer and waited for KC to climb aboard before she started to push with her long legs to gently move the swing.

Jennifer leaned again the rancher. After several quiet minutes, she said, “this is nice, sweetheart.”

“I’m glad you like it, darlin’,” Jesse wrapped an arm around the schoolteacher’s shoulders. “Thought you’d like a nice place to sit and watch the sunsets.”

“Only if you sit with me,” Jennifer could feel fill the tears building in her eyes. .

“Wouldn’t be anyplace else, darlin’.”

CHAPTER TWO

Jennifer and Jesse sat at the kitchen table. Jesse held Charley on her lap, feeding the baby tiny bites of egg and bacon from her own plate. KC was in the chair next to Jesse, kneeling on the seat in order to eat her breakfast. Jennifer carried a pot of coffee to the table before sitting down to the plate of eggs, bacon, and biscuits waiting for her. She pulled an envelope from her pocket, placing it on the table in front of Jesse.

“Ed brought this by the schoolhouse yesterday. I forgot all about it last night.”

“Op’n it, mommy,” KC cried excitedly. She enjoyed getting mail. If it was from her grandmother, it usually contained a small treat for herself and her brother.

“First you finish up your breakfast,” Jesse told her daughter.

“Pease,” KC pouted, her lower lip quivering.

“Nope,” Jesse held back a smirk, the pout was so adorable. “We don’t want momma to be late to school, do we?”

“Nope,” KC agreed softly.

“We’ll read it on the way to town. Okay?”

“Otay,” KC cheered right up and returned to eating the food on her plate.

“Slow down, sweetie,” Jennifer gently scolded KC who was shoving bites of egg and bacon into her mouth as fast as she could.

KC did as she was told, knowing if she didn’t she might not get to open the envelope laying so tantalizingly close to her.

“Who’s it from?” Jesse asked, keeping an eye on KC to make sure she didn’t start gulping food again.

“You know,” Jennifer laughed, “I didn’t even look. I was in such a hurry to get home that I just put it in my pocket.”

“Well,” Jesse flipped the envelope right side up. “It’s from Granite. Who do we know in Granite?”

“No one I can think of,” Jennifer replied thoughtfully as she poured coffee into two cups. “Maybe we should open it now.”

KC looked up excitedly, hoping she would be allowed to do just that.

“Go on, sunshine,” Jesse grinned. “But be careful, we want to be able to read the letter.”

KC grabbed the envelope off the table, pulling it into her lap as she sat on her chair. She carefully tore the end of the envelope open, removing only the barest fraction of paper. After several minutes, she pulled the letter out and triumphantly held it up for her mother’s to see she hadn’t ripped it too. As soon as Jesse took the letter from her, KC turned her attention back to the envelope peering inside of it to see what treats awaited.

“It em’ty,” KC muttered, tossing the useless envelope on the floor.

“KC Branson,” Jennifer scolded.

Knowing she was in trouble, KC slipped off her chair to retrieve the envelope. “Sorry, momma,” she said, climbing back into her chair. “Here,” she held the envelope out to Jennifer. “It em’ty,” she repeated as if that had given her amble reason to throw it away.

“It’s bad enough I have to clean up after your mommy,” Jennifer reached over, pulling her daughter into her lap. “I don’t think I should have to clean up after you too,” she tickled KC to let her know she wasn’t really mad at her.

“Hey,” Jesse protested. “I clean up after myself.”

“Uh, uh,” Jennifer grinned. “Where’d I find your shirt this morning? And your britches?”

“Well, darlin’,” Jesse drawled. “I was a little busy last night when I took them off,” she smiled, recalling carrying her wife up the stairs to their bedroom to make love to her.

“I guess you were at that,” Jennifer tried to rub away the blush coloring her cheeks. “What’s it say?” she pointed to the letter in Jesse’s hand, trying to change the subject.

Jesse smirked but turned her attention to the paper she held. “It’s from Leevie.”

“Leevie?” Jennifer had been wondering about their friend. Leevie Temple was the schoolteacher in Bannack and had befriended the women when they had visited the mining camp. “My goodness, why is she writing from Granite?”

