Pony Express Hero

Jacob recognized the town name El Dorado. “I’d be happy to go. Let me tell Cook so he doesn’t expect me for lunch.”

Caleb stood up from where he’d been kneeling in the back stall. “I’ll tell him for you,” he offered. Caleb grinned at Daisy. “Want to see the kittens while Jacob gets the wagon ready?” He shot a mischievous grin at Jacob.

Daisy’s blond braid bobbed as she nodded. She looked up at Lilly. “Can I, Lilly?” Weariness laced the little girl’s voice as if she feared her sister would say no.

“Yes, just remember they are still very little.”

“I will.” Daisy skipped the short distance to Caleb.

Jacob had missed the little girl’s voice and happy nature. He grinned. “I better get the wagon.” He started to leave the barn but stopped when he heard Lilly call out.

“Caleb?”

The young man popped his head up. “Yes, Miss Lilly?”

“Will you keep an eye on Daisy? I’d like to go fix a picnic lunch for the trip.” She nibbled at her bottom lip.

Jacob’s eyes met Caleb’s. He nodded to the young man.

“I’ll watch out for her,” Caleb agreed. “Don’t worry, we’ll stay here in the barn and watch the mama cat and kittens.”

She nodded. “I’ll be quick.” Lilly turned and saw Jacob. “Do you need help with the wagon?” she asked, tugging at her braid.

“No, I can take care of it,” he answered.

Lilly walked toward him. When she was at the door he said, “Caleb will take good care of her and I’ll be right outside.”

“I know.” Still she worried the tip of her braid. Then she turned toward the house and marched smartly away.

Jacob moved to the side of the barn where the wagon sat.

A heavy Irish accent drifted to Jacob. “Need help with getting that pulled to the front of the barn?” Asher asked.

Jacob glanced over his shoulder at the broad-shouldered man. Asher seemed good-natured. His red hair and green eyes made him very recognizable. He answered, “That would be nice.”

The big man grabbed the tongue of the wagon while Jacob pushed from behind. Within a minute they had the wagon standing in front of the big barn. The two men continued to work together until the horse was hitched up and ready to go.

“I could have gotten the wagon pulled around but your help made it much easier. Thanks.” He grinned at the Irishman.

“Happy to help. I suppose I should feed the hogs. I can hear their squeals from here.” He walked away.

The hog pens were farther away from the house. Asher scooped up two slop buckets as he passed the bunkhouse and then disappeared around the corner.

Jacob grinned. He liked Asher and couldn’t imagine that he’d harm man or beast. Still, he’d get to know him better before he trusted him or anyone else on the ranch other than Caleb. He walked back into the barn, where Caleb sat with Daisy on a bale of hay. “What are you two doing?” he asked. Then he saw the small fur ball in Caleb’s hands.

“Looking at the kitty,” Daisy whispered. “This is the one I want to keep.”

The kitten was still small and its yellow fur wasn’t very thick. “Aren’t you going to keep them all?” Jacob asked as he sat down across from them on a large bucket.

She shook her head. “No, Lilly only keeps two kitties on the ranch at a time.”

Caleb grinned. “The other two will go to the Lawrences, they own the farm to our right.”

The mother cat chose that moment to let her disapproval come through. She meowed loudly. “Sounds like you better put that baby back,” Jacob said as he stood and stretched.

He looked forward to this trip to town. Even though he’d come through it on his way to the Johnson ranch, Jacob planned to ask again about his mother. The sooner he found her, the sooner he’d have answers to his questions and get on with his life.

* * *

Knots filled Lilly’s stomach as she hurried back to the barn. The wagon looked ready to go. She placed the basket full of food and a couple of Daisy’s favorite toys behind the seat. Lilly inhaled deeply. Anticipation of Jacob’s reaction ate at her. Lilly tried to ignore the feeling, knowing she was doing the right thing.

She’d prayed earnestly, asking God what to do with the new knowledge that Jacob’s mother and her stepmother were one and the same. Lilly didn’t want to tell him because she feared he’d want to take over Daisy’s upbringing. She also feared he’d think the ranch belonged to him, too. But, after much prayer, Lilly felt it wouldn’t be right to keep the truth from Jacob.

The thought of him continuing his search for his deceased mother saddened her. Knowing would be better for him than not knowing. This was something she had to do. She released the pent-up air.

Lilly walked the short distance to the barn and stepped into the doorway. Jacob stood. He stretched out his back and flexed his wide shoulders. She quaked at what his reaction might be to the news she’d been holding onto for the last few days.

