Pony Express Hero

by Rhonda Gibson

  “Anyway, it went something like that. I really should read the Bible more.” Embarrassed, she looked back to the wagon full of tools, hoping he’d get them back on the subject at hand.

  Jacob looked at her funny and she felt crimson creep up into her cheeks. “Lilly, would you like to know more about the stories in the Bible?”

  She quirked an eyebrow at him, uncertain of his meaning. He lifted the wagon handle and headed to the path behind the house. She fell in beside him, surprised at how excited she was for his explanation.

  “I mean...” He paused, pointing to briar extending into the path.

  She stepped over it, careful it didn’t snag on the big-legged pants she wore.

  “I could read chapters from the Bible each night before bedtime. It’s important that a house be built on God’s word. I learned that lesson a few months ago from my stepfather.”

  Lilly’s heart leaped into her throat. How she had longed to have a spiritual home. One that provided happiness, a safe haven, wisdom and faith. She had read several of the Psalms to Daisy, but she had no clue how to interpret the scriptures. If Jacob could do that one of her greatest desires would have been met. “I would love that, Jacob. When can we start?”

  “Well, if you don’t kill me today,” he teased, “we could start tonight.”

  They studied the shrubs along the trail and chose four smaller ones of more manageable size. Jacob dug around the roots of one, while Lilly tackled the other. After about an hour, they found a spot looking out over the lake and settled down for a rest under a wide-branched fir tree. Lilly reached into the bag she’d packed and removed a jar of cold milk and two slices of raisin bread. She had dried the fruit last year and this had been the last of it. She poured milk into the cup that closed the jar, then handed the jar to Jacob.

  He accepted the milk and bread eagerly. “Do you have a picture in your mind of how you want the yard to look or where you want the plants placed?”

  Lilly closed her eyes and pictured the yard. “I want the shrubs in front of the porch so when they bloom it will add a bit of color to the house. The honeysuckle vines I’d like to plant near the clothesline. The smell will waft all over the yard from that location.” She opened her eyes and continued. “When I put bluing in the clothes you can smell it at the barn, the bunkhouse and inside the house.”

  His gaze was locked on her. “You don’t ever wish you had someone to do the wash, or to clean the house and do the cooking?”

  Lilly thought about that a moment and suddenly realized that Gertie had done her a great favor by making her work around the ranch. “No. I like taking care of the ranch and my family. Your mother taught me well. I realize now that she gave me the best gift she could by showing me what work meant and how to accomplish by myself the things I wanted done.”

  His heartfelt chuckle washed over her like warm honey over hot biscuits. Then he said, “You sound surprised.”

  In a way she was surprised. During Gertie’s reign nothing seemed right or good. “Well, when Gertie was handing out chores, I wasn’t seeing the possibilities like I am now. I thought she was being ugly to me.”

  His voice lowered and he asked, “And was she?”

  Lilly studied Jacob’s lowered profile a moment before she answered. “I don’t want to hurt you, Jacob, but Gertrude wasn’t very pleasant to me when Papa wasn’t around. She wasn’t a very nice person.” She stayed silent a moment, but the silence was tense and Lilly couldn’t stand to think she had hurt him. “Please don’t be upset with me.”

  He turned to her the expression on his face one of perfect peace. “Lilly, my mother left me on the steps of an orphanage. I’ve learned myself that I could never do that no matter the circumstances. I held out hope that there was a unique reason for it, but in my travels the stories I’ve garnered from place to place enlightened me as to just what type of woman she was.”

  They sat quietly for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts. When next Lilly glanced his way, she found him in a deep sleep, his hat sideways and his chin resting on his chest. She studied him at leisure, noting the strong jaw, relaxed in sleep, and the thick hair that swept over his brow. She knew the broad shoulders had taken a lot of the burden from her own and it felt wonderful to have someone to share the responsibilities of raising Daisy.

  But could she really trust him if he meant to take her ranch? She worried her bottom lip with her teeth. Today had been perfect so she chose not to clutter it up with negative thoughts. Instead she quietly stood and stepped behind the tree he propped against.