“Only one way to find out,” Jesse said as she prepared to read the letter to her family.

My dear friends,

I’m so sorry it has taken me so long to answer your letters but your last two have just now found their way to me. I meant to write and tell you that I was leaving Bannack but there were so many things I had to get done before I left town that it simply slipped my mind. I am living in Granite now with someone who is very dear to my heart. There is so much to tell you that I’m not sure where to begin.

I should have been more honest with you when we first met. Forgive me, I just couldn’t bring myself to confine in you. For the last several years, I have loved a wonderful person, Dannie, and she has finally persuaded me to live with her. I have to say that it was seeing how happy you were that did most of the persuading.

It is hard to admit but things are not going as well as we had hoped. Dannie runs a freight wagon between Granite and Phillipsburg but even with all the activity in the two towns loads have been lacking. I had expected to continue my teaching here, however I was surprised to discover the town has an abundance of women qualified to teach school.

Yet, we are together and that is what truly matters.

I must close for now as Dannie will be home soon and I promised her a walk around town later. Thank you for your wonderful letters; it’s so much fun to hear how little KC and Charley are growing.

My love to all of you, Leevie.

P.S. Please come and visit sometime. Our home is small but there is always room for such good friends as you. And I would love for Dannie to meet you. She has heard so much about you, I’m sure she would like to see that you really do exist.

Kisses to all.

“Well, looks like you were right,” Jesse leaned over and kissed her wife when she finished reading.

“About what?”

“About Leevie being like us. Remember?”

Jennifer smiled, she did remember. They were saying their goodbyes to Leevie before leaving Bannack with the baby they had decided to keep and raise as their own.

Leevie smiled at the women, "I'd say that KC is one lucky little girl to grow up with two loving mothers." The schoolteacher winked at the women, "you take care of each other. You have something special, don't loose it."

Jennifer was speechless. Could this woman know their true relationship? "Jesse, do you think she knows about us?"

"Seems so."

"How?"

"Don't know. Maybe she just sensed it."

"You think maybe she's like us?"

"Could be," Jesse smiled at her lover. "We can't be the only ones."

“I wonder what she’s not telling us,” Jennifer said as she reread the letter.

“About what?” Jesse wiped egg off Charley’s chin then held a glass of milk for the boy to take a drink.

“Why they’re having such a rough time of it,” Jennifer frowned. “Seems like they’d be more than enough freight business to keep Dannie busy.”

“Probably has to do with her being a woman,” Jesse said as she stood with the baby. “Charley needs fresh britches before we leave.”

“Take KC with you and wash her face,” Jennifer set the girl on the floor.

“Okay. Come on, sunshine,” Jesse reached a hand down for KC to grab hold off. With an easy swing of her strong arm, she lifted KC up to her chest. “Ugh,” she teased the girl, “did you get any of that egg in your tummy?”

“Yep,” KC nodded. “Lots.”

Jennifer watched the rancher carry the children upstairs to get cleaned up. Slowly, she pushed herself up from the table and started to gather up the dirty dishes. As she did, she considered Jesse’s comment. It wasn’t easy for a woman to run a business in the frontier unless it was a rooming house, laundry, or eating house. Jesse had faced lots of opposition when she took over the Silver Slipper from many of the businessmen in town. Jennifer wondered why men had to think so little of women, couldn’t they understand that women were just as capable as men.

Jennifer carried the dirty dishes to the wash sink. She limped to the end of the counter where a bucket sat under the well spout. Pumping the handle, she filled the bucket and carried it to the sink. She would use the clean water to rinse the dishes after they had been scrubbed.

As Jennifer slipped her hands into the warm water Jesse had filled the sink with before breakfast, she looked out the window to the west. The sun was just beginning to peek over the mountains in the east and the morning sky was tinged in pink and red. Jennifer smiled. This was home and this was where she wanted to be. If only she didn’t have to go into town each day to teach the children of Sweetwater. A thought floated into her mind. “Maybe,” Jennifer whispered to herself, her smile spreading wider.

“All nice and clean,” Jesse said as she carried the children back into the kitchen. “Now you play with your toys,” she told them when she placed them on the floor beside their toy box. “And keep clean.”

