Pony Express Hero. Rhonda Gibson

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СКАЧАТЬ nodded, unwilling to speak in case her voice gave out on her. She had to get these emotions under control.

      Daisy ran around Jacob and looked up at her sister. “I know which kitty I want.” She bounced around like a happy puppy.

      “You do?” Lilly smiled as the little girl’s braid flopped about her shoulders.

      “Uh-huh. The orange one.” Daisy grabbed Lilly’s hand and pulled.

      Lilly stood her ground. “Daisy, what have I told you about pulling on people?”

      Daisy dropped her hand and her head. “Not to.”

      “That’s right. Where were you going to pull me to?” Lilly asked, as she tried not to smile at her sister’s antics.

      Daisy looked up at her with big eyes. “I was going to show you my kitty.” Her bottom lip pouted out.

      Lilly kneeled down beside the little girl. “I think that is very sweet but I also think we should leave the kittens alone for a few more days.” She saw Daisy inhale and a protest form on her little mouth. Lilly interrupted quickly. “It won’t be that long and you don’t want the mama to hide them, do you?”

      “No.” The dejection in the little girl’s voice tugged at her.

      She stood. “I tell you what, when we get to town you can buy a small sack of lemon drops. How does that sound?”

      The bouncing began again. “Come on, Mr. Jacob.” Daisy ran around Lilly and started climbing into the wagon.

      At the sound of his warm chuckle, Lilly shook her head. It amused her that he found Daisy comical now, but just wait until he had to deal with one of her crying spells. Then he wouldn’t be laughing. She followed Daisy to the wagon.

      Jacob hurried around her and offered his hand to assist her up. Surprised by his speed, she lay her hand in his. Lilly told herself that it was because of the skirt and her fear of catching the tips of her boots in the hem that she allowed him to help her.

      His warm, callused palm held tightly to hers as she raised herself into the wagon. “Thank you.” Lilly sat down and made sure her skirt covered her legs. The warmth of his touch remained on her hand, making the other feel cool.

      Within moments he was on the seat beside her. He looked over his shoulder at Daisy, checking to make sure she remained seated in the back of the wagon, and then quirked a brow at her. “Everyone ready?”

      “I am.” Daisy smoothed the yarn on her rag doll’s head.

      Lilly nodded. She folded her hands in her lap and stared straight ahead, wishing he wasn’t quite so nice because she had to figure out how to break the news to him. She couldn’t quite fathom what that had to do with anything, but then these days her mind was a crazy mixture of hope and fear; hope that she was wrong that someone wanted to hurt Daisy and fear that someone truly did.

      Jacob gently slapped the reins over the horse’s back and clicked his tongue to get her to go. The wagon lurched and the wheels ground the dirt as they took off. Lilly tried to choose which of the several ways she’d thought through on how to broach the subject of his mother.

      She could hear Daisy talking to her doll and the little wooden horse that she’d brought along to play with. Should she say something in front of her little sister? After all, Daisy and Jacob shared the same mother. Lilly had no idea how Daisy would feel. Could someone that small—that young—even understand what it meant? Would Jacob want to tell Daisy himself?

      Jacob’s rich voice broke the silence. “This is a nice ranch. I hope you don’t mind but I rode the fence lines and checked out some of the ravines on the property.”

      Lilly glanced at him. “No, I don’t mind.” She nibbled at her bottom lip.

      They fell into silence once more. Daisy told her doll and horse all about the kittens in the barn. Lilly listened as she chattered about the yellow kitty and how they were going to be the bestest of friends.

      She glanced in Jacob’s direction and saw the soft smile on his face. He was either listening to Daisy, too, or deep in his own thoughts. Lilly looked across the pasture they were passing. It had recently been cut and the grass gathered for feed. The sounds of birds in the nearby trees chirping their happiness soothed her troubled thoughts.

      In a quiet voice, Lilly said, “Jacob, I’d like to stop someplace for lunch before we get to town.”

      Daisy piped up from behind them. “I’m hungry.”

      Just as she thought, the little girl had been listening to them. Lilly answered, “Me, too.” She hadn’t eaten much breakfast. Worry had consumed her and the thought of food hadn’t appealed at the time.

      “I could use a bite to eat, too,” Jacob agreed. “If I remember right, there is a little stream up the road. Would that be a good place to stop?”

      “Yes!” Daisy squealed. “Lilly and I stop there all the time.”

      Lilly grinned as she relived memories of wading in the cool water, first with her father and later with Daisy. She realized he was watching her expression and answered, “Yes, it’s a favorite spot of ours.”

      At Daisy’s gleeful squeal, Jacob set the horse into a trot and said, “The sooner we get there the sooner we eat.”

      Daisy laughed and encouraged him to go faster. As if the horse sensed the little girl’s urgency it trotted faster. Lilly found herself laughing with her sister and enjoying the ride. Her hair escaped her braid and teased the side of her face. Lilly knew she’d look a sight if they didn’t get to the stream soon.

      Jacob pulled the wagon off the road and headed for a cluster of trees, where he stopped the horse and set the brake. He turned to smile at her. “Hope you brought plenty. I’m starved.”

      She pushed her hair back. “I believe I did.”

      “Good, ’cause I’m starving, too,” Daisy said, slumping against the seat as if weak from hunger.

      “Daisy, you really are a mess. You know that?” Jacob asked, jumping from the wagon as laughter spilled from his throat.

      She laughed, too, and jumped from the wagon. Lilly held her breath as Daisy sailed over the side of the wagon through the air. Jacob caught her up and swung her around. In one action Daisy showed the two adults just how much she trusted Jacob. How much more would she trust him once she learned he was her brother?

      New fearful thoughts entered her mind. What if Daisy wanted to live with Jacob when he returned to his Wyoming family? Would the little girl leave her? Could she bear it if Daisy did leave?

       Chapter Five

      Jacob watched Lilly’s face as she set down the picnic basket under the tall tree he’d chosen to have their lunch below. Where had the joy gone that had filled her face minutes earlier? She gnawed at her bottom lip as she pulled food from the basket and her change in mood gnawed at him. Something wasn’t quite up to par, but he’d be hanged if he knew what it was.

      Daisy СКАЧАТЬ