Pony Express Hero

by Rhonda Gibson

  Caleb shook his head sadly. “I’ve been reminded I’m the hired help and will be taking all my meals with the other men from now on.” He continued mucking out the stall.

  Jacob was sure he knew where the reminder had come from. “I see. I’m sorry to hear that.”

  Sadness filled Caleb’s voice. “Me, too. I’m going to miss the ladies’ cooking.”

  The triangle sounded again. “Well, I better go or she’s going to come get me.” Jacob turned to leave.

  “Nothing was said about you slipping me some dessert later,” Caleb called behind him.

  Jacob laughed. “You got it.”

  He hurried from the barn and headed to the washbasin beside the back door. The smell of fried chicken drifted in the air. Jacob glanced toward the bunkhouse as he opened the kitchen door. Sam stood watching him. Jacob knew he shouldn’t do it, but he smiled broadly and waved at the older man before entering the house.

  * * *

  “You really shouldn’t infuriate him.” Lilly stood at the table. The window on the opposite side faced the bunkhouse. She watched Sam out the window. “He came by to see me today.”

  Willow tried to hide her smile as she helped Daisy into her chair. She got the girl seated and then began filling her plate with a chicken leg, mashed potatoes topped with a generous glob of butter and a large spoonful of green beans.

  Daisy scrunched up her nose. “I don’t like green beans.”

  “They are good for you,” Willow answered.

  Jacob answered Lilly. “I had a talk with him this afternoon also.”

  Lilly nodded. “Maybe after Daisy’s story you can tell me all about it.” She indicated that he should take his place at the table.

  “Where’s Caleb?” Daisy asked, looking toward the back door as if she thought her friend would enter at any moment.

  “He’s having dinner in the bunkhouse tonight,” Jacob answered, pulling his chair close to the table.

  Lilly was the last to be seated. A frown marred her pretty features. She said a quick blessing over the meal and then began dishing food onto her plate.

  “Daisy, eat the green beans first that way you can eat the good stuff last.” Jacob made a show of getting a big spoonful of green beans and taking a big bite of them. They were very good. Seasoned with bacon and salt, just the way he liked them.

  Daisy followed his example. Only instead of enjoying the beans she made the worst face he’d ever seen on the little girl.

  “See, they aren’t so bad,” Jacob said then turned his head away to hide his smile.

  “I think we should give them to the pigs,” Daisy said as soon as she swallowed.

  Jacob laughed. “Speaking of pigs, did you know that Caleb plans on being a pig farmer someday?” He directed his question to Lilly.

  She shook her head. “No, if he likes the pigs why isn’t he taking care of them instead of Asher?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t know but he’d be very good with them and I know Asher isn’t a fan of the pigs.”

  “They smell bad,” Daisy said, sniffing at her beans.

  “The beans or the pigs?” Willow asked, frowning at the girl.

  Daisy curled her lip. “Both.”

  “Eat your beans, Daisy,” Lilly ordered. “What do you think? Should I have Sam change the two men’s jobs?”

  Jacob picked up a biscuit and buttered it. “What else does Asher do?”

  “He takes care of the pigs, chickens and the milk cows.” Lilly motioned for Daisy to take another bite of the green beans.

  “Almost done with them, Daisy,” Willow said encouragingly as she took a bite of her potatoes.

  Over the last week, Lilly had grown to value Willow. She seemed to know just what Daisy needed and when. Daisy liked Willow and often times Lilly would find them playing tea party in Daisy’s room.

  Jacob caught her attention. “I would want my men to be happy in their jobs. Caleb takes care of the horses and barn, but I don’t think he’s very happy. Asher doesn’t seem to enjoy feeding the pigs, either. Maybe you could let them trade places for a few days and then see if they like the new work or if they want to go back to their old jobs,” he offered.

  Lilly nodded. “I agree.”

  “It will also give Caleb the chance to discover if pigs are really what he wants to raise.” Jacob used his biscuit to get the remainder of his butter off the plate.

  Willow grinned across the table. She covertly indicated that Lilly should look at Daisy’s plate. “I’m about ready for dessert.”

