Charlene Sands (10 page)

But he’d noticed when she walked into the room, her face held a warm glow. There was a bright crystal-like gleam in her eyes. She’d obviously enjoyed her dance lesson. Or maybe it was Randy who’d put that look on her face.

“Bethann, you go on now. Finish up your chores. We’ll see you at dinner. I’ve got something to say to Miss Lily myself.”

Obediently, Bethann left the room.

Lily stood to face Tyler. He smiled at her. “She’s a handful, Lily.”

Lily shrugged her shoulders and chuckled. “I know. Makes life interesting. I haven’t been bored since coming to live here.”

Tyler scratched his nose. “Uh, I hope she didn’t… I mean…she didn’t see anything she shouldn’t have.”

Lily’s eyes grew wide. She took a step back. “I’m not sure I want to know what you mean by that.”

Tyler frowned. Damn it, he wasn’t good with words. Never had been. “I’m asking you, in private… Randy—”

“Was a perfect gentleman, unlike you, thinking impure thoughts!”

“Now, Lily, a man’s got to know. I mean, with you living with…living under my roof and all.”

“What I do is none of your business. If you can’t trust me to behave properly—”

“Damn it, Lily. It’s not you I’m worried about! I mean, I am worried about your reputation, it’s just—”

“Ha! You’re not serious! My reputation is as good as ruined, living here with you like this. You know it. The town knows it. You didn’t seem to mind when you asked me to move out here.”

“Lily, that’s not what I mean. And I offered marriage. You refused.” Lily shot him a look that told him exactly what she thought of his marriage proposal.

Tyler grabbed hold of her arms. He looked her directly in the eyes. Sparks of blue blazed hot and fiery. He’d made her angry. That wasn’t his intent, but slowly his temperature began to rise. Once provoked, Tyler wasn’t known for his patience. “Listen,” he ordered, relieved when she didn’t pull away from his touch. “I just want you to know that I’m here if you ever need help. If anyone ever shows you any disrespect, they’ll have to answer to me. You got that?” He gave her arms a gentle squeeze.

Damn fool woman didn’t know about men and their
impure
thoughts.

Numbly, she nodded and took in a breath. “Yes, I understand. Now, please release me. I have chores to do.”

Tyler forced himself to not thrust her arms when he released her. Hell, she was infuriating. All he wanted to do was to assure her she’d be safe under his protection, married or not. But he’d made a mess of things, and for the life of him, he didn’t know why it mattered so much.

Lily fumed. She marched out to the barn. Throwing open a hatch from the storage cabinet, she plucked out her gardening tools. Strands of hair fell onto her face as she gathered up her gloves. She blew at the wayward tresses in short gusts, but that did little good. Annoyingly, they just returned to the same spot on her face.

Before donning her gardening gloves, she lifted her braid high on her head, tucking in loose tendrils, and created a haphazard bun at the nape of her neck. She looked around for something to hold her thick mane of hair in place. When she spotted a tin of long, albeit, rusty nails, she knew they would do the trick.

Unmindful to her appearance, she shoved at the bun with the nails until it was secured. Satisfied, she bent to retrieve her gardening tools. “Looks prettier down,” she mimicked. Oh, that Tyler Kincaide! He was as arrogant as the day was long. And to think she’d actually
wanted
to please him. She’d kept her hair down in a long plait just because he’d commented a time or two on her hair.

Silly woman.

Heavens! Tyler actually thought Randy made overtures to her. Randy, the bashful young fellow nice
enough to give her dancing lessons. And did Tyler also think she accepted those fictitious advances eagerly? Did he think she was so desperate she’d jump at the first young man who showed her the least bit of attention?

Oh, lordy! She’d sure like to know what’s buzzing in Tyler’s bumblehead.

She placed her utensils in a basket and headed for the side of the house. Weeds were taking over her short corn stalks. And she had radishes to pick. They had popped up from the ground, large and round and pinkish red. It did her heart good to see the hearty vegetables. Seeing her efforts come to life helped lessen the anger that simmered inside like a hot brew.

She started on the weeds first. A healthy dose of that anger was all she would need to tear up the stubborn vines that crept along the rows, choking the precious plants. Just as Lily was about to bend her body to the task, she glanced up to find Tyler watching her from the veranda. He stood leaning on the railing with arms folded, his expression grim. She gave him an equally discouraging look then bent to work at the weeds, one by one.

