Her hand snaked across the table. She placed it on his forearm and said, “Thank you. With Sam gone I don’t know who I can trust.”
He patted her hand. “Trust yourself and God. Having the breakfast in the morning is a good start.”
Since Jacob was going to stay on anyway, Lilly wondered if he might be interested in being her new foreman. “Thanks. I’m curious about something.” Aware they were still touching one another she slowly pulled her hand away.
“What’s that?” He frowned and looked down at his arm.
“What is Mr. McConnell asking for his farm?” And can you afford it? She didn’t verbalize the last part but thought it.
Jacob shrugged. “I don’t know. He said he was going to offer it to you and didn’t answer when I asked the price. But he did throw out the word cheap,” he answered with a grin.
“That sounds promising.” She smiled. “I’d like to offer you another job. The extra money might help in purchasing the place.”
“What kind of job?” Jacob asked, looking as if he had already guessed her thoughts.
“Ranch foreman.” She leaned back in her chair and waited to see what he’d say. Having him as her foreman would keep him on the ranch. Lilly smiled at her own cleverness.
Jacob stood and walked to the coffeepot, where he refilled his cup. “I will help out but I’m wondering if you need a ‘real’ foreman. I know all your men and they do their jobs and they do them well.”
“I’m sure they do but I have to know where and when money is being spent and on what. I need to know how many calves were born and...well, lots of stuff.” She waved her hands in front of her as if all those things were coming at her at once.
“I agree you do, but what if you put each of your men over one section of the ranch. Say Caleb over the pigs, chickens and milk cows. Cook over the cooking and bunkhouse duties. Also tell him each man has to have a weekly bath. That house stinks.” He grinned after he said that, but he pressed on. “Asher could take care of the horses, Hank could take care of the branding and fences and...well, you get the idea. Make the men responsible for their own sections of the ranch. They could report to you and you could oversee everything.” Jacob stopped again.
Lilly thought about what he said. It did make sense and might give the men pride in what they were doing, but still, what if one of them wasn’t doing his job? How would she know for sure?
“If you want to give me the title of foreman, that’s fine. But please stress that they all have their own jobs and duties and that I am there only to assist them. That way I can make sure that each of them are doing their jobs and still work the Pony Express without having to do the full foreman job.” He leaned a hip on the counter and took a sip of coffee.
Lilly nodded. “That’s a wonderful idea.”
Daisy ran into the room with her favorite rag doll and a blanket.
Jacob laughed. “It’s a little warm for a blanket, isn’t it?” he asked, scooping her up into his arms and giving her a big hug.
Lilly watched and listened to them. Was she being selfish in wanting Jacob to stay on the ranch? Was she doing it for Daisy? Or herself?
Now that she knew for certain that Jacob didn’t want her ranch, but was intent on a small farm of his own, Lilly felt she could remove the wall around her heart. But should she?
Chapter Twenty
The next morning Jacob went to the house with the rest of the men. He knew they thought the worst and he tried to cheer them up. “Come on, fellas, you don’t have to eat Cook’s breakfast this morning.”
“I’d eat Cook’s food any day, if it meant I still had a job,” Lewis grumbled. He was a man in his late twenties with broad shoulders, narrow hips and hair that hung to his shoulders. His high cheekbones hinted at his Indian heritage.
“Who said anything about getting fired?” Jacob asked, feeling bad for the men but not wanting to speak out of turn.
Caleb spoke up. “She fired Sam. None of us were expecting that. Not that I mind, but still.” He ducked his head and watched the tips of his boots as they continued to the house.
Jacob shook his head. Surely Caleb didn’t think she’d fire him. Lilly doted on him like a little brother. Didn’t he see that? “She invited me, didn’t she? And, I work for the Pony Express. Unless I take a job with her, she can’t fire me. So I doubt she’s going to fire all of you.”
Just as they got to the washbasin by the back door, Asher said, “Oh, well, I feel better already. She’s only going to fire some of us.”
“My adoptive mother says, ‘Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched.’ So stop worrying. You’ll find out soon enough what this is all about.” Jacob washed his hands and face and then hurried inside.
The kitchen had been changed to accommodate everyone for breakfast. Instead of the small table, Lilly had brought in a longer one made from sawhorses and wooden planks. There were four chairs on each side of the makeshift table and one at each end. Lilly sat at the head of the table. Willow sat on the left side of her and Daisy on the right.
A long sideboard covered one wall, where the coffeepot and platters of eggs, bacon, sausages and biscuits, and a bowl of gravy, awaited them.
Jacob felt the other men begin to come in at his back. He decided to start the self-serving. He picked up a plate from the stack and loaded it with food. At the end, he flipped over a cup and poured himself a cup of coffee.
“Jacob, come sit by me,” Daisy called.
Lilly stopped him. “No, Jacob, please sit at the end of the table. Everyone else can sit wherever they wish.” Her voice was firm but tender.
He liked that about Lilly. She was strong yet tender. He’d spent most of the night dreaming about his farm with Lilly by his side. Jacob knew it was a dream because Lilly would never leave the ranch to live on his small farm. And even if she did, why would she stay when she already had a big ranch with lots of men working for her? She wouldn’t. Realizing he was standing and staring at her, Jacob cleared his throat and said, “All right.”
