Lily's Cowboys

by S. E. Smith

  Allen stared down at Lily’s wide open eyes. He began shaking uncontrollably. An anguished cry ripped from his throat as he cried out his pain.

  Ethan, Caleb and Matt had run for the house as soon as they made the shot. They saw the bastard fall. They had made it almost to the porch when Allen’s anguished cry filled the air. Bursting in the house they rushed into the living room only to stand frozen as Allen fought against the restraints holding him, Lily’s bloody and lifeless body laying across his lap.

  Matt called in for the ambulance to come down the road as he went over and sliced through the ties holding Allen. Ethan and Caleb walked slowly towards them in disbelief. Allen gathered Lily into his arms as soon as he was free, gently smoothing her hair away from her face. Ethan and Caleb sank to their knees next to Allen and Lily. Touching her, begging her to come back to them, telling her over and over they were not ready for her to go. They told her how much they needed her. They even cursed a blue streak trying to get her to respond but nothing they did could wake her up this time. She had known she wouldn’t be allowed to stay but they had hoped they could prove her wrong. They loved her so much they had felt certain nothing could take her away but they had been wrong. Their Lily was gone.

  Chapter 17

  Matt twisted his hat in his hands as he looked at the three men sitting and standing in the room with him. Sometimes he really, really hated his job and right now was one of those times. He had driven out to the ranch to let them know that Lily’s body had been misplaced. The ambulance had delivered her body to the hospital and she had been transferred to the morgue but when Doc Harley went down to confirm the death and make a ruling as to how she had died her body was nowhere to be found. An intensive search was still underway but Matt had a feeling they wouldn’t find anything.

  Ethan sat at his desk in the office staring into space. Caleb sat with his arms on his knees staring at the floor and Allen stood with his back to Matt staring out the window. It had been two days since Lily had died in his arms and he still hadn’t spoken to anyone, not even his brothers. He just stared out the window like he was waiting for Lily to come home.

  January

  February

  March

  April

  May 23

  Life on the ranch had returned to normal as much as it could. There was still some light snow on the ground but the days were getting longer and it was beginning to warm up a little more. Helen had been acting as their housekeeper since Lily’s death. The brothers had learned to rely on each other to get through the pain of losing Lily. At first, Allen had been sure she would return any day but as days turned to weeks and weeks to months he began to lose hope. They had read her journal over and over hoping to find some clue in the first few days after her death until one day they went to get it and it was gone along with her big canvas bag. That was when all three of them had broken down and cried. They ranted and rave at God for not even letting them have some small part of her. They had no place to visit to say their goodbyes, nothing to remind them she had even been there. Maggie had flown in from Florida for a visit during their last bad time. Helen hadn’t known what to do so she had called for re-enforcements. The pain she saw in them was more than she could handle.

  “What the hell are you boys doing? You had better not run Helen off, you hear me.” Maggie snapped at the three of them as they sat at the table.

  “Why dammit, Maggie? Why? Why couldn’t we even have some small piece to remember her by?” Allen asked choked.

  “But, she did leave a piece of her behind. It’s all around you, boy. You just can’t see it. Look at the three of you. Before she came, you were all so absorbed in your own problems you didn’t recognize the pain each of you were feeling. Now, all three of you are working through it together. You’ve become a family. You can see the difference in the house. It isn’t just a house anymore, it’s a home. You just need to look around you. All three of you. She left a lot of herself here.”

  “We miss her so much, Maggie. We miss her so much each and every day.” Ethan said quietly.

  “I know, Ethan.” Maggie replied softly. She gathered her jacket. “You boys get on with your chores. I need to run into town. I haven’t seen Gladys since I came in and if I’m going to be here I better go get some grub for everyone.”

  “Maggie.” Caleb said quietly, “Thanks for coming. We miss you.”

  Maggie smiled sadly at the boys, her heart going out to them. They were in a lot of pain but they were working through it together. She walked down the steps and had a vague sense of dej’vu. Looking up at the sky she couldn’t resist having a little conversation with God. Not too unlike what she had had before.

  “You know I’m not much for making demands or talking to you but I’ve got a little complaint. If’n you were the one who sent Lily she was supposed to stay until the boys no longer needed her. From the looks of it, they need her more now than ever. Lily said she wouldn’t leave until the boys didn’t need her anymore. Well, they still need her bad so I think you need to think about sending her back as she hasn’t finished the job you sent her on. Now, if you want to take offense to an old woman’s scolding, you go right on ahead but if you look at those boys you’ll see I’m right.” Maggie paused a minute before she said a little more softly. “Please send Lily back. I think she needs my boys as much as they need her.”

  Shaking her head at her own lunacy, she climbed into the truck and headed to town. She had to admit she didn’t think it would work but what the hell, it couldn’t hurt anything to ask. She drove to town pulling into the parking space in front of the diner. She slowly climbed from the truck and walked in not really knowing what to do if her wish didn’t come true.

  “Afternoon, Gladys. Hey, Earl. Hey, Carl.” Maggie called out heading for the back booth. Gladys smiled as Maggie came in and poured a couple cups of coffee.

