Charlene Sands (13 page)

L
ily dashed about the kitchen, stirring her meal, making lemonade and setting out the dishes. Minutes ago Tyler had seated himself down and stretched his long legs out at the thick oak table. Lily felt his eyes following her every movement. Self-conscious of his blatant scrutiny, she wiped her hands down her apron over and over again. They’d become clammy, as had her whole body when she’d seen him down by the pecan grove earlier.

It had been exactly twenty-four days since they’d spoken. Not that she’d counted the days, but, oh, who was she kidding? She’d made a small mark on her calendar in the privacy of her room every night he’d been gone. She thought she’d be too busy to think about him. She’d hoped. But since he’d touched her…that way, down by the creek, every free moment her thoughts drifted to him.

Now that Tyler was home, she wasn’t sure which was worse, missing the very sight of him, or having him back, making her jittery and flustered again.

Why on earth was he staring at her?

He cleared his throat. “I like the color of your new dress, Lily. Does something to the blue in your eyes.”

Lily continued to stir the dumplings and suppressed the thrilling shudder that wanted release from her disobedient body. “Thank you.”

“Jose said you had a surprise. Chicken and dumplin’s and a slice of pecan pie is a mighty fine welcome home. Thanks, Lily.”

Lily twirled around to face him. Distracted by his return and all the crazy stirrings going on in her heart had made her forget his real surprise. “Oh, my goodness, Tyler,” she gasped. “I can’t believe I forgot to tell you.”

Tyler noticed the flounce of her skirts when she turned, which made Lily even more self-conscious. She wasn’t used to wearing such frilly clothes. He grinned when their eyes met. “Tell me what, Lily?”

Lily removed her apron and tossed it aside. She sat down to face him across the table. “Well, while you were gone, we had a visitor.”

Tyler’s eyebrows shot up. “Jose didn’t mention—”

“I asked him not to. I wanted to tell you myself.” A warm glow spread through her insides, thinking she could finally give Tyler something that would make him happy. She couldn’t help but smile. “You see, this man showed up. And Bethann, well, I fell asleep and she sort of disappeared for a while, but it was okay, because she was jumping rope and I didn’t need my gun after all and—”

“Lily, get to the point. And what’s this about a man and a gun? I’d worry, but I know what a good shot you are,” he teased. “Who came out to the ranch?”

Lily knew she’d babbled on, she was just so darn excited about the news. She rushed on. “The point is,
Bethann’s uncle Brett came for a visit. Isn’t that wonderful?”

Tyler’s smile faded. In fact, his whole face dropped. His eyes narrowed and his jaw set rigidly. He stood up and glared down at her, resting both palms on the table. “You don’t mean
Brett Muldoon
was here at my ranch, do you?”

“Y-yes. He was here. Tyler?”

Blood rushed to Tyler’s face. “You say he saw Bethann?”

“Yes, the two of them got on nicely. She wasn’t so sure about him, but once we sat down to supper, she—”

Tyler slammed his fist on the table. Lily jumped. “You invited him inside. He ate here?”

Lily stood up on shaky legs. She didn’t know what prompted Tyler’s tirade, but he was clearly furious.

“Well, yes, I did. I thought you’d be happy. He is family, Tyler.” Lily thought about her own uncle. Finding him had become a quest. How happy she’d be if she could locate him and finally keep the deathbed promise she’d made to her father. To Lily…family was everything.

“Lady, you are sorely mistaken. He’s no family of mine.”

“But…he’s Bethann’s uncle.”

“Stay out of it!” His faced flushed cherry-tomato red. He raised his voice and emphasized each word. “This is none of your business, woman.” Tyler grabbed his black felt hat, pushing it flat onto his head, then stormed out the back door. The string of his curses rang in her ear.

“Well,” Lily said, jamming her fists onto her hips, “of all the nerve!” And here Lily actually thought she
was helping. Her surprise had jumped up and bit her. The worst thing of all was Tyler’s outrage at her.

In that moment she realized that Tyler held no warm feelings for her. She was, in his mind…just the housekeeper. She had no right interfering with family matters. She wasn’t his “family,” either.

