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Lilly’s fears grew as Jacob and Daisy came back to camp. He held the little girl’s hand in his and new determination filled his eyes. She’d seen Daisy follow him but hadn’t tried to stop her.
“Lilly, I ate all my sandwich.” Daisy smiled happily. “Can I have my cookie now?”
“Yes, you can.” Had Jacob told Daisy he was her brother? She turned to get Daisy a cookie from the small bowl she’d brought with them.
Daisy took it with a smile. “Mr. Jacob would like his cookie, too, but he didn’t eat his sandwich yet.”
Mr. Jacob? Lilly looked to Jacob. Would Daisy still call him “Mister” if Jacob had told her that she was his sister? Lilly didn’t think so.
“I have to finish my sandwich before I get my cookie. Isn’t that right, Lilly?” Jacob raised an eyebrow in question.
“Afraid so. Daisy, why don’t you take your boots off and wade at the edge of the stream while you eat your cookie? As soon as Jacob finishes his lunch we’ll be heading on into town,” Lilly answered.
Daisy sat down and began pulling at her boots. Her cookie clamped between her lips. Jacob reached down and pulled a boot from her foot. She managed to get the other off and drew the cookie from between her teeth. “Eat real slow, Mr. Jacob. I want to splash in the water for a long time.”
He laughed. “Then you better get going.”
Daisy squealed and ran for the stream’s edge. Her braid swung against her back. The sound of the water splashing as her bare feet hit it brought a smile to Lilly’s face.
Lilly handed him his sandwich. She’d rewrapped it so that the bread wouldn’t get dry. “I could never run like that on this ground with my socks and shoes off.”
Jacob took it from her and once more unwrapped it. “She’s really something, isn’t she?” He took a big bite from the sandwich.
Lilly looked at him. “Yes, she is.” She paused. “You didn’t tell her, did you?”
Jacob shook his head. “No, I thought it might be better to wait.”
What was he waiting for? What were his plans? The questions slammed against her brain. Would he tell her when he was ready to leave?
“I thought we’d keep the knowledge that she’s my half sister between us.” His brown eyes watched her as he chewed.
Lilly couldn’t keep the tremble from her voice. “Why?”
“I wanted to tell her, but if I do she’ll tell everyone else and I’m not sure I want others to know yet.” He wiped at the crumbs that clung to his upper lip.
She didn’t understand. Why wouldn’t he want Daisy to tell others? Lilly refused to ask why again. She focused instead on nibbling the sugar off a cookie.
“If we tell her and she lets everyone know, then the person who kidnapped her the other day will have some kind of reaction. And I’m not sure if the results will be good or bad.” Jacob took another bite of sandwich and looked out to where their sister now played in the water.
Lilly followed his gaze. She understood what he was saying and didn’t know what the results would be, either. Would the person who had taken Daisy before try again, if they knew Jacob was her brother? Or would they do something to get rid of Jacob? Would telling put both of them in harm’s way? Was there a chance that by telling everyone they might scare off the person? She turned her gaze back on him.
“You can see my point, can’t you?” he asked, then stuffed the last of the bread into his mouth.
Lilly nodded. “It might be better to leave things as they are.”
As he watched Daisy play in the water his features expressed awe and something else that she couldn’t quite pinpoint. “I really am sorry for your loss, Jacob. I probably didn’t break the news to you in the right manner and for that, I’m sorry, too.”
He turned to face her. “There is no easy way of telling someone something like that. Thank you for letting me know that I don’t need to search for her any longer.” His gaze returned to Daisy.
What was he going to do now? He’d said that the Johnson ranch was his last stop and he’d continue to work for the Pony Express, but would his plans change now? And what were his thoughts regarding Daisy? How did one ask such personal questions?
“Lilly, would you mind telling me more about my mother’s life here? Was she happy? I mean... I’m still amazed that Daisy is my sister.”
His eyes were red-rimmed as if he’d been crying. It had never dawned on Lilly that Gertrude had been a loving mother to anyone. Gertrude had treated her more like a servant than a child that she was supposed to love and care for. She decided then and there that she’d never speak ill of Jacob’s mother.