  Taking a piece of grass, she drew it along the exposed part of his neck. He grunted but didn’t wake. She ran it around his ear and he swatted at it but slept right on. She could barely squelch the giggles threatening to erupt. She twitched his nose and a hand snaked out faster than she could move and yanked her from behind the tree into his lap. She squealed and rolled to her feet then took off running around the side of the lake.

  Lilly heard him one step behind her and then he grabbed her around the waist, lifting her high off the ground, swinging her around and around. They both collapsed onto the ground, out of breath, laughing, his hand holding hers.

  Once he’d caught his breath, Jacob teased, “That will teach you not to bother a man while he’s resting from a hard day’s work.”

  “Oh, I could have done a lot worse. I entertained some mighty unusual ideas to wake you up.” Immediately Lilly realized how that sounded and her face burned in shame. Jacob was having none of it. He threw back his head and laughed heartily as he pulled her to her feet.

  “I wouldn’t mind being awakened by a pretty girl with a soft kiss, but if I’m a judging you right, you were thinking more along the lines of dousing me with a bucket of cold water, right?”

  Lilly clamped her teeth over her bottom lip, refusing to admit he was right on target. Her expression gave her away and he caught her in a quick hug. She looked deep into his brown eyes and for a moment wished he’d kiss her. It would be nice to have a real first kiss. Realizing where her thoughts were going, Lilly pulled away. “We have a lot more work to do.” She stood and walked back to their resting spot. She picked up the bag, repacked it and wished he would have kissed her instead of offering a friendly hug.

  After a couple of hours of hard work, they headed back to the house. The wagon was loaded with shrubs, blackberry vines and three honeysuckle vines. They were hot, sweaty and in high spirits.

  They pulled the wagon close to the porch and sat side by side on the steps. The screen door squeaked and Willow joined them on the porch. She handed a glass over Lilly’s shoulder. Lilly sighed as her hand wrapped around the cool tumbler. She gulped at the cool liquid. Ahhh, blackberry tea.

  “This hits the spot,” Jacob said.

  “Thank you, Willow. A cool drink was just what we needed.” Lilly sniffed the air. “What’s that wonderful smell?”

  Willow sat on the other side of Jacob and extended a plate toward them. “Corn fritters.”

  Lilly took one then reached for another just as Jacob picked up two. She smacked at his hand. “That one was mine.”

  “Not so. I’m bigger then you and need more food.” He pulled his hand back with a laugh as she tried to take the second one from him.

  “Children, children. There’s enough for everyone,” Willow proclaimed but the glimmer in her eyes proved she, too, enjoyed the camaraderie. “We never had much stock in our kitchen, so I’ve not had much practice creating different recipes, but Walter always loved my corn fritters.”

  “I can understand why. These are delicious.” Jacob crammed the last bite in his mouth then spoke around it. “Walter was a lucky man.”

  “Willow, do you like to cook?” Lilly hadn’t asked before. She had been intent only in finding a nanny for Daisy.

  “I love to cook, bake and garden. My specialty is
sugar cookies.” She set the plate on the porch floor behind her. “I hope you’ll let me share kitchen duties, Lilly. I want to earn my keep but that kitchen of yours keeps calling me, tempting me to try new dishes. I even love to clean up in there. Walter and I lived in one room and the woodstove was my only means of cooking. Mostly beans and cornpone. Occasionally he’d kill a squirrel or rabbit and then I’d make gravy.”

  “You’re making my stomach growl,” Jacob said, patting his stomach. Willow grinned. “Nothing like a good pan of squirrel gravy.”

  Lilly felt an overwhelming sense of rightness. This was the type of fellowship she’d longed for all her life. Just this simple talking back and forth, no underlying messages, no fake pretensions and suddenly all the lonely places in her heart held no shadows.

  Only the shadow of fear for Daisy remained. She squared her shoulders. She would fight for her family, for this peace, for happiness for those she cared for.

