Charlene Sands (12 page)

Bethann nodded. “Okay, Miss Lily. I can’t wait to use my new jumping rope.”

Lily needed to rest just a few minutes. And since her new dress was finished, she was determined to get to bed early tonight. Once inside her room, she lay down and closed her eyes.

Lily woke up and noticed the time. She’d been asleep for more than an hour. Bethann hadn’t come to get her. Slowly, she rose, blinking her eyes and rubbing her face. She walked over to the pitcher of water and splashed her face several times. That helped.

She called out for Bethann. No answer. The house seemed too quiet. Lily made her way to Bethann’s room, noticing her little charge had done her chores. Quickly she straightened her dress and tucked stray strands of hair back into her braid before going outside. She found Jose Morales by the barn. “Mr. Morales, have you seen Bethann?”

“No, Señorita Lily. She is not here. I have been working in the barn and corral. I have not seen her.”

Lily called out again. “Bethann! Bethann!” Her eyes roamed over the ranch dwellings. Everything seemed to be in order. Lily sucked in a deep breath. “It’s probably nothing, but could you help me look for her. She seems to be missing.”

“
Sí.
I will look.”

“Good, if you find her, bring her back to the house and wait for me. I’m going looking, too.”

“Señorita Lily, I would not be too worried. The little
chica
is a bit of a…handful,
sí?
She is somewhere playing and we will find her.”

“I hope you’re right, Jose.” Lily ran straight to her room. She lifted her mattress and pulled out her holstered gun. She flung the holster on the bed, loaded the gun and began her search. Since Tyler had been shot, Lily had no reservation about taking up arms. She was confident in her ability to shoot, if need be. And if Bethann was in danger, she wouldn’t hesitate.

Lily headed straight for the creek, Bethann’s favorite place to play. She’d been warned time and again not to go there without adult supervision. But Bethann was headstrong, like her dad. Lily prayed she’d find her there.

Lily’s search lasted more than thirty minutes. She walked with a briskness in her step, calling out Bethann’s name over and over. She tamped her panic down, her reasonable side taking hold, telling her Jose Morales had probably found the child and was waiting back out at the house for her. Lily raced the rest of the way home, hoping she’d been right.

But she stopped up short when the house came into view. The scene she witnessed stunned her so, she
began walking very slowly toward the house. Bethann stood beside Jose Morales. Thank God, the child was safe, but Jose had his gun pointing at a tall, dapper-looking man with dark auburn hair. The man’s hands were up in the air, by Jose’s urging, Lily assumed.

Lily kept a hand on her gun as she approached. She sidled up to Jose and touched Bethann’s shoulder but kept her gaze fixed on the stranger. “What’s going on, Jose?”

“I found this man with our little
chica.
He says he knows her.”

“Bethann, do you know this man?”

“No, ma’am, but he says he’s my uncle.”

Uncle? Tyler never mentioned Bethann having an uncle. Lily spoke up. “Who are you? What are you doing here?”

The stranger spoke with a deep husky drawl and a sureness that made Lily nervous. “Well, if you’d put that gun down, I’d feel a mite more like talking. I sure didn’t expect this kind of a welcome.”

Lily didn’t budge, nor did Morales. They kept their guns pointed directly at the man. “Sir, please talk or get off Kincaide land.”

“What the girl says is true. I’m Bethann’s uncle. Lizabeth Muldoon was my sister.” The man flashed a wide smile, showing white straight teeth.

Lily looked long and hard at the man claiming to be related to Bethann, and grudgingly realized his claims held truth. His auburn hair was the exact shade of Bethann’s and they shared a similar smile, but the eyes were the telling. His eyes were dark green, like blades of winter grass, just like the precocious six-year-old’s. “What’s your name?”

“Brett Muldoon.” He lowered his arms to point at
Bethann. “And that pretty young lady is my niece. I’m her uncle. Tyler around?”

Lily lowered her gun, but kept it aimed in Brett’s general direction. “He’s on roundup.”

“Well, I came out here to visit my only niece. She’s the image of her ma. A real beauty. Did you know my sister?” The man eyed her intently and Lily immediately knew where his thoughts were heading.

“No, sir, I didn’t. I’m the housekeeper. I came to live here a few months ago.”

“Ah, I see. Well, I’d be much obliged if you’d all put down those guns. Never know when one might go off…accidentally.”

