Pony Express Hero by Rhonda Gibson

Author:Rhonda Gibson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2016-09-24T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Jacob felt his presence before he actually saw and heard Sam. He continued to comb the Pony Express horse and waited. The men had been home a couple of days and Jacob had expected this visit much sooner.

“You didn’t waste any time moving into the house, did you?” Sam sat atop his horse and looked down on Jacob. Jacob didn’t have to look at the other man’s face to know he was scowling.

Jacob grinned to himself and then asked, “Are you asking me if I’ve moved into the house? Or is that just your way of trying to figure out what happened while you were away?” He ran the comb over the silky coat and waited.

“You know what I mean. Caleb tells me you took all your meals in the house and that you now spend your evenings with Lilly and Daisy.” Sam shifted in the saddle.

Jacob released the horse and allowed it to return to the others. He turned to face Sam. “I take it you don’t approve.” He could have reminded Sam that Caleb had been with them but decided not to involve the boy.

“No, I don’t.” His words came out hard. Just as Jacob suspected, Sam glowered with anger.

Jacob folded his arms over his chest and said, “You know, that might bother me if you were my boss, but since you aren’t, it doesn’t.”

Sam spit on the ground, narrowly missing Jacob’s boot. “All it will take is a few words from me and Lilly will send you packing.”

His thoughts ran over the past week and the closeness he and Lilly had shared. She actually seemed to care about him. “I don’t think so,” Jacob responded.

The thought that Sam might come between their newfound feelings sent heat waves through his gut and into his face. He kept his anger in check, knowing that Sam was just looking for a reason to get in a fight with him and then report back to Lilly.

Sam laughed without humor. “Mighty sure of yourself, aren’t you?”

Jacob wasn’t going to play this game any longer. “I know that Lilly and I understand one another. You can say anything you want, what have you got to lose?”

“It’s more like what do you have to lose. As soon as she realizes that this ranch is what you’re after, she’ll send you packing faster than a miner after gold.” Sam sat up straight. “I’ll make sure of that.”

Jacob watched the older man with narrowed eyes. Sam appeared smug, certain that Lilly would do anything he told her to. How many times had she fired men based on Sam’s word?

An evil grin twisted Sam’s face and he turned his horse to leave.

As Jacob climbed into the saddle he remembered something his stepfather had told him. “When a man accuses another man of something, usually it’s because that’s exactly what he wants to do or has done.” Did Sam want Lilly’s ranch? Was the older man worried that Lilly might find Jacob attractive? Or see him as a future husband?

He followed Sam back, allowing the man a good lead.

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