“Maybe if we can be friends, we can find our way back to being sisters,” Angie said.
“I’d like that.” Lily squeezed Angie’s hand before sitting back in her lounge chair. “Isn’t this the fanciest plane? I’ve only flown a few times, and this one is nothing like taking a commercial flight.”
“No, those Terrell brothers know how to do it right.”
“Are you in love with Brent?”
“Yes. But you see, I have a problem with trust. He almost has me convinced he’s with me for the long haul.” She chuckled. “I asked him to be a temporary husband, to give me a baby, and then leave.”
“You didn’t?” Lily leaned forward in her seat.
“I did. He agreed to my bargain initially. Now he’s changed the conditions and wants to make the marriage real and permanent.”
“With a handsome hunk like him, I’d think you’d be jumping with joy.”
“I am. But I’m not quite ready to let him know. I wanted to have this time apart, away from his influence. When he comes to get me, I’ll know one way or the other how I feel about marriage and him. He’ll also have time to consider his commitment. It’s all happened very fast.”
“Aren’t you going to miss him?”
“I already do.”
Chapter Thirteen
The full moon had risen and lit the dark sky. As they'd got closer to their destination, Angie moved around in her seat and checked her watch. She got up and paced around the lounge area, then sat down. She tried to concentrate on one of the magazines she'd picked up off a table. Were Brent’s parents really agreeable to having two strangers come to stay at their home? Especially since their father, or stepfather, was a notorious gangster just arrested by the FBI.
When Angie was with Brent, she’d hardly noticed her sore throat or the bruises on her neck. Her throat felt dry and sore now. The light came on to put on their seatbelts. The plane took a slight turn and soon landed.
She saw an older man and woman waiting beside a large silver truck as she and Lily came down the plane’s steps. The man walked forward to greet them as Angie stepped off onto the runway.
“Welcome, young ladies.” Mr. Terrell, a tall man with salt-and-pepper hair and a big smile, tipped his hat. “My wife and I are pleased to have company. Our pilot will bring your luggage when he comes to the ranch after taking care of the plane. You two come with me and meet my missus. She’s anxious to see you both.”
Brent had his mother’s bright blue eyes and golden-brown hair, although hers was peppered with gray. She smiled and hugged both of them.
“My Brent said you were both beauties, and he’s right. You have the most gorgeous hair.” She looked closely at them, and then nodded and said, “You must be Angie? He described you well. I think we met you once before, but your appearance is quite different now.”
“Yes it is. This is my sister, Lily.”
“It’s getting cool out here, and you ladies aren’t dressed too warmly. Let’s get in the truck. You all can talk better in a warm house with some of Momma’s coffee and cake.” Mr. Terrell helped Angie and Lily into the truck and his wife into the side seat in the front.
Curiosity had Angie looking all around as they drove down a long, two-lane, blacktop road. Lily watched out the side window. She sensed her sister’s withdrawal. She wasn’t surprised with all Lily had gone through the past few days.
They saw the lights on, in, and around the ranch house as they got close. Mr. Terrell glanced back and said, “Momma wanted to have all the lights on to make you feel welcome.” He smiled at his wife, slowed and turned into the driveway.
“Is the landing strip on your ranch, Mr. Terrell?” Angie asked.
“Yep. When the boys started traveling away from home so much, Drake went and bought a small jet. We decided to invest in our own plane and landing strip to encourage them to come home more often. Seems one of us is always traveling around the country.”
He parked the truck and helped them out. “Go on inside. I’m going to get Ty to join us. He’s probably down at the barn.” Mr. Terrell waved and sauntered off toward the large barn Angie saw in the distance.
Mrs. Terrell shooed them into the house. “I’ll show you your rooms. You can freshen up and join us back downstairs in the kitchen.” She pointed to a doorway on the left, and then led them up the stairs. “These two rooms on the right have an adjoining bath. I thought you might like to be close.”
She opened a door to the first room. “This was Brent’s room. All my boys loved fast cars.” She waved at the large posters, of every imaginable race car, hanging on his walls. “There are some pictures of him and Ty playing little league.
“Through here is the bath, and Ty’s old room. After he married, I made it into a sitting room, but the couch pulls out into a comfortable bed. If you’d rather you can have the room across the hall—”
“No. Thank you. I would like to be close to Angie. We can visit late and not disturb anyone.”
Mrs. Terrell put her hand on Lily’s cheek. “Don’t you worry about disturbing us, honey.” She looked deep into Lily’s eyes.
“I see the hurt and pain, little one. We’ve heard the reports on television and from Brent. I can’t imagine how you must be feeling. But you’ll be safe with us. We’ll take good care of you.”
Angie swallowed around the huge lump in her throat. She saw a lot of Brent in this wonderful woman.
