Boundless As The Plains

A world of grass and flowers stretched around me, rising and falling in gentle undulations, as if an enchanter had struck the ocean swell, and it was at rest forever…

Eliza Steel, Summer Journey in the West (1840)

Nebraska Territory, February 1860

Chapter 1

"Are you hungry?" the bespectacled man asked, his dark eyebrows rising above the round wire frames.

Katniss Everdeen nodded. Hungry, cold, and tired. The bouncing of the stagecoach over the icy ground made her head ache.

"Mellark Ranch is just a little farther. It's a swing station so the driver will stop there to change horses, and we can get out and stretch our legs. It's also a trading post, but hopefully they'll feed us. Meals are supposed to be included with the stage ticket."

The middle-aged man turned away to stare out the window of the carriage at the broad, meandering Platte River.

The twenty-three year-old woman absentmindedly fingered the ties of the bonnet fastened under her chin, and looked out the other window to watch the early morning light dance across the frozen grassland.

It seemed liked she'd been traveling forever to get to her cousin Gale's homestead in Nebraska Territory. She'd left Panem, Illinois, by train days ago. Then in St. Joseph, Missouri, she'd boarded the stagecoach in which she was currently riding.

At present the only other passenger was Mr. Latier, or Beetee as he insisted she call him. He didn't speak much, but from his brief exchanges with the other passengers who had already gotten off at stops along the way, she gathered that he worked in a government office back East.

Katniss was glad for her companion's silence because she was in no mood for conversation. She'd spent the entire journey ruminating over the recent tragedy in her life. Five months earlier her parents and sister had died in a fire when her family's home had burned down.

Fortunately or unfortunately, Katniss' opinion on the matter varied depending on her mood, she had been spared. She'd been away when the fire occurred, helping her friend Annie who had given birth to a son. Trained by her mother, Katniss was a midwife and all-round healer, someone poorer folks called upon when they didn't have the money to pay for an educated doctor.

Everyone in her hometown of Panem had rallied around Katniss after the tragedy. Annie and her husband Finnick had suggested that she stay with them permanently. But gracious as their offer was Katniss knew the married couple didn't need a young, single woman living with them. Finnick was the town's minister and his good looks had already caused enough of a concern among certain congregants. She didn't want to add to the gossip.

She'd even gotten one marriage proposal. But she'd quickly dismissed it. She had no desire to marry a man old enough to be her father. Especially when it became apparent that Thaddeus Cray was only interested in her family's land. Instead she sold it to him with its burned down farmhouse, and took up her cousin Gale's offer to come west.

She and Gale had been close when they were young. But now he was a twenty-five year old man with a pregnant wife named Madge, who Katniss had never even met.

The driver called out to the horses. The stagecoach slowed and then came to a stop.

"We're here," Beetee said. "We're at Mellark Ranch."

He reached for the knob on the inside of the coach and opened the door, jumping to the ground. He turned around, reached for Katniss' arm, and helped her climb out of the cab.

A decent-sized sod house stood in front of them. It had no windows, but the door was propped open, likely to bring in light. Near to it was a smaller sod building.

A tall man came out of the house, his shaggy blonde hair hanging around his face, which was covered with a thick beard of the same pale color.

"Welcome to Mellark Ranch," the man greeted Katniss and Beetee. "I'm Rye Mellark. My brother Peeta…" He looked around and frowned. "Well, he's around here somewhere.

"There's water for you over there," Rye nodded to a pump handle where a tin cup hung, "and the privy is yonder," he pointed to a small wooden structure set a fair distance behind the sod house. "We'll feed you inside the house where you can peruse the finest selection of Indian wares from the Sioux and Cheyenne."

He winked at Betee. "We also sell the best whiskey west of Ft. Kearny."

"Take your time and stretch your legs," the driver told Beetee and Katniss. "We'll be here until I get these horses changed out."

To the right of the house was a fenced area that had a covered enclosure. A dozen horses were milling about. Four of those horses would replace the ones that had been pulling the stagecoach.

