A Pony Express Christmas. Rhonda Gibson

      He put his sandwich down and placed his elbows on the table, one on each side of his plate. Molly continued to stare at him. She cocked her head to the side and waited.

      Jake took a deep breath and then exhaled slowly. Lord, please help me say the right thing. “Molly, did your daddy ever tell you he had a brother?”

      The little girl shook her head.

      John and Sally had never told Molly about him. What had he expected? He’d abandoned his family. Only, where did he go from here?

      Jake continued to hold her gaze. She looked so much like Sally, with her corn-silk hair, heart-shaped face and rosy cheeks. The only difference was her eyes. She had John’s expressive brown eyes.

      Seeing John’s eyes looking back at him tore into his very soul. Over the years he’d missed his brother and realized that his memories of Sally were fading, but he’d never forgotten his brother.

      Molly slid off Leah’s lap and came around the table. Jake turned so that he could still face her. The little girl reached her arms upward and he pulled her onto his lap. She stretched her small hand up and touched Jake’s hair and then ran her fingers over his lashes.

      He closed them so she wouldn’t poke him in the eye. Was she searching for similarities between him and his brother? Or was she simply curious about him? When he felt her hand on his head again, he looked into her face.

      Leah said in a soft, encouraging voice, “Go ahead and tell her.”

      Molly looked from him to Leah and back to him again. She placed her hand on his heart and leaned her head against his shoulder.

      “I’m your Uncle Jake, Molly. I’m your daddy’s brother.”

      She raised her head and smiled at him. Had she already guessed? “Your daddy sent me a letter and in it he said you can live with me now. Would you like that?”

      Molly nodded and then pointed to Leah.

      Was she asking if Leah could live with them, too? Jake looked to the young woman. Her cheeks were turning a lovely shade of pink. It wasn’t his place to tell Molly that her friend would soon be leaving to marry Mr. Harris.

      Jake found himself holding his breath as he waited to see what Leah would say. Molly climbed down from his lap. She hurried back to Leah and waited to be picked up. Molly was small for her age and weighed very little.

      “Molly, you will be staying here with your uncle Jake, and I will continue on to meet my new husband. Remember? I told you that I was coming out here to get married.”

      Tears filled Molly’s eyes. She wrapped her arms around Leah’s neck and hid her face. Leah’s sorrow-filled gaze searched out Jake’s. He wanted to help them but didn’t know how. His experience with heartache hadn’t prepared him for raising a child who had lost so much already. Or helping a young woman who seemed to be looking at him for reassurance—or something else that he knew he’d never be able to give her.

      Leah gently pulled Molly back. “I’m not leaving right now, little one. We have a few days to be together. Let’s not be sad during the rest of our time together. All right?”

      Molly wiped the tears from her cheeks and offered Leah a wobbly smile. She patted Leah’s face as if to say, I’m all right. Her sad eyes seemed to say that it wasn’t fair and that she felt as if she were losing her best friend.

      * * *

      Later that evening, cold air swept through the room, announcing that Jake had entered the parlor. Leah glanced his way and then faced Mr. Frontz once more. With her hands planted firmly on her hips, she protested, “I don’t understand why a pony express rider can’t take me on his next run and drop me off at the Harris ranch.”

      The old man shook his head. “Send him a letter. I won’t risk sending you out to him.”

      Exasperation and weariness filled her. “But I’ve already told you. I sent a letter last week and haven’t received an answer.” Fear crept up her spine, sending chills down her back. The letter should have gotten to him days ago. Why hadn’t he come? Had Thomas changed his mind?

      Two pony express riders, Cole and Timothy, sat on the settee, snickering. Leah scowled at them. Didn’t they realize this wasn’t funny? This was about her future. Her new home. The older man snorted and she turned her glare back on him.

      Molly tugged her small fingers free of Leah’s and hurried to Jake. The little girl grabbed his hand. Her big brown eyes took in the scene that was unfolding before them. His seemed to be doing the same.

      Leah and Molly had kept their distance from each other. Truth be told, Leah had pretty much isolated herself from everyone because she didn’t want to see the questions in their eyes. But, even so, she’d sensed he wanted no part of being around her. He’d come inside and play with Molly or take her out to the barn to ride the horse but he’d said very few words to Leah over the past week.

      Mr. Frontz’s firm voice drew her attention once more. “Pony express riders don’t deliver women, they deliver mail.” Mr. Frontz turned his back and stoked the fire in the fireplace.

      Leah took a deep breath and slowly released it, then spoke her thoughts. “Well, I am a mail-order bride. Thomas Harris has paid my way to your stagecoach stop and I’m sure he will pay any cost you want to charge to deliver me to his ranch.”

      The old man hooted with laughter. “Honey, even if he could afford it, I’m sure Mr. Harris wouldn’t pay for you to be delivered like the U.S. mail.”

      “Not at five dollars a half ounce,” Cole muttered loud enough for everyone in the room to hear.

      “I’ll wager that gal weighs about one hundred and twenty pounds, give or take a pound.” Timothy snickered back.

      Leah glanced at the two young men. Each wore a wide grin and had laughing eyes. But that didn’t stop her. She stood a little taller and glared at each of them. “I’ll have you know, I only weigh one ten. Not that that is any of your business.” She turned back to Mr. Frontz feeling foolish for arguing with the boys like a child.

      Mr. Frontz looked Leah straight in the eyes. “Look, it’s not just your weight, it’s also not safe. These boys have to ride fast and they face all kinds of dangers while out on the trail. That’s why they get paid twenty-five dollars a week to be riders.” He dropped the poker into the wrought-iron holder on the hearth. “Plus, that weather out there has turned for the worst and would have you shivering so much you’d throw the horse and rider off balance.”

      Leah wasn’t ready to give up. She raised her chin and declared, “I’m willing to face the dangers, Mr. Frontz.”

      “Well,” the old man smothered a yawn with his hand and said, “I’m not willing to have you face danger and I don’t believe these young men are, either.” He yawned again, this time not bothering to hide the fact that he was tired, sleepy and finished with their conversation. “The subject is closed for discussion, Miss Hollister.”

      Leah marched after him. He pointed at the riders behind her. “If I can talk one of them into taking me, would you forbid it?” She dared him to say yes.

      “Not at all. You are welcome to ask away, but I’m telling you—” he nodded at the group behind her “—and them, no one is taking you anyplace.”

      The express riders stood at once, as if they’d received some unspoken code. They hurried from the house like chickens with their heads chopped off, scattering in all directions.

      Dejected, Leah plopped down in the chair beside the fireplace. Molly released Jake’s hand and hurried to her side. The little girl wrapped her arms around Leah’s neck, offering comfort in the only way she knew how.

      Ike, another young rider, stepped from the shadows. “Miss Hollister, did you say Thomas Harris?”

      She looked up hopefully and nodded. “Would you be interested in taking