Lily slumped into the chair. Her anger faded into something harder to handle, emptiness. She put her head in her hands and forced away tears ready to fall. Her mistake was innocent. Brett Muldoon led her to believe Tyler would welcome him into his home, but Tyler hadn’t wanted explanations or excuses. He’d let her know without question her place in his house-hold—she was hired help.

Reality sunk in slowly, like a twig falling into a mud hole. She had come to love Bethann and…her impenetrable father. She had come to think of herself as a part of their family. She had cared for Tyler’s home as if it were her own. She had cooked his meals with thoughts of pleasing him. She had laundered his clothes, schooled his daughter, befriended his ranch hands.

She had fooled herself into thinking she may just belong here. Earlier today, when Tyler arrived home and first glimpsed her, she had a fleeting feeling that he had missed her, too. His gaze never strayed far, and he seemed to welcome her with his smile, his tone of voice. Her heart had sped up and a flash of what it was like to be a true family, the three of them together, brought surging warmth through her body.

But the Kincaides were not her family. Tyler had made that abundantly clear just now. Jasper Brody was the only family she had. She had to find him and get away from here.

Before her silly notions and aching heart would do her in.

Randy stopped the wagon in front of the telegraph office and helped Lily down. “Thank you, Randy. I’ll meet you in two hours at the supperhouse.”

Randy removed his hat and scratched his head. “You sure, Miss Lily? I could stay and wait for you.”

“No, that’s not necessary. Go on. I know you have business in town. I want to do some shopping at the emporium. I’ll be fine.”

On a nod, Randy was back in the wagon, heading for the livery. Lily breathed a sigh of relief. She had to get away from the Circle K, if even for just a few hours. Tyler had been insufferable the past two days. He’d barely spoken to her, only responding to her questions with a curt nod or one-syllable answers.

Lily didn’t understand his behavior. He was brooding and pensive, like a powder keg about to go off. She’d steered clear of him, but his eyes, when they lit on her, had been penetrating, suspicious. Lily vowed not to let one more day pass without trying to find out what had happened between Brett Muldoon and Tyler.

Wes Farley, usually a wealth of information, had kept quiet on the matter and told Lily it was best not to dredge up the past.

Lifting her skirts, she stepped into the telegraph office. “Morning, Charlie. Anything?”

Charlie swung around in his swivel chair. He gave her an apologetic smile. One Lily had become accustomed to. “Sorry, Miss Lillian.”

Lily hoisted her shoulders, more determined to find Uncle Jasper than ever. Lifting a V-spot from her reticule, she handed the paper money to Charlie along
with a list she’d been working on since Tyler’s tirade two days ago. “I want you to send out this message to all these cities.”

Charlie whistled as he perused the list she gave him. “All these, you say? Same message to all. Yes, ma’am.”

“Yes, and if you hear anything in response, send a messenger to the ranch. Immediately.”

“Guess you really need to find your uncle.”

“Yes, Charlie, the sooner the better.”

Lily didn’t know how she’d handle the situation when she did find Uncle Jasper. She’d given her word to Tyler she’d stay on at the ranch until after the cattle drive. Lily wasn’t sure if she could keep her promise—although in all her life, she’d not once reneged on her word. Tyler needed her services. They had a business deal.

It was clear now that Lily was Tyler’s employee, nothing more. She’d been a fool to dare hope she meant anything to him. He’d told her time and again he didn’t want love in his life ever again. Why didn’t she listen?

A hollow ache in the pit of her stomach threatened to swallow her up. She bit down on her lip, refusing tears to fall, but one sole moist drop did escape. It traveled down her cheek to drip off her chin.

Heavens, Lily, don’t let the whole town see what a lovestruck ninny you really are.

She took in a deep sobering breath. For all her flights of fancy, Lily was truly a realist at heart. She knew leaving the ranch would hurt her, but staying would hurt even more. Loving Tyler and not having that love returned would split her heart in two.

She had promised her father she’d make a new life
for herself with his brother. She intended to do just that. She didn’t belong with the Kincaides. Just knowing she had a place to go home to, once Tyler returned from the cattle drive, would give her the peace of mind she needed.

But where was Uncle Jasper? Why was he so hard to find?

Lily headed down the sidewalk hopeful one of the wires she sent today would bring her some news. She came to a stop when she found herself in front of Wilbourne’s Emporium. Colorful fabrics and hair accessories were on display on a narrow table in one corner in the front of the store. The table was covered in a fine lace tablecloth.