Jacob had given her no reason to fear him and yet she did. Lilly knew the fear wasn’t for herself but for Daisy. Not that he’d hurt her, but that he’d take her away.

Jacob turned as if sensing her nearness. “About ready?” he asked.

Lilly nodded, unwilling to speak in case her voice gave out on her. She had to get these emotions under control.

Daisy ran around Jacob and looked up at her sister. “I know which kitty I want.” She bounced around like a happy puppy.

“You do?” Lilly smiled as the little girl’s braid flopped about her shoulders.

“Uh-huh. The orange one.” Daisy grabbed Lilly’s hand and pulled.

Lilly stood her ground. “Daisy, what have I told you about pulling on people?”

Daisy dropped her hand and her head. “Not to.”

“That’s right. Where were you going to pull me to?” Lilly asked, as she tried not to smile at her sister’s antics.

Daisy looked up at her with big eyes. “I was going to show you my kitty.” Her bottom lip pouted out.

Lilly kneeled down beside the little girl. “I think that is very sweet but I also think we should leave the kittens alone for a few more days.” She saw Daisy inhale and a protest form on her little mouth. Lilly interrupted quickly. “It won’t be that long and you don’t want the mama to hide them, do you?”

“No.” The dejection in the little girl’s voice tugged at her.

She stood. “I tell you what, when we get to town you can buy a small sack of lemon drops. How does that sound?”

The bouncing began again. “Come on, Mr. Jacob.” Daisy ran around Lilly and started climbing into the wagon.

At the sound of his warm chuckle, Lilly shook her head. It amused her that he found Daisy comical now, but just wait until he had to deal with one of her crying spells. Then he wouldn’t be laughing. She followed Daisy to the wagon.

Jacob hurried around her and offered his hand to assist her up. Surprised by his speed, she lay her hand in his. Lilly told herself that it was because of the skirt and her fear of catching the tips of her boots in the hem that she allowed him to help her.

His warm, callused palm held tightly to hers as she raised herself into the wagon. “Thank you.” Lilly sat down and made sure her skirt covered her legs. The warmth of his touch remained on her hand, making the other feel cool.

Within moments he was on the seat beside her. He looked over his shoulder at Daisy, checking to make sure she remained seated in the back of the wagon, and then quirked a brow at her. “Everyone ready?”

“I am.” Daisy smoothed the yarn on her rag doll’s head.

Lilly nodded. She folded her hands in her lap and stared straight ahead, wishing he wasn’t quite so nice because she had to figure out how to break the news to him. She couldn’t quite fathom what that had to do with anything, but then these days her mind was a crazy mixture of hope and fear; hope that she was wrong that someone wanted to hurt Daisy and fear that someone truly did.

Jacob gently slapped the reins over the horse’s back and clicked his tongue to get her to go. The wagon lurched and the wheels ground the dirt as they took off. Lilly tried to choose which of the several ways she’d thought through on how to broach the subject of his mother.

She could hear Daisy talking to her doll and the little wooden horse that she’d brought along to play with. Should she say something in front of her little sister? After all, Daisy and Jacob shared the same mother. Lilly had no idea how Daisy would feel. Could someone that small—that young—even understand what it meant? Would Jacob want to tell Daisy himself?

Jacob’s rich voice broke the silence. “This is a nice ranch. I hope you don’t mind but I rode the fence lines and checked out some of the ravines on the property.”

Lilly glanced at him. “No, I don’t mind.” She nibbled at her bottom lip.

They fell into silence once more. Daisy told her doll and horse all about the kittens in the barn. Lilly listened as she chattered about the yellow kitty and how they were going to be the bestest of friends.

She glanced in Jacob’s direction and saw the soft smile on his face. He was either listening to Daisy, too, or deep in his own thoughts. Lilly looked across the pasture they were passing. It had recently been cut and the grass gathered for feed. The sounds of birds in the nearby trees chirping their happiness soothed her troubled thoughts.

In a quiet voice, Lilly said, “Jacob, I’d like to stop someplace for lunch before we get to town.”

Daisy piped up from behind them. “I’m hungry.”

Just as she thought, the little girl had been listening to them. Lilly answered, “Me, too.” She hadn’t eaten much breakfast. Worry had consumed her and the thought of food hadn’t appealed at the time.

“I could use a bite to eat, too,” Jacob agreed. “If I remember right, there is a little stream up the road. Would that be a good place to stop?”

“Yes!” Daisy squealed. “Lilly and I stop there all the time.”

