They were just sitting down when the door to the shop opened again. “I know you’re closed,” a voice called out. “Do you mind if we come in?”
Dustin? Surely, Noah would be with him. Sidney watched as John hurried to the door, wishing she could go herself.
“Come in, cousin!” John said enthusiastically. “Have you eaten? We’re just sitting down now.”
Lily poked her head around the corner and waved them in. “Absolutely. I’ve made plenty. Do join us. That way, Sidney can catch up with her brother, and we can visit with you. I presume Noah is with you, since he was this morning.”
Dustin and Noah appeared at the entrance to the kitchen. The sight of Dustin standing there with his hat dangling from his fingers brought a rush of warmth to her face. He smiled, looking a bit windblown and dusty. Noah hung back, waiting for the others to make their decision.
“There’s no room for us,” Dustin said, his gaze grazing over her face before he took in the small table in the corner dressed with three place settings.
Lily turned and looked at her table. “You’re right about that.”
“Besides,” he went on, “you’ve got everything ready. We’re intruding.”
Lily beckoned with her hand. “Of course you’re not intruding. Family can’t intrude. The table out back has ample room for five. I like to take coffee outside sometimes. The afternoon breeze is all but gone, and the evening is perfect for eating outside. What do you all say?”
“In the alley with a view of the back door of the jail?” John said, his mouth pulling down.
Lily turned on him. “Where’s your sense of adventure, John? Not only is there a nice view of the jailhouse door and your medical building, but if you look across the open lots, you can see a small portion of the hot springs and the curve of the bridge.”
His frown deepened. “If you say so. I’d rather you have a real yard for entertaining. Not a dusty old alley with horse manure.”
“I sweep that away.”
An unknown look passed between them, and Sidney wondered what it meant.
“Fine then,” Lily said. “Give me one moment to run upstairs to grab my tablecloth, and we’ll have the table set in a jiffy. The food is ready to be served, and the bread just out of the oven. I won’t hear another word from you, Dustin McCutcheon, about why you can’t stay.”
“Thank you,” Dustin mumbled, still clutching his hat. He smiled at Sidney as she came forward.
“How was your day?” she asked, enjoying this more amiable Dustin McCutcheon very much. “Did you get everything accomplished?”
Since this morning, the start of a dark stubble had shaded his square jaw, and his tired eyes regarded her with interest—or humor. Whatever the expression was, she liked it.
Her face heated, and she couldn’t stop a small smile from pulling her lips.
Oh yes. If there wasn’t bad blood between the families, she could fall in love with Dustin McCutcheon in the blink of an eye. Maybe she already had.
Chapter Thirty
Dustin was still surprised at himself for stopping in at Lily’s shop on their way back to the ranch. They could have easily ridden through and been home in another twenty minutes. Then he could have taken supper with the family, and Noah would be in the bunkhouse.
“We did,” he said, answering Sidney’s question about whether he’d accomplished what he’d planned that day.
He liked the fact Sidney wasn’t scowling any longer. She seemed pleased to see him. Had she spent the hours since he’d left reminiscing about the past few days as he had?
“Draper Bottom is once again safe,” he went on. “The marshal hauled away our desperados to San Antonio. They won’t be causing anyone else any trouble. Miller rode back with us and is over in his office.”
She laced her fingers together in front of Madeline’s skirt. “Miller?”
Dustin nodded. “Our deputy sheriff.”
“That’s right,” Sidney said. “I remember now.” She glanced toward the window. “And my dog?”
“Lying on the boardwalk in front,” Noah answered.
She nodded. “Noah, are you doing everything Dustin asks?”
“Sure.” He flashed a mischievous grin. “I’m getting paid to ride around and do nothing.”
Lily was back with a blue-checkered tablecloth in her hands. She passed them by and went down the step.
“I need to help Lily,” Sidney said, smiling at her brother. “You’re exactly where Dustin wants you to be, so don’t complain. If he wanted you doing something else, he’d tell you. He’s not shy about that. In a few days, after receiving a tough assignment, you may be wishing you were just riding around again.”