Let him look, she thought, not caring that her hair was untidy, her skirt was too short or that her face was probably dirt-smudged. No, she didn’t give two hoots.

Until she saw Letty Sue Withers drive up in her buggy.

T
yler hid his grimace when he saw Letty Sue on his property. Her sugary-sweet smile had no effect on him. He supposed that fact bothered the spoiled girl, but he didn’t have time for her antics. He was already raising one child.

Still, she was Joellen’s only child and the Withers had been family friends for years. Tyler was too much of a gentleman to not treat Joellen’s daughter kindly.

Tyler glimpsed Lily tending her garden one last time before descending the stairs to greet his visitor.

“Afternoon, Letty Sue.”

“It’s a beautiful afternoon, Tyler. Don’t you agree?”

“Sure do. I’m hoping this weather holds up for roundup. Be nice not to chase down those calves in the mud.”

“Yes, well, that’s why I’m here. Mama has sent over some pies and baked goods for you to take along.” She shifted in the buggy. Tyler reached up, took her around the waist as he helped her down. She placed her hands on his shoulders, allowing them to
linger a moment longer than necessary and batted her eyes.

Tyler took a step back and glanced around. Three of his ranch hands had come out of the barn, two out from the corral, and one stood in the doorway to the bunkhouse to catch a view of Letty Sue. Whenever she showed up, his men acted as if they’d never seen a beautiful woman before.

“That’s very thoughtful of your mama. You tell her I said so, Letty Sue, when you head on home.”

Her rosy lips turned down slightly. She cast him a very feminine expectant look. “I was hoping to wrangle an invitation for tea, Tyler. Since I drove the buggy all the way out here. Mama sent your favorite, cranberry loaf cake. You do have time, don’t you?”

He didn’t, but he couldn’t very well refuse. “I reckon I can make the time. Let me see if Miss Lily will join us.”

Letty Sue stopped him with a gentle tug of his shirt-sleeve. “Heaven’s no. I wouldn’t dream of taking Lily away from her work. I saw her tending to her plants when I arrived.” She crinkled her delicate nose. “Besides, she’ll need a bath before she’ll be able to sit down to tea. I’ll be glad to serve you.”

The look she shot Tyler then would have stopped a gunslinger at twenty paces. Her deep blue eyes flashed heat and her mouth parted slightly. The woman was a temptress. Tyler was sure one day she’d either end up in a wagonload of trouble or land herself a fine husband. He hoped the latter, more for Joellen’s sake than her daughter’s.

But he wouldn’t be the one to warn her off. He’d tried talking to Lily about sensitive matters, and look at the mess he’d made. “Fine then, let’s find out if
Joellen’s cranberry cake is as delicious as I remember.”

Letty Sue loped an arm through his. Discreetly, Tyler glanced Lily’s way as they strode up the steps. She was head-deep in her garden and hadn’t paid the two of them any mind at all.

“Damn it, Lily, careful with that thing!” Tyler barked.

Lily put the Colt .45 down at her side. She’d carried the gun all the way from the house. They’d walked several miles, following a bend in the creek, for another shooting lesson. Tyler refused to let her ride Pearl until he came back from roundup. So now her feet ached and she was more than a little perturbed with the man. “Tyler, I’ve asked you time and again not to swear in a lady’s presence. What kind of an example are you setting for your daughter?”

“Ah, he—heck, Lily. You were pointing that gun directly at me. Was I supposed to ask politely for you not to shoot my face off?”

Lily put her chin up. “I was admiring the beautiful carving on the handle. You were the one who walked into my line of vision. And I do have some sense in my head, Tyler. I wasn’t about to pull the trigger.”

“Glad to hear it.”

Lily folded her arms across her middle. She was being difficult. She had deliberately ignored Tyler as they walked all the way up here. He’d been pigheaded about Pearl and her not getting injured, insisting the walk would be refreshing. So she hadn’t spoken a word to him, except to answer his questions with quick replies or grunts. The more stubborn she became, the
more he tried to get her to talk. After a time, Lily found the game quite amusing.

Tyler had actually been charming. Several times she’d almost laughed out loud as he tried coaxing her into conversation with little gibes.

“I bet you wanted to,” she heard him say.

“Uh, what?” Lily met his eyes directly. They twinkled and Lily’s heart flip-flopped. She wondered that if her attraction to him wasn’t the real reason she was behaving like a shrew. Seeing him arm-in-arm with Letty Sue yesterday had disturbed her more than she’d like to admit. Lily had glanced up to view them briefly. They’d made a fine-looking couple as they entered the ranch house together. It was a shocking reminder of all Lily would never have.