After using the privy, Katniss walked back to the sod house, stood in the doorway, and peered inside. A cast iron stove was at one end. A large stewpot sat on top of it. A long table flanked by benches at both sides stood in the center.

It was clear that bachelors resided here. No decent woman would live in such a state. The Indian wares of which Rye had spoken, skins, robes, and moccasins, were lying in a heap in the corner of the room. Clothing, blankets, assorted cooking utensils, and even sacks of flour, sugar, salt, and beans, were lying against the dirt walls in a scattered fashion. An open trunk was filled with bottles of whiskey.

"Excuse me," a voice behind her called.

Katniss stepped aside and a man walked past her to enter the house, his broad shoulder brushing against hers, the touch startling her. He went to the stove and lifted the lid for a moment, then dropped it immediately, yelping.

He blew on his hand and then reached for a sock that was lying on the floor. Using it as a potholder he picked up the lid again to peer at the stew. The aroma of the hearty broth filled the room.

"Are you hungry?" he asked as he turned to face Katniss. He gave her a shy smile that seemed so genuinely sweet that unexpected warmth rushed through her. Her heart beat a little faster as she took in his pleasant appearance.

He was medium height, clean-shaven with ash-colored hair that was longish but curled around his face. His bright blue eyes were lively. She had the strangest feeling that he could see right through her, which made her nervous.

This must be Peeta, Katniss thought.

She was hungry, but as she peered around the house she was hesitant to ask for anything. None of the dishes on the table even looked clean.

Peeta noticed her meticulous appraisal and his cheeks turned pink. "Sorry for the mess. My brother and I aren't the best housekeepers."

He cleared a space at the table for her. "Sit down, I'll wash a bowl and a spoon for you under the pump, and get you some stew."

Reluctantly Katniss sat down on the bench, pushing aside a discarded shirt. Despite the cold outside, the sod house was surprisingly warm. She removed her wool cloak and bonnet, setting both beside her.

Peeta picked up an empty bowl and spoon from the table and rushed outside. He soon returned and scooped a large portion of stew into the bowl and stood the spoon up in it.

"Be careful, it's hot," he said, as he placed the thick broth filled with potatoes and carrots and tiny shreds of some kind of meat before her.

She took a tiny spoonful and blew on it before putting it into her mouth.

"Thank you," she murmured after swallowing it. "It's very tasty."

He sat down on the bench across from her and caught her eye. "I'm Peeta Mellark. I guess you already met my brother Rye."

"I did."

He pursed his lips and blew on his burned hand. Katniss could tell it hurt.

"You know if you have some egg white you could put it on that burn to help it heal."

"We don't have any chickens at present, Miss…" Peeta paused.

Katniss knew he was fishing for her name. She should introduce herself; it was only polite. "I'm Katniss Everdeen."

She took another spoonful, hoping to avoid any further conversation because she wasn't very good at it.

"So Katniss, where are you headed?"

Inwardly Katniss groaned. A few spoonfuls of the stew and her mouth was crying for more. But it was hot. She guessed she could make small talk with Peeta for a few minutes while the food cooled.

She set her spoon to the side of the bowl. "To my cousin's house. I should be there by nightfall."

Peeta nodded. He didn't ask about the reason for her visit, and for that she was grateful. She didn't want to talk about her life with a stranger.

Katniss picked up her spoon and began to eat. From behind her she heard others in the doorway.

"Peeta, get some stew for Mr. Latier here," Rye barked.

Peeta sprang up, located another dirty bowl and spoon and headed outside to rinse them under the pump.

"Have a seat," Rye told Beetee.

Her fellow passenger sat down across from Katniss where Peeta had sat. Once he was served, the two Mellark brothers stood and watched them eat.

"It's very good," Beetee complimented them. "Far better than the slop they served us at some of the other stage stops."

Beetee stopped to catch Katniss' eye. She smiled back in agreement.

"Peeta made it," Rye admitted. "He's a great cook. You should taste his bread. He'll make someone a fine wife."

Peeta flushed, and Katniss found herself oddly irritated at Rye's joke about his brother.

The driver entered the house. "I'd like some stew, too." Peeta picked up another bowl and spoon and headed outside.

