Dominic squeezed his knees against the horse’s sides, and in response to the pressure, the horse began to walk faster across the fields. He began to see the shape of Maggie’s house along the horizon and he smiled, glancing down at the basket which sat, snug between his body and the horn of the saddle. Going to see the woman had become something of a routine on Sunday afternoons, as the men did not do anymore work than what was necessary about the ranch, and with his head hand, a soft-spoken, but commanding man named John Kret, his closest friend since the war and a man he could trust with his life in charge, he would leave his ranch and go across his land to see the woman whose house drew closer.

He had met Maggie on first arriving in California. He and John had been to town to hire some hands and the two had met as Dominic was buying supplies in the general store. He had found himself staring as a tall, but willowy woman, who looked about sixty five, lifted a large box easily from the floor and began carrying it towards the counter. She caught Dominic’s eye and smiled.

“It’s about time I had some neighbors,” she said, looking at him over the top of the full box. Her face and arms were deeply tanned, and this brought out the pail blue of her eyes. She wore a light blue and white dress, and a white bonnet framed her face.

“If there is anything I can do for you, don’t hesitate to ask Miss,” he said.

She chuckled, shifting the box to the crook of one arm and holding up her hand to show him a ring on her finger. “My husband Ben died ten years ago, but the thought is sweet.”

He smiled. “Do you manage alone?”

She laughed outright, but the laughter was kind. “Lord no! Two of my sons are still around here, and they come and help on the farm when I ask them to.”

Dominic nodded. “Well, if you need anything at all, my ranch is only a mile or so from yours. My name is Dominic Gibbons,” he said, extending his hand.

“Margaret Foster, but everyone calls me Maggie,” she said, shaking his hand. Her skin was callused from years of work, but her grip was friendly and warm.

Dominic smiled and nodded. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Maggie,” he said.

Maggie began asking him questions as they paid for their purchases. She wanted to know if a young man was out here in California alone, and if so, why didn’t he have a sweetheart yet. He laughed, and answered her as she asked him about his ranch, and she greeted John when they met outside the store as warmly as she had greeted Dominic. Over the months that the two had known each other, Maggie had become a good friend, and he had begun going to her for advice once he had seen that his ranch couldn’t get along without the help of a woman.

She had suggested sending out the ad which he had placed in the paper, and he had shown Gillian’s letters to her. Now as he rode towards her house, he hoped that she could offer him reassurance.

She must’ve seen him ride up, because she was already outside and waving to him before he had dismounted. “Get off that horse and come inside. I want you sitting down before God decides you’ve done too much work for the day in getting here,” she said. She looked back over her shoulder and called through the open door of the house. “Thomas! Come out here and fetch Mr. Gibbons’s horse!”

A tall young man close to Dominic’s age stepped through the door and came down the wooden steps towards them. He was thin, and tall, with dark hair, and the same pale blue eyes as his mother. “Hello Mr. Gibbons.” He said, glancing at the basket, which Dominic now held in his arms.

“Get that horse out of this hot sun, rub him down and give him plenty of water,” Maggie said, moving towards the house.

Thomas grinned at his mother. “Ma, this is work ya know.”

She turned, and gave him a gentle swat to the behind. “Don’t you spout such nonsense. You only want to get back to the house so your brother doesn’t get a hold of your pie. Get on with you! Steven won’t touch a thing. I promise.” Thomas laughed, and taking the reins of Dominic’s mount, he led it away towards the small barn near the house.

Dominic followed Maggie onto the porch. He set the basket down, and opened it. “What’s in there?” she asked, peering in as he reached beneath a blanket inside the basket.

He pulled out a small, wriggling gray and white pup, and handed it to Maggie, who gasped in delighted surprise and smiled. “Lilly had her pups about two months ago. I thought you could use another dog around the place,” he explained.

“Of course we can, and the boys will have it trained in no time. Thank you Dominic,” she said, stroking the squirming puppy’s fur.

“There were seven in the litter, and I’ve kept one, a female,” he said.

Maggie smiled again. “Well come inside and have something to drink. Steven will love the pup.” She turned, and he followed her into the house. Her younger son, Steven, did indeed love the puppy, and when his brother returned from his chores in the barn, the two of them took the puppy outside to get some exercise, and to meet the two other dogs that lived on the farm.

Once Maggie had made sure Dominic had a cold drink in his hand, and a slice of pie in front of him, she seated herself across from him and met his gaze. “So, what’s on your mind? The puppy is a very nice thing to bring over, but you could’ve had John do it, and you almost never come over just to see if you can be of help.”

He smiled, swallowing a bite of pie, and nodded. “I didn’t come over just to bring you the puppy. The train from Boston comes in tomorrow, and I’m off to collect Ms. Gillian in the morning,” he said, sipping his drink.

“Do you want me to tell you to beg off?” she asked, smiling slightly.

He shook his head. “No, but I just want you to tell me if you think I’m making a mistake. I’m taking this young lady away from everything she knows.”

“She agreed to it didn’t she?” she asked, swallowing some of her own drink.

“Yes.”

“Well then, she knows what she’s about,”

“I suppose, but I don’t want to marry her the moment she steps off the train,” he said.

“I have an idea then, a return for the pup if you like. The girl can stay with me for a week or so. She should still be at your place to cook for all of you and the like, but she can bed down here. Does that suit you?”

Dominic smiled, looking relieved. “Thank you Maggie,” he said, giving her hand a quick squeeze.

She smiled, patting his hand gently. “It’s nothing at all. Go fetch her tomorrow, and bring her here so I can get a good look at her.” She smiled at him, and together they laughed.

Dominic arose the next morning, and went about the daily chores of the ranch. He had arranged for his hands to do most of the morning’s work without him, and as he made the carriage ready, he was surprised to see his friend John strolling towards him from the fields. He stopped in the middle of tightening the harness of the team, and stood to his full height, waiting for John to approach.

“What is it John? Is there trouble in the pasture?”

John smiled, shaking his head. “No trouble. I just wanted to wish you luck, and see you off that’s all,” he answered

Dominic nodded, but couldn’t smile. “Thank you John.”

“Are you all right?” his friend asked softly, taking another step towards the carriage.

Dominic sighed. “I am, yes, I’m just…” he trailed off, looking out at the soft blue of the sky.

“Nervous. It’s understandable, but you’d be more of a wreck if you were marrying her this afternoon you realize,” John said.

This time, Dominic smiled, clapping his friend on the shoulder. “I appreciate the observation John, it’s wonderful of you.”

John laughed. “If I may be of anymore help, all you need do is ask.”

Dominic laughed, and bending slightly to make sure that the harness holding the team was tight enough, he opened the carriage door and stepped up inside. He clucked at the horses, and as the carriage began to pull away, he waved goodbye to his friend.