“You looked as if you’d have enjoyed taking a shot at me.”

Lily sighed. Her shoulders fell. “I guess I’m a bit angry with you.”

Tyler looked surprised. “Now that’s honest. Why?”

Lily holstered the peacemaker. She walked over to the creek and sat down on a thick patch of grass. “I’m…not sure.”

“Was it because I wouldn’t let you ride today?” He sat down cross-legged next to her.

Lily stared at the creek waters rushing down, hitting a fallen ironwood branch and splashing over it. She felt Tyler’s eyes on her as she continued to look out over the creek. “My leg is fine now, Tyler. I think I would have ridden better today.”

“Can’t chance it, Lily.”

“Am I that…inept?”

“’Course not. It’s just that…well, your leg looked pretty bad the other day, and—” Lily turned to him
just as he swallowed hard. “I don’t want to see you hurt again.”

Lily stared into the darkest brown eyes she’d ever seen and wondered if Tyler truly cared about her. Was he beginning to feel stirrings in his heart, the same stirrings she’d always had for him? “Thank you.”

Tyler reached over to take her chin in his hand. His eyes searched hers. The skin where he touched her tingled with warmth. His fingers were work-rough against her smooth skin. He smelled of leather and dust and lye soap. Pure man. Lily’s heart raced. She hoped to the Almighty, Tyler couldn’t read the hunger in her eyes. He’d see what she wanted and be appalled.

She jerked her head away, afraid of what her expression revealed. She pondered if a silly woman could actually
die
from mortification. Because that would surely happen if Tyler knew what she’d been thinking. And for the first time since he’d spoken of it, she was glad tomorrow he’d be leaving for three weeks on roundup.

“I want you to promise me, while I’m gone, you won’t ride Pearl unless it’s a necessity. I’m leaving Jose Morales behind. He’s a good man. He’ll tend to your needs and watch out for you and Bethann while we’re gone. He’s going to make a trip into town from time to time. You can give him a list of supplies you think you’ll need.”

“Do I have a choice?” Lily’s voice was soft because she knew Tyler wasn’t just asking but giving an order.

“I’m counting on you to care for Bethann. You can’t do that if you’re laid up. Do I have your promise?”

Lily got the full picture now. Tyler didn’t really care
for her, he was concerned for Bethann. He needed Lily healthy so his daughter would be well cared for. Well, he needn’t worry. Lily would always put Bethann first. She wasn’t sure how or when it happened but Lily had fallen in love with the little girl. “I promise. But you don’t have to worry about Bethann. We’ll be just fine.”

Lily bounded up. She took several steps to the right and turned quickly, pointing the gun at the bottles Tyler had lined up across the creek in a dry bed. The ground on the other side of the creek was elevated, and Tyler had set one bottle on each of five small rocks, thirty feet away. With one eye closed, Lily took aim and managed to hit four of the five bottles. One bottle actually flipped up having been hit where its bottom met the rock. The bottle didn’t shatter until it came crashing down to the ground.

Tyler let out a low whistle. Lily turned to him and smiled. “Not bad,” he said, but Lily heard admiration in his voice. “You must have a good teacher.”

“He’ll do,” Lily said with a shrug of one shoulder. She was still angry with him and knew she was not being at all rational. Confusing thoughts muddled her brain. Whenever she was around the man, she couldn’t put two pennies together for thinking they were a silver dollar.

But she could shoot. She prided herself on that. The look of shocking respect stole over Tyler’s face as he had watched her take those shots. Some women had wily ways with enticing men, and Lily…well, she had a knack for learning new things easily.

And the more shots she took, the more confident she became. She didn’t like the thought of what a gun meant in a person’s life, but she found living way
outside of town on the Circle K practically required her to learn how to protect herself. And Bethann, if need be.

Tyler had assured her he wouldn’t leave for roundup if he thought she and Bethann were in any immediate danger. Since he’d been shot six weeks ago, there’d been no further sign of trouble. She knew he’d pondered over it for weeks, night and day. He’d ventured to guess he might have spoiled a surprise attack of cattle rustlers. They’d had a fair share of rustlers stealing cattle through the years. Since Tyler never saw who shot him, he’d probably never know.

