Messenger by Moonlight Part 24

Frank Paxton never returned to Missouri. After his last mail run, he volunteered to serve with a Nebraska cavalry regiment. Just before enlisting, he tracked down and purchased Outlaw, entrusting the once-magnificent black horse's care to an expert horsewoman known as Pete. While serving with the cavalry, Frank was befriended by William Cody, and when Cody created his Wild West show he recruited Frank to perform as a Pony Express rider. In time, Frank convinced Pete to marry him. They settled down at Midway Ranch, where Frank received the unexpected blessing of a father figure and Pete's father gained the son he'd never had.

The Paxtons of Midway and the Morgans of Clearwater made it a point to visit each other often. After all, what was a hundred miles to two Pony Express riders once known as midnight messengers?

Emmet and Luvina Paxton were unable to have children because of the injuries Luvina sustained when her father's prize bull escaped his pen and went on a rampage. The Paxtons became everyone's favorite aunt and uncle, enjoying summer visits from their numerous nieces and nephews, contributing to various college funds, and supporting missionary causes around the world.

Lydia Hart not only saw the Pacific Ocean and the Sandwich Islands but went on to circle the globe and to publish several books about her adventures. She returned to Clearwater for a visit in 1881, marveling at the growing town and delighting in the moniker Aunt Lydia bestowed upon her by Ann's six children.

Lieutenant Wade Hart was mustered out of the United States Army as a Brigadier General. His distinguished service in the war put him in contact with many prominent political figures, and upon his return to the family home in Philadelphia, he enjoyed a long life of government service as an advisor to a succession of senators, cabinet members, and presidents.

AUTHOR'S NOTE.

Dear Reader, My storyteller's journey along the Pony Express trail has been a search for what it was like for the women living at those stations. It was born in my imagination decades ago when I read about "a woman on Plum Creek in Nebraska Territory" who "started a store across from a Pony Express station. She baked as many as 100 pounds of flour a day, sold bread at 50 cents a loaf and made as much as thirty dollars per day. She made cheese which she sold at 25 cents a pound and travelers paid as much as $2 for the good meals she prepared." While the historian in me may have doubted some of those statistics and wished for "independent verification," as I continued to learn about the history of my home state, I grew to admire the women whose efforts fueled nineteenth-century westward migration. It wasn't until many years after first reading about that "anonymous" woman that I visited the Dawson County, Nebraska, historical museum and "met" Louisa Freeman, the woman who started that store across from a Pony Express station.

As I studied the Pony Express, I could not escape the question: Why has an ent.i.ty that lasted for such a relatively short time (less than two years) retained such a prominent place in our national story? I think I've learned some answers to that question.

For one thing, the Pony Express was the NASCAR of 1860. Fast "cars," challenging "tracks," and courageous "drivers" all combined to make the Pony something people talked about, wrote about, and never forgot. If I'd been part of a wagon train making my way west at the rate of fifteen-to-twenty miles a day (not an hour, mind you), you can bet I would never have forgotten the breathtaking spectacle of a lone rider tearing across the landscape at breakneck speed. I would have done more than just admire his apparent fearlessness. I would have written about it in letters home and in my journal. In later years, when I looked back on the westward journey, I'd have remembered the Pony Express when I told my children and grandchildren bedtime stories.

Buffalo Bill saw to it that the Pony Express was immortalized by making it part of his Wild West production-the only view of the American West many Americans and Europeans would ever have. "Le Pony Express" featured prominently in one of the posters used to advertise the production when it toured Europe.

Beloved author Mark Twain did his part in Roughing It, the account of his own westward trek in 1861 wherein he described both the antic.i.p.ation and, finally, the actual sighting of a Pony Express rider. Westerns and pulp fiction glorified the Pony Express. When the riders themselves began to reminisce about their youthful adventures, some extraordinary feats came to light. One rider's memoir inspired the scene where my fictional rider Frank Paxton is "saved by a bunny." Billy Fisher was twenty-one when Pony Express superintendent Howard Egan hired him and a.s.signed him to ride between Ruby Valley Station and Sch.e.l.l Creek Station in Nevada. Fisher told of losing his way in a blizzard, getting off his horse to shelter against a cedar tree, and then beginning to get drowsy. "I was about to... take a good nap when suddenly something jumped on to my legs and scared me." A jackrabbit saved Fisher's life for, as Fisher said, "A man who goes to sleep in the snow might keep on sleepin', you know."

The more frustrating part of my research into this legendary phenomenon was the lack of information about the women. I should make it very clear that there is no doc.u.mentation of an Annie Paxton taking a moonlight ride in place of an injured rider. Could it have happened? Why not? Did it happen? There is no record of anything like it. Then again, there are few records at all of the part the women played in the Pony Express. They were there, cooking and cleaning and raising children in sometimes incredibly difficult circ.u.mstances, but time and time again I caught only a whisper of them hidden behind words like and family, and his wife, or, in the case of the stations in Utah, and his two wives and children.

As is often the case in history, the women of the Pony Express are, for the most part, little more than anecdotes. This novel is my personal tribute to them.

Stephanie Grace Whitson.

Lincoln, Nebraska, 2015.

www.stephaniewhitson.com.

ALSO BY STEPHANIE GRACE WHITSON.

A Captain for Laura Rose.

Daughter of the Regiment.

Available from FaithWords wherever books are sold.

Praise for Stephanie Grace Whitson.

DAUGHTER OF THE REGIMENT.