While the driver joined Katniss and Beetee at the table, Rye regaled them with the latest news.

"The stage line is starting up an express mail service in a couple of months and we've been asked to participate," he bragged. "They're planning to deliver the mail across the United States in ten days instead of the month it takes now."

The driver's eyes narrowed. "How is that going to work exactly? I already carry mail on the stage."

"Mail from New York and all points west can only go as far as St. Joseph, Missouri by train," Rye explained. "The idea is to set up a relay of horseback riders every 75 to 100 miles across the country to hand off the mail to each other all the way to San Francisco. It's going to be called the Pony Express."

The driver lifted his head from the bowl Peeta had set in front of him. "I don't believe it can be done," he pronounced.

"Well, your bosses think it's going to work," Rye countered. "They've already divided the country into five divisions and hired managers for each division to set up stations. Haymitch Abernathy who is in charge of Division Two was here yesterday to offer us the chance to be a home station."

"A home station. What's that?" the driver asked.

"We'll house a couple of riders, one to ride west, one to ride east, as well as some horses for them."

Katniss looked around the room. How would they house riders here? The sod house looked to be full up already.

Rye must have noticed her puzzled expression because he directed his next comment to her. "Peet and I have our work cut out for us. We'll have to build living quarters to accommodate the riders and expand our corral for the extra horses."

"When does this all start?" Beetee asked.

"The beginning of April."

The driver snorted. "That's only two months away. The whole idea is crazy. How are the riders going to make it over the passes in winter with the snow? How can they ride through storms? We've gotten some bad ones in these parts. What about the Indians?" His voice got more excited as he thought of more reasons why it would never work.

"That's not my worry," Rye replied. "The weather is in God's hands. It's flat around here and the Sioux and Cheyenne are fairly peaceful."

Katniss watched Peeta's face as his brother spoke. Instead of looking excited about the venture, he looked aggravated, especially as Rye described the work the pair would have to do to get ready.

The driver pushed his empty bowl away. "Time to get back on the road," he said, looking at Beetee and Katniss.

Katniss stood up and put on her bonnet and cloak. "Thank you for the stew," she said catching Peeta's eye and giving him a shy smile. "It was delicious." It was the best food she'd eaten in days.

She followed the driver out of the house and walked to the stagecoach where four fresh horses had been hitched up.

The men stood around talking for a short time longer, but then the driver tipped his hat and climbed up into his seat in the box at the front of the carriage.

Peeta maneuvered his body close to Katniss so that he was right beside her. He bent his head close to her ear. "Let me help you up."

Before she could even answer, his hands spanned her waist and he lifted her up into the passenger cab.

"Have a safe journey, Katniss," he murmured, reaching into his pocket and shoving something wrapped in a handkerchief into her hand.

Startled she took it, but she couldn't even thank him because he had stepped aside to allow Beetee to climb up into the carriage. The stage began moving before Beetee even shut the door. Katniss waved to Peeta as the coach sped away.

The two brothers were out of sight when Beetee began to speak. "It's a gimmick," he said. "A cross-country relay race to deliver the mail. Once telegraph lines are strung across the country, it'll be out of business."

Katniss nodded politely, but she was hardly listening to her fellow traveler. She was unwrapping the handkerchief and staring at a tiny loaf of bread, the size of a large biscuit. As she chewed on the hearty loaf that was filled with raisins and nuts, she thought about Peeta and the feel of his hands round her waist.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"I saw you looking at her Peet," Rye teased. "She looks a bit like those Sioux women with her dark hair and olive skin. Don't think I haven't noticed you spying on them when we make the trades."

Peeta grimaced at his brother's remark because it was true. He noticed just about every woman who passed his way, the proper ladies on the stagecoaches, the haggard ones walking alongside the covered wagons, and even the few shy Sioux and Cheyenne women he'd glimpsed while bartering with the Indians.

Hell, who could blame him? He'd never spent much time in any place long enough to ever have a sweetheart. For the last few years he and Rye had been all over making a living as traveling storekeepers.

"She looked like she might return the interest, too," Rye continued. "Where was she headed?"