Lily reloaded the gun and spent another round. This time she aimed at a small log floating down the creek. The waters rushed by, but Lily had managed to hit the moving target many times. Tyler commented on how hard it was to hit a target moving at such rapid speed. He’d known many men who toted a gun for twenty years who hadn’t been as good.

Lily holstered the gun. She planted her bottom down on the grass several feet away from Tyler and viewed the water. The sun felt good on her cheeks, warming them slightly. She sat in peaceful silence.

“Something else bothering you, Lily?” Tyler asked from beside her.

Lily gave him a halfhearted smile. “I was thinking of Bethann. What will happen to her when I find my uncle? I’ll be leaving the ranch. Who’ll watch her?”

Tyler leaned back on his elbows. Lily turned to him. He shrugged. “Don’t know exactly. I suppose I’ll have to try to find someone else suitable.”

“I hope you do. For her sake,” she added. “Of course, if you got married again…”

Tyler shook his head. “Don’t think that’s going to
happen. I can’t see me taking on a wife again.” Lily arched her brows at him. “I mean, in the real sense,” he explained.

“Not even Letty Sue?”

Tyler chuckled. “Especially Letty Sue. She’s okay and all, but that woman’d keep a man at loose ends. She’s a handful of trouble.”

“She’s a beautiful woman,” Lily said in earnest. She wasn’t opposed to giving the woman her due. And in the looks category, Letty Sue had it all.

Tyler shook his head. “No denying. But a woman’s got to have more than that to hold a man.”

Lily didn’t think so. She’d had a pure heart, but that hadn’t brought any men knocking at her door. Lily sighed. “I remember my father used to say, ‘A beautiful woman might turn a man’s head, but inner beauty will turn a man’s heart.”’

Tyler grinned. “Wise man, that Jonah.”

“I never believed him. I thought he’d made that up just to make me feel better.” Lily gasped silently. She couldn’t believe what she’d just revealed about herself to Tyler. A gentleman would have to compliment her now, even if it weren’t true. And Lily knew it wouldn’t be true.

Tyler turned her so their eyes met. His fingers were gentle on her shoulders. “You know what I see when I look at you?”

Lily averted her gaze. She couldn’t bear to see pity in Tyler’s eyes.

“Lily, look at me,” he demanded softly.

Obediently her eyes locked onto his. “Don’t…you don’t have to say a thing. I shouldn’t have said—”

“I see lovely crystal blue eyes. Like shallow lake waters. And I see a head of incredible thick hair that’s
too often being pulled back or turned into a knot of some sort. I see a sweet, compassionate face.”

“Too skinny, too tall.”

‘‘Slender, not skinny. And tall, like a delicate willow. Lily, you’re too hard on yourself.”

“Lizabeth was beautiful. She used to come into the mercantile. Sometimes I’d find myself staring.” With envy. She hadn’t been proud of her feelings, but she had recognized them. Lily wouldn’t reveal that to Tyler. She’d said far too much already.

“Yes, my wife was lovely.”

Lily looked toward the creek. She said softly, “You must have loved her very much.”

Tyler was silent for a long time. Lily kept her gaze focused on the water coursing by. A breeze had picked up, rustling the leaves of the ironwoods. “I did,” he said finally. “Her death was my fault.”

Lily turned to him. He sat as if in a trance. His gaze was focused to an unnamed point out on the horizon. Anguish obscured his handsome face. “I heard it was an accident.”

He snorted, glancing briefly her way before finding that point on the horizon once again. “The only accident was me meeting her and bringing her out to the ranch. Should never have done that. She’d be alive today.”

Lily was afraid to ask, afraid he’d get right on up from the patch of grass and walk away, but something told her Tyler needed to talk this out. That he’d probably never confided to anyone about Lizabeth’s death. “Tyler, what happened?”

Again, silence. Then, to her amazement, he began in a quiet, almost-reverent tone. “My father and I drove the herd to Abilene that year. We’d had exceptional
good luck with the drive. Only lost a few dozen head on the trip. Our pockets were bursting. I was heading to the nearest saloon for a good drink and damn good wh—”

When Lily turned and lifted her eyes in shock, he grinned, then apologized. After clearing his throat he continued. “Anyway, I was headed for the saloon, when I nearly knocked down this beautiful young woman. She’d turned the corner in a fast hurry and didn’t see me coming. She was about to fall and before I knew it, she was in my arms. That’s all it took.”

“Was it…love at first sight?” It was a romantic notion, she knew, but Lily believed in love at first sight. That it might be true for someone else made it seem all the more…possible.