Lily holstered her gun and turned to Jose. “It’s okay, Jose. I believe him. There’s no danger here. You can put your gun down.”

Jose gave her a cautious look. “Only, if you are sure. I do not trust a man who wears finer clothes than my very own mother.”

Lily bit back a chuckle. It was true. Brett Muldoon was a fine specimen, handsome in his dark suit and embroidered vest. “I’ll take full responsibility, Jose. He is who he says he is. You can put away the gun. And thank you for finding Bethann. Where was she, anyway?”

The stranger put his hands down and approached when Jose holstered his gun. Before Jose could answer, the man spoke up. “I was riding up when I spotted her by that crop of trees out yonder. She was jumping rope. We had a bit of a chat, then headed toward the house. Sorry, if we caused you both any worry.”

“Apology accepted, Mr. Muldoon.”

“Thank you, ma’am. I appreciate you taking me at my word. I am who I claim to be.”

Lily smiled. “I wouldn’t take a stranger at his word, but looking at the two of you,” she said, glancing down at Bethann, “a person would have to be blind not to see the resemblance.”

The man laughed heartily. “Very astute of you, Miss…?”

“Lillian. My name is Lillian Brody.”

The man took her hand to shake it gently. “Very nice to meet you, Miss Lillian.”

Lily glanced again at Bethann and thought about her lack of family. Now, suddenly, Bethann had an uncle. It would do them both good to get a chance to know each other. On impulse, Lily made Brett Muldoon an offer. “Would you care to stay for an early dinner? Bethann should get to know her uncle. You can head back to town before the sun sets.”

The man smiled warmly. “I think I’d thoroughly enjoy eating in the company of two lovely ladies. Thank you very kindly.”

“Bethann, your uncle Brett is going to stay awhile longer. Go on up to the house and wash, then come help me with dinner. We’ll talk about you wandering off later.”

Lily watched Bethann race up the steps of the house. Tyler would be happy to know that Lizabeth’s brother was in town and wanted to spend time with his daughter.

Yes, she quelled any doubts she had about asking the man to dinner. Tyler would be pleased. Very pleased.

Tyler had pushed his horse hard. The last few miles to the house seemed to take an eternity. He’d left camp very early, before sunup, and asked Wes to handle the final day of roundup. He’d been satisfied with the smooth running of the operation. One man suffered bruised ribs after having been kicked by a stubborn calf and another man had burned his arm when he lost his hold on the branding iron. The injuries were minor and his men would recover. Considering the atrocities that often occur out on the range, Tyler was grateful this roundup had been successful.

He was anxious to get home to his girls. “Tarnation, Tyler Kincaide, what are you thinking?” he muttered, but only his horse Blaze could hear him. “Damn fool, is what you are.”

He sorely missed Bethann. He had thought about her every day since he’d been gone. But had he missed Lily, too? Maybe he had. Tyler had to keep reminding himself Lily was leaving soon. She’d find her uncle one day and claim the family she’d always wanted. And besides, he’d already made up his mind to not have another woman in his life. Losing Lizabeth had cured him of all notions of falling deep and hard for a woman. He’d nearly lost his mind when she died. The pain and the loss were a constant companion.

But he was worried about Lily. Until he was sure that Jack McGee’s threat was an idle one, he wouldn’t rest easy. Lily was under his protection while she lived at the ranch. He’d not let that scum get within ten feet of Lily and he wanted to make sure nothing had happened while he was gone. That’s what he told himself when he’d decided to head home a day early.

Blaze picked up his pace, loping at a steady gait when they neared the ranch house. The reliable cow pony always knew where his next meal was coming
from, Tyler mused. The animal had earned his bucketful of oats. Tyler reined in his horse when he reached the barn.

Jose Morales came around the corner of the barn to greet him. “
Hola! Señor Kincaide.
Welcome home. The roundup went well?”

“Afternoon, Jose. Yep, one of the best I’d say.” Tyler swept his gaze over the property. “Everything okay here?”

“
Sí,
it has been quiet here. I have watched over the women.” Jose removed his straw hat to scratch his head. “Perhaps, Señorita Lily will tell you of her surprise.”

“Surprise?” Tyler smiled. A surprise from Lily. With his curiosity sparked, he looked toward the house. “Are they inside?”

“No, they are out walking. The
señorita
said they would not go far.”

Tyler nodded. “Appreciate you watching out for the womenfolk, Jose. Looks like you did a fine job here.”

