Rhonda Gibson - Pony Express Hero

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.”

“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.”