Sidney removed the place settings from the kitchen table and followed Lily through the back door. She’d been out here once today, when she opened the door for a mewing cat. A small shed roof gave enough shade to cover the table. Piano music from the saloon across the alley and two doors down livened up the mood.
“There,” Lily said, smoothing down the cloth. “This will do nicely.”
John stepped out of the shop with a lantern in his hands. “I’ve brought this out, Lily,” he said, setting the lamp in the middle of the table. He took a moment to light the wick. “I know how much you like a centerpiece.”
Sidney finished setting the table as Dustin pulled out the benches, and John, with two thick potholders, brought out the large pot of chicken and dumplings.
“The fare’s not fancy,” Lily said after making one more trip for the loaf of bread. “But it’ll warm your insides and stick to your ribs. That’s what counts. Earlier, I baked a cobbler for dessert. We won’t go hungry.”
They all took a seat, and John offered a brief blessing. Afterward, he ladled an ample serving into the middle of each plate as Dustin sliced the warm loaf, and then passed around the breadboard.
Somehow, Dustin ended up next to Sidney and across from Lily and John. Noah sat on the end with his back to the sheriff’s office.
Dustin had never contemplated taking supper in an alley before, but he had to say he was enjoying himself immensely. He guessed things changed once a man got married. John’s marital state didn’t seem to hamper his actions, and his cousin was one of the happiest men he knew.
“Lily, this is mighty good,” Dustin offered. “Thank you for having us.”
“I second that, Mrs. McCutcheon,” Noah added politely. “I can’t ever remember such a rich flavor.”
The young man surprised him at every turn. Dustin had expected a grumpy, taciturn companion during the ride today, but Noah had proven himself a pleasant chum.
“You’re welcome, Dustin, and thank you, Noah. I like spur-of-the-moment parties. This is nice. Oh, we received a letter from Charity.” Smiling, she glanced between Sidney and Noah. “That’s John’s baby sister and Dustin’s cousin. Shall I read it? I can hardly wait.”
“From Charity, you say?” Dustin had just swallowed a large forkful. “This should prove interesting.”
Noah’s brows shot up at the remark, making Dustin chuckle. “You’d understand if you knew her. Nice young woman, just has a knack for getting into mischief. A lot of mischief. Wouldn’t you say, John?”
John seemed different this evening. He had a secret he was keeping; Dustin was sure. His cousin hadn’t stopped smiling since he and Noah stepped through the front door.
“I would. Go on, darlin’.” John motioned to Lily, who held the post in her hands. “Let’s see what’s happening at home in Y Knot.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Lily pulled the two folded papers from the envelope, aware of the others’ attention on her as they quietly went about finishing their supper.
She’d yet to meet the rest of her Montana in-laws; that was a trip she looked forward to making. Charity was a dear. Lily was so glad John’s younger sister had secretly ventured to Rio Wells last May to check on her brother. Her forged friendship with Charity would last the test of time and distance.
“Give me a moment to quickly read this to be sure nothing’s included I can’t share with you all.”
John nodded.
Lily felt the warmth of her husband’s gaze on her face. She sucked in a breath at the message and continued. A sigh escaped her as she whipped the first page behind the other and began the second.
“You’re being mean, sweetheart,” John said. “Can you read for all of us? We’re dying to hear.”
“Yes, I can. You won’t believe what’s transpired.” She cleared her throat.
“Dearest John and Lily,” she read aloud. “First let me say I miss you both very much. Mother, Father, and the rest of us await your much-anticipated visit to Y Knot, and the Heart of the Mountains. Please come soon. Everyone here grows impatient to meet Lily and hug you both.”
Lily smiled and looked up. “Besides Charity, I’ve yet to meet John’s family.”
Dustin cleared his throat, and she corrected herself.
“I mean the ones in Montana. I love his Texas family very much!”
Dustin smiled and nodded.