“Otay,” KC walked over and peered into the box, her bare feet softly slapping the wood floor. “Here, Cha-wie,” she pulled a small wooden bird out of the box. “You play wit’ that,” she dropped the toy in front of her brother.

Charley frowned. He wanted to choose his own toy. Crawling up to the box, the baby pulled himself upright and pushed up onto his tiptoes to look at the jumble of toys inside. Pointing, he let loose a string of baby gibberish that KC seemed to understand.

“Otay,” KC said, annoyed. “Here,” she pulled a stuffed dog out of the box, a gift from Jennifer’s mother, dropping it on the floor for Charley.

Charley let go of the toy box, plopping down on the floor beside the dog. Happily, he pulled the dog to his chest.

KC went back to digging through the toys, her body bent in half over the edge of the box. “Dere you are,” she exclaimed when she spotted what she was looking for. Standing upright, she clutched a wooden horse in her hand. “Look, Cha-wie,” she showed the horse to her brother. “Baze.”

“With all of those toys to choose from, she always seems to pull that horse out of the box,” Jesse commented as her daughter’s favorite toy reappeared.

“I’m surprised that horse is still in one piece,” Jennifer chuckled. The wooden horse had been KC’s first toy and she seemed to never tire of playing with it.

“I hate to think of the day something happens to it,” Jesse said as she wiped the table with a damp cloth. She never would have believed that years later the tiny horse, still in one piece, would sit in a place of honor on her daughter’s bookshelves.

“We’re almost done in here,” Jennifer rinsed the last of the dishes then dried it off with a towel. “Why don’t you got get Boy hitched up.”

“Okay. I may be a few minutes,” Jesse rinsed out the cloth she had been using before stretching it over the windowsill to dry. “I want to talk to Pop if he’s around.”

“Take your time,” Jennifer leaned against the rancher. “We’ll wait on the porch.”

“Bit chilly this morning,” Jesse wrapped her arms around the schoolteacher. “I’ll come in when I’m ready.”

“I love you,” Jennifer placed her forehead against Jesse’s, breathing in the smell of her wife.

“I love you, darlin’,” Jesse adjusted to gently press her lips against Jennifer’s.

Charley chose that moment to point at the toy box and release some more gibberish in hopes his sister would provide another toy for him to play with.

“Hush, Cha-wie,” KC admonished her brother. “Mommy kissin’ momma.”

“Pffttpp,” Charley shook his head.

“Yep,” KC nodded.

Jesse didn’t have to do anything to get her big draft horse Boy to pull to a stop at the beginning of the gravel path to the schoolhouse; the large horse was so used to the trip from the ranch to town that he didn’t need much guidance.

“I’ll walk you up, darlin’,” Jesse said, wrapping the reins around the wagon’s brake handle.

Jennifer smiled, “all right.” She liked it when Jesse took the time to escort her to school. The rancher would always stay until the children started to arrive, giving the couple precious time to spend together.

Jesse climbed down from the wagon then reached back up for her wife. After helping Jennifer to the ground, she pulled the cane from under the wagon seat and handed it to the schoolteacher. “Ready, sunshine?” she asked, walking to the back of the wagon to retrieve the children.

“Yep,” KC was standing at the rear of the wagon bed, her arms outstretched as she waited impatiently for her mother to lift her out.

“There ya go,” Jesse ruffled KC’s fine ginger colored hair once the girl was standing at her feet.

“Momma, I com’n’,” KC called out to Jennifer who was waiting for Jesse and the children.

“Come on, little man,” Jesse lifted Charley into her arms. “Let’s go walk your momma to school.”

Charley smiled, his little arm pointed at Jennifer.

“That’s right, Charley,” Jesse kissed the boy’s cheek. “That’s your momma.” She carried the baby back to Jennifer, KC having already joined her momma. “Ready?”

“Yes,” Jennifer smiled. “KC hold my hand, sweetie. I don’t want you stumbling on the gravel,” she told the girl.

“Otay,” KC reached up, wrapping one hand around Jennifer’s fingers and the other around Jesse’s.

