Pony Express Hero

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“No, I reckon it isn’t, but will you believe me if I say more?” Jacob folded his arms across his chest and waited, chin up and jawline taut.

Lilly looked away, unable to meet his gaze. She saw Daisy almost at the top of the small hill. In a few minutes she would be out of sight. “Daisy! Wait for us!” Lilly called to her. Then she turned to Jacob. “Is your word any good?”

Jacob answered without so much as a pause. “As good as yours, I suppose.” He gave an impatient shrug then leaned toward her, a determined look on his strong features. “All I’m asking for is a chance to get to know my sister. I have no intentions of taking her away from you or this ranch. And to answer your earlier question, yes, I figured she owned half the ranch since her father has two daughters. The ranch belongs to you two, I want no part of the ownership of it.”

Lilly studied him, aware that Daisy waited for them at the top of the hill.

She nodded. Peace filled her as she asked the Lord if she should trust him. Instead of telling him that she felt relief from her worries, Lilly said, “I believe you.”

He offered her a warm smile. “Good. I want to be a part of her life.” Jacob turned toward the hill. “We better get going or she’s going to come get us.”

She laughed. “True.”

As they climbed he asked, “Have you thought about sending her to school this fall?”

Lilly nodded. “Yes, but I’m not sure she’s ready yet.”

“Why not?” Puzzlement filled his voice.

“She’s young and full of energy. I wonder if she’d be too active to pay attention to the teacher.” Lilly knew how hard it was for Daisy to sit still. Attending church on Sundays depended on how active Daisy seemed that morning.

“Well, then wait a year. I think she needs an education, but starting her too early may not be the best thing for her.” He glanced Lilly’s way.

How did he know that’s what she’d been thinking? Daisy would mature more in the year she spent at home and Lilly intended to work with her on being still and listening. Maybe having him around wouldn’t be so bad after all. If they continued to think along the same lines, Daisy would have two people who loved her and were doing what they thought best for her.

Lilly topped the hill. The small family cemetery rested below. Tall trees shaded the graves and not far away the meadow opened up and allowed the wildlife to roam free within its grasses. It was a peaceful spot. She came here at times to talk to her papa about the running of the ranch. Lilly knew he wasn’t really here, but it gave her peace and at times she needed all the peace she could get.

Daisy smiled up at Jacob. “Race you to the bottom.” And then she was off and running.

Jacob took off after her.

Lilly stood where she was. Right now everything felt right. But she knew it wasn’t. She hadn’t forgotten that several days earlier someone had taken Daisy from her bed and left her in a ravine, where she could have been trampled by stampeding cattle.

A shiver ran down her spine. Would Daisy ever be safe? Could she trust Jacob to protect their sister? The question that troubled her the most was, why would anyone want to hurt Daisy?

Chapter Seven (#ulink_67a6ad29-6003-5274-a3cd-d5bf46703ca7)

Unease crept up into Jacob’s hairline. He sensed more than saw someone watching them. Daisy had laid her flowers on both graves and stood looking down at them. He realized that the little girl really hadn’t known either of her parents. A protective sensation raced through his veins and he looked to Lilly.

Was it his imagination or had she, too, detected someone was watching them? Her gaze darted about the area as if searching. Jacob said in a low voice, “If you two are ready, we should probably get back.”

Lilly nodded.

“But we just got here,” Daisy protested. “I want to play in the meadow.”

Lilly’s voice sounded tense as she said, “Not today.”

“But...”

Jacob spoke before she could finish. “I thought you wanted to see the kittens.” His reminder had the effect he hoped for.

Daisy’s face lit up. “I’ll race you back.” She started to turn and run but Jacob caught her around the waist and held her tight.

“Not this time.” His gaze returned to Lilly. She stood with her hands on her hips, frowning at Daisy.

“Let me go.” Daisy struggled in his arms. Her laughter assured him that his sister wasn’t afraid of him but had assumed he was playing with her.

“I think it’s time you slowed down and listened to your elders,” Lilly told the protesting Daisy.

Immediately the little girl stilled. “Are you angry with me, Lilly?”

Lilly’s gaze darted around once more before she focused on Daisy. “I’m not angry, Daisy. But, if you want to go to school in town you will need to slow down and listen when a grown-up tells you no.”

“Oh.” Her little lips trembled as if ready to go into a full-blown pout.

Jacob slowly released his hold on the little girl but took her hand in his. Lilly moved to the other side and took Daisy’s free hand. Daisy looked at them both inquisitively.