She sat down on the grass, mindful of the skirt she wore today. “Gertrude came to the ranch when I was eight years old. Papa was of the mind that I needed a woman’s guidance.”
Jacob sat down. “So he didn’t love her?”
Lilly looked down at her hands. “Not at first. She came in response to a mail-order bride ad my father placed in some of the big newspapers. But after a couple of years I believe they both must have had feelings for one another.” She grinned and looked toward Daisy. “How else would we have had a little sister?”
He chuckled. “Having a child doesn’t require love.” Jacob reached for the bowl of cookies.
“True, but Father loved your mother. A little girl of ten can see when things change in her household.” She didn’t tell him how much she resented the fact that her father provided for his mother’s every whim, or how Gertrude used that knowledge to threaten her in her father’s absence.
He nodded and munched on the cookie, which reminded her of a little boy eager to hear more. Lilly smiled. “Anyway, after three years of marriage Daisy came along.”
Jacob finished off the cookie. “You both have flower names. Does that mean your father named Daisy?” He picked up a second cookie.
Lilly nodded. “Yes. He did. Daisy was born here on the ranch. Father had gone into Sacramento to talk to a man about buying more cows when Gertrude went into labor. Daisy came a little early. Anyway, we sent for a man to go get Papa and the doctor, but Daisy came very fast. Your mother passed away shortly afterward.”
Memories flooded her mind like springwater off the mountain. Sam had helped deliver Daisy. He gave the baby to Lilly and told her to take her to the kitchen. Lilly had thought Gertrude was sleeping and had hurried out of the room to do as Sam said. It was while she took care of the baby that Gertrude died. She remembered returning from the kitchen with the clean baby and Sam stepped out of the bedroom looking very pale. His hands were shaking. The foreman had insisted that he would clean up Gertrude and dress her for burial before Lilly’s father returned. Since there were no other women on the ranch, no one had argued.
Jacob broke into her thoughts. “Is she buried here on the ranch?” The second cookie was gone as fast as the first.
Lilly focused on his face. “Yes, she’s buried in the family cemetery. I can take you to it, if you want to go there now.”
He stood and dusted off his pants. “No, let’s go on into town. Maybe tomorrow, we can take a trip there.” Jacob snatched the last two cookies from the cookie tin. “I’ll go and get Daisy.”
She watched him walk away with long strides. He stopped and gave Daisy one of the two cookies. Their sister beamed up at him.
Now that he knew Daisy was his sister, Lilly knew all their lives were about to change. Thankfully, he’d be even more determined to keep Daisy safe. She just prayed he wouldn’t try to take Daisy away or think he had a right to run Daisy’s half of the ranch.
Chapter Six (#ulink_166bb837-e50b-59ab-9c01-954ecd4f72d4)
Jacob stomped his feet at the front door to remove the dirt from his boots. Yesterday’s trip to town had been uneventful since there was no reason to inquire of his mother. He’d gone with Lilly and Daisy to the general store, where they had purchased supplies.
With Lilly’s help he’d bought new sheets and a pillow for his cot. He’d also purchased a couple of hand towels for his room. Daisy came home with a fresh batch of lemon drops. He’d smiled when Lilly told the girl she was limited to one a day.
The rooster crowed just as he raised his hand and knocked on the wooden door. Had his mother stood at this door and knocked also? He still ached not knowing why she’d abandoned him, but now that he knew he’d never be able to ask her why, Jacob felt even emptier. Other than Daisy he had no blood relatives.
Lilly pulled the door open. “Good morning, Jacob.” Weariness filled her eyes. “What can I do for you this morning?” she asked with a note of caution.
He cleared his throat. “Well, I’d hoped to make a trip to the cemetery but didn’t feel right going into your family plots without you.” Jacob twisted his hat in his hands.
Her clear blue eyes studied him. “It’s a bit early. Daisy hasn’t had her breakfast yet.”
Jacob nodded. “I forget that little girls eat later than working men.” He grinned, very aware of the tension in Lilly.
