Kitabı oku: «Pony Express Hero»

Chapter One

Mud Springs, California

Summer 1860

A scream tore through the early-morning air. Instantly alert, Jacob Young reined in his horse and pushed back his hat, scanning the area for trouble. His horse shifted beneath him, its movements telling him it, too, sensed something was wrong.

Then Jacob saw her. A child, no more than three or four years old, in bare feet and a white nightgown. He squinted, searching intently for her parents, but found no one. Why would a little girl be in a ravine by herself at this early hour of the morning? The sun had barely begun to top the horizon.

His gaze moved to the other end of the ravine. A cloud of dust rose like steam from a kettle. Icy fear twisted around his heart as he saw what had the little girl scrambling up the small hillside. Cows, hundreds of cows, thundered down the gorge toward her. The rumble of hooves pounded the ground along with the continual terrified screams from the little girl.

Stampede.

Jacob kicked his horse’s flanks and shouted, “Hiyah!” The horse’s sturdy legs tensed—then, like a shot, they raced down one side of the ravine toward the small figure that seemed so very far away. He leaned over the horse’s neck, urging him to go faster and faster. They were close but so were the cows. A flicker of apprehension coursed through him. Would he make it in time?

The child stumbled and fell, losing ground she’d already gained. Frantically she glanced behind her. Jacob was close enough now to see that fear, stark and vivid, glittered in her eyes. She spotted him racing toward her and stopped trying to climb the ravine; instead she turned and ran in his direction. Clear brown eyes looked up at him expectantly. A solid wall of cattle closed in on her.

Jacob leaned over and grabbed her around the waist. Thankfully she weighed no more than a half bale of hay or Jacob felt sure she would have unseated him. He pulled her up and plopped her in front of him in one swift move. Her fingers clutched his arms and she pressed back against him, turning her head sideways to hide her eyes from certain disaster. His arms wrapped protectively around her tiny waist as the horse swung away trying to outrun the thundering, bellowing cattle. If need be, he’d shield her with his body, should the horse fail in its attempt to get them to safety.

His heart beat so hard and fast in his chest it felt almost painful. The cows continued down the ravine and the dust rolled, causing him to cough. The horse managed to get up the canyon wall just before the cattle pounded past them.

The little girl shuddered. He tightened his hold, offering comfort the only way he knew how. She sneezed and rubbed at her eyes. Jacob slowed the horse to a walk.

“Honey, are you all right?” He loosened his grip on the child.

She wiggled around to face him. “Uh-huh.” Big brown eyes looked up at him. Her heart-shaped face was covered in dirt and muddy trails traveled down both cheeks where her tears had run into the collar of her now very soiled nightgown.

“What are you doing out here?” he asked as he wiped at the dirt on her face with a handkerchief from his pocket.

She shook her head and her blond braids slapped the sides of her little face. “I don’t know. I went to sleep and when I woke up I was here.”

The sound of hooves pounding the ground had Jacob twisting in the saddle and looking over his shoulder. A young man and woman raced toward them. Fear and relief warred for a place on the woman’s face.

“Daisy! Are you all right?” the young woman called.

Jacob felt more than saw the little one nod, her hair rubbing against his chin. Her name fit her. Her golden hair resembled the color of a yellow daisy, her brown eyes the button in the center of the flower. Jacob was thankful he’d come along when he had, but anger twisted in him like a volcano on the verge of erupting.

When the woman and man got close enough, Daisy answered, “I’m all right. Lilly, he saved me.” Her big brown eyes drank in Jacob’s face.

The woman pulled her horse alongside Jacob and reached for the child but Jacob was having none of it.

“Where were you? Why was she here by herself? What kind of mother lets a child wander off alone at this time of the morning?” Jacob’s heart demanded he say more but the child in his arms tensed and placed her hand against his heart. He took a deep breath and reined in his temper.

“Now see here.” The man bristled at Jacob’s words but the woman held her hand up and silenced him. Tears glistened on her pale heart-shaped face.

“I’ve been looking for her since early this morning. I have no idea how she got here... I don’t know how she opened the door to get out of the house.” A hot tear rolled down her cheek. She swiped at it with a trembling hand. “I would never intentionally let her wander off, nor would I want her hurt in any way.”

With an odd twinge of conscience, Jacob handed Daisy across to the woman. It surprised him to see her wearing men’s trousers. Her pretty blue eyes ran over the little girl as her arms gathered her in a tight hug. Golden hair hung over one shoulder in a tight braid, reminding him a little of his adoptive mother, Rebecca.

The woman whose name he now knew to be Lilly looked to be about his age, twenty, maybe a year or two younger than himself. Jacob realized he was staring and said, “I’m not sure why she is out here by herself but the cattle almost did her in.”

