A Pony Express Christmas. Rhonda Gibson

not?”

      Ike’s words rushed from him like water over river rocks. “When I was in Julesburg yesterday I heard that Mr. Harris died. He got caught in that last storm and froze out by his pond.”

      Leah gasped. Sorrow and despair hit her at the same time. Thomas had seemed so nice in his letters. It was a shame that he’d died. But what was she going to do now? Where would she go? Not back to Texas since there was nothing and no one there for her. Then the thought hit her. She tried to stand but dread weakened her knees so that she couldn’t rise from the chair. How on earth was she going to pay for the nights she’d stayed here and the food she’d eaten?

      Jake moved to stand beside her. He placed a firm hand beneath her elbow. Was this his way of offering comfort? Why would he do so?

      “Is this information from a reliable person, Ike?” Jake asked, bringing her thoughts into focus once more.

      “Yep,” Ike said as Leah watched his Adam’s apple bob up and down as he swallowed hard before continuing. “The sheriff was talking to the undertaker.”

      With Jake’s support, Leah got to her feet, picking Molly up. Her voice was strained as she said, “Thank you for letting me know, Ike. If you will excuse me, gentlemen, Molly and I will retire now.” She walked to the stairs with her head held high, refusing to let them see that her world had just crumbled at her feet and that she had no idea how to make it all right again.

Chapter Three

      The next morning, Jake sat at the dining table facing his employers, Mr. and Mrs. Frontz. It was still early and everyone else rested in their warm beds, something Jake hadn’t done comfortably since Miss Hollister and his niece had arrived.

      Mrs. Frontz yawned, then said, “Thanks for making the coffee this morning, Jake, but I wish you’d get on with whatever needs to be said. I have breakfast to cook.”

      He lowered his drink. “All right, then, I’ll get to the point. Miss Hollister learned last night that her fiancé has passed away.” Jake watched both of them nod and focus their gazes on the cups in front of them. He couldn’t help but wonder how long they’d known about the demise of Mr. Harris. He shook his head and continued because that simple fact really didn’t matter right now. “That means she will be leaving soon.” Again he watched them nod.

      “What does that have to do with us, son?” Mr. Frontz asked, raising his head and meeting Jake’s eyes.

      The older man called everyone son, so Jake didn’t take any notice. “Well, if Miss Hollister leaves, I assume full responsibility for Molly’s care. So I guess I’m trying to tell you I’ll be leaving soon, too. I can’t raise a girl in the tack room off the barn.”

      Mrs. Frontz’s face saddened. “Where will you go?”

      “Back to Texas. I guess the family spread is mine now.”

      He didn’t want to move back to Texas. Too many memories were there for both him and Molly. How would she feel going back to the place where her parents had died? But it was his only choice.

      He didn’t tell them he had no idea what he was going to do on that small piece of land. He’d hoped to make enough money to start a horse ranch, but now, with a child to raise, Jake just wasn’t sure what he’d do. And he still had the problem of how to care for the child once he did have a work plan.

      “Now, boy, you aren’t making any sense,” Mr. Frontz grumbled. “You’re going to leave a good job here to go to Texas. For what? So the girl will have a place to live? What’s wrong with living here?”

      “Yeah, what’s wrong with living here?” Mrs. Frontz echoed, fully awake now.

      “I told you, I can’t raise her in the tack room. At least back in Texas, I have a cabin.” Jake didn’t like it any more than they did but what other choice did he have?

      Mr. Frontz studied him over his coffee cup. He took a drink and then plopped it down on the table. “So are you saying that if you had a roof over your heads, then you’d stick around?”

      Jake nodded. “I reckon so.” He loved working for the pony express and taking care of the horses. Most of them were mustangs and half-wild but he did love them. There were a few, like the one he allowed Molly to ride, that were tame. All of them were intelligent.

      They sat in silence for several long minutes before Mrs. Frontz spoke. “You know, Charles. He could move into the old homestead. It needs a little work but it’s livable.”

      Mr. Frontz nodded. “Yep, I could get the boys to clean the place today and have it ready to move into by this evening.” He picked up his coffee once more.

      “I’m sure I could round up some sheets and other things you’ll need to make it a fine home for the little girl,” Mrs. Frontz added in a hopeful voice.

      Jake shook his head. “I’m not sure that’s such a good idea. The other men aren’t going to like that I have a nice home to live in when all they get is a room that they must share with each other.”

      “You leave the boys to me. Besides, the cabin’s not that much bigger than their room.” Mr. Frontz pushed his chair back. He dropped a big, callused hand on Jake’s shoulder. “I’m glad you’re staying. I didn’t look forward to replacing such a good stock tender.” He shoved his hat on his balding head and stomped to the back porch.

      Jake studied the grounds in the bottom of his cup. That was one problem taken care of, but he had others to deal with.

      Mrs. Frontz laid her hand on his. “Something else is bothering you. I can tell. Want to talk about it?”

      He looked into her bright blue eyes. “I’m just thinking that if Miss Hollister leaves I’ll need to hire someone to watch Molly.” Jake sighed, his choices in babysitters were majorly limited here in South Platte. Other than Mrs. Frontz, there were only a handful of women and most of them were past their prime and unhealthy. The others were too young and looking for a husband. Jake Bridges had no intention of letting any of them look at him as husband material.

      “I’ll be happy to watch her for you,” Mrs. Frontz volunteered.

      No, Jake knew he couldn’t ask her to take on Molly’s care. Her slumped shoulders spoke of how tired the older woman was. She already cooked and cleaned from sunup to sundown. He couldn’t imagine her trying to keep up with an active four-year-old child, too. “That’s nice of you to offer but I’ll think of something. She’s a handful and you already have plenty to take care of with the riders.”

      She nodded and stood. “Yeah. Speaking of the boys, they’ll be down soon needing breakfast. Who’s up first today?”

      Jake grinned ruefully. He noticed she hadn’t argued with him about Molly’s care. “Ike.”

      “I’ll make sure he gets an extra helpin’ this morning.” She muttered to herself as she pushed through the kitchen door.

      Well, having a house to live in would be a big help but what was he to do about Molly’s care? Jake knew he couldn’t take her to the barn with him every day or have her follow him about the place while he made repairs. She needed a woman’s care. A soft whisper filtered through his mind. She needed Leah Hollister.

      What would Leah do now that Thomas Harris was no longer available to offer her marriage? Would she return to Texas? To what? Why had she left in the first place? There were so many things he didn’t know about her. But he did know that she cared for Molly. She’d also shown no special interest in him or the other young men.

      Would she be willing to marry him to assure herself that Molly would have a home? As far as he knew, Leah and Thomas hadn’t really known each other before she agreed to be his bride. Perhaps she’d consider replacing Thomas with himself.

      It sounded crazy as Jake ran the thoughts through his mind but a marriage of convenience