Pony Express Hero

by Rhonda Gibson

  Jacob stood and stepped around the ladies. “Mmm, it’s getting a little mushy for me. Think I’ll go get the tools and head down to the pond for some blackberry vines.”

  * * *

  Lilly took her time getting to the pond. Jacob had gone ahead while she and Willow had a good old-fashioned crying fest. Lilly had been bursting inside with so many emotions she had no idea how to handle. Willow shared some of the changes she’d like to make in the house but needed approval from Lilly. It seemed Willow had hidden talents with paint and decorating and had been champing at the bit to try her hand in the kitchen. Lilly told her to go right ahead. Her only stipulation had been that Willow taught her, too.

  Lilly shared with her the turn of events in the garden with Jacob.

  “Do you love him?” Willow asked.

  “I don’t know what love is. When I’m with him I like how I feel.”

  “And how’s that?”

  Lilly had difficulty explaining. “Like things are right with the world. I feel protected.”

  “Then just relax and enjoy your time together. When it gets to the place where he’s the last thing on your mind at night and the first thing when you wake, then you’re ready for the next step.”

  “What’s the next step?”

  “Marriage.”

  “Oh.” Lilly thought she would have recoiled from that idea, but instead it beckoned to her like it never had before. Now as she walked the path to meet him, she savored this new knowledge and hoped against hope that Jacob was the one God had chosen for her.

  Then she saw him, standing at the end of the path, waiting for her. He quite openly studied her and started to speak, but then turned away, his muscles tense and his head cocked to the side as if listening.

  Was something wrong? And if so, what? She stopped, wondering what had caused him to turn from her like that.

  * * *

  Just when he was about to accuse Lilly of daydreaming, Jacob heard someone approach behind him. He turned and saw two men ride up on the other side of the pond. He didn’t recognize them or the horses.

  Lilly joined him. “Do you recognize them?” she asked.

  “No, you?” He purposely lowered his voice.

  “No,” Lilly whispered. “I suppose we should find out what they are doing on Johnson land.” She started to walk into the clearing up to the water’s edge.

  Jacob reached out and touched her arm, keeping her partially hidden. “Hold up. I should be the one to confront them. Not you.”

  She opened her mouth to protest. Jacob laid a hand over her lips, encircled her with his arm and motioned for her to look back toward the men. Lilly watched as a third man rode up to the other two.

  Slowly, Jacob removed his hand. “It’s Sam.”

  “I can see it’s Sam. What’s he doing here? I fired him.”

  “I don’t know but I intend to find out.” Jacob walked to the wagon. Thankfully he had brought his own horse as well as the one that pulled the wagon.

  “Be careful.”

  He swung into the saddle. “I will. Keep out of sight.”

  Had he seen concern for him in her eyes? He wanted to think so. Lilly hadn’t said whether he mattered to her or not, and though he felt she reciprocated his feelings, it would be nice to know for certain. He shook his head. He didn’t have time for such thoughts.

  He splashed in the water’s edge as he rode around the pond toward the three men. As soon as they spotted him, all three men turned their horses and took off. Jacob hadn’t expected Sam Hawkins to turn tail and run.

  It just proved that the man had something to hide. Sam had been up to no good since Jacob had met him. He wanted to give chase but feared they’d circle back and hurt Lilly.

  Jacob turned his horse around and rode back to her. “Get the wagon and let’s head back to the house.” He didn’t give her time to protest but continued on to the wagon.

  Lilly did as he asked. She climbed aboard the wagon and started back toward the house. “Why do you think they ran?”

  “Probably weren’t expecting me, or anyone for that matter, to be around. They are up to something and it’s not good.” Jacob’s anger poured from him like mud down a slide.

  When they entered the yard, Willow and Daisy came from the house. Jacob stopped beside the wagon. “I’m going into town and let the sheriff know that Sam and a couple of men have been prowling around on your ranch. I’ll be back as fast as I can.”