Daisy pushed past her sister. “Hi, Mr. Jacob.”
“Good morning, Daisy.” He noted that she still wore a thin white gown much like the one she’d been wearing the morning he’d met her. With his thoughts focused on his mother’s resting place he hadn’t realized how early it was.
Daisy’s smile brightened his mood. “Are we going to go visit Ma and Pa?” Daisy asked, tilting her head back and looking up at her sister.
“After breakfast,” Lilly answered. She smoothed the curls from around Daisy’s face then looked at him. “Would you like to join us?”
It was kind of her to offer, but he could tell by her pinched face that she’d rather he not. “No thanks. Cook served flapjacks for the men’s breakfast and I’m afraid I might have overdone it this morning.”
“Lilly’s making us biscuits and gravy with sausage,” Daisy said. She grinned her pleasure and then pushed past Lilly once more, returning inside the house.
Jacob laughed. “She’s constantly moving, isn’t she?”
Lilly smiled. “From sunup to sundown. But I wouldn’t give her up for the world.”
There was a warning in her voice that Jacob hadn’t missed. He nodded his understanding of her unspoken statement. “When you ladies are ready, I’ll be in the barn. There are a couple of other things I wanted to talk to you about this morning, too. But they can wait until later.” He spun on his heels and marched across the yard back to the barn.
A tight knot in Jacob’s throat begged for release. For the first time in a long time he’d awoken with a happy desire to bond with his family. He’d dressed hastily, rushed through breakfast and hurried to see his little sister and Lilly. There had to be a connection between them and he wanted to experience it, and the best way he could think of to do that was to be in each other’s presence. But Lilly had squished the joy right out of his plans.
A warning voice whispered in his head. All women twisted up a man’s thinking; first his mother, and now Lilly. Yesterday she’d seemed like she cared...all nice like and telling him she was sorry for his loss. Then this morning she acted as if he was the enemy. How come? He’d done nothing overnight to cause that kind of a reaction from her.
One might think he was going to cart off Daisy and never let Lilly see her again. Jacob stopped his mad stomp across the yard. His mouth dropped open. Surely Lilly didn’t think he planned to take their sister away from her? Lilly was Daisy’s only family, besides himself.
Jacob knew what it felt like to lose your single living family member. Little Daisy had already lost her mother and father. He would not be the cause of her losing a beloved sister.
It dawned on him that that wasn’t exactly true. His father might still be alive. Father had never been around and his mother never spoke of him. Jacob started walking again. Should he try to find his father?
He entered the barn and inhaled the musky fragrance of hay and horseflesh. By pulling the doors wide open Jacob let more sunlight and much needed fresh air into the otherwise shadowed barn.
Then he answered his own question. No, looking for his father would do no good. He had no name to go on and no idea who his birth father was. His adopted father, John Young, had been the only Papa he’d ever known and he, too, was dead. Jacob told himself that he was alone and evidently unloved by his birth parents. If a man’s parents couldn’t love him, then who could?
A few minutes later, the Pony Express horse snorted at him as Jacob pulled him from the stall. Thankful he had a job to do, Jacob focused his mind on that as he walked the horse out to the yard for a bit of exercise.
He made a mental note to assure Lilly that he’d never take Daisy away. Jacob wanted to be a part of Daisy’s life, but he’d never separate the two sisters. That would be wrong. Jacob pushed all thoughts of his birth parents and his sister from his mind and focused on the horses that were in his care.
The horse snorted and bobbed its head as they walked. The poor beast wanted more freedom and Jacob wanted that for him. No animal should be stuck in a stall all the time.
Asking Lilly for a portion of land on which to release the horses was part of his plan this morning. He had six that belonged to the Pony Express and they all needed exercise and sunshine.
An hour later, Lilly and Daisy joined him. Lilly was back in her men’s trousers and a pretty brown blouse with small yellow flowers on it. Daisy wore smaller trousers and a pink blouse. They’d both pulled their hair back into ponytails today, tied with ribbons to match their blouses.
