Rhonda Gibson - Pony Express Hero

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

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.