  At her nod, Jacob turned his horse and took off for town at a hard run. His family was in danger and he wanted to do all he could to stop whatever Sam and his men were up to. Jacob realized he might have waited too long to involve the sheriff.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Lilly climbed down from the wagon. She watched as Jacob sped from the yard. She’d known he was upset the moment his warm fingers had covered her lips. His jaw had been tight when he’d returned.

  It had surprised her that Sam and the two other men had run from Jacob. As long as she’d known him, Sam Hawkins had never run from a fight. So why had he today? A shiver ran down her spine.

  “What’s happened?” Willow hurried down the stairs to meet her.

  “Sam and a couple of men were on our land. They ran when they caught sight of Jacob.”

  “Mr. Sam came back?” Daisy climbed into the bed of the wagon.

  “He did.”

  Caleb and Edward had come from the barn and heard the conversation.

  “What’s he doing here?” Edward asked in a hard tone.

  Lilly shrugged. “Don’t know. When Jacob rode out to ask him, he ran.”

  “Sam Hawkins ran?” Caleb’s eyes were the size of a small dessert plate. “I’ve seen him face rattlesnakes.”

  “And poachers,” Edward said. “Maybe one of us should ride into town with Jacob.”

  Lilly’s looked down the road. “It’s too late, he’s probably halfway there by now.”

  Edward nodded. “Maybe so, but if it’s all the same to you, I’d like to go after him. Two men traveling is better than one against three.”

  She didn’t have to be told that Edward feared the trio might ambush Jacob either on his way to town or back. “Thanks, Edward. Just be careful.”

  “Will do, ma’am.” He turned and ran for the barn.

  Caleb looked to Lilly. “According to the schedule Jacob keeps on the barn wall, there should be an Express rider coming through here in an hour or so. I reckon he forgot.”

  Lilly hadn’t thought about the Express riders until now. “Do you know what needs to be done?”

  “Yep, I’ve watched him do it lots of times.” Caleb turned to go to the barn. “I don’t imagine it matters who saddles the horse as long as it’s done.”

  “Thank you, Caleb.” Lilly turned back to Willow and Daisy. “I’m going to put the wagon up, then let’s get a cool drink and sit a spell.” Willow raised her arms to Daisy. “Come on, little miss. We’ll check on Gabe and then come sit out on the porch with Lilly before we have to get back to work.”

  “Aw, Willow, he’s just sleeping. He’s always sleeping. Can’t I go to the barn and play with the kittens?” She leaned down and let Willow lower her to the ground.

  Lilly answered. “No, they are busy at the barn. Maybe before supper we can go and we’ll take the horses out for a ride, too.”

  The promise of riding the horses had Daisy running to the house. She flew her doll in the air and raced up the steps. The door slammed behind her as she continued into the house.

  Willow grimaced. “Well, if he was sleeping before, I doubt he is now.”

  Lilly offered a sympathetic smile. “Sorry.” She started to the barn but Caleb took the reins from her.

  “I’ll put the wagon up. Might as well kill two birds with one sto
ne.”

  “Thanks, Caleb. Today I will let you with no argument.”

  The two women continued toward the house. Willow asked, “What do you think Sam is up to?”

  “I’ve no idea.” He hadn’t acted angry the day she’d let him go. If anything he’d been very nonchalant.

  Willow stopped on the porch. “I know you don’t want to think about this, but is it possible he was the one stealing your cattle?”

  Lilly certainly didn’t want to think that, but deep down she knew it was a good possibility. “Anything’s possible.” She opened the door.

  The smell of roasting meat filled the air along with the high-pitched cry of a baby. Willow grinned. “Duty calls.” She headed down the hallway to where Daisy and the baby waited.

  Lilly chuckled when she heard Daisy say, “I was wrong, he’s awake.” Her humor fled almost as fast as it had arrived.

  She continued to the kitchen, where she grabbed a glass and filled it with cool water from the water bucket. Lilly didn’t want to stay cooped up in the house so she went back outside with her drink.

  “Afternoon, Miss Lilly.” The Irish brogue alerted her to who was sitting on her porch.