Lily couldn’t miss the way Sidney watched his every move. If she wasn’t mistaken, a romance was budding—or maybe had already blossomed.
“Go on,” John prompted.
“On the evening we arrived in Y Knot, Brandon and I surprised the family with our intention to marry. Although I don’t really think many were surprised, even though they acted like they were. Plans were made, but before the day could arrive, we had several events that almost postponed our nuptials for good.”
John leaned forward. “What? I can’t imagine what happened.”
“It’s big,” Lily said, bringing a finger to her lips.
He gave her arm a gentle nudge. “Go on.”
“If you aren’t seated already, you might want to do so now before you read further. Luke has another sister. A Cheyenne sister. She appeared near death in the loft of Luke’s barn on the night Brandon and I were to announce our engagement. Her name is—”
“Hold up, Lily,” John said suddenly, his tone uncharacteristically sharp. His face had lost color, and his brows drew down, causing deep grooves in his brow. “This sounds personal. Maybe we should read the rest later.”
What could be more important than finding you had more family? Lily didn’t understand his reluctance.
“But it’s good,” she said softly. “Nothing is here that can’t be shared with your Texas family and our new friends.” Lily took in the faces intently watching her.
“Cheyenne?” Noah asked. “What’s that mean?”
“Means I have a half-breed cousin,” Dustin replied. “Luke McCutcheon. He’s famous all the way down here in Texas.”
Lily didn’t like the way John’s mouth went flat at Dustin’s comment. The last thing she wanted was for trouble to start up between the two as in the past. Perhaps John was right, and this was a touchier subject than she realized.
She reached out and laid a hand on John’s arm.
“My mother was abducted when she was a young woman,” John explained, cutting a cold look at Dustin. “After my older brothers Matthew and Mark were born. By the time my father found her and brought her home, she was in the family way with Luke. He’s a few years older than me, and is a part of our family just like the rest of us. We don’t think of him as different.” He glared at Dustin. “Or as a half-breed.”
“Point taken, cousin. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean any disrespect,” Dustin offered, his shoulders slumping. “Facts are facts, though, and I was just answering Noah’s question.”
John jerked away his gaze from Dustin and looked at his empty plate. “The Cheyenne girl’s presence must have been difficult for my father, dredging up the time my mother spent in captivity. I’ve been told he went half crazy when he couldn’t find her. Months passed. All he did was eat, sleep, and search. Nothin’ else mattered.”
Lily ached at the sadness in her husband’s voice. “I’d guess having her there must have been even more difficult for your mother. I can’t imagine how she felt.”
He nodded. “That’s so. Mother said she wouldn’t trade that time if it meant giving up Luke.”
“Shall I go on?” Lily asked.
She hoped John would say yes. He was protective over Luke. Maybe more openness would take the sting out of his perception of the situation. The tension she felt building a few moments ago had dissipated, and Lily was relieved.
“John?”
He nodded.
“Her name is Fox Dancing. She’s younger than me, and very beautiful. Her glossy hair reaches all the way to her posterior and shines like black obsidian. Her eyes miss nothing and could cut you like a knife if you were her enemy. But, of course, we’re not. Not surprising to any of us because of Luke’s temperament, she is a fierce warrior and can best most men. And yet, she has a charming smile that reminds me so much of Luke. Seeing it made me tear up on several occasions. As you can imagine, Mother and Father were shocked—as we all were. Especially Luke. A beautiful relationship has formed, one that will last forever.”
Finished with the first page, Lily slipped the sheet behind the second and continued.
“The whole story is too long to write, and so you must come home to hear the details. However, I will say, after a frightening escape from several small-minded men in the area, she went home to her father and family. They’ve held out from relocating to a reservation by hiding, but she fears that a move onto the controlled land given by the whites will be the next step. She wants Luke to come meet the man who sired him, but at this point in time, Luke says he will look out for his growing family and not take the time—yet.