Before Lilly could speak the man beside her interrupted. “And I’d like to know what you’re doing on Johnson soil, mister.”

Jacob leaned against his saddle horn, aware that his hands still shook. “My name is Jacob Young.” He pushed back his hat and met the other man’s eyes.

“Lilly, the cows came running toward me. I almost got runned over,” Daisy said, laying a small hand against Lilly’s cheek.

Lilly stopped running her hands over the child and looked over Daisy’s head. “Thank you for rescuing her.” She hugged the little girl close to her. “I’m Lilly Johnson and this is my sister, Daisy.”

“You still haven’t told us what you are doing here,” Lilly’s companion said. Ice-blue eyes scowled at Jacob.

Jacob didn’t care for the man’s tone but he assumed that he was Daisy’s father so thought it best to answer him. “I’m the new stock tender for the Pony Express. I was headed to the Johnson ranch to let the owner know I’d arrived.”

Lilly stopped fussing over the little girl and straightened in the saddle. “I’m the owner of the ranch, Mr. Young.”

“Then I’m assuming Mr. Roberts, the Pony Express superintendent, told you I was coming.”

“He did.” She nodded to the man beside her. “This is Sam Hawkins. He’s the foreman of the ranch but your job is totally separate from the ranch, so the two of you won’t really have much time to spend with each other.”

Lilly directed her gaze back to the little one in her arms. Her worried voice questioned her sister. “Daisy, what made you come this far from the ranch house? You know you aren’t supposed to leave the house or the yard without an adult.”

The little girl’s eyes filled with tears. “I didn’t, Lilly.”

“Then how did you get out here?” Lilly asked, her voice shaking as her hands smoothed the hair from Daisy’s forehead.

Daisy looked confused. “I don’t know. I was sleeping and woke up here.” She shrugged as if it were all a mystery to her.

Worry and fear entered Lilly’s face and eyes. She looked to Sam.

He shook his head as if to say, Not here.

Her head swiveled in Jacob’s direction. Clear blue eyes looked him over. “Follow us and I’ll show you the barn and tack room, where you will be staying.” She spun her horse around and headed for home.

Jacob couldn’t shake the feeling that something was dreadfully wrong. Little Daisy had said twice that she’d been sleeping in her room and then woke up out here in the ravine. How had she gotten here?

Sam didn’t seem too concerned as he rode with Lilly and Daisy. If anything the man had been angrier to find him with Daisy than relieved that the little girl was all right.

Jacob told himself that it was none of his business. His business was to work on the ranch while searching for his birth mother to find out why she abandoned him when he was ten years old. He might need to remind himself of that fact quite often if things were as off-kilter on the Johnson ranch as they seemed.

He thought about the little girl’s caramel-brown eyes. They looked nothing like Lilly’s pretty blue ones. Lilly had said they were sisters but other than hair color, they didn’t look much like they were related. He shook his head, reminding himself once more to mind his own business. He had his own family problems to deal with and didn’t need to add another family’s to his.

Still, Daisy reminded him of his adoptive sister, Joy, and he’d fight to the death to protect Joy. And deep down, Jacob knew he’d watch over Daisy in the future, too. How could he not?

* * *

Lilly’s insides quaked. Daisy had been so close to being killed. If the Pony Express man hadn’t shown up, she hated to think what would have happened.

Jacob Young had said he was the new stock tender. The last one had been an older man and had been nice enough but she really hadn’t paid him much mind. Come to think of it, she’d seen the Pony Express riders exchange horses by the barn and then continue on. She’d really not paid much attention to them, either—her first order of business had been to take care of Daisy and the household along with any ranch business or financial things that Sam brought to her attention.

If she was honest with herself, she’d stayed away from the men because she didn’t want their attention. The last thing she needed was to fall for a man who was only interested in her family ranch—a ranch that belonged to both her and Daisy.

Her father’s last wife and Daisy’s mother, Gertrude, had taught her that people weren’t always who they first presented themselves to be, especially if they thought you had land or money. Gertrude had treated her like a servant when her father was out of the house or away on business, but was sweet when he was present. Her stepmother had told Lilly many times that should her father die, Lilly would be on the first stagecoach to a boarding school. If Gertrude hadn’t died first giving birth to Daisy and leaving Lilly without a stepmother and her father without a wife, Lilly would be in a boarding school now or working someplace far from her beloved ranch.

Looking back she probably should have told her father about Gertrude’s true nature, but her love for him had stilled Lilly’s tongue. He’d often told her he’d married Gertrude so that she could be a mother to her. Lilly shivered, as her stepmother had been anything but a true mother.