  Realizing it had gotten quiet, Lilly declared, “Willow, you are more than welcome to create to your heart’s content. I made a list of needed supplies and it’s in my apron pocket by the back door. Feel free to add to it anything you wish.” She stood and brushed crumbs from her pants leg, noticing the dirt and grime clinging to the fabric and on the sides of her boots. “Mr. Jacob, as Daisy calls you, I think it’s time we got back to work.” She looked around. “Speaking of Daisy, where is she?”

  Daisy chose that moment to join them, a pencil in her mouth, her face scrunched up in a frown. “Miss Willow, is this right?”

  “It sure is. You are doing a good job,” Willow answered. She hugged Daisy around the waist.

  Lilly stared in awe at the paper Daisy handed Willow. Daisy had printed her name several times on the page. The letters were uneven and outside the lines Willow had drawn, but the writing was clearly legible.

  “You did this, Daisy?” Jacob took the paper from Willow so he and Lilly could see it clearly.

  “Mmm-hmm.”

  “It’s a very good job, Daisy,” Lilly remarked, watching Daisy blossom with their praise.

  “She’s an eager student. Until I learn my way around the ranch, I needed ways to occupy her in the house. Come to find out, she loves writing so we’re starting on her letters. Lilly, do you think we could add a pack of colors to the market list? I wouldn’t mind seeing what she can do with pictures.”

  Lilly felt both excited and sad. She’d planned on working with Daisy in the winter months after she turned five, but this was good, too. Her little sister was growing up. “I think that’s a wonderful idea, Willow.”

  “Will you teach me words in the book Lilly reads to me at night?” Daisy leaned against Willow’s shoulder, obviously comfortable with the woman. Lilly saw that Jacob noticed, too.

  He stood, then stepped over to the wagon and removed a shovel. Willow followed Daisy into the house, their happy chatter pleasant to Lilly’s ears.

  “I never would’ve thought it would take half the day to uproot a few shrubs and dig up a couple of vines. What in the world took you so long?” Caleb stood with his hands on his hips, staring at them as if he wanted to thrash them.

  Lilly felt pure laughter build up in her chest. She clapped a hand over her mouth, but one look at Jacob and she could hold it no longer. She laughed, bending over and clasping her legs. Jacob laughed loudly and grabbed Caleb around the shoulders.

  “Were you worried about us, Caleb?”

  Caleb shrugged out of Jacob’s hands. “Why, yes, I was. I couldn’t leave the ladies here by themselves to go and look for you. How was I to know you weren’t broken and bleeding somewhere?”

  Lilly sobered instantly. “Oh, Caleb. I hadn’t thought of that. We’re sorry.”

  Jacob looked between Lilly and Caleb. “I guess we’ll need to work out a signal every hour or so to let those here at the house know we’re doing good, at least till we feel there’s no more need for caution.”

  Lilly saw the tenseness leave Caleb’s shoulders. The young man cared for them. Willow cared for them. This was what love looked and felt like. She finally had family again.

  Her gaze moved to Jacob. Would he consider himself a part of her family? Did she see Jacob that way, too? He was Daisy’s brother. Lilly tried to convince herself that was what she felt for him, nothing more.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Jacob felt his presence before he actually saw and heard Sam. He continued to comb the Pony Express horse and waited. The men had been home a couple of days and Jacob had expected this visit much sooner.

  “You didn’t waste any time moving into the house, did you?” Sam sat atop his horse and looked down on Jacob. Jacob didn’t have to look at the other man’s face to know he was scowling.

  Jacob grinned to himself and then asked, “Are you asking me if I’ve moved into the house? Or is that just your way of trying to figure out what happened while you were away?” He ran the comb over the silky coat and waited.

  “You know what I mean. Caleb tells me you took all your meals in the house and that you now spend your evenings with Lilly and Daisy.” Sam shifted in the saddle.

  Jacob released the horse and allowed it to return to the others. He turned to face Sam. “I take it you don’t approve.” He could have reminded Sam that Caleb had been with them but decided not to involve the boy.

  “No, I don’t.” His words came out hard. Just as Jacob suspected, Sam glowered with anger.

  Jacob folded his arms over his chest and said, “You know, that might bother me if you were my boss, but since you aren’t, it doesn’t.”