Caleb had followed him in line and sat down by Daisy. “I’ll sit by you. I went by the barn this morning and your kittens’ eyes are fully open now and they are running around everywhere.”
“Can I go see them?” She looked to both Willow and Lilly.
Willow looked to Lilly.
The rest of the men sat down with full plates and cups.
Lilly answered. “I suppose so, if it’s all right with Willow.”
Willow smiled broadly. “I think it will be a fun outing.”
Daisy started to climb down from her chair.
“I meant after breakfast,” Willow said, halting the little girl’s escape.
Jacob noticed the men had gone completely silent and were just sitting there waiting to see what would happen next. Lilly also seemed to be aware of them and said, “Will everyone bow your heads for a quick word of thanks and then we’ll all eat.”
She said a short prayer of thanksgiving and then said, “Amen.”
The men raised their heads but none of them reached for their silverware. Jacob understood their hesitation. He looked to Lilly. “Maybe you could tell us why you called us all to breakfast.”
Lilly smiled. “Well, first off I want to give you all a raise.”
Shock, surprise and happiness filled the men’s faces. They slapped each other on the back and started talking all at once about how silly one or the other had been. He cleared his throat much like he would have done to his brothers back home to get their attention. As soon as they quieted down, he suggested, “Why don’t we let the boss lady finish.”
All heads turned to Lilly.
She smiled her thanks. “As you all know Sam left yesterday.”
Jacob admired the fact that she didn’t say Sam was fired. He watched the men’s h
eads bob in unison.
“Well, I thought about hiring a new foreman, but have decided to do something different here at the Johnson ranch. I would like to give each of you your own section of the ranch to run.”
Again the room burst into excited chatter.
Daisy clapped her hands and laughed. Willow shook her head at the antics of the men and Jacob decided to eat his breakfast. All the while Lilly waited patiently for the men to quiet down again.
He watched with a lowered head as Lilly motioned for Caleb to calm down the men. He elbowed Asher in the ribs, and Asher did the same to the man beside him and so on until they were all quiet once more.
“After breakfast, I’d like to meet with each of you. We’ll go over your duties and what I expect from you as far as reports and such.” At their understanding nods, she added, “I’ve asked Jacob to help me out.”
All eyes turned to Jacob. Cook said. “So he’s our new foreman?”
Lilly answered, pulling their attention back to her. “No and yes. No, he’s not like Sam. Jacob has agreed to help you out if you need something done in your section. Either by doing the work himself or, if his Pony Express duties won’t let him do that, he’ll get one of the other men to help you. But for the most part, you are your own boss. All I ask is that you remember that I’m the one who pays your salaries and that I’m the one you need to bring the big problems to. Such as missing cattle or poisoned water holes.” She watched the faces around her.
Jacob did, too. He’d expected anger from the more experienced men, but all he saw was smiles and nods. “I hope you all recognize what an honor this is. Miss Johnson has placed her trust in you. Don’t let her down.” There was a warning in his voice that he hoped each of them recognized.
“Can we eat now?” Daisy asked, hugging her doll close.
Lilly patted Daisy’s hand. “You sure can.”
Jacob hoped Daisy had learned something from Lilly this morning. She’d shown poise and grace to the men who worked for her. Lilly had immediately lessened their fears with the promise of a raise instead of the threat of firing. She was quite a woman. It was no wonder he dreamed of her at night.
* * *
Lilly sighed as the last man left the kitchen. She stretched out her back and yawned. Each man had expressed his thanks to her for the raise and the new responsibilities she’d given him. Jacob had left shortly after her announcements were complete because he was expecting a Pony Express rider this morning.
Caleb had been the first one she’d spoken to about his new duties and responsibilities and Asher had been second. She’d asked Asher if he’d clean out from under the rosebush while Daisy had her riding lesson with Jacob. The little girl would be happy to have her play area back.
Willow had cleaned the kitchen and retired to her room with the baby, something she did every morning while Jacob taught Daisy about horses and how to ride and take care of them.
Lilly suspected Willow enjoyed reading the Bible because she’d often catch her reading it while Daisy and Gabe napped. The thought reminded Lilly that she needed to pray and thank the Lord for the successful morning.
A howl of pain tore through the house. Lilly thought it came from the side of the house where Asher was cleaning out from under the rosebush.
Willow rushed from the bedroom with her Bible in hand. “What was that?”
Lilly answered as she walked to the door. “I don’t know but I think it was Asher.”
“Oh no!” Willow ran behind her.
Jacob and Daisy were running toward the house as well. He stopped in the yard and looked to Daisy. “Go inside and stay in your room,” he ordered.
“Lilly, do I have to? I want to see, too.”
Willow grabbed Daisy’s hand as Lilly said, “Yes. You do.”
Daisy dug her heels into the dirt. Willow picked her up and said, “Now is not the time, Daisy.” She hauled her into the house.
Lilly felt her insides shaking as she hurried around the side of the house. What would they find? Had Asher been bitten by a snake?