"Probably sixty to seventy miles down the road. She said she'd get to her destination by nightfall."

Rye whistled. "That's not so far."

Peeta shook his head. The stage could travel much farther in a day than a single rider because it stopped to change horses. With all the work facing the brothers to ready their trading post as a home station for the Pony Express, Peeta wouldn't have the time to make a trip to search out Katniss. Very likely he'd never see her again.

He sighed. It had been exciting at first to run off with Rye and see the country. But his brother's propensity for getting into scrapes that resulted in the need to hit the road immediately had worn Peeta down.

Last year, they were headed to the Rocky Mountains to sell goods to the miners there when the wheel on their wagon broke. They had no choice but to stop right here, eighty miles west of Ft. Kearny in Nebraska Territory.

The brothers traded their goods to the Sioux and Cheyenne who lived nearby, and to the passengers from the wagon trains heading west. They built a sod house to live in and a second structure to store their trade goods, dug a well, and hung a tin cup on the pump so that passersby could have a sip of cool, clean water.

Soon after, the brothers had been contacted by the Central Overland California and Pike's Peak Express Company. That company, which ran stagecoach lines to Denver and Salt Lake City, wanted to use Mellark Ranch, as Rye liked to call their humble lodging, as a stop for the drivers to change horses.

They'd jumped at the opportunity because it meant a steady income. Peeta and Rye had built a shelter and pen for the horses and were paid a regular monthly sum to keep the animals fed and tended for the stages.

Peeta began gathering up the dirty bowls and spoons to wash under the pump.

"Well if she lives close to the next home station, maybe you could write her a letter and the Pony rider could pass it along," Rye suggested.

Peeta rolled his eyes. "We hardly know each other. I can't imagine Katniss would welcome a letter from me."

Rye sighed and shook his head. "Oh Peetie, if you're meant to be together it will all work out. But in the meantime, forget about her. We have work to do."

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It had been dark for a while. As the coach got nearer, it was clear that the man standing there was her cousin. Gale was taller and his lean body had filled out. He was waiting in front of another sod house, that looked similar to the one at Mellark Ranch and all the other sites where the driver had stopped along the way for fresh horses.

"It was a pleasure to travel with you my dear," Beetee said as the coach slowed.

"I wish you a safe journey to Salt Lake City," she murmured. Unless more passengers joined him, Beetee would be making the rest of the trip alone.

Once the stage stopped, the driver opened the door and helped Katniss out of the coach. He untied her satchel from the roof and set it onto the ground. Before she knew it, Gale had rushed forward.

"You look all grown up Catnip," he said. "I'm sorry you had to come under such terrible circumstances."

Katniss didn't want to discuss her loss. Instead she changed the conversation. "I hope you don't live too far away. I'm tired of traveling."

Gale laughed. "We're about a mile from here." He picked up her satchel. "Is this all you have?" He was astounded.

Katniss smiled bitterly. "The house burned down. I only had the things I packed to stay with my friend."

A look of understanding passed over Gale's face. "Well, Madge can share with you if you need anything. She's got enough clothes for several women."

Katniss eyes widened at the thought. What kind of woman had her cousin wed?

She waved to Beetee, who had exited the coach and was chatting with the owner of the sod house, and then set off with Gale down a well-trod path lined with tall grasses.

At first they talked of her journey but then he began to tell her about the Pony Express.

"The division manager stopped by last week and offered us a chance to be on the route," he explained. "He'll pay us to house a rider too. He talked to Vick. He said he'd consider hiring him."

"Is Vick living with you now?" Vick was Gale's fifteen-year-old brother.

"My brother Rory brought him out here last fall before he took off to mine for gold in the Rockies. Vick wasn't getting along with my mom's new husband."

Gale's family had moved from Illinois to Kansas Terrritory almost six years earlier. Unfortunately her uncle had died unexpectedly less than a year after the move. Her aunt had managed the farm with the help of her sons, but her remarriage to a man very different from her sons' father had driven her boys to seek their fortune elsewhere.

"We're here," Gale announced suddenly.

Katniss stopped and looked ahead, past the tall grasses. In the moonlight she saw a large sod house with a small window. An iron stovepipe stuck up a foot above the roofline.