Lilly grinned as she relived memories of wading in the cool water, first with her father and later with Daisy. She realized he was watching her expression and answered, “Yes, it’s a favorite spot of ours.”

At Daisy’s gleeful squeal, Jacob set the horse into a trot and said, “The sooner we get there the sooner we eat.”

Daisy laughed and encouraged him to go faster. As if the horse sensed the little girl’s urgency it trotted faster. Lilly found herself laughing with her sister and enjoying the ride. Her hair escaped her braid and teased the side of her face. Lilly knew she’d look a sight if they didn’t get to the stream soon.

Jacob pulled the wagon off the road and headed for a cluster of trees, where he stopped the horse and set the brake. He turned to smile at her. “Hope you brought plenty. I’m starved.”

She pushed her hair back. “I believe I did.”

“Good, ’cause I’m starving, too,” Daisy said, slumping against the seat as if weak from hunger.

“Daisy, you really are a mess. You know that?” Jacob asked, jumping from the wagon as laughter spilled from his throat.

She laughed, too, and jumped from the wagon. Lilly held her breath as Daisy sailed over the side of the wagon through the air. Jacob caught her up and swung her around. In one action Daisy showed the two adults just how much she trusted Jacob. How much more would she trust him once she learned he was her brother?

New fearful thoughts entered her mind. What if Daisy wanted to live with Jacob when he returned to his Wyoming family? Would the little girl leave her? Could she bear it if Daisy did leave?

Chapter Five

Jacob watched Lilly’s face as she set down the picnic basket under the tall tree he’d chosen to have their lunch below. Where had the joy gone that had filled her face minutes earlier? She gnawed at her bottom lip as she pulled food from the basket and her change in mood gnawed at him. Something wasn’t quite up to par, but he’d be hanged if he knew what it was.

Daisy kneeled beside her sister and peered into the hamper. “I want a cookie.” Her small hand reached inside but quickly came back out when Lilly slapped it.

“No, not now. You have to eat a sandwich first, then you can have a cookie.” She pulled out a ready-made sandwich and handed it to her sister.

Daisy frowned at it. “Can I eat it by the water?” Her lower lip puckered out as if she was going to cry.

Lilly reached out and tugged at Daisy’s braid. “Only if you stop pouting and drink all your milk.”

Daisy sucked in her lip and nodded. She took the bottle of milk that Lilly handed her. “Thanks.” Then with her sandwich in one hand and the milk in the other, she skipped away to the water’s edge.

“Don’t get your boots wet!” Lilly called after her.

Jacob joined her under the tree.

“I won’t,” Daisy called back.

He sat down on the ground beside the picnic basket. “If I eat all my sandwich, can I have a cookie, too?” Jacob hoped his teasing would bring back the joy they’d shared earlier.

She offered what he considered a weak smile. “Sure.” She handed him a sandwich wrapped in cheesecloth.

Jacob took the sandwich. “Thank you.” He waited until she’d finished setting out the food and drinks and then asked, “Is something bothering you?”

Lilly studied his face. What she looked for, Jacob couldn’t say. He held her gaze, waiting. She looked away, tucking a strand of hair behind one small ear.

“I have to tell you something.” She played with the corner of her cheesecloth-covered sandwich.

From the way she was gnawing at her lip, Jacob was pretty sure whatever she had to tell him was pretty important to her. “All right.” He unwrapped the cheesecloth and pulled a piece of ham out from between the bread. Jacob hoped by acting normal it would put her at ease. He bit into the sweet ham and waited.

“Remember when I told you my father remarried?” She looked up at him.

“Yes.” Jacob found himself nodding as if to assure her he remembered.

“Well, I realized the other day, when you told me your last name, that my stepmother was your mother.” She swallowed hard. “I haven’t been sure how to tell you.”

Her words struck him like lightning hitting a tree. A loud roar began in his head and white-hot pain hit his heart. His eyes burned as the words ricocheted through his mind. His mother was dead. A part of him wanted to grieve, the other part wanted to be angry.

To fight the grief Jacob focused on the anger. He stood to his feet. His mother had not only abandoned him as a ten-year-old, but now he also felt like she’d abandoned him once again. Now he’d never know why she’d left him at the orphanage.

“I’m sorry, Jacob. I should have told you the other day.” Sadness filled her voice.

Jacob wanted to be angry with her but couldn’t be. Hadn’t he already thought that her stepmother and his mother might be the same person? Jacob knew that he had but hadn’t wanted to believe that it was possible.