  But what was he doing there? She turned to Asher. “You shouldn’t be here.” She noted he had a hand gun lying in his lap.

  “This is exactly where I should be.” His red hair looked ruffled without a hat on it. “Caleb tells me Sam is lurking about on your land.”

  She leaned against the porch rail. “He is. We saw him out by the pond.” Lilly looked at the gun. “Do you think that is necessary here at the house?”

  His green eyes bore into hers. “I do. I promised Jacob I’d take care of his family. If Sam comes anywhere near here, that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

  “Asher, I know you have good intentions but with that hand bound up as it is, I’m not sure you could hit the broad side of the barn.”

  White teeth flashed. “I’m left-handed, Miss Lilly. I can shoot the whiskers off a rabbit out in the pasture from here.” The smile on his face said he was confident but it was his eyes that spoke volumes. There was no doubt in Lilly’s mind that Asher would shoot anyone who threatened Daisy.

  “I’m glad you are here to protect Daisy. Thank you, Asher.” She took a sip of her water, wishing that Jacob might care for a woman like he did his sister. This afternoon she’d seen concern and something more in his eyes for her. He said she mattered to him. He hadn’t mentioned love, but then again, neither had she. There might be another reason he said he cared. Maybe it was for Daisy.

  A warm chuckle drifted from Asher. He gazed out over the yard, his eyes moving constantly back and forth. “I’m not here just to protect Daisy. Jacob loves you both.”

  Lilly frowned. “I don’t know where you and Caleb get these ideas.”

  “From Jacob. He looks at you differently when you aren’t aware.” Asher smiled up at her. “The man cares about you. But—” he grinned wider “—you didn’t hear it from me.”

  She felt her face flush. Was Asher right? Did Jacob truly care about her? She had felt their talk in the garden bordered on romantic—her heart whispered to trust that it was so. But should she hang her hopes on the words important and matter? Jacob hadn’t made it perfectly clear. Maybe that’s the way men were. Maybe Asher and Caleb were seeing things that weren’t there.

  * * *

  Jacob returned to the ranch discouraged. The sheriff had listened to him but said unless Sam did more than just meet a couple of men on the property, there wasn’t much he could do. He promised to talk to Sam and remind him that Miss Johnson didn’t want him on her land.

  Edward met him on the outskirts of town. “Mind if I ride back with you?” he asked, looking as if he’d just arrived.

  “No, I’d appreciate the company.” He looked sideways at the man. “Did Lilly send you?”

  Edward spit off to the right-hand side of the horse. “Nope, came up with the idea myself. Got to thinking that those fellas might be braver around one man, but two might make them think before they started anything.”

  “Good thinking.”

  They rode in silence for several long minutes. Jacob couldn’t stand it any longer and said, “So, who’s watching the ranch house?”

  “Caleb and Asher. I’m sure by now Lewis has come in from feeding and is keeping a watch out, too.” He rubbed his nose.

  “Good.” Jacob relaxed in the saddle. Maybe he was being overcautious. Why would Sam attack Daisy and Lilly now? He’d had years to do so. But if it wasn’t Sam that had attempted to hurt Daisy twice, then who was it?

  Jacob caught himself glancing uneasily over his shoulder. His gut told him Sam was at the root of all the problems at the ranch and the nagging in the back of his mind refused to be stilled. There had to be a way to prove it, but how? His mind floundered.

  Edward was a quiet man so Jacob wasn’t surprised when they rode into the ranch yard with hardly ten more words between them. “I appreciate you riding back with me, Edward.”

  The other man nodded. “I hope Cook fixed something besides beans and fatback for dinner tonight.” He slid off his horse and walked him the rest of the way to the barn. “Every now and then a man needs a little meat added to the menu.”

  “I hear you.” Jacob walked his horse to the house. He tied his reins on the railing. Dusk descended and a cool breeze rustled through the honeysuckle and shrubs. Jacob sensed someone standing in the shadows of the porch.

  “I take it you didn’t run in to Sam again.”