  “Hey, Maggie. How are the boys doing?” Gladys asked as she eased into the seat across from her.

  “Not too good.” Maggie said sadly. “They really loved that girl.”

  “I knew they would.” Gladys said as she sipped her coffee. “You know, I heard tell the strangest story about her from Becky at the sheriff’s station.” Gladys went on to tell Maggie about how Matt had a report on Lily only this Lily had been born in 1901. Maggie listened intently to the story, her eyes widening in wonder. If it was true, than just maybe there was a way to bring Lily back to the boys. Maggie’s eyes gleamed. Maybe her talk wouldn’t be in vain. If one wish brought her to them in the first place maybe another one would do the same. It never hurt to try.

  She and Gladys spent the next hour catching up on what had happened while Maggie was in Florida. Maggie was just finishing her coffee when the bell over the door chimed. A small figure came into the diner and walked up to the booth where she and Gladys were sitting.

  “Excuse me. You wouldn’t happen to know of anyone looking for a housekeeper, would you?” A soft voice asked.

  Lily watched as Maggie’s eyes grew wide then filled with tears. In a shaky voice, Maggie replied, “I might. There are these three men but they need a lot of love and someone who won’t take off when they start growling.”

  Lily smiled softly, “Seems like they need more than a housekeeper.”

  Maggie nodded, “Yes. Do you think you’ll be up to the job? They need someone who is going to be willing to stay a long, long time.”

  Lily’s smile grew, “Oh, yes. I’m up for the job. From the sound of it, it might take a lifetime to get them back in shape.”

  “Oh, Lily. He heard my prayer.” Maggie whispered.

  “He wasn’t the only one who heard.” Lily replied softly. “Maggie, will you please take me home?”

  Chapter 18

  Lily wrung her hands nervously on the ride back to the ranch. She didn’t know what to expect. Would they still want her? Lily stared out of the window anxiously, impatient to get to the ranch.

  “Do you think they will still want me?” Lily as
ked biting her lip. “I miss them so much.”

  “Honey, those boys’ love you.” Maggie assured her. “There’s not a day that goes by they don’t wish you were with them. I swear, I’ll be surprised if they ever let you out of their sight again once they see you again.”

  Lily shined a beautiful smile at Maggie. “Oh, Maggie. I don’t ever want to be away from them again.”

  “Here we are.” Maggie said with a contented sigh. “The boys don’t look like they are back yet. They went over to the old homestead to finish the repairs on the barn. They should be home any time though. Let’s get you settled in.”

  Lily tried to hide her disappointment. Maybe this was for the best. It would give her time to get in control of her emotions before facing them. Just going back into the house held such potent memories. Lily walked slowly up the steps pausing before going through the double front doors. She clutched her canvas bag tight against her chest. As she walked across the threshold she felt like she was finally coming home.

  “Go take your stuff up to the Master bedroom and then come meet me in the kitchen. We can get some dinner going while we wait and you can talk to me.” Maggie said carrying a bag of groceries into the kitchen.

  “I’ll be right down.” Lily said breathlessly. She ran her hand along the staircase loving the feel of the rich wood under it. As she climbed the stairs her smile grew as she remembered Caleb carrying her up the stairs on Christmas morning. She looked down at the sapphire and diamond ring on her left hand. It was the morning they had asked her to marry them. She shivered as she remembered how they had made love to her on the rug in front of the fire. Afterwards, Caleb had bathed with her in the large sunken tub. They had ended up making love again, slower, almost tentatively. It had been so beautiful wrapped in his strong arms.

  Lily walked into the Master bedroom and looked around. None of the men had left their things in the room. She went to the walk-in closet and opened it. The things she had bought were hanging neatly on hangers or folded on the shelf, almost like she had never left. She wanted to fill the closet with their things next to hers. Lily closed her eyes as a sharp pain swept through her. She loved them so much. Impatiently, she put her things in the closet. Taking her journal, she laid it on the nightstand next to the huge bed. Lily’s lips curved with a slight smile as she ran her hand over the covers. She had plans for the bed tonight and it didn’t include sleeping.

  Leaving the room, Lily practically floated down the stairs to the kitchen. Curled on a pillow under the window was Edison. Her kitten had grown up.

  “Oh, Edison. Look at you, you’ve grown up so much.” Lily said as she leaned over to pet him. Edison stretched lazily, looked at her with a disgruntled meow, and closed his eyes again.

  Lily laughed. “Well, he seems content.”

  “The boys don’t admit to spoiling him. Ed is just as bad. I guess every time someone would take him out to the barn to live he would disappear and they would find him back in here trying to get into your old room.” Maggie said as she put a meatloaf into the oven.

  Lily wrapped an apron around her slim waist and picked up a potato to wash and cut up for mashed potatoes.

  “Lily, where did you go?” Maggie asked hesitantly. She wasn’t sure if it was something she should ask or not, but damn, she was curious as hell.