  Sam spit on the ground, narrowly missing Jacob’s boot. “All it will take is a few words from me and Lilly will send you packing.”

  His thoughts ran over the past week and the closeness he and Lilly had shared. She actually seemed to care about him. “I don’t think so,” Jacob responded.

  The thought that Sam might come between their newfound feelings sent heat waves through his gut and into his face. He kept his anger in check, knowing that Sam was just looking for a reason to get in a fight with him and then report back to Lilly.

  Sam laughed without humor. “Mighty sure of yourself, aren’t you?”

  Jacob wasn’t going to play this game any longer. “I know that Lilly and I understand one another. You can say anything you want, what have you got to lose?”

  “It’s more like what do you have to lose. As soon as she realizes that this ranch is what you’re after, she’ll send you packing faster than a miner after gold.” Sam sat up straight. “I’ll make sure of that.”

  Jacob watched the older man with narrowed eyes. Sam appeared smug, certain that Lilly would do anything he told her to. How many times had she fired men based on Sam’s word?

  An evil grin twisted Sam’s face and he turned his horse to leave.

  As Jacob climbed into the saddle he remembered something his stepfather had told him. “When a man accuses another man of something, usually it’s because that’s exactly what he wants to do or has done.” Did Sam want Lilly’s ranch? Was the older man worried that Lilly might find Jacob attractive? Or see him as a future husband?

  He followed Sam back, allowing the man a good lead. Sam rode his horse to the barn and called for Caleb. Jacob watched as he tossed the reins to the young man and then stomped off to the bunkhouse. Not only was the man arrogant, but he was also rude.

  Jacob shook his head. He dismounted and walked his horse into the barn. His gaze sought out Caleb. The boy was tending to Sam’s horse with a frown.

  “What’s the sour face for?” Jacob asked.

  Caleb looked over the horse’s back. “You wouldn’t understand,” he answered.

  Gone was the carefree young man that had allowed himself to relax while the other men were gone. “Try me.” Jacob busied himself taking the saddle and bridle off his
horse.

  Caleb carried Sam’s saddle to the tack room. When he returned he said, “No matter what I do, Sam doesn’t like me.” He sighed. “Now I just sound childish.” Caleb led the stallion farther into the barn to stable him.

  When he returned, Jacob said, “Honestly, I don’t think Sam likes anyone. I wouldn’t let it bother me.”

  “That’s because he’s not your boss and he can’t fire you.” Caleb scooped fresh grain into a feed bucket and disappeared down the hall again.

  Jacob waited for his return then asked, “Have you thought about becoming a Pony Express rider?”

  Caleb grabbed a pitchfork and began mucking out a stall. “I thought about it, but it’s too dangerous. I want to be a farmer, not a rider.”

  “What kind of farmer?” Jacob thought about all the time he’d spent with Lilly lately, working in her yard and vegetable garden. Growing things came naturally to him. Spending time with Lilly and Daisy made it even more enjoyable.

  When she’d said a small garden, that’s what he’d expected—a small plot—but she’d gone all out. He’d plowed rows and rows of dirt. Planted seeds and watered until he’d fallen into bed exhausted. But at least they wouldn’t starve this winter, that was for sure.

  Caleb grinned. “You’ll laugh.”

  “Maybe,” Jacob admitted.

  The boy leaned on the pitchfork. “A pig farmer.” He looked off into the distance. “I like pigs and think I could make lots of money raising them.”

  “You might have something there,” Jacob said seriously. “Would you rather take care of pigs or these horses?”

  Caleb laughed and began his work again. “Pigs. But what I want doesn’t matter. Sam says I’m a stable boy so I’m a stable boy.”

  Jacob knew Asher wasn’t a fan of the pigs he had to feed every day. He didn’t say anything to Caleb but decided to mention to Lilly that the boy would like to work with the pigs. Was there enough of a job for Caleb to work solely with the swine? He’d ask.

  The dinner bell clanged at the house. Jacob smiled at Caleb. “Time to eat. Ready?”