“Let’s see if we can walk back to the barn without dropping hands,” Jacob said as if he had just created a new game.

Daisy forgot all about pouting and laughed. “Oh, that’s easy.” She swung her hands but continued to hold his and Lilly’s tightly. “See, I can even move them.”

Before Jacob could answer he saw Sam riding up on his left. It seemed odd that they hadn’t noticed him before. The feeling that they were being watched evaporated like a morning mist. Had Sam been watching them? Or was there someone else who had simply left when he saw Sam coming?

“Good morning,” Sam said. He pulled his horse to the side of Lilly and kept it at a slow pace. “What are you three doing out here?”

Daisy answered. “We were visiting Mama and Papa.” She happily swung their arms. “I got to put flowers on their graves.”

“I see.” Sam shook his head as if he thought they were wasting time.

Over the last few days, Jacob had managed to stay clear of the foreman. Either the man had been busy elsewhere or had been away from the ranch.

“Did you just happen to notice us, Sam, or was there something you needed to see me about?” Lilly asked, grinning down at Daisy.

Jacob watched the tips of Sam’s ears turn red. Was the man embarrassed that she’d asked why he’d sought her out? Or was he angry that she’d talked to him like his boss and not his friend?

“I need to discuss this year’s cattle drive with you.” Sam looked pointedly at Jacob.

Lilly’s gaze slid to him as well, then she returned her attention to Sam. “What about it?”

“Do you think we should be discussing ranch business in front of a Pony Express man?” Sam asked, making it clear he thought Jacob had no business listening to their conversation.

Lilly answered. “I don’t see why not.” She stopped walking. “It’s not like he’s not going to miss the men when they leave.”

Daisy almost lost her grip on Lilly’s hand. She held tightly to Jacob and laughed. “I almost dropped your hand.” Her face shone as she held up their two hands for Lilly to see.

“I’m sorry, Daisy. Why don’t you just hold Jacob’s hand for a few minutes while I talk to Sam?” Lilly said as she released Daisy’s hand.

“All right.” Daisy clung tighter to Jacob, not wanting to lose the game.

Lilly turned back to Sam. She crossed her arms over her chest and waited.

Sam shrugged his shoulders as if he didn’t care any longer if Jacob heard their discussion or not. “I need to hire about six more men.”

She nodded. “When will you be heading out?”

Sam leaned against the saddle horn and looked down on Jacob. “Next week. Soon as I get the men and the cattle rounded up.”

Jacob asked. “How big is the herd?”

Sam glared down at him.

Lilly answered, “Should be about fifteen hundred head this year.”

“Can we go see the kittens now?” Daisy asked.

He didn’t want to leave Lilly with Sam. He couldn’t pinpoint what it was that he didn’t like about the man. Was he starting to care about Lilly? Was he jealous of the other man? No, that couldn’t be possible. They’d only known each other a short while. Besides she was his sister’s sister. There was no way he was going to get romantically involved with her, or any other woman for that matter.

* * *

Lilly answered Daisy. “Wait just a minute, sweetie, I need to finish my business with Sam first.” She didn’t understand Sam’s reluctance to talk in front of Jacob. “Is there anything else?”

A snarl twisted Sam’s thin lips. “We need a horse wrangler to handle the horses. Maybe Jacob would like to come along.” His gaze met Jacob’s.

She heard the insolence in Jacob’s voice as he answered. “Already have a job, Hawkins.”

Lilly watched Sam’s eyes harden. It was obvious Sam didn’t care for Jacob addressing him by his last name. Or perhaps it was Jacob’s tone Sam didn’t appreciate.

Sam turned his horse to leave but then looked back down at Lilly. His voice dripped with sarcasm as he said, “When you have time, Cook wants to talk to you about his supplies for the trip.”

She nodded then watched Sam kick his horse hard. The gelding snorted its pain and leaped forward. Lilly frowned. Sam normally wasn’t so rude to her.

Daisy took Lilly’s hand into her smaller one. “Mr. Sam isn’t very nice, is he?” she asked.

Lilly turned her gaze to the little girl. “He just has a lot on his mind,” she answered. Was that true? Or was he upset to find her and Daisy out with Jacob?

Sam had offered to marry her shortly after her father had died. Lilly remembered assuring him that she’d be fine and that he needn’t offer her marriage. Sam had warned her that if she didn’t marry him, other men would try to marry her to get the ranch in their hands. He’d not asked again but sometimes she felt his gaze upon her and shivered. Sam was her father’s age. She couldn’t see marrying anyone her father’s age.