A Pony Express Christmas. Rhonda Gibson

      Jake laughed. “Didn’t you see the look on her face? She thought of something she has and went to get it.”

      “Oh.” Leah rubbed her cold hands together. Earlier she’d been too busy to notice the cold but now with Molly gone, and aware she was alone with a stranger, Leah began to feel uneasy. With the thin gloves and even thinner coat she was beginning to feel chilled to the bone, too.

      “I hope Mrs. Frontz didn’t give you a hard time after I left,” Jake said, blowing on his own gloves to warm his hands.

      Leah felt a moment of embarrassment. “No, I didn’t give her the chance. Molly and I went up to our room after you left and then we sneaked outside while she was in the kitchen.”

      “I’m sorry. I should have stayed and explained to her what was happening.” Sorrow filled his warm eyes again.

      Leah reached out and touched his arm. “It’s all right. She didn’t come right out and ask me what we’d discussed. I wouldn’t have told her if she had. She’ll understand soon enough.” She didn’t need to tell him that it was his responsibility to tell his employers about Molly, not hers.

      Jake nodded. “Yes, I plan on telling everyone this evening before supper. But, I’d like to talk to Molly about it first.”

      “That would be best.”

      He seemed pleased at her response. “I hope you don’t mind but I’ve asked Mrs. Frontz if we can have lunch in private.”

      Leah turned big eyes on him. “I’m not sure that is such a good idea.” She rushed on before he could stop her. “I know you mean well but I want to be with you both when you tell Molly who you are. Right now, I’m the only person she trusts. I’m not comfortable sending her off alone with you. She might think I’ve abandoned her and I can’t have that.”

      Leah heard the conviction in her voice and realized she’d not let Molly face her future alone. She squared her shoulders and waited for Jake to argue.

      A grin filled his face. “I’m glad you care so much about her.”

      “I do.” Leah’s stomach growled just as Molly came running around the corner.

      He leaned close to her and his warm breath caressed her cheek. “It sounds like it’s a good thing I asked for an early lunch for three.”

      Jake turned from her to see what the little girl was waving in the air. Leah tilted her head and looked around him to see, too. Her heart sank. Molly had found Leah’s favorite pink ribbon.

      Jake bent at the waist to take it from her. His gaze moved to Leah’s face and he turned back to Molly. “Is this your pretty ribbon?” he asked.

      She shook her head and pointed to Leah.

      “Did you ask if we can use it?”

      Again, Molly shook her head. Her eyes beseeched Leah.

      Jake stood to his full height. For a moment Leah was worried he was going to scold the little girl. Jake surprised her by saying, “Well, I think it’s too pretty for a snowman. After lunch we’ll see what else we can find.” He handed the ribbon back to Molly. “Perhaps you should give this back to Miss Hollister.”

      Molly did as she was told but didn’t look too pleased.

      “Thank you, Molly.” Leah took the ribbon and then knelt down in front of the little girl. “From now on, you must ask me before you go through my things and take what you want.” Once the little girl had nodded sadly, Leah stood.

      “Who’s hungry?” Jake asked.

      Molly jumped up and down. She crossed to Jake and took his hand. Leah followed. It was obvious that Molly was already accepting Jake. The little girl wouldn’t need her here much longer.

      * * *

      Heat filled Jake’s face as he saw his room through Leah and Molly’s eyes. It was a tack room within the barn. Bridles, saddles and other riding equipment stood against the walls or hung on the walls. A bed, small wood stove and a little wooden table were all that stood in the room. A shirt hung on a makeshift clothesline but other than that, the room was tidy.

      Curiosity laced Molly’s expression while mild amusement seemed to fill Leah’s. He set the picnic basket on the table. “I know it’s not much, but stock tenders don’t normally require much.”

      In all honesty, he’d been surprised that Mrs. Frontz had agreed to let him bring Leah and Molly to his room. But, with some fast talking he’d convinced her that Molly would make the perfect chaperon and that they needed privacy to explain to Molly that he was her uncle, an uncle she’d never met.

      Leah’s voice pulled him back to the present. “It’s very nice.” Leah took off Molly’s wet gloves and coat.

      He almost snorted his amusement at her politeness but decided she wouldn’t take the action well. Instead, he pulled a chair up to the table. “I’m sorry. I only have the two chairs. You ladies may have them.”

      Molly scrambled onto the closest one and smiled up at him. Her brown eyes, so much like his brother’s, tore into his heart.

      “Molly and I can share.” Leah scooped the little girl up and sat down. The little girl squirmed in her lap and smiled across at him.

      Jake opened the basket. He wasn’t sure how to tell Molly that he was her uncle. Bitterness clawed at the back of his throat. What right did he have to raise his niece? He’d cut her parents out of his life five years ago. Sadness filled him because, without meaning to, he’d also cut this sweet little girl from his life.

      He placed sliced bread and ham wrapped in a towel on the table, followed by a jar of pickles and sugar cookies. He also pulled out three plates and a fork for the pickles. It wasn’t a large lunch but it was all that Mrs. Frontz had had time to pull together for them. Lastly he placed a jar of milk and three glasses on the table.

      “This looks wonderful.” Leah made a quick sandwich from the bread and ham. She placed it on one of the plates while he opened the pickle jar.

      As they worked together to prepare the simple meal, Molly watched. Jake felt as if her big eyes followed his every move. Was this what it felt like to be a parent?

      Once they each had a sandwich sitting in front of them, Jake sat down and blessed the food. It had been a while since he’d said grace because Mr. Frontz normally said the blessing. He kept it simple and said a quick amen.

      Molly reached for the sugar cookie on her plate.

      In a soft voice, Leah reminded her, “You have to eat half your sandwich and drink half your milk and then you can have the cookie.”

      The little girl looked to Jake. Was she asking him to intervene? What harm would it do if she ate the cookie first? His gaze moved up to Leah’s. The look on her face warned him that now wasn’t the time to dispute her words.

      He grinned at Molly. “Eat up. If I finish my sandwich first I might be tempted to eat your cookie, too.” Jake took a big bite from his sandwich.

      A twinkle filled Leah’s eyes as Molly grabbed her own ham and bread and began to eat at a fast pace. “Remember, ladies thoroughly chew their food before they swallow,” Leah reminded the little girl.

      Molly nodded and her eyes danced with pleasure as she ate and drank her milk. Leah picked at her sandwich and looked about the room.

      Leah seemed to know exactly what the little girl needed to know to grow up into a young woman with manners and healthy eating habits. How was he going to be both mother and father to the child? To take his mind from the scary thought, Jake glanced around his room.

      He was thankful he’d stopped long enough this morning to make the cot up. “I hope you don’t mind eating here. Other than the main dining hall there was no other place, and I wanted to talk to Molly before I spoke to Mr. and Mrs. Frontz.”

      “This