“In case you’re wondering, our nuptials did take place, and Brandon and I are now man and wife. We couldn’t be happier. That too had a scary moment where Brandon took off to Kansas to follow a dream. Yes, a dream he’d never voiced to me, which about tore the heart from my chest—and us apart as well. But again, you’ll need to come back to Y Knot to hear about it. I wish the two of you could have been here for the small ceremony we had at the ranch. The nuptials were beautiful.
“Now, write back as soon as possible and tell me all your news there. How are my cousins, Dustin, Chaim, Madeline, and Becky? How are Uncle Winston and Auntie Winnie? Have Chaim and Emmeline married? They make such a darling couple. Is Lily expecting yet?”
At the last question, Lily’s hand wobbled. Now that was quite a private matter to be blurting out for the world. She felt the blush creep up her face, and forced herself to go on.
“Are Theodore and Becky still an item? Is old Dr. Bixby still as cantankerous as ever? I miss all my friends in Rio Wells, and I can’t wait to hear the news from Texas. Your devoted little sister, Charity Crawford.”
Lily looked up for a second and smiled before continuing.
“Postscript: There is even more news about our beloved Roady, but I’m saving that for my next letter. If you want to hear, you’ll have to return a letter to me. Just remember, John, your not writing last time was what compelled me to sneak away from Montana and visit you unannounced in Rio Wells. Keep that in mind, and write back soon! Love you all!”
Lily folded the two papers and slipped them back inside the envelope. She glanced at the faces.
“That’s a lot of news,” John said. “Makes me realize how long I’ve been away from home.”
He reached for her hand, wrapped it in his warm one, and brought her fingers to his lips for a kiss. “We’ll have to do that soon, Lily. My parents aren’t getting any younger. And I haven’t seen my brothers for years. Maybe we should plan a trip this spring. Bixby can cover for me for a month or so. All you have to do is plan your projects accordingly, so you can be free.”
“Or have Giselle here to cover for me while we’re away. To keep the shop open.”
She waited for him to shake his head. His silence on the topic had her thinking he wasn’t as happy about the idea as she was. Or about moving to a larger place.
; John laughed, the sound rich and inviting. “Maybe you’re right.”
Lily’s moment of contemplation was chased away by John’s remark. Was he warming to her idea?
She stood, not wanting to ask him further where he’d have to explain everything in front of an audience. But he was in an incredibly good mood.
Her gaze slid to Sidney. “Or perhaps Sidney will decide to stay on. Who knows if she’ll fall in love—with Rio Wells.”
They had the attention of the whole table. The sun had gone down and a chill was in the air. John’s lantern gave a nice golden glow around the tabletop.
A fella staggered out the back door of the saloon and looked their way. He squinted and almost tripped over his large feet before turning in the opposite direction and stumbling away.
“Billy Burger,” Dustin said under his breath. “Heard his wife up and left him last month and returned to her mother. The man has a tendency of being rough when he’s liquored up, but is as timid as a lamb when he’s sober.”
“I heard the same,” Lily said with a glance over her shoulder. “For one, I’m relieved, as well as the rest of the women in town. We didn’t want to see any harm done to her. When I first came to Rio Wells, I was almost accosted by Billy, but Dustin whisked me into his arms to keep me safe,” she said to Sidney, and then looked to Dustin. “Remember?”
“How could I forget?” Dustin replied with a chuckle. “Billy ended up headfirst in a water trough.”
“Let me clear away these plates and bring out the cobbler. Would anyone care for a cup of coffee?”
Dustin straightened. “I’d love one, Lily, if it’s no trouble.”
“No trouble at all. I put a pot on the back of the stove before we came out. I’m sure it’s already brewed.”
“In that case, I’ll have one as well,” Noah said, catching her eye.
He seemed much more at ease tonight than he’d been this morning. She liked Sidney’s brother. All this McCutcheon-Calhoun feud nonsense that was being talked about lately was foolishness. Life was short. Time shouldn’t be wasted nurturing a twenty-year-old grudge.
Texas Lonesome Page 17