  Lilly glanced at her sister’s plate. Daisy had finished off her green beans and most of her other food. “Daisy, you ate all your beans. Good girl.”

  Daisy smiled. “Can I help Caleb with the pigs, Lilly?”

  “No, they are too far away from the house,” Lilly answered as she pushed back her chair and walked to the sideboard, where a large carrot cake, compliments of Willow’s cooking skills, sat waiting to be sliced.

  “Since I can’t help Caleb, when can I play in my fort?” Daisy asked with a pout. She realized dessert was about to be served and shoved the rest of her potatoes into her small mouth.

  “The fort?” Willow asked.

  Lilly smiled. “That’s what she calls the area under the rosebush. I haven’t let her play out there in a while.”

  Daisy swallowed with a gulping sound. “Please, Lilly.”

  “If Willow wants to go out there with you, I’m okay with you going.”

  “Yay! We can take our tea party out there,” Daisy said, looking at Willow with a wide smile.

  “Sounds like fun.” Willow pushed back her chair. “I’ll get us fresh coffee.”

  As Lilly passed out the cake, Willow refilled the coffee cups. Daisy picked up her fork. “Can I have some more milk?” she asked.

  Was it her imagination or did Jacob seem more reserved? Lilly handed him his dessert. “I hope you like carrot cake.” She smiled. “Willow and Daisy made it.”

  Jacob returned her smile. “Then I know I’ll love it.”

  “I got to put the icing on.” Daisy licked a big glob of icing from her fork.

  Lilly sat back down. She watched Jacob take a bite of the cake. His face lit up with pleasure.

  “You ladies are wonderful cooks,” Jacob proclaimed. He winked at Daisy. “This icing is so rich.”

  Lilly listened as Daisy and Jacob chatted. The little girl told him about the new rag doll that Willow made for her. She also shared that they had another tea party today.

  As soon as Daisy’s cake was all gone, Willow said, “All right, Daisy. Let’s go put on your nightgown so Jacob can read you a story.”

  Daisy jumped from her chair. “I want to hear the story about those men that had to go sleep in the lion’s house again,” she said, hurrying out of the room.

  “She’s talked about that one all day.” Willow grinned as she left the room.

  Lilly collected the dinner plates. She wasn’t surprised when Jacob gathered the cups and Daisy’s glass. “Why didn’t Caleb come to dinner?” she asked.

  A hardness filled his voice. “Sam told him that he has to have his meals with the other men.”

  Lilly filled the washtub with hot water from the back of the stove. She shaved soap off the bar and swished the water around before adding the dirty dishes. Sam couldn’t tell the men where and when to eat. She’d have to speak to him about that. “You don’t like Sam much, do you?”

  Jacob stopped scraping food into the slop bucket. His brown gaze met hers. “I don’t like him at all.”

  “Why not?” She washed the cups and set them in the rinse water.

  Jacob set down the bowl he’d just emptied and picked up a tea towel. “He’s arrogant, rude and a bully.”

  Lilly pursed her lips
together to avoid smiling. When she’d gotten control of her facial muscles she said, “Thanks for being so honest.”

  He dried a mug and set it to the side. “Look, I know he’s your foreman and I really don’t have much to do with him. But, today he came out to the Pony Express pasture and gave me a warning.”

  “I see.” She continued washing the dishes. “What kind of warning?”

  “Well, first off he let it be known that he didn’t like me coming to the house for my meals. Then he insinuated that I am after your ranch.” Jacob picked up a plate and began drying it.

  Lilly knew Sam was protective of her and Daisy. Maybe if she explained to Jacob how Sam had sort of stepped into her father’s boots, he’d understand. She took a deep breath. “Sam has been on this ranch for as long as I can remember. Since Papa’s death, he’s made sure that suitors and cowboys passing through didn’t get any ideas about marrying me and taking over the ranch. Maybe he was just offering a warning, not a threat.”

  He nodded. “Perhaps.”

  She smiled. “Remember I told you he’d come by to see me, too?” Lilly waited for him to nod again. “He wanted to warn me not to get to close to you. Sam seems to think that you are after the ranch, but I set him straight.”

  “Oh, how did you do that?” Jacob asked.