“
Gracias,
but the work was not too hard. And the
señorita
spoiled me with her delicious pies.” He patted his stomach. “Maria might not recognize her husband, eh?”

Tyler laughed. “After you bed down Blaze, why don’t you go on home to your wife? I can handle things here. The rest of the crew will be back tomorrow.”

Jose gave him a wide smile. “
Gracias, Señor Kincaide.
I will do that very thing.”

Tyler sought out Bethann and Lily. He heard the faint sound of a child’s laughter and followed it. Walking back behind the ranch house, he spied his daughter running through a field of buttercups. She was a picture
of innocence wearing a new yellow dress. Coppery pigtails slapped haphazardly against her shoulders and her face lit with merriment.

Tyler folded his arms across his chest, leaned against a tall pecan tree and watched the happy scene. A giggling Bethann ran straight toward… Lily? Tyler blinked and refocused his eyes. Slowly he came away from the tree. He’d been gone close to a month, but certainly he wouldn’t have mistaken Lily, the tall, slender, pale-eyed woman who had saved his life and befriended his daughter.

Only the Lily he viewed today had curves in places he’d have been sure to remember. Her bright-colored dress hugged her hips and even dared to flare out slightly. The soft lace-edged bodice clung to her upper torso, hinting at a ripeness, a fullness Tyler was sure hadn’t been there before. He closed his eyes momentarily, wondering if this apparition might disappear. But when his eyes scanned over Lily once again from top to bottom, he knew that what he was seeing was real.

A vibrant smile graced Lily’s face. Her cheeks, rosy from playful exhilaration only enhanced the sky-blue of her eyes. Light brown hair, shaken loose from its braid and kissed by the sun was the color of darkened honey. Silken tresses flowed down her back in long golden waves.

Lily was lovely.

When had this happened? And how?

Tyler was stunned. His memory flashed images of Lily eating heartily at every meal, of her tilling the soil under the warming sun’s rays, of her enjoying the everyday aspects of ranch life.

He stood stock-still, captivated by the scene before
him. Bethann handed Lily a jumping rope and together they jumped up and down, bruising the golden flowers beneath them.

With eyes intent on Lily, he watched her feet leave the ground as her body lifted up. He heard the sweet sound of her laughter. And witnessed her feminine shape bouncing, heaving her chest up and down. Tyler swallowed hard. His heart thumped wildly and his whole body tightened.

He remembered Lily’s slender legs the day he saw to her injury. Soft, shapely, graceful legs. He imagined how they’d feel wrapped around him in a fit of passion. He could actually picture it. Tyler swore silently, but couldn’t take his eyes from Lily. It was bad enough he liked her. It was bad enough he admired her abilities. It was bad enough he’d come to care for her.

Now this.

He’d never expected her to…to blossom, just like those damned flowers she’s always tending. The very proper, very rigid, Miss Lillian Brody had softened around the edges. And it was a remarkable change.

“Papa! Papa!” Bethann spotted him and came barreling forth. She ran into his arms and he lifted her high in the air. “You’re back, Papa. We missed you!”

Tyler hugged his daughter, keeping her chubby body in his arms. “I missed you, too, sweetcakes. Papa missed you very much.” He kissed the top of her head.

Lily approached with a broad smile. She was even lovelier close up. Tyler smiled back. “Hello, Lily.”

“Welcome back, Tyler,” she said breathlessly. Her blue eyes fixed on his. Tyler was helpless to tear his gaze away. In what seemed like a self-conscious
move, she began redoing her braid. “I—I must look a mess.”

“Your hair looks nice. And both my—you young ladies look beautiful.” Tyler glanced at his daughter after witnessing Lily’s blush. “New dresses?”

“Yep, Miss Lily made us a batch of new clothes and we even gots some from the store,” Bethann offered eagerly.

“Well, now, they’re real pretty dresses. Both of them.” Tyler dared a glance at Lily. She was inspecting her shoes.

“You must be tired. I’ll go in and fix chicken and dumplings,” Lily said as she made her way past him.

“Mmm, my favorite. You’re spoiling me, Lily,” he teased as he set Bethann down.

Bethann grabbed his hand. “Papa, I learned how to skip rope. Lily surprised me with a new jumping rope with shiny carved handles.”

“Did she now?” Tyler glanced at the sway of Lily’s backside as she headed toward the house and wondered what other surprises she had in store for him.