Ed Grainger watched the family walk across the footbridge spanning the creek then up the gravel path to the schoolhouse from the porch of the building that housed his store. Built by the eastern investment company that had expected to reap huge profits out of a gold mine near Sweetwater, the building had originally been designed as a hotel. When the mine turned out to be nothing more than an empty hole in the side of a hill, the mining company had sold the building to Ed before pulling out of Sweetwater. Most of the first floor was occupied by his mercantile with a corner being leased to the stage line for a depot. The second floor was split into living quarters for Ed and Billie and Ruthie.

“They make a fine lookin’ family, don’t they?” Billie Monroe had stepped out onto the porch after coming down from the apartment upstairs he shared with his wife, Ruth.

“That they do,” Ed agreed without taking his eyes off Jesse and Jennifer.

“I’m glad they’ve got the young ‘uns,” Billie nudged Ed in the arm.

Ed looked down to see Billie was holding two cups of steaming coffee. “Thanks,” he smiled, accepting one of the cups. “Speaking of young ‘uns,” Ed said after taking a sip of the hot liquid. “How’s Ruthie this morning?”

Billie grinned, his eyes twinkling with the pride her felt for his pregnant wife. “She’s taking it easy this morning. I told her I’d go back up in ‘bout an hour to help her get dressed to go to the shop.”

“Thought Jennifer told her not to worry about the shop until after the baby comes,” Ed took another sip.

“She did but you know Ruth,” Billie leaned against the railing that encircled the porch. “If she doesn’t have somethin’ to keep her hands busy, she goes crazy. Made her promise not to over do it,” he told the storekeeper. “And I’m sure Bette Mae will make sure she keeps that promise.”

“I’m sure she will,” Ed laughed.

Bette Mae managed the Silver Slipper, a brothel Jesse had won in a poker game and turned into a respectable boarding house and restaurant. It sat at the end of Sweetwater’s one and only street, the only two story building in town until the building Ed now owned had been built. Bette Mae was older than most of the women working at the Slipper and had naturally become a surrogate mother to them and Jesse and Jennifer, keeping a close eye on all of them.

“You going to the Slipper for breakfast?” Billie asked, even though the storekeeper ate there every morning.

“Yes, but I think I’ll wait for Jesse to come by,” Ed said as he saw the rancher come out of the schoolhouse, her arms full of her giggling children. “I’ll walk over with her.”

“Afraid KC will do something in the store again?” Billie teased. The girl’s adventures were becoming legendary in Sweetwater and had forced the storekeeper to construct what he referred to as a “holding pen” to keep KC confined anytime she visited the store.

“Now that she has Charley to help her,” Ed smirked, “I don’t think Jesse can afford to keep covering the costs of the trouble that young ‘un manages to git herself into.”

“Ain’t that the truth,” Billie chuckled.

“Morning, boys,” Jesse greeted her friends as she approached the mercantile. “How’s Ruthie?” she asked Billie.

“Still in bed.”

“Good,” Jesse climbed the steps to the porch. “Jennifer’s worried about her.”

“Mommy, down,” KC squirmed in Jesse’s arms.

“Nope,” Jesse kept a firm grip on the girl. “We’re not going to be here long enough for you to make any trouble,” she winked at Ed. “Bette Mae’s waiting for us at the Slipper but I wanted to give you Jennifer’s shopping list.” She tried to reach the paper in her shirt pocket but was prevented from doing so because of the babies she carried. “Sunshine, get the list out of my pocket,” she told KC.

“Otay.” KC’s pushed her hand into the pocket, her searching fingers pressing against her momma’s breast.

“Ah, KC,” Jesse was more than a little uncomfortable because of the girl’s actions. “Get the list. Quick.”

Ed and Billie smirked, enjoying the rancher’s distress.

“Here ‘tis,” KC pulled the paper free. “Momma wan’s t’is stuff, pease,” she passed the list to the storekeeper.

“Well then,” Ed made a show of taking the list from the girl, “I will make sure that she gets everything on here. I’ll bet there’s even some goodies on her for you and Charley,” he told KC.

“Yep,” KC grinned. “Momma puts lots a’ goodies on dere.”

