Pony Express Hero
Bound by a ChildPony Express rider Jacob Young is a man of action, which is why when he sees a little girl caught in the middle of a stampede, he races to her rescue. And he soon discovers the child is the half-sister he hadn’t known he had. The more time Jacob spends with adorable Daisy and her beautiful guardian, ranch owner Lilly Johnson, the more he realizes they’re filling all the lonely corners of his heart.Wary Lilly can’t deny the cherished feelings that overcome her when Jacob vows to protect her and Daisy from any harm. And she can’t help but hope that maybe they can put their past hurts aside and forge a future together as a full-fledged family.Saddles and Spurs: Daring Pony Express riders risk all for duty—and for love
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Bound by a Child
Pony Express rider Jacob Young is a man of action, which is why when he sees a little girl caught in the middle of a stampede, he races to her rescue. And he soon discovers the child is the half sister he hadnât known he had. The more time Jacob spends with adorable Daisy and her beautiful guardian, ranch owner Lilly Johnson, the more he realizes theyâre filling all the lonely corners of his heart.
Wary Lilly canât deny the cherished feelings that overcome her when Jacob vows to protect her and Daisy from any harm. And she canât help but hope that maybe they can put their past hurts aside and forge a future together as a full-fledged family.
âIf you will trust me, Iâll help you protect Daisy.â
Jacob watched the emotions wash across Lillyâs soft features. She wanted to trust him but something held her back.
âThank you.â The words sounded tight in her throat.
He offered her a smile. âI wonât let you down.â
If someone was going to hurt Daisy, theyâd have to go through him. Heâd vowed to watch over the little girl and heâd do just that.
Jacob realized then that his promise included Lilly. If anyone hurt Daisy, theyâd also be hurting Lilly. His instincts told him that she was a kind person. Her sympathy for him when heâd told her about his upbringing had been sincere. Jacob knew heâd not let either Daisy or Lilly be hurt.
He just prayed heâd not lose his heart in his desire to protect them both. Jacob had no intentions of falling in love. Women couldnât be trusted not to abandon those they claimed to love the most. His birth mother had proven that. No, heâd harden that part of his heart and still keep his promise.
RHONDA GIBSON lives in New Mexico with her husband, James. She has two children and three beautiful grandchildren. Reading is something she has enjoyed her whole life, and writing stemmed from that love. When she isnât writing or reading, she enjoys gardening, beading and playing with her dog, Sheba. You can visit her at rhondagibson.net. Rhonda hopes her writing will entertain, encourage and bring others closer to God.
And they that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee: for Thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek Thee.
âPsalms 9:10
To my brother, Marty McConnell, for all the good times we shared growing up and the support you have shown me as an adult. Iâm proud to call you my little brother and best friend. As always, thank You to my Lord and Savior for allowing me to write books for Him.
Contents
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 horseâs flanks and shouted, âHiyah!â The horseâs sturdy legs tensedâthen, 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 horseâs 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 sheâd 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, heâd shield her with his body, should the horse fail in its attempt to get them to safety.