  Lilly heard her uncertainty in her voice. “I told him we have talked about that and that you have assured me you are going to buy your own ranch or farm.” She focused on the dishes instead of looking at him.

  She’d enjoyed their time together over the last several weeks and couldn’t seem to forget the warmth of his hug. But, thanks to Sam, once more she felt leery of his motives.

  Jacob was a good man and a hard worker. But, Sam’s words that Jacob might be putting on a front had her gut twisted tighter than the strings on a turkey’s legs right before roasting time. How many times had she asked herself if Jacob was too good to be true?

  Chapter Sixteen

  Jacob heard the note of hesitation in Lilly’s voice and wondered if she was still concerned that he wanted her ranch. He simply said, “I’m glad. How did he take that bit of news?”

  She laughed nervously. “He said ‘time will tell.’”

  Jacob decided he’d take a trip into town in the morning and see if there were any farms or ranches for sale in the area. The sooner he bought his own place, the sooner she could take her mind off him stealing her ranch. “Sam’s right about that.” Jacob dried the last dish just as Daisy came running into the kitchen.

  Willow had braided the little girl’s hair. It bounced behind her like a small rabbit. “I’m ready, Mr. Jacob.”

  Jacob put down his towel and grinned. “So am I.”

  Willow handed him the Bible and smiled. She had the baby in the crook of her arm. “I thought Gabe might like to hear the story, too. If that’s all right?”

  He would have liked for it to have just been him and Daisy, but Jacob wasn’t about to stop Willow from listening to God’s word. “Of course he can listen.”

  “I want to hear about the lions again.” Daisy climbed into his lap.

  Jacob inhaled the little girl’s fragrance. “You smell like vanilla,” he said, tickling her.

  She giggled. “That’s cause I put some behind my ear this afternoon.”

  “You put icing behind your ear?” Lilly asked. She leaned down and looked behind Daisy’s ear.

  “Uh-huh,” Daisy answered.

  Jacob felt Lilly’s hair brush his cheek as she sniffed at Daisy. It felt as velvety soft as it looked. The impulse to reach out and touch the silky strands almost overpowered him. Thankfully, Lilly stood up.

  Willow shook her head. “You keep putting sweet stuff behind your ears and the ants are going to crawl in bed with you and gobble you up.” She smiled to take the sting from her words.

  Jacob positioned Daisy on his knee and then opened the Bible to the book of Daniel. He read the story of Daniel in the lion’s den. As he read, Jacob roared like the lions and shouted for joy when the king saw that the lions’ mouths were closed. He enjoyed reading to them all and ended with a smile.

  At the end of the story, Willow announced it was bedtime. She tucked Gabe close to her and waited for Daisy to say good-night to Jacob and Lilly.

  Daisy hugged Jacob and whispered in his ear, “I love you, Mr. Jacob.” Then she scurried from his knee, hugged Lilly good-night and ran out of the room.

  Willow followed, carrying a sleeping Gabe.

  Those were the sweetest words Jacob had ever heard. He stood. “Thank you for the meal, Lilly. Would you mind if I took a slice of cake to Caleb? I’m sure the boy would enjoy it as much as I did.” His intention was to leave as quickly as possible and savor the joy Daisy’s words had given him.

  Lilly put two large slices of cake onto a plate and handed it to him. “Here you go. I thought you might like the second slice.”

  Jacob took the plate and planted a quick kiss on Lilly’s cheek. Then he hurried from the room before she recovered from the shock of his actions. The cool evening air hit his cheeks and he laughed. He’d been wanting to kiss her for several days now. That wasn’t the sweet kiss he’d thought about but it had been fun to see her reaction to his lips on her cheek.

  Caleb waited in the barn. “Did you remember to bring me dessert?” he asked, eyeballing the plate in Jacob’s hand.

  “Sure did. Carrot cake.” Jacob walked to his room. “Let’s eat it in here.”

  Caleb laughed. “I’m glad you remembered my cake but you forgot your hat.” He followed so close that Jacob feared the boy would step on the heels of his boots.