Daisy couldn’t seem to wait to get to him, her ponytail bobbing as she ran to the barn, where he stood in the doorway. “Hi, Mr. Jacob!” She stopped in front of him with a wide grin. “Is Caleb here? I want to see my kitty.” She tried to see past him to the back of the barn.
For a moment he’d allowed himself to think she wanted to see him. That his half sister cared for him. How foolish. Jacob reminded himself once more that he wasn’t the lovable type. With a sigh he answered her. “No, he’s helping mend fences today.”
* * *
As Lilly joined them she heard the exchange between Jacob and Daisy and noticed his crestfallen expression. So the man hoped Daisy would care for him. It was as clear as the nose on his face. But he seemed to forget that Daisy didn’t know they were related, nor had she known Jacob long enough to care. But she had accepted him and whether Jacob knew it or not, that was a big deal with children. They seemed to have a built-in sixth sense about whom they could trust and who not to trust.
“Caleb will be back later, sweetie. After we visit the cemetery we’ll come straight back here and you can see the kittens.”
“But what if Caleb still isn’t here?” Daisy whined.
“If he’s not back, I’ll show both you and your sister the kittens,” Jacob promised. His warm voice brushed against Lilly’s ear like a soft feather.
Lilly didn’t dare look at him. She wasn’t sure if she could keep her wariness of him from showing. “That sounds like fun.” She smiled at Daisy.
“Let’s go.” Daisy grabbed Lilly’s hand as if to pull it and then stopped. She dropped her sister’s hand and said, “Please.”
“Is the cemetery far from here?” Jacob asked, tying the Pony Express horse to a rail outside the barn.
Daisy pointed out the door. “Just over that hill.”
Lilly answered, “Daisy’s right. It is just over the hill but if you are expecting a rider soon, we should probably take the horses.”
“Not until this afternoon. I was just exercising him before his big run.” His gaze moved up the hillside. “We can walk or ride. It’s up to you.”
She looked to the hill. If they walked, she might be able to hold him back a little while Daisy ran ahead. Lilly needed to know what his plans were in regard to their sister. She’d spent all night worrying as to what those plans might be.
Lilly knew fear wasn’t from the Lord and so decided in her heart that she’d face whatever Jacob’s plans were. “If we walk, Daisy could gather wildflowers to put on her mother’s grave.” She smiled at the little girl.
“Let’s walk, Mr. Jacob. I want to pick flowers for Mama and Papa’s graves.” Daisy looked up at him hopefully.
Jacob’s handsome face split into a grin. “Then walking it is.” He motioned for Daisy to lead the way.
Lilly walked slowly as the other two hurried forward. She watched as Daisy skipped ahead. The little girl darted about looking for the prettiest flowers. She grinned as Daisy sniffed at each blossom.
Jacob glanced over his shoulder at her and slowed his pace.
When he came even with her, he said, “I think we need to talk.”
Lilly nodded. “I do, too. Now that you know about your mother and Daisy, what are your plans? Have they changed?” She felt the air catch in her throat and her heart pound against her chest as she waited for his answer.
“Nothing has changed, Lilly. My plans are to continue to work for the Pony Express and get to know my sister.” He looked to where Daisy tugged at a stubborn flower and grinned at her determination to uproot the plant.
She swallowed hard. “What if the Pony Express decides not to run this way any longer? Then what?”
Jacob stopped walking and turned to her. “Why don’t you ask me what you really want to know?” He pushed his brown hat back on his head and waited for her to answer.
Lilly inhaled deeply. “All right. Will you try to take Daisy away from the ranch, and me?” She felt the sting of tears burn her eyes but refused to shed them. Losing Daisy wasn’t an option and she would fight him, if need be.
“Never.”
His strength in the way he said “never” surprised her. She waited for him to continue. When it became obvious he wasn’t going to say anything more, Lilly asked, “You do realize that she owns half this ranch, don’t you?”
“Yep.”
Again with the one answer. Lilly sighed. “Jacob, I need you to talk to me. Giving me one word at a time isn’t talking.”