He sighed and handed her his uneaten sandwich. “Thank you for telling me, Lilly.” He turned away. The stinging in his eyes was getting worse. Grown men didn’t cry in front of others. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.” His throat felt raw as he walked down the bank of the stream away from Lilly and Daisy.

Unwanted tears streamed down his face as Jacob thought of the loss of his mother. He sat down on a fallen log beside the water’s edge. Jacob had convinced himself that he’d replaced his love for his birth mother with hate, but now knew that wasn’t true. She’d been his mother no matter what reason she’d deserted him. He still loved her even if she didn’t love him.

“Mr. Jacob?”

At the sound of Daisy’s voice behind him, Jacob wiped at his eyes. He turned slowly to face the little girl. “Yes, Daisy?”

“Are you all right? Lilly said I should leave you alone, but...” She walked around the log and saw his face. Daisy stopped and completed her sentence. “I didn’t listen and snuck off.” She reached up and touched his damp cheek. “Are you sad?”

He placed his hand over hers. “I am.”

She climbed into his lap and laid her head on his chest. “Why?” Her little hand rested on his shoulder.

Jacob curled his arms around her small body. “I just found out that my ma is dead.”

Daisy snuggled closer. “Oh, my ma is dead, too.”

He tightened his arms around her as he realized that Daisy’s ma and his were the same. “I know.” Jacob rested his chin on the top of her head. Was that the reason Lilly had been afraid to tell him? Did she think he’d take Daisy away from her?

Jacob inhaled the little girl’s soft scent. Now that he knew he had a real sister, would he be able to leave her with Lilly?

Grief and confusion washed over him. Jacob held his little sister close and silently prayed. He didn’t want to hurt Lilly, but now that he knew Daisy was his flesh and blood, he’d never leave her. She was all the real family he had left.

* * *

Lilly’s fears grew as Jacob and Daisy came back to camp. He held the little girl’s hand in his and new determination filled his eyes. She’d seen Daisy follow him but hadn’t tried to stop her.

“Lilly, I ate all my sandwich.” Daisy smiled happily. “Can I have my cookie now?”

“Yes, you can.” Had Jacob told Daisy he was her brother? She turned to get Daisy a cookie from the small bowl she’d brought with them.

Daisy took it with a smile. “Mr. Jacob would like his cookie, too, but he didn’t eat his sandwich yet.”

Mr. Jacob? Lilly looked to Jacob. Would Daisy still call him “Mister” if Jacob had told her that she was his sister? Lilly didn’t think so.

“I have to finish my sandwich before I get my cookie. Isn’t that right, Lilly?” Jacob raised an eyebrow in question.

“Afraid so. Daisy, why don’t you take your boots off and wade at the edge of the stream while you eat your cookie? As soon as Jacob finishes his lunch we’ll be heading on into town,” Lilly answered.

Daisy sat down and began pulling at her boots. Her cookie clamped between her lips. Jacob reached down and pulled a boot from her foot. She managed to get the other off and drew the cookie from between her teeth. “Eat real slow, Mr. Jacob. I want to splash in the water for a long time.”

He laughed. “Then you better get going.”

Daisy squealed and ran for the stream’s edge. Her braid swung against her back. The sound of the water splashing as her bare feet hit it brought a smile to Lilly’s face.

Lilly handed him his sandwich. She’d rewrapped it so that the bread wouldn’t get dry. “I could never run like that on this ground with my socks and shoes off.”

Jacob took it from her and once more unwrapped it. “She’s really something, isn’t she?” He took a big bite from the sandwich.

Lilly looked at him. “Yes, she is.” She paused. “You didn’t tell her, did you?”

Jacob shook his head. “No, I thought it might be better to wait.”

What was he waiting for? What were his plans? The questions slammed against her brain. Would he tell her when he was ready to leave?

“I thought we’d keep the knowledge that she’s my half sister between us.” His brown eyes watched her as he chewed.

Lilly couldn’t keep the tremble from her voice. “Why?”

“I wanted to tell her, but if I do she’ll tell everyone else and I’m not sure I want others to know yet.” He wiped at the crumbs that clung to his upper lip.

She didn’t understand. Why wouldn’t he want Daisy to tell others? Lilly refused to ask why again. She focused instead on nibbling the sugar off a cookie.

“If we tell her and she lets everyone know, then the person who kidnapped her the other day will have some kind of reaction. And I’m not sure if the results will be good or bad.” Jacob took another bite of sandwich and looked out to where their sister now played in the water.

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.”