Ed laughed out loud at the reply, Billie and Jesse joining in.

“Come on, you little rascal,” Jesse stretched her fingers to tingle KC’s side. “Let’s go see Bette Mae. You coming?” she asked the men.

“Sure am,” Ed nodded.

“You go on ahead,” Billie told them. “I’m going to go check in on Ruth.”

“You be sure to tell her Jennifer will coming by after school,” Jesse passed on the message her wife had given her before she left the schoolhouse.

“I will.” Billie said, plucking the empty coffee cup from Ed’s beefy hand and turning to go back into the building.

“Let’s go,” Ed told Jesse after Billie left. “I’m hungry.”

“Me too,” KC chimed in.

“You’re always hungry, sunshine,” Jesse grumbled. “I swear, Ed,” she told the chuckling storekeeper, “if I didn’t know better, I’d think she was hollow inside.”

“You better hope Charley doesn’t turn out the same way,” Ed laughed, lifting KC out of Jesse’s arms and swinging her up to sit on his shoulders.

“Ugh,” Jesse grunted, swinging Charley up onto her shoulders.

The children giggled all the way to the Silver Slipper.

“I was beginnin’ ta think I’d never be seein’ my babies today,” Bette Mae complained as soon as Jesse walked into the Slipper’s dining room.

“We walked Jennifer to school,” Jesse explained as the older woman rushed to greet the children.

“Oh, my babies,” Bette Mae exclaimed as the children were passed to her. Hugging them to her buxom, she planted kisses on the faces until both KC and Charley were squealing with laughter.

Ed and Jesse took seats at one of the unoccupied tables, knowing it would be several minutes before Bette Mae relented.

When he thought he had been ignored long enough, Ed picked up a coffee cup and started banging it on the table top. “I must say, Jesse,” he spoke loudly to be heard over the children’s shrieks and the laughter of the other diners enjoying the impromptu floor show. “The service in this here restaurant of yours surely seems to be lacking. What’s a poor workin’ man supposed to do to get a meal around here? Not to mention a hot cup of coffee.”

“Lordy, Ed,” Bette Mae plopped into a chair beside Jesse. “Ya can’ be begrudgin’ me a little time to say howdy to my babies,” she groused playfully.

Charley, a little overwhelmed by his sister’s and Bette Mae’s enthusiastic display, reached for Jesse who pulled the baby into her lap.

“Oh, is that what you was doing,” Ed teased back. “The way they was crying and carryin’ on, I done thought ya was afflicting them young ‘uns somethin’ awful.”

“Puh,” Bette Mae pursed her lips together to glare at the snickering man.

“Food, pease,” KC, now sitting in Bette Mae’s lap, looked up hopefully at the woman.

“Don’ ya tell me yo’r mommy didn’ feed ya this mornin’,” Bette Mae sympathized with the girl.

“We ate ‘fore we left the ranch,” Jesse grumbled, “so don’t you be feeding her again. Jennifer will have my head if you do.”

“Well then,” Bette Mae smiled, giving KC a gentle squeeze. “How ‘bout a nice big glass of fresh milk?”

“Yep,” KC nodded. “Cha-wie get one too?”

“You bet,” Bette Mae agreed. “Sally bring two big glasses of milk for my babies.”

Sally normally worked as the Slipper’s bartender but when business was slow in the bar off the dining, she helped out where needed.

“Make that three, Sally,” Jesse added. “Oh, and you better bring Ed his breakfast before he starts to eat the table.”

“You got it, boss,” Sally answered. “Be right back,” she said before disappearing through the door that led into the kitchen.

“Got a load to take to Garnet,” Ed was telling Jesse as he finished off his breakfast.

Jesse was holding a sleeping Charley and KC was playing on the floor at her feet. “I don’t know, Ed,” Jesse was watching KC. “That’s a three day trip and a long time to be away from Jennifer and the young ‘uns. It’d be a lot easier if Jennifer wasn’t teaching,” she added. “Then they could come with me.”