  He relaxed as he recognized the Irish lilt in Asher’s voice. “Nope.”

  Asher stepped from the shadows. “What did the sheriff say?”

  “Just that he’d check on Sam and remind him he’s not welcome here.” Jacob walked up on the porch. “You been out here long?”

  “All afternoon.”

  “Come on inside. We’ll grab some grub and head to bed.”

  Asher put his gun in the holster at his hip and followed him up the porch. “Caleb took care of your rider this afternoon.”

  Jacob stopped. He pulled his hat from his head and slapped it against his thigh. “I forgot all about him.”

  Asher sidestepped to keep from running in to Jacob. “It’s a done deal, Jacob. Caleb handled it. He got the horse ready and took care of signing off on the stop.”

  Jacob turned to retrace his steps. “I better go check and make sure he did it all correctly.”

  Asher stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. “There’s no need to skip dinner. The boy did fine. Your rider was here and gone in record time.”

  “Boy?” Jacob found it humorous that Asher called Caleb a boy when he was most likely the same age. “How old are you, Asher?” Jacob figured Asher might be a bit older than he appeared, but thought it wouldn’t hurt to know for sure.

  “Thirty. But that’s our secret. I don’t want these youngins calling me old man and such.”

  Jacob laughed, barely able to control his gasp of surprise. Asher didn’t even have the shadow of a beard this late in the day, and he sure didn’t have lines around his eyes from squinting in the California sun. Of course he always wore a hat for protection. “Your secret’s safe with me.” He turned back around and opened the door for Asher. It felt good to know there was someone on the ranch older than him, but Jacob wasn’t about to tell Asher that.

  The smell of peach pie filled the air. Jacob’s stomach growled in anticipation. It had been ages since he’d had the dessert and couldn’t wait to sample it.

  “Jacob? Is that you?” Lilly called from the kitchen.

  “Who were you expecting? Sam?”

  She smiled. Her gaze moved to Asher and a pretty pink filled her apple cheeks. “No, I just wanted to make sure it was you.”

  He looked from her to Ash
er. Asher grinned and headed for the table.

  “Sit down. I’ve saved you both a plate.” Lilly pulled two covered dishes from the back of the stove.

  Jacob didn’t know what to think. Had Lilly and Asher realized they liked each other while he was gone? He eased into his chair with a tired sigh. The thought troubled him more than he cared to admit. To his way of thinking, the special moment in the garden meant something was happening between him and Lilly. He’d thought she understood that.

  She sat the plates in front of them. “I’ll get you a cup of coffee.”

  “I’ll just have water, Miss Lilly,” Asher said, picking up his fork and digging into the meal.

  Jacob said a silent prayer over his dinner and then started eating, too. Why had she saved a second plate for Asher? Hadn’t he been the one to invite the man in?

  Lilly handed Asher his drink and then set a coffee cup in front of Jacob. “What did the sheriff say?”

  “That he’d look into it and remind Sam he wasn’t welcome here.” Jacob wondered how many times he’d have to repeat himself.

  Asher continued to eat but a knowing look had entered his eyes. Jacob studied the man. Would women find Asher attractive? He had grass-green eyes—not a lot of men had eyes that green. And his hair was a deep red. Again not many men had that color of hair. A dimple winked in his cheek when he smiled. Did women like dimples?

  His gaze moved to Lilly. She busied herself at the sideboard. “Asher, I told Willow about your love of peach cobbler and she baked you one this afternoon.” She carried the dessert plates to the table and sat them down in front of them.

  Asher looked up with pure joy on his face. “That smells and looks good enough to eat, Miss Lilly.” His gaze met hers and Lilly flushed crimson.

  Jacob wanted to pound his fist on the table and ask what in blue blazes was going on. But he knew that would be ungentlemanly of him so held back. A bitter jealousy stirred inside him. He recognized the emotion and felt guilty and selfish. He’d felt the same emotion when kids in the orphanage were adopted and he remained. Unloved and unacceptable. He’d thought he’d never experience these feelings once he was an adult.