Pony Express Hero. Rhonda Gibson

little girl from her bed. Still, Jacob would keep an eye on the boy. He stepped out of the barn just as Lilly swung up into the saddle behind Daisy.

      She was still in her trousers and looking as pretty as a hummingbird on a bright sunny morning. Jacob looked away. Maybe going out on a ride with them wasn’t such a good idea. Still, his protective nature overrode any caution he might have felt at spending time with a pretty girl and her little sister.

      Just don’t let your heart get in the way of your head, he mentally scolded himself as he swung up into the saddle and followed the sisters out of the yard and across the pasture.

      * * *

      Lilly didn’t know who she could trust. The man riding beside her and Daisy was new on the ranch and they weren’t friends, at least not yet. She’d never considered becoming friends with any of the men before, except Sam. But now, with Daisy being threatened and Jacob being the only new person on the ranch...could she trust him? Tell him what she suspected? Or should she tell Sam? After all he was her ranch manager.

      Daisy pointed at a rabbit that sat on a small incline. Her joy at seeing the small animal brought a smile to Lilly’s face. She pulled her horse to a stop so the little girl could enjoy the sight.

      Memories of riding with her father to check the fences flooded Lilly’s mind. Daisy would never have memories of riding with their father. He’d died when she was a year old and too young to ride out with him. Lilly still missed him. Bitter memories flooded her tired mind. According to Sam, her father had fallen from his horse while chasing a mother cow and her calf, resulting in a broken neck and immediate death.

      Jacob’s horse stomped its foot, probably trying to get rid of a pesky fly, and the action pulled Lilly from her sad thoughts. She glanced his way and smiled. He’d been quiet most of the ride. They both had. Daisy talked enough for all of them.

      “Lilly, can we go to the pond?” Daisy asked. The little girl tilted her face so that she could look up at Lilly.

      “I suppose so,” Lilly said, pulling the horse’s reins to the right and gently kicking its sides. The horse moved toward the pond.

      Jacob followed.

      When they got to the water’s edge he slid from his horse’s back and let the horse drink, then helped Daisy down from Lilly’s mare. Jacob sat her down on the ground and then looked to Lilly.

      She refused his hand and slid from the horse on her own. Her desire to talk to someone grew. Lilly wanted to voice her fears without worrying that they’d get back to the person who had taken Daisy.

      Daisy pulled off her little stockings and boots and waded in the water.

      “Don’t go too far out, Daisy,” Lilly warned. She moved a little away from her sister and sat down.

      Jacob joined her. He pulled up his knees and focused on Daisy, who splashed water with her bare feet. “Can I ask a question?”

      Lilly searched his face. From his expression and tone she deduced that the question was of a personal nature. “I suppose so.”

      “Do you think someone is out to hurt Daisy?”

      She nodded. “After this morning, what else can I think?”

      Jacob turned to face her. “I know I’m new here and you don’t know me at all. I’d like to tell you a little about myself, if we have time.”

      Lilly knew he was trying to put her at ease so nodded. “If you are sure,” she said.

      “I am.” He returned his gaze to Daisy. His voice continued in a low tone. “When I was ten years old my mother dropped me off at an orphanage. She didn’t want to bring me to California with her. I don’t know why she didn’t. Maybe she was ashamed of me, maybe I was a burden she was tired of taking care of, but whatever the reason she abandoned me.”

      Lilly laid her hand on his arm. “I’m so sorry.”

      He shook his head. “I lived in that place for two years and then Rebecca and John Young came to the home. They adopted me and took me to their farm. John became like a pa to me and Rebecca a ma, even though she wasn’t that much older than me. John died but before he did, he made arrangements with the Pony Express to hire his boys. There are seven of us in all. As he was dying, John told me to take care of his family. And I did.”

      Lilly looked at Daisy. Her father hadn’t had the chance to ask her to take care of Daisy. His death had been sudden, but still heartbreaking. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

      Jacob’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. “Then a man named Seth Armstrong came along as the station keeper. He and Rebecca fell in love and were married a couple of months ago. He’s now in charge of taking care of my brothers and little sister, freeing me to look for my birth mother. I never forgot my mother and have wondered for ten years why she left me at that orphanage. So, I began making my way to California in search of her. I’m still searching for her.”

      Lilly dropped her hand from his arm. “Do you have any idea where she might be?” There were other questions she wanted to ask Jacob, but she started with the one that she felt was the most important to him.

      “Rebecca heard that she might be living in Sacramento.”

      Jacob turned his warm brown eyes on her once more. “I’ll ask around when I go to town, but after all these years, I’m not sure I’ll ever find her.”

      “So how long will you be staying on the Johnson ranch as a stock tender?” Lilly asked, realizing that Jacob could leave at any time.

      “Your ranch is my last stop. I can travel from here to inquire about her presence. I’m staying as long as the Pony Express will keep me hired. And, if I don’t find my mother in Sacramento, I’ll just have to live never knowing why she gave me up.” His eyes looked deeply into hers. “I’ve never been in trouble with the law. I have brothers and a sister that I love very much. They might not be my blood but they found their way into my heart. Someday, I’ll head back to Wyoming, where my family lives.”

      Lilly watched as Daisy picked up little rocks and tried to skip them across the pond water. He wasn’t staying forever. He’d mentioned a sister. “How old is your sister?” she asked.

      “She’s five. Almost the same age as Daisy. Children need people to watch over them, not to harm them,” he answered as he also looked to Daisy.

      Lilly sighed. “I’m afraid I don’t know how to protect her. I don’t know who to trust. I’m sure Sam would never hurt her but until this morning, I wouldn’t have believed any of the men working on my ranch would hurt her, but someone tried.” She crossed her arms over her knees and buried her face in the fabric of her trousers.

      He laid his hand on her shoulder. “If you will trust me, I’ll help you protect Daisy.”

      She looked up into his eyes. There was truth and sincerity in his gaze. Lilly knew Jacob hadn’t taken Daisy—he’d saved her. But how much trust should she put in a stranger? Although, what choice did she have?

       Chapter Three

      Jacob watched the emotions wash across Lilly’s soft features. She wanted to trust him but something held her back. Had she been hurt, too? He pulled his hand from her shoulder.

      “Thank you.” The words sounded tight in her throat.

      He offered her a smile. “I won’t let you down. I’ll watch over Daisy as if she was my own sister.”

      Lilly stood. “Daisy, we need to get back to the house.”

      “Aw,” Daisy said, picking up her stockings and boots. She dragged her feet through the dirt as she walked back to them. “Do we have to?”

      Jacob laughed. Joy would have felt the same way, if she’d been here. “Yes, we have to. My tummy tells