A Pony Express Christmas. Rhonda Gibson

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СКАЧАТЬ 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 might be what both of them needed. He sighed and took a sip of his now-cold coffee. Of course, he’d have to tell her that he couldn’t offer her a real marriage, only friendship and a home. Would that be enough to keep Leah here with Molly?

      Long before he could actually see her, the sound of her skirts swishing against the hardwood floors alerted him to Leah’s arrival.

      Molly entered the room seconds before Leah. His niece looked sweet this morning with her hair up in two braids like pigtails. Her cheeks were pink, as if she’d just endured a good scrubbing. She swung the rag doll by one arm. He reminded himself he would have to rearrange his entire life to accommodate Molly and prayed Leah would go along with him for the same reason.

      * * *

      Leah came to an abrupt stop when she saw Jake sitting at the table. A quick glance about the room revealed that he was the only one there. Molly waved as she skipped past him and headed for the kitchen.

      “Good morning.”

      The richness of his voice flowed over her like melted butter over hot potatoes. She offered him a smile and replied, “Good morning.”

      Leah pressed on to the kitchen to talk to Mrs. Frontz about working to pay for her room and board. She’d lain awake most of the night and had come to the conclusion that this was the only way to pay back what she owed. She wasn’t good at cooking, but Leah did know how to clean. Maybe Mrs. Frontz would teach her how to cook and then she could help out in both the kitchen and with the housework.

      “Do СКАЧАТЬ