“I understand, Jesse. It’s just with Billie not wanting to leave Ruthie until the baby comes, I don’t have many options.” Billie, once Sweetwater’s sheriff, had given up the badge when he asked Ruthie to marry him and now worked for Ed in the store. And with Sweetwater being too small to have its own freight service, the storekeeper had to find drivers to make any deliveries he had for the mining camps in the surrounding mountains.

“Let me talk to Jennifer,” Jesse wanted to help out her friend and they could always use the extra cash but being away from her family for more than a day wasn’t something she liked to do.

“Fair enough,” Ed popped the last bite of toast into his mouth. “I’ll check with some of the cowboys in town. Maybe one of them would be interested.” With the numerous cattle ranches in the valley, the town had no shortage of ranch hands in town looking for trouble.

KC yawned, rubbing her eyes.

“Looks like I best get these two put down for their naps,” Jesse said as KC climbed into her lap.

“Tired, mommy,” KC mumbled, leaning against Jesse.

“Okay,” Jesse made sure she had a good hold on the babies before standing. “Let’s get you and Charley upstairs.” Since the dress shop Ruthie operated now occupied what had been Jesse’s office, a room was kept free upstairs for her and Jennifer to use whenever they were in town.

“Need a hand?” Ed asked, seeing the woman adjusting her hold on her children as she stood up.

“Thanks, but I think I’ve got them. I’ll let you know when we pick up the supplies later.”

“Three days?” Jennifer asked, not at all happy with the prospect of her wife being away that long. Jesse and the children had to pick her up after school and the rancher had just finished telling her of Ed’s offer. “What are you going to do?”

“Well I don’t want to do it,” Jesse frowned, “but with Billie staying close for Ruthie, Ed’s kinda in a bind. The supplies have to be delivered.” She was standing by one of the windows that lined one side of the schoolhouse; from there she could see Ed working among the stacks of boxes and crates on the loading dock at the rear of the mercantile.

Jennifer walked over to stand beside Jesse. Leaning against her, she sighed, “I don’t want you to go, sweetheart. I feel so alone when you’re gone.” Over the past year the rancher had made several trips for Ed, many of them as long or longer as the one they were discussing.

Jesse wrapped her arm around Jennifer’s shoulders. Through the window, she noticed a cowboy come out of the back of store and say something to Ed. After the men exchanged words for a few minutes, they shook hands and the cowboy disappeared back into the store. “Maybe Ed will find someone else to make the trip,” Jesse said, hoping she hadn’t misread the transaction she had just witnessed. “Either way, darlin’,” she turned to look into Jennifer’s eyes. “I promise this will be the last time.”

“Thank you,” Jennifer whispered. When Jesse pressed their lips together, she leaned into the kiss.

CHAPTER THREE

Several weeks had passed since Jesse promised Jennifer she would agree to make no more deliveries for Ed that required her to be away from home for more than a day. The days were growing longer and warmer and the ground had dried out making it easier to attend to the chores around the ranch.

Jesse was mucking out the horse stalls in the barn. KC working beside her, using a miniature shovel her mother had made to drop horse biscuits into a bucket that Jesse would periodically empty into the wheelbarrow. Charley sat on a blanket spread out over a bed of fresh hay, playing with some toys. Outside, Jesse’s father, Stanley, was repairing a section of corral fence that had been damaged over the winter when a tree branch blew into it.

“Rider coming,” Stanley looked up from his work. Pulling a kerchief from his back pocket he wiped his brow as he watched the rider.

Jesse walked to the barn door. Looking across the ranch yard, she saw a horse galloping down the hillock. The flaming red hair flying behind the rider gave away her identity. “Come on, Sunshine,” she called to KC. Hurrying back into the barn she plucked KC off the floor then did the same to Charley. “Pop, can you saddle Dusty,” Jesse yelled, taking off for the back of the house.

“What’s wrong?” Marie asked, startled from her work in the garden when her daughter charged past.

“Sally’s coming.” Without breaking stride, Jessed leaped up onto the porch on her way to the kitchen and water pump inside. Setting Charley on the floor first, she put KC down on the counter next to the basin. Pumping the handle to get water flowing, she grabbed the soap bar and began lathering her hands. “Here,” she handed the soap bar to KC, “scrub as much of that stuff off your hands and face. We need to go to town.”