  Jacob pulled a plate from his cupboard and dished up the larger piece of cake onto it. Then he pulled a fork from the crock and handed both to Caleb. “Here, eat this. I’ll go back for my hat.”

  He didn’t have to tell Caleb twice. The boy had already slid into the chair beside the bed and begun eating.

  Just before he left the room, Jacob ordered, “Don’t eat that second piece, that’s my breakfast.”

  Caleb nodded and kept chewing happily.

  If he wasn’t heading to town early in the morning, Jacob would have been tempted to leave the hat and get it at breakfast. His heart felt light as he thought about his plans. He’d been thinking a lot over the last week about women, mostly about his own mother, and had decided he couldn’t judge all women based on her.

  Lilly was a sweet woman. She’d laughed and teased with him. It felt good. Almost like they were a family.

  He heard her voice as he walked up to the back door. Jacob decided to just listen to the sound for a moment before entering. Leaning against the door frame he listened. He had to admit Lilly’s voice soothed him. Jacob knew he was beginning to care for Lilly but told himself he was in control and wouldn’t allow her into his heart.

  * * *

  “How about a cup of tea?” Lilly offered Willow, dropping her hand from her cheek.

  “I’d love a cup.” She slipped into one of the kitchen chairs. “So what’s with you and Jacob?”

  Lilly laughed nervously, wondering if Willow had seen Jacob kiss her before he’d left. “What do you mean?”

  Willow’s eyes shone with pleasure. “You know what I mean. You two seem pretty friendly and he’s the only ranch hand that is allowed to have meals at the house. Now why is that?” She steepled her fingers and raised an eyebrow.

  Lilly waved the question away. “Oh, it’s not what you think.” She carried both cups of tea to the table. Lilly pulled out a chair and joined Willow. “I guess I should tell you, especially since you are taking care of Daisy.” Maybe she should wait until breakfast when Jacob would be there, too. But if she did wait, then Daisy would be there and they didn’t want to tell the little girl yet.

  “Tell me what?” Concern filled
the widow’s voice.

  Lilly made the decision to tell the nanny everything. “You have to promise not to tell anyone. Daisy doesn’t even know what I’m about to tell you.” She searched the other woman’s face.

  “Of course I’m not going to say anything. Would you stop being so dramatic and just tell me already.” The irritation in Willow’s voice came through loud and clear.

  Lilly decided it would be best to tell her now. “Jacob is Daisy’s brother.”

  Willow gasped. “So Jacob is your brother, too?”

  Lilly shook her head. She didn’t think of Jacob as a brother. “Oh, no. I should have said he’s Daisy’s half brother. Daisy and I share the same father and Jacob and Daisy share the same mother.”

  Willow dropped her voice. “So why is this a secret?”

  Lilly sighed, really wishing Jacob was there to help her explain what happened and why they felt the need for secrecy. “A couple of weeks ago, someone took Daisy from her bedroom in the early morning hours, while she was sleeping, and left her in a ravine. Jacob saved her from the cattle that were stampeding through the gorge.”

  Willow’s gasp filled the kitchen. “Someone is trying to hurt Daisy?”

  “It would seem so but no further attempts have been made.” Lilly was thankful for that. She sipped at her warm tea.

  Willow stared at her. “I’m still confused. How did Jacob know where she was and how come you didn’t take whoever took her to the sheriff?” She ran her hands through her hair, looking perplexed.

  “Jacob was at that very moment on his way to the ranch to work as the Pony Express stock tender. He hadn’t arrived yet and he didn’t even know that Daisy was his sister at the time. He just saw her and saved her from the cattle. We didn’t see anyone else there so that’s why we haven’t said anything to the sheriff. Oh, and it wasn’t until later that we discovered they are related.” Lilly felt as if she’d made a shambles out of her explanation. It was no wonder that Willow looked like someone who’d just suffered a tragic moment in their life.

  Willow ran her hand over her face. She looked at Lilly with concern in her eyes. “And you don’t want anyone to know because if they figure out that Jacob is her brother they might do something to hurt him, too, and then have the freedom to get to her again with him out of the picture.” Willow sighed. “That’s a tough one.” She started to take a drink of her tea but lowered the cup instead.