"An inspiring story of discovering courage and friendship through tremendous adversity. Drawing on the actual histories of women who found ways to work on the battlefront during the Civil War, this outstanding historical will attract fans of Janette Oke, Lisa Wingate, and Tamera Alexander."

-Library Journal, starred review.

"Based on true events, this story will capture the hearts of historical fiction fans."

-Publishers Weekly.

"The author's gift for multidimensional characters and tight plotting shines through. Romance, family drama, immigrants, and dueling factions in the same town add action and intrigue."

-RT Book Reviews.

A CAPTAIN FOR LAURA ROSE.

"An entertaining historical tale of faith, action, and romance."

-Publishers Weekly.

"This stand-alone novel has all the makings of a great romance: love, intrigue, mystery, and unforgettable characters. Whitson's historical details on female riverboat captains are incredible."

-RT Book Reviews "A Captain for Laura Rose is a novel rich with exciting details of riverboat life during the nineteenth century and the well-drawn characters will steal your heart. Don't miss this exceptional read."

-Judith Miller, award-winning author of the Home to Amana series.

"As usual, Stephanie Grace Whitson skillfully weaves unforgettable characters with an unforgettable time in history. Step aboard the Laura Rose. You will definitely enjoy the ride!"

-Nancy Moser, bestselling author of The Journey of Josephine and Mozart's Sister.

"Whitson has a wonderful knack of storytelling.... I highly recommend A Captain for Laura Rose. It is wonderfully crafted and thoughtfully written."

-RadiantLit.com.

READING GROUP GUIDE.

1. When you first meet Annie, she's thinking about the twenty-third Psalm and apologizing to G.o.d because "I shall not want" doesn't seem to apply to her. She thinks I do want. So much. How would you answer Annie's question about the deeper meaning of those words? Is she failing in some way because she wants a different way? How can a believer reconcile contentment and desire?.

2. What character flaw does Annie hope to help Frank overcome by encouraging him to "think good thoughts"? What do you think of her approach?

3. At the beginning of the book, Annie describes her idea of "home" in detail. When you think of "home," what kind of place to you envision? Have you had to learn to adjust expectations in regard to the place you call "home"? What challenges did you face on that journey? What or who helped you most?

4. Do you think Lydia is a good friend to Annie? In what ways does the friendship benefit both women?

5. Did you learn anything new about the Pony Express or some other aspect of history from Messenger by Moonlight? If the story sparked any new questions about American history, share those-and the answers (a.s.suming you sought them out).

6. What spiritual themes did you see woven into this story? Do you think the author was successful in her treatment of those concepts? Why or why not?

7. It's always fun to think about a film version of a story. Did any current actors' faces appear in your mind's eye as you read the story?

8. If the author were to write a sequel, when would you want it to begin? Whom do you want to know more about-besides George and Annie?

9. It's always important for a writer to know the backstory of each character. In fact, writers usually know a lot more about their characters than they can put into a relatively short book. Play with the idea of creating backstories for some of the minor characters. What kind of background would you create for Ira Gould? What about Luther Mufsy? Cinda Collingsworth?

10. If you had lived in 1860, would you be an Annie or a Lydia? Fearful or excited about going west? How do you think the reality of living in the "untamed West" would have challenged and changed you? What would you have loved the most? What would you have hated?

11. Frank responds to the parson and his message in a life-changing way. Have you ever known anyone who experienced a radical change as a result of someone else's personal testimony?.

LOOK FOR THESE OTHER CAPTIVATING HISTORICAL NOVELS BY STEPHANIE GRACE WHITSON.

Daughter of the Regiment.

Irish immigrant Maggie Malone wants no part of the war-until her brothers join Missouri's Union Irish Brigade, and one of their names appears on a list of wounded soldiers. Desperate for news, Maggie heads for Boonville, where the Federal army is camped. There she captures the attention of Sergeant John Coulter. When circ.u.mstances force Maggie to remain with the brigade, she discovers how capable she is of helping. And while she doesn't see herself as someone a man would court, John Coulter is determined to convince her otherwise.

As the mistress of her brother's Missouri plantation, Elizabeth Blair has learned to play her part as the perfect hostess-and not to question her brother Walker's business affairs. When Walker offers his plantation as the Center of Operations for a Confederate brigade, Libbie must manage a house with officers in residence and find a way to protect the people who depend on her. Despite being neighbors, Maggie and Libbie have led such different lives that they barely know one another-until war brings them together, and each woman discovers that both friendship and love can come from the unlikeliest of places.

Available now in print and electronic formats from FaithWords wherever books are sold.

A Captain for Laura Rose.

Laura Rose White's late father taught her everything he knew about piloting a Missouri River steamboat and even named their boat after her. Despite that, it seems that Laura will forever be a "cub pilot" to her brother Joe, because in 1867, a female riverboat captain is unheard of. But when tragedy strikes, Laura must make the two-month journey from St. Louis to Fort Benton and back in order to save her family's legacy, her home, and the only life she's ever known.

But to overcome these nearly insurmountable odds she'll need the help of Finn MacKnight, a skilled pilot with a terrible reputation. Laura loathes having to accept MacKnight as her co-pilot, especially when she learns she must also provide pa.s.sage for his two sisters. Straitlaced Fiona has a fear of water, and unpredictable Adele seems much too comfortable with the idea of life on the untamed river and the men who ply it. Though they are thrown together by necessity, this historic journey may lead Laura and the MacKnights to far more than they ever expected.

Available now in print and electronic formats from FaithWords wherever books are sold.

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