“See momma?” KC asked as she followed her mother’s directions.

Jesse smiled at her daughter, “yep, to see your momma. And your Aunt Ruthie, she’s having her baby.”

“Like Cha-wie?” KC mumbled through soap bubbles as she scrubbed her face.

“Yep,” Jesse pumped the handle a few more times, rinsing her hands and face in the cold water that flowed into the basin. Picking up a towel, she dried her daughter’s face and hands. “You’re about to have a cousin.” Her nose wrinkled as it detected a smell not coming from her or KC, “but we need to change Charley’s britches ‘fore we go.”

“I’ll take care of him,” Marie entered the kitchen.

“Thanks, Mom,” Jesse was using the hand towel to brush dirt off KC’s clothes. “We’re back here,” Jesse called out when she heard the screen door at the front of the house bang shut.

“Miss Jennifer said to tell you to hurry,” Sally told Jesse, the words gasped out as she tried to catch her breath.

“How soon?” Marie asked.

“Bette Mae said she could deliver at any moment.”

Jesse carried KC to the table. “Sit and don’t move,” she ruffled KC’s hair before walking over to the row of wood pegs near the back door where their coats were hung. She pulled the carry sack she had made when KC was a baby off one of the pegs. Slipping her arms through the straps, she turned around to walk back to KC and her mother. Sally was still standing in the doorway, breathing hard. “Get yourself a drink of water and sit for a spell,” she told the redhead.

“We’ll be there just as soon as Stanley gets Boy hitched to the buckboard,” Marie told Jesse as she lifted Charley up to place him into the carry sack.

“You take your time, Mom,” Jesse adjusted the sack more comfortably on her back. “There’s no reason for you to take any more of a beating on that rutted road than necessary.”

“Don’t you worry about us,” Marie leaned over to kiss KC. “You just be careful with the babies.”

“I will,” Jesse held out her arms for KC now standing on the table. The girl jumped without fear, confident her mother would catch her. “Don’t let your momma see you do that,” she whispered into KC’s ear. “She’ll spank both of us,” Jesse thought that wouldn’t necessary be a bad thing as she listened to her daughter giggle. “There’s Pop,” she said, seeing Stanley walk her palomino, Dusty, up to the back porch. “You can ride back with the folks, Sally,” she said as she walked for the door with her children.

“If it’s all the same to you,” Sally said, rubbing her sore backside. “I think I’ll just stretch out in the back of the wagon.” Riding a horse was something she rarely did and never at a full gallop like today.

Jesse smirked and nodded. Walking to the edge of the porch, she swung her leg over Dusty’s broad back. With KC sitting in front of her and Charley on her back, Jesse took the reins from her father, “thanks. We’ll see you in town.”

“We’ll be there,” Stanley nodded. “Now git.”

A slight tap of Jesse’s boots to Dusty’s sides and moments later the golden horse was charging up the hillock, KC’s happy squeals drifting behind.

Jesse sat on the porch of the mercantile watching Billie nervously pace back and forth. Ed and Stanley were sitting opposite each other, a crackle barrel between them and a checker board balanced on top of it.

“You know,” Jesse smirked at the nervous men. “Wearing a rut in these planks ain’t gonna make that baby come any sooner. Besides,” her eyes drifted down to KC and Charley asleep on a blanket in the shade at the back of the porch. “All your stomping is making it hard for the young ‘uns to sleep.”

“Damn it, Jesse,” Billie dropped in the chair next to her. “This ain’t easy. First Bette Mae says the baby could come any time,” he ran his fingers through his hair, scratching his scalp. “Then she says it could be a while.”

Jesse took pity on the expectant father who was more of a brother to her than a friend. “Babies come when they’re good and ready,” she reached over, squeezing Billie’s arm. “You can’t hurry them up or slow them down.”

“You had it easy,” Billie sighed. “Yours came already hatched.”

Ed snorted at the comment.

“Well, I wouldn’t have put it exactly like that,” Jesse chuckled. “And I don’t think I’d let Jennifer hear you say it but you’re right, I didn’t have to go through this. That’s not to say I agree with the having ‘it easy’ part. ‘Fore they come out is the easy part, after that they keep you mighty busy.”