She viewed the lovely items from the window and thought what a brilliant scheme—to put the finest womanly items on view so they may be seen through the window, tempting all the female passersby.

Lily found herself measuring the coins left in her reticule to the price of a lovely hair comb inlaid with tiny white pearls. The comb would be a perfect complement to her new blue dress she planned on wearing tomorrow night at the barn dance.

Lily still needed to be frugal. She’d just spent a good deal of money at the telegraph office. Her savings would have to see her through when she left the ranch, if she hadn’t found Uncle Jasper by then.

She entered the store and wandered down the aisles, grateful for this reprieve from Tyler’s oppressive scrutiny. She couldn’t afford the comb, but she found herself standing over the table lifting it up to finger the delicate pearls.

“That’s a right fine comb, Miss Lillian.”

“Oh!” She whirled around to come face-to-face with Brett Muldoon.

He cast her a charming smile. “Good morning. You’re out early today.”

“Y-yes. I had a bit of shopping to do.”

She couldn’t very well tell him he was the reason she’d had to get away from the Circle K this morning. Whatever went on between Brett Muldoon and Tyler in the past had brought a great deal of tension to the Kincaide household.

“You planning on buying it?” Brett focused his deep green eyes on the comb she held in her hand.

Abruptly she placed the comb back down. “Oh, no. Just admiring it.”

“I wanted to thank you again for your hospitality the other day. It did my heart good to see my niece. She’s a beauty, just like her ma.”

The man had such an honest face, open, filled with obvious love for Bethann. She wondered if Tyler was justified in his hatred for his brother-in-law. “Yes, she’s a special child.”

“I can see you mean a great deal to her, too. The little time I spent with her, she spoke on and on about her Miss Lily.”

Lily smiled. “We have a special bond, Bethann and I. But I’ve never tried to replace her mother.”

“No, no.” He rubbed his jaw. “I’m glad she has a friend in you. Tyler back yet?”

Lily tensed. How much should she divulge to Brett? She didn’t want to interfere and have Tyler’s wrath brought down upon her once again. But the man came out to the ranch, obviously unaware Tyler harbored any hostility. Should she warn him? “Yes, he’s back. But, Mr. Muldoon—”

“Call me Brett, please.”

“Brett, I think you should know, Tyler doesn’t…well, he was not pleased you came out to the ranch the other day. I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to plan on coming out again.”

Brett took in a breath. “I was afraid of that.” Two customers strolled down the aisle toward them. Brett glanced their way, then focused his attention back to Lily. “Listen, do you have a few minutes? This is a private matter, but I would like the chance to explain. We could take a walk, it’s a beautiful day, or I’d be honored to buy you a meal at the supperhouse.”

Lily shuddered to think what might happen if Emma Mayfield got within earshot of that explanation. Tyler’s private affairs would be up for public scrutiny within the hour. “A walk sounds lovely.”

“Fine, then. I’ll finish making my purchases and meet you outside in a few minutes.”

Lily took a deep breath once she stepped outside. She was curious, perhaps overly so, about what had transpired between Tyler and his brother-in-law. Tyler had warned her to stay out of his affairs, but she deemed it only fair to let the unsuspecting Brett Muldoon know he was not welcome at the Circle K.

Brett joined her minutes later, and took her elbow. They began a slow leisurely walk east, toward the church. “Miss Lillian, I must thank you for agreeing to hear me out. You see, when my sister died, I was distraught. We were close, not just in age, but in every way a brother and sister could be. She was all I had in the way of family.”

“I’ve never had siblings, but I can understand the closeness you must have shared.”

He nodded as they made their way past an ancient
oak that bordered the edge of town. “It’s no secret I wasn’t happy when my sister decided to stay on out west and marry a rancher. I resented Tyler Kincaide. He kinda barreled into Lizabeth’s life, then nothing was ever the same.”

“I understand they loved each other very much.”

“Ah, but my sister wasn’t happy. In the beginning yes, she was besotted, but the reality of what she’d done finally hit her. Her letters sounded more and more desperate. When little Bethann came along, I think my sister finally knew some joy. She’d resigned herself to living west. And then, the accident.”