Groom by Arrangement. Rhonda Gibson

his occupation.

      When Dan fell into step beside him, Jackson silently prayed this was God’s way of bringing them together.

      “Name is Dan Tucker,” the big man offered.

      “Jackson Hart.” He stopped the horses and extended his hand. “And you are just the man I wanted to see.”

      “Looking for a blacksmith, are ya?” Dan cocked a blond eyebrow at Jackson.

      “Not just any blacksmith—you.” Jackson continued pulling the horses in the direction Eliza and Rebecca were headed. He watched the marshal’s wife lead Eliza into the house; she turned and pointed toward the barn.

      Jackson waved and nodded that he understood. She smiled and entered the house. He felt sure Rebecca Billings would have lots of questions for Eliza regarding him.

      Dan walked along beside him. He rubbed his chin and asked, “What do ya need me for?”

      “The marshal suggested you are in need of a journeyman to watch over the shop while you and the missus travel back east.” Jackson entered the barn. The sweet fragrance of hay greeted him. He began to unharness the team, allowing Dan time to mull over his words. He took one mare and led her to a stall while Dan did the same with the other.

      Dan handed him a brush. “So, Seth sent you my way.” He began grooming the horse he’d taken charge over.

      “Yes, sir. He did.”

      A warm chuckle erupted from the blacksmith. “Now, don’t start calling me sir. Just call me Dan. You’ll find if you stick around that most folks here go by first names. We’re more laid-back than city folks.”

      “All right.” Jackson worked the sides of the mare with the brush. “Dan, the truth of the matter is, I need a job and Seth thought you could use me.”

      Dan placed his brush on a bale of hay and turned to face Jackson. “Seeing how Seth is the one making the recommendation, I think you’d be perfect for the job.” He leaned against the stall door. “Would you be able to stay on a year?”

      Jackson thought about Eliza Kelly. If he stayed on for that long he’d be able to help her get her shop rebuilt and save enough money to go to Silverton. He hoped his father would stay there long enough for him to catch up. Jackson nodded. “I figure I could.”

      “I can only offer you two dollars a day and the use of a room off the smithy while we’re gone.” Dan leaned on the side of the horse. His blond eyebrow was cocked once more as he waited for Jackson’s answer.

      Jackson saw a sack of oats sitting against the barn wall. He walked over and filled two buckets. Two dollars a day was fair pay, especially since Dan was willing to let him use the room, too. He gave the horses the oats and dusted off his hands. “I think it’s only fair to tell you that Seth and I are not close friends.”

      Dan laughed. “Seth Billings is a good judge of character. He trusted you to escort Eliza Kelly home, and you did just that. I also saw the way you defended the little lady, and that made me like you even more. Plus, it didn’t hurt that you just confessed you weren’t a close friend of our marshal. So if you want the job, it’s yours.” Dan pushed away from the stall and stepped closer to Jackson.

      Jackson extended his hand. “I’ll work hard.”

      “I believe you will,” Dan answered as they shook hands.

      He started to walk out of the barn but stopped halfway through the door. “Come on over once you get Eliza settled. I reckon the poor woman is going to have a rough time of it for a while.” He shook his head and walked out.

      Jackson thought about Eliza as he secured the wagon. What was she going to do? Would she take the Tuckers up on their offer of a home? His gaze moved over the fabric and boxes of supplies she’d bought for her store. He thought about driving them over to the Tuckers’ home, but she hadn’t agreed to stay at their place. The supplies might be all right overnight in the barn, but he didn’t think they should be left out in the barn much longer than that. Tomorrow he’d ask if she wanted them moved someplace else.

      Jackson pulled his bag and Eliza’s from behind the seat. He saw the little doll she’d worked on earlier in the day and gently placed it inside Eliza’s bag. The woman was precious; her consideration for others touched his heart. He wondered if her community realized what a jewel they had.

      He took his time walking toward Rebecca and Seth’s house. His gaze moved about what he could see of the town. It seemed as if everyone had returned to their businesses and homes.

      Thankfully, he didn’t see Miles Thatcher anywhere about. He’d already decided that if he did see the little man again, he’d make sure Miles left town. Even if he had to tie him to the saddle. He pushed the thought away and prayed the little man hadn’t damaged Eliza’s standing in town.

      Jackson sighed. Cottonwood Springs was to be his home for a full year. He prayed he’d fit in here better than he had in other small towns. It seemed odd that Miles Thatcher was the man who was supposed to have moved here and now he found himself taking the little man’s place.

      As he reached the side of the house, Eliza’s voice came through the open window. Jackson stopped and leaned against the building. He tilted his head to the side to hear her better. She sounded both sad and desperate. He rubbed the stubble on his chin as he listened.

      “What am I going to do? I can’t stay here. Now don’t interrupt, you know it’s true. You have the baby, Janie, Seth and Ruthann plus yourself living here in a three-bedroom house. There is no room for me. Not that I’m blaming you, I just can’t ask you to add another person to the mix.” She didn’t give Rebecca time to answer. “I am so glad Millie had already gone home when it happened, but I’d love to know how the fire started. Did Millie say?”

      Rebecca’s soothing voice floated to him. “You can stay here until the Tuckers leave town and then take them up on their offer of using their house until yours is rebuilt.”

      Eliza’s miserable sigh drifted to him. “What about Seth?”

      Loneliness filled Rebecca’s voice as she answered, “What about him? He’s in Durango for who knows how long. You and I both know those trials can last weeks.”

      Eliza’s voice lost all sounds of desperation as she reassured her, “I’m sorry, Rebecca. I know you miss him.”

      She’d seemed to have put her own concerns to the side to comfort her friend. Jackson wondered if Eliza was always this giving to others.

      “Oh, you stop that!” Rebecca giggled. “I’m supposed to be comforting you, not the other way around.”

      Sadness reentered Eliza’s voice. “What am I going to do about the business? I don’t have enough funds in the bank to rebuild. I bought a few supplies in Durango but didn’t buy buttons. I should have bought buttons.”

      Rebecca chuckled. “Only you would think about buttons at a time like this, Eliza.”

      Eliza’s soft twinkling laugh joined her friend’s. “I do tend to have a liking for them, don’t I?” Her voice sobered and she said, “It doesn’t matter now, does it? What am I going to do, Rebecca?”

      Jackson wanted to help but didn’t know what he could do. The thought that the Bible spoke of helping widows troubled him. It was his duty to help Eliza Kelly. He frowned as he tried to figure out how. If only Miles Thatcher had been a decent man, he could have married Eliza and she’d have a home again.

      He frowned, not liking that thought at all.

      Why had her friend Hannah ventured outside the community to find them husbands? Earlier in the day, Eliza had explained that Cottonwood Springs had a new schoolteacher because Hannah had been accused of being fresh with one of her students. Hannah had been mortified that the residents of the town would believe such a lie and had decided to become a mail-order bride. But why had she searched for a husband for Eliza, too? Weren’t there any eligible men in