“You ever regret having ‘em?” Billie asked, looking at the sleeping babies. He adored Jesse’s children but he doubted he could be the parent the rancher was proving to be.

“Not once,” Jesse said truthfully. “Can’t imagine not having the little rascals around.”

“You’re happy, ain’t ya, Jesse?” Billie gazed at the woman he remembered riding into Sweetwater lonely and without a future. Now she was married with a growing family and a successful business woman. And her eyes had been free of sadness ever since a certain ginger haired schoolteacher had arrived in Sweetwater. That is, until recently.

“I’m very happy, Billie,” Jesse smiled, but her eyes reflected the melancholy Billie had been noticing.

“But?”

Jesse leaned back in the chair before answering. “I miss Jennifer,” she sighed.

“What do you mean?” Billie was puzzled, Jennifer hadn’t gone anywhere.

“With her teaching duties keeping her in town and the ranch keeping me out there,” Jesse frowned. “Seems like we’re just riders passing on the road sometimes. I wish she could be home more.”

“You could ask her to quit,” Billie suggested.

“No,” Jesse shook her head. “It’s what she wants to do. It’s why she came to Sweetwater. I can’t ask her to give it up anymore than she’d ask me to give up the ranch.”

“But you would, wouldn’t you?”

“Would what?”

“Give up the ranch.”

“Yes. If she asked, I would.”

“Don’t ya think she feels the same about her teaching?”

Jesse stared at the schoolhouse sitting on a knoll not far from the mercantile. Was Billie right? Would Jennifer be willing to give up teaching and stay home? A baby’s cry interrupted her thoughts.

“You best be gettin’ up there,” Jesse jumped up and pulled Billie to his feet. She wrapped her arms around her friend, hugging him tight. “Sounds like you’re a poppa.”

Ed slapped Billie on his back as the new father stood frozen in place. “She’s right, boy,” he laughed at the mixed look of fear and excitement on the young man’s face. “Go on, now,” he shoved Billie towards the doorway. “Ruthie will be waiting for you.”

Billie stumbled across the porch and through the doorway. By the time he reached the stairs leading up to the rooms he shared with his wife, his brain had finally caught up to the situation. Taking the steps three at a time, he raced up to meet his first child.

Jennifer was coming down the stairs and had to flatten herself against the wall to avoid being bowled over by Billie.

“I’m a father,” Billie stopped when he reached the schoolteacher. Grinning, he pulled Jennifer into a hug, kissing her on the cheek. “I’m a father,” he repeated as he released her and continued upstairs.

Jennifer giggled, watching the animated man disappear down the hallway.

“You okay, darlin’?” Jesse was walking up the stairs to Jennifer, afraid the exuberant Billie might have hurt the schoolteacher’s bad leg in his rush to get upstairs.

“I’m fine,” Jennifer looked lovingly down at her wife. “It’s a boy, a fine healthy boy,” she told Jesse when the rancher wrapped her arms around her.

“He’ll like that,” Jesse murmured, kissing Jennifer’s forehead. “How’s Ruthie?”

“Fine. Tired but fine. Bette Mae said the baby didn’t tear her much.”

“Good.”

“Speaking of babies,” Jennifer leaned into Jesse. “Where are ours?”

“Sleeping,” Jesse said as she helped Jennifer down the stairs. “Ed and Pop are keeping an eye on them.”

“Hi, Pop, Ed,” Jennifer greeted her father-in-law and storekeeper as soon as she stepped out on the porch. “Thanks for watching them.”

“They don’t make much trouble when they’re sleeping. Too bad you can’t keep them that way,” Ed grumbled but his eyes were twinkling as he teased the mothers. KC’s curiosity had caused him more than a few messes to clean up in his store.

“Well, what was it?” Stanley asked, his elbow resting on the checker board dislodging most of the play pieces.

“A baby boy,” Jesse said proudly, even though she’d had nothing to do with the end result.

“Well, I’ll be,” Ed beamed. “Bet Billie is bustin’ off his buttons at that news. And Ruthie?”