After lunch, as Lilly made her way across the yard and to the barn, she wondered how Daisy had gotten out in the ravine. The little girl’s feet hadn’t been scuffed up like they should have been if she’d walked barefoot all the way out there. She didn’t want to think about it but Lilly felt sure someone had taken the girl from her bed and carried her off. But why leave her in the canyon?

“You are deep in thought.”

Lilly stopped several inches away from Jacob Young. What he’d said was true. She’d been so deep in thought that if he hadn’t spoken, she would have run into him. “I was.”

He stepped out of the barn door. “I’m sorry to have disturbed you.” Jacob pulled one of the Pony Express horses out of the barn with him.

“No, I’m the one who is sorry. I snapped and it wasn’t because I’m irritated with you. If anything, I’m very grateful to you.” She offered him a smile that she hoped he’d recognize as a peace offering.

Jacob looked back at her and returned her smile. “No harm done.” He walked the horse several feet away from her.

The sound of a bugle blared through the air. A few seconds later, Lilly made out the Pony Express rider and his horse. In less than five minutes, the rider had exchanged horses and was back on the trail.

Jacob pulled the tired horse back into the barn. He passed Lilly and led the horse into one of the many stalls. He closed the door behind the animal while staying in the stall. “If you want to share your thoughts, I’m a pretty good listener.”

Lilly walked to her mare’s stall. “I was just thinking about Daisy and how she got into the canyon this morning.” She pulled a saddle blanket off the nail on the wall and spread it out over the horse’s back.

“I’ve been thinking about that, too.” Jacob took the saddle off the horse while he talked. “Has she ever walked in her sleep?”

“No, she’s a heavy sleeper but she’s never walked in her sleep,” Lilly answered as she tightened the cinch under her horse’s belly. She stood. “And even if she had walked that long way, her feet would have been cut up from the rocks and plants along the way.”

“And I take it they weren’t?” He leaned against the stall door.

Lilly shook her head. “No, they were dirty but not hurt in any way, which I’m grateful for. Normally Daisy sleeps until I wake her after my morning ride. Only this morning, something led me to go check on her before I left.” She sighed and leaned her forehead against her horse’s neck. “I’m so glad I did.” Lilly straightened and looked at him.

They stood staring at each other for several long minutes, both deep in thought. Who would want to hurt her little sister? Lilly didn’t want to suspect any of her men of trying to harm Daisy, but she felt a chill travel down her spine. Suddenly she reconsidered taking her daily ride.

Suspicions gnawed at her. Had someone taken Daisy while she’d been saddling her horse for a ride? Everyone on the ranch knew her routine. Or had they crept in earlier while she’d slept in the next room? Goose bumps formed on her arms at the scary thoughts.

She began to unsaddle the horse. “Sorry ol’ gal, I can’t risk leaving Daisy alone.”

Jacob walked over to her. “I can take her out for you, if you’d like.”

Lilly looked at him. What did she know about him? That Mr. Roberts had said he was coming to be the stock tender and that he’d saved Daisy this morning. “Thank you, but no. Maybe I’ll take her out later today.” She patted the mare’s nose.

He nodded and stepped around her. Jacob pulled the saddle from the little mare’s back and said, “You know, I believe Daisy when she says she didn’t walk out there on her own.”

Lilly nodded. “So do I.” She sighed as she put the saddle blanket away.

He returned to the Pony Express horse and began brushing it down. Lilly walked to the barn door and stepped out into the sunlight. What was she going to do?

Lilly entered the house and checked on Daisy again. After lunch, the morning’s activities had caught up with Daisy, so Lilly had put her down for a nap.

The little girl slept on her side, curled into a ball. Her blond hair spilled over the pillow, her little lips slipped up into a smile as she dreamed. Lilly’s heart went out to the tiny girl. They were all that was left of the Johnson family. Lilly couldn’t lose Daisy, too, and would protect her with all she had. But would it be enough? What did she need to do to ensure the child’s safety?

Lilly walked over to the all-wood window that was partially open to let in fresh air. It might be uncomfortable for Daisy but Lilly shut the opening. She looked around the room for something to stop the window from being opened. Finding nothing she went to the wood box in the kitchen. Judging a piece of kindling to be about the right length, she returned to Daisy’s room and placed the stick between the bottom lip of the window and the top of the window casing. She pushed against the wood and shook it. The piece of kindling held firm. There. That should stop intruders with evil intent.

She chewed her lower lip. Fear threatened her peace. Lilly knew she had to get to the bottom of this or Daisy would never be allowed out of her sight.

The Johnsons had never locked their doors before. But now, well, she couldn’t take the chance that someone would slip in and steal Daisy again. Lilly vowed she would keep Daisy safe at all cost.