Fantasy Magazine, Issue 84 (October 2022) by Arley Sorg

Author:Arley Sorg
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Adamant Press
Published: 2022-09-30T22:06:30+00:00

Chapter IV

Jesse

“. . . And so I expect you young men to abide by these strict and good laws of life yourselves. Now then, raise your hand and swear.”

Jesse’s heart was still galloping. She wondered if it would ever slow.

Beside her, the boy with the shaved head—Ben Foley—held a Bible in his left hand and raised his right. Jesse did the same with the one Majors had given her. It was bulky and leather-bound, with gold lettering on the cover that read Presented by Russell, Majors & Waddell, 1858.

Round her neck was the golden neckerchief—not red like ones the other Pony riders wore. She wondered if the color was because of the special assignment. In the periphery of her vision, she sensed the boys who had lost slinking away like coyotes. She ignored them and repeated after Majors as he raised his right hand and read out of his own book as if they were in a courthouse.

“I do hereby swear, before the Great and Living God, that during my engagement, and while I am an employee of Russell, Majors, and Waddell, I will under no circumstances use profane language. That I will drink no intoxicating liquors. That I will not quarrel or fight with any other employee of the firm. And that in every respect I will conduct myself honestly, be faithful to my duties, and so direct all my acts as to win the confidence of my employers, so help me God.”

After they’d sworn the oath, Majors had a deputy bring a fountain pen and gestured for them to open their Bibles. Inside the front cover was the same oath: “The Frontier Pledge,” it was titled. Jesse drew her name without hesitation, eager for the formalities to be over. Riding Morgan to the edge of town had been the thrill she wanted from this adventure, not standing round in a stable yard swearing not to swear.

“Mr. Murphy. Mr. Foley. Congratulations on your enrollment!”

Jesse turned at the big voice that tumbled out like an avalanche. The stationmaster’s accent was foreign, from the British Isles, though Jesse couldn’t place it as Irish, Scottish, or Welsh. His huge hand swallowed hers when they shook. He was so large and his gaze so heavy that Jesse couldn’t bring herself to look him in the eye. She felt cowardly, until she noticed that Foley was looking down, too.

“Thank you, sir,” she said, trying as best she could to keep her voice deep and her back straight. “Mighty excited to get started on our special assignment.”

“Very good, very good! And I, as well. Let us away to French Bottoms Station, then, where I can equip you in utility and wisdom. Meet me outside the stable in a minute. I’ve business to square with Mr. Majors, and then we’ll be off.”

The stationmaster left them, waving to Majors, who now stood under the eave of the stable house, dismissing the other riders. The men met and spoke, their words inaudible, glancing at Jesse and Foley every now and again.

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