Jacob raced ahead of her calling out his name. “Asher! Where are you?”
His voice sounded faint. “In here.” It came from under the rosebush.
Jacob dropped to all fours and proceeded to climb in with the man.
Lilly watched helplessly. She had no idea how both men were going to fit in that small space. “Be careful.” She needlessly warned. Then after waiting all of five seconds, she asked, “Is he all right?”
She heard Jacob say. “Hold on, buddy. This is going to hurt.”
“It already hurts,” Asher answered.
Something popped and Asher groaned.
Jacob crawled out of the bush. He held in his hand some kind of wicked-looking rusted trap. It had steel jaws covered in blood. “Cook!” he yelled.
The cook came out of the bunkhouse wiping his hands on his stained apron. “Yeah!” he called back.
“Go get Caleb. He’s at the pigpen,” Jacob called back.
Hearing the urgency in Jacob’s voice, the cook took off at a run for the young man.
Jacob turned to Lilly. “Asher passed out from the pain. I’m pretty sure his wrist is broken. We’ll send Caleb for the doctor on one of the Pony Express horses.”
Lilly nodded, but she couldn’t take her eyes off the ugly trap. How had it gotten under the rosebush? And why would anyone set it there? Unless they knew it was a place Daisy loved to play.
Caleb came running, followed more slowly by Cook.
Lilly stepped back and let Jacob take control.
“We need to get him out of there,” Jacob said to both men. “Caleb, you’re smaller. I want you to go in and support his head while Cook and I pull on his legs. Watch his right hand, it was caught in this trap. Put it on his chest before telling us it’s okay to pull.” Jacob slung the trap to the side and watched as Caleb slipped through the entry of the rosebush.
“Who would have set a trap there?” Cook asked, voicing Lilly’s earlier thoughts.
Jacob moved to the rosebush opening. “Don’t know. I’ll pull him to the entry and then when I get out, we’ll both pull Asher out.” He crawled inside the small space to grasp Asher’s boots.
Lilly watched helplessly. She hadn’t realized how big the rosebush was. There were now three grown men under its branches. No wonder Daisy enjoyed playing under there.
With all three men working, Asher soon lay on the ground in front of her. His wrist was bleeding pretty badly and she wondered how much blood he’d lost. Large puncture holes lined his wrist and a wicked-looking gash, split almost to the bone, traveled down one side.
“Bring him inside,” she ordered and then ran to the house. She needed hot, soapy water to clean the wounds and rags to bandage it up until the doctor could get there to sew him up.
Willow met her at the door. “I started water to heating as soon as I got Daisy settled in her room.” She fell into step behind Lilly. “What else can I do?”
They were in the kitchen. Lilly pulled a clean kitchen towel out of the drawer and handed it to Willow. “Tear this into strips that can go around a man’s wrist.”
“It’s bad, isn’t it?” Willow asked, moving to the table. She used her teeth to start the tear, then proceeded to make bandages.
Lilly pondered how much soap to use. The trap had been rusty, making it even more deadly. She scraped off a good portion and slowly mixed it with hot water.
The sound of the men bringing Asher inside had her running to the sitting area. “Put him in the spare bedroom. This way.” Lilly led them down the hall and to the last door on the right.
They worked together to lay down Asher. “Miss Lilly, this is going to ruin that fine quilt.”
She waved him away. “Its fine, Caleb.”
Jacob tur
ned to Caleb. “I’ve got a Pony Express horse saddled and ready to go. Do you think you can control him and get to town fast?”
“Yes, sir,” Caleb answered.
“Get Doc and then get right back here,” Jacob ordered, turning worried eyes on Asher.
Lilly noticed red lines already running up the young man’s arm. He groaned and moved his arm closer to his side.
Willow entered carrying the rags, soap and water. “We need to get that cleaned up as quickly as possible. Hopefully the lye will kill the infection.”
“Will Mr. Asher be all right?” Daisy asked from the doorway.
Jacob turned to the little girl. “Weren’t you told to stay in your room?” His words sounded strict.
Daisy ran from the doorway. The sound of her bedroom door slamming echoed through the house.
Lilly knew Jacob’s thinking followed the same path as hers. Someone had set that trap for Daisy. In his fear he’d spoken harsher than he’d intended. Did he feel as helpless as she did right now? Why would anyone want to hurt the little girl? If she’d been playing alone, Daisy could have died in the time it would have taken to find her. Why? Why would anyone want her dead?
Chapter Twenty-One
Jacob paced the hall as the doctor examined Asher. Fear and anger warred within him. Fear for Daisy and what could have happened and anger that it had happened to Asher. And so close to the house. How could he protect Daisy? Who was trying to hurt her? Maybe it was time to reveal that he was her brother and that someone was going to answer to him.
Lilly had gone to the kitchen to make a pot of fresh coffee for the men and tea for herself. News had traveled fast that Asher had been hurt. The men sat or stood out on the porch. Their voices were low and full of concern.
Jacob walked to the kitchen. Lilly sat at the table with a cup cradled between her hands. Her eyes were closed and her lips silently moved in prayer. He turned and left her to her prayers.
Pony Express Hero Page 17
