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quietly. That was the way she always approached John—Seth would be no different.
    He reentered the room alone. Rebecca sat down on the couch and motioned for him to take the chair across from her. She decided that since he asked to speak to her, she’d let him go first.
    Seth sat down but leaned forward on the edge of the seat, placing his brown hat on his knee. “Mrs. Young, I get the impression that you don’t care for the way I’m running things around here.” He lifted his right eyebrow as if to accent his statement.
    Rebecca chose her words carefully. “I have my concerns. You’ve been here one day and I can’t say what you are doing is good or bad.”
    â€œBut?”
    She took a deep breath. “But I didn’t think my two youngest boys would be working with the Pony Express.”
    He sat back. “So you are objecting to me swearing Noah and Benjamin in as employees of the Pony Express?”
    â€œYes.” She knitted her fingers together and laid them in her lap. “Well, no.” She shrugged to hide her confusion. “I know you included Beni so he could feel important. I’m grateful.” To her annoyance she heard herself start to stammer. She forced her voice to steady and reined in her thoughts. “I just feel Noah is too young and small to be a rider and Beni shouldn’t be burdened with such a heavy workload.” She searched his eyes, looking for signs of anger.
    Seth offered her a grin. “Benjamin is too young to ride. That’s why I made him Jacob’s assistant. The boy wants to prove himself and who would be a better teacher than his oldest brother?”
    Rebecca recognized a spark of amusement in his gaze and relaxed a little. “Yes, Beni wants to do what his big brothers do.”
    â€œAs for Noah, Jacob seems to think Noah is the best horseman on the farm and stated that he is good with his gun. Both are important skills I need in riders.”
    She clutched her hands tightly in her lap. “But he’s twelve and I’ve only had him a few months. I don’t know if he’s ready for this responsibility.” Rebecca searched Seth’s face. Did he understand what she was saying?
    Seth leaned forward again. “What do you mean you’ve only had him a few months?” His eyes searched hers, looking for what she could only assume was both confusion and truth.
    â€œNoah is adopted, Mr. Armstrong. All of the boys are. I thought Mr. Bromley would have told you that.” From the look on his face it was obvious Seth hadn’t known.
    â€œNo, he didn’t,” Seth said. “I thought it odd that none of them look like you or each other. Well—” his voice broke in midsentence “—except Joy, she looks like you.” He offered her a smile.
    Rebecca couldn’t help but smile. “Joy is my daughter by birth. She is the only child John and I have. But that doesn’t change the fact that I love the boys just as much as I do Joy and I don’t want to see them get hurt...or die.”
    Seth met her gaze and held it. Sincerity rang through his voice as he vowed, “I promise as long as I am the station keeper here, I will do everything in my power to keep the boys safe and alive. Safety is the reason I will teach them how to ride, shoot and avoid trouble while out on the trail.”
    She understood that the boys would be in danger and that she didn’t consider them to really be men. The orphanage had called them men at the age of twelve, the same age as Noah, but to her they were still her little boys.
    â€œI know you are still concerned and I can’t blame you. Being a Pony Express employee is dangerous. The only thing I can do is teach them how to survive and pray that God keeps them safe. It’s either that or I fire them all and have Mr. Bromley send me a new set of men.” He shook his head. “I really don’t want to do that, Mrs.