The area around the house looked well-tended, with a spot for a garden already outlined with stakes and string, even though the ground was still frozen. To the side of the house was a small shelter and pen that was likely home to Gale's livestock.

A woman's touch was evident in the neat appearance. It made Katniss all the more curious about Madge.

Gale shouted as they got closer and after a moment a woman with light-colored hair stepped outside holding a lit candle. The other hand rested on her protruding belly.

She lifted one hand and began to wave. Gale waved back.

Madge walked out toward them. She was followed by a thin young man, who was obviously Vick, with his dark hair and handsome Hawthorne looks.

"Madge, this is my cousin Katniss," Gale said to his wife.

"Katniss." A puzzled look came over the woman's face. "You've been calling her Catnip. What is it?"

Katniss blushed. "Catnip was a childhood nickname. I'd prefer to be called Katniss now."

Madge nodded. "Katniss it is then."

"I'll check on the animals before I turn in," Gale said. "Madge can show you the house." He handed Katniss her satchel and headed toward the shelter. Vick followed him.

Madge grinned and led her inside.

The interior was a stark contrast to the disorder of Mellark Ranch. Although the floor was dirt, muslin material covered the sod walls and even the ceiling. It made the room appear to be glowing in the candlelight. At one end was a sectioned off area divided by curtains.

"That's where Gale and I sleep," Madge explained.

Katniss' cheeks grew warm at the thought that a simple curtain divided the married couple from the rest of the cabin. A small daybed was pushed against another wall with blankets folded on top. "You'll sleep there," Madge said.

"What about Vick?" Katniss blurt out.

"He'll sleep on the floor. We've already eaten, would you like something?"

Katniss shook her head. Peeta's bread had been so hearty that she was still full.

"Well then, why don't you go into Gale's and my room and change into your nightclothes. I'll show you everything else in the morning."

Katniss pulled the curtains aside and stepped into the tiny sleeping area. She set her satchel down on top of the bed, which was covered with a colorful patchwork quilt.

She had pulled her nightdress from her bag and began to unbutton her dress when she heard Gale's voice.

"Where's Catnip, er Katniss?" His voice was low.

"Changing for bed," Madge said softly. "You didn't tell me she was so pretty."

Gale laughed. "She's my cousin. I don't think of her like that."

"She'd make the perfect wife for Darius. The last time he was here he was talking about how lonely he is."

Katniss stomach dropped. Oh, no.

"For crying out loud Madge, she just got here."

"I know," Madge murmured. "But the house isn't getting any bigger and with a little one on the way…"

Katniss took a deep breath. She hoped she hadn't made a mistake coming to Nebraska Territory.

Author's Note: Usually when I write historic fanfiction it's easy to work THG characters into the setting because the theme is broad – journey on the Oregon Trail, the California Gold Rush, The Transcontinental Railroad. However in this story I'm taking liberties in playing with history because I am substituting a few fictional characters for some real-life people. For example, Haymitch Abernathy's job as supervisor of Division Two, which stretched from Ft. Kearny west to Horseshoe Creek in Wyoming Territory, was a real job held by a man named Joseph A. Slade. Rye's and Peeta's trading post and its location 80 miles west of Ft. Kearny is based on a real post operated by the Gilman brothers at that location. I want to make it clear, though, that this story is strictly a work of fiction. Besides characters from THG trilogy, it includes a few original characters of my own invention, plus a few people people who really lived. I will mention in the author's note when a character is a real-life person.

William H. Russell, Alexander Majors, and William B. Waddell, the men credited with starting the Pony Express are real people. They owned a freighting company called Russell, Majors and Waddell that held the U.S. government shipping contract for all army forts and freight in the West. They also had a subsidiary business called Central Overland California and Pike's Peak Express Company that ran stagecoach lines from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Denver and Salt Lake City. Their combined businesses were equivalent to a combination of today's United Parcel Service (UPS), Federal Express, and Greyhound. If they lined up all the wagons they owned, the line would stretch for forty miles. They were uniquely equipped to start the Pony Express.