  Lily paused a moment and stared out the window before answering. “I don’t really know. It is like a dream world. The colors are all so vibrant.” Lily looked down as she picked up another potato. “It looks a lot like it looks here, only more.”

  Maggie thought about what Lily said before asking another question, “You said God wasn’t the only one who heard my prayer. Who else heard?”

  Lily looked at Maggie with a soft smile, “Let’s just say there were quite a few people in heaven who heard you. Your brothers’ told me to tell you hello.”

  Maggie’s eyes filled with tears at the mention of Ethan, Allen, and Caleb’s dads. Her chin trembled a little before she sniffed and turned back to get some rolls out of the freezer. Lily, while in the dream world that was her life between her missions on earth, had finally met Adam, Jake, and Emily Cunnings. They had watched over their boys,worrying about them. When Maggie had sent her initial prayer it had been them, and to her surprise her Momma and Da, who had encouraged Lily be the one sent to them. When Lily had returned she had been inconsolable. If not for the support of her Momma and Da she felt certain she would have sunk to the realms of purgatory. She had been a lost soul. Time was irrelevant in her dream world. She had been shocked to discover almost five months had passed since she had left. Wiping her hands down her apron, she trembled at the thought of them being apart for so many months. What if they had decided to move on? What if they had decided she wasn’t worth the wait?

  Maggie’s head came up as she listened. “I hear the truck. They’re back. Go to them, Lily. Go to them, honey.” Maggie said encouraging Lily. She helped Lily take off her apron and smiled as Lily nervously brushed her hands over her hair. “You look beautiful. Go on.”

  Lily nodded. She walked slowly through the dining room and stood by the front window watching as the truck pulled in and backed up to the barn. Her breath caught in her throat as she watched them getting out of the cab of the truck. Her hand slowly moved to her throat and she held back a sob. She moved to the front door and opened it. She slowly walked down the steps never taking her eyes off where the men had gone. They were unloading the back of the pickup. Lily was halfway across the yard when Allen appeared out of the barn heading to pick up another stack of lumber. He looked so tall and handsome. His light brown hair was peeking out from under his cowboy hat and he had a slight shadow of a beard like he hadn’t shaved this morning. His jacket was open showing the dark blue shirt stretched across his broad shoulders. He was wearing his trademark blue jeans and boots.

  Allen was tired. He couldn’t sleep more than a couple of hours each night before the nightmares came. He didn’t know how much longer he could go on. He didn’t know how much longer he wanted to go on without Lily. It seemed like every time he closed his eyes all he could see was her laying across his legs, bloody and lifeless, while he could do nothing but call out to her. He had lost weight again and was to the point he just wanted to give up. Maybe in death he could be with her. He fought with his feelings knowing how devastating it would be to his brothers so he kept trying to put one foot in front of the other. It was just getting so damn hard to do. Coming out of the barn, he was focusing on trying to get the materials they hadn’t used out of the truck. He didn’t even want to think about the fact it was getting dark. Dark meant sleep and sleep meant nightmares. As he headed for the back of the truck to pick up more materials he felt like he was being watched. Thinking it was Maggie back, he glanced up and the world seemed to fade away. Standing before him was Lily more beautiful than ever. The pain that lanced through him took his breath away. He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath trying to get the pain under control. Opening his eyes slowly, he watched as the vision of Lily walked slowly towards him. It was only when he heard his name that he was able to move; first one step then another until he was almost running. Vaguely he heard a sound that sounded like a sob but he couldn’t tell where it was coming from until he felt the chill on his cheeks from the tears running down his face.

  Lily was unsure of what to do when Allen first saw her. He glanced up as if realizing he was under scrutiny his eyes going wide with disbelief before he closed them. When he closed his eyes, she was afraid he would open them to look at her with a cold indifference. Instead, she had seen the same pain she had felt at being torn apart from them.

  “Oh, Allen.” Lily whispered just loud enough for him to hear. She ran towards him throwing herself into his arms wrapping her arms tightly around his neck while her legs wrapped around his waist. She buried her face in his neck taking a deep breath to absorb his unique scent. She loved how he smelled. She loved being in his arms. She never wanted to be apart from him again
. Lifting her tear laden eyes to him, she pulled his head down to kiss her. She definitely loved the taste of him. Kissing him over and over, she was gasping for breath when he finally pulled her back far enough so he could look down into her face.

  Touching her almost with relevance, he whispered, “Lily?”

  “Oh, Allen. I’ve missed you so much.” Lily whispered back huskily. “I love you so much.” She kissed him again deeply.

  Ethan was worried about both his brothers. He knew Allen wasn’t sleeping at night. Hell, none of them were. They each tried to fool the other but even in a house the size of theirs it was impossible to hide the small noises they made during the night. All of them had lost weight but both Allen and Caleb seemed to have lost even more, they had lost their desire to live. Running his hand down his face, he had to admit he was not far behind them. The house just seemed to be so empty without Lily’s presence. He hated going to an empty bed each night after remembering holding her soft, sweet body against his. Nothing seemed to give him pleasure any more. He moved more as a robot than a man. He only wondered when this hell would finally end.