“You freshen up and come down when you're ready. I’ve got coffee or hot chocolate, and the best coconut cake you’ve ever tasted.” She hurried out, and they heard her steps on the stairs.
“I’ll clean my face,” Lily said and rushed into the bath.
Angie walked to the window and stared at the moon. When she turned, she studied the pictures, posters, and the twin bed with the dark blue spread. She could see Brent here, growing up, playing ball with his brothers. No wonder they were such good men. They’d had a safe, solid upbringing.
When his mother said what she did to Lily, the rest of that hard knot inside her had melted. She couldn’t wait to see Brent here, at his home.
In just a few minutes, they were ready. Angie led the way. At the bottom of the stairs they walked toward the door Mrs. Terrell had pointed out. The kitchen smelled of coffee and spice. Mrs. Terrell was cutting slices of cake onto small plates. She smiled as they came in.
“Just have a seat by the table. Joe and Ty will be here in the next few minutes.”
Angie and Lily sat across from each other. Angie’s back was to the door. She saw the change in Lily’s expression and turned to look. A tall, lighter brown-haired man had walked in followed by Mr. Terrell.
“Girls, this is my youngest son, Ty. Ty, meet Angie and Lily.”
Ty tipped his hat and removed it. He walked to his mother and gave her a hug. “Give me a big piece of that cake, Mom. I’m hungry.”
“You’re always hungry.”
“That’s true.” He picked up two of the plates and brought them to the table sitting one in front of Angie and Lily. He pulled out a chair, turned it around and straddled the seat. He studied Angie.
“So you’re going to be the next one to join the family?”
“Perhaps.”
He grinned. “Brent said you were a stubborn filly. Just the kind he needed to lasso him.”
“I’m not certain I care to be referred to as a filly.”
Ty just grinned and took the plate his mother had handed him. His father joined them.
“This reminds me of when Drake brought Janice home the first time. We had folks all around the table.”
Mrs. Terrell brought the last two plates. “Now who wants coffee or hot chocolate?”
“Coffee’s fine, Mrs. Terrell. Please don’t go to any trouble,” Lily said, speaking softly.
“You look like a hot chocolate girl to me,” Mrs. Terrell said. “It’s not any trouble. I suspected that’s what you’d want, and I already have the milk warming.”
“You are much to
kind.” Lily put her head down.
Angie squeezed her hand. “It’s all right. Once you have a good night’s sleep, you'll feel better in the morning.”
Suddenly, Ty stood and walked to the screen door. “That’s what they tell you,” he said in a harsh voice. “But it’s a lie. It takes a long time and a lot of pain to get to the other side.” He let the screen door slam behind him.
“Now what brought that on?” Mrs. Terrell asked. She looked at her husband. “He’s been doing so much better.”
“Monday’s the anniversary of her death,” Mr. Terrell said.
“I’m sorry if I upset him,” Lily spoke up.
“It wasn’t you, honey. Sometimes he just erupts. Until his wife died, we never knew he even had a temper. He was our easygoing son. He’d disarm you with his smile.” She shook her head.
They were all subdued after Ty’s exit. Angie and Lily quickly ate their cake and asked if they could take their coffee and hot chocolate upstairs.
“You go right ahead and sleep as late as you want in the morning,” Mrs. Terrell said.
When they got to Angie’s room, Lily stopped outside the door. “If you don’t mind, I’m going on to bed. It’s been a very long day.”
“I don’t mind. Are you all right?”
“Not yet. Hopefully it won’t take as long as Ty said to recover and feel like I’m on stable ground again.”
* * * *
Ty strode across the yard and behind the trees to his house. He didn’t turn on the light. He went straight to his bathroom, took off his clothes and got in the shower.
Hell, I behaved like an ass. But when he heard those words, the ones everyone had said to him during the darkest days of his life, hot anger had ripped through him.
He’d been drawn to the smaller woman, Lily. His father had given him a short sketch of what had been happening and about her father’s arrest. When he’d walked in and she raised her face, he’d been shocked to feel his cock pulse and start to harden.
Oh, he’d been with a few women since Candice’s death, but only for brief relief. There’d been no emotional ties, and none he’d responded to instantly.
His response to Lily made him wary, and probably fueled the angry statement he’d made. Her stricken face haunted him. He’d stunned and surprised her. She’d looked like a small child who expected a hug and got a slap.
He got out of the shower and dried off. After pulling on a pair of jeans, he went to the kitchen and put on a pot of coffee. There'd be no sleep for him tonight. The last few nights he’d wrestled with memories and guilt.
Taking his cup, he went to the window and stared out into the lonely night. He wasn’t good company for anyone. He’d join Dirk out on the range tomorrow and stay away from home until Lily left.
She reminded him of a lily, a white lily with gold edges. Like her hair that was a light blond with darker gold threaded through.
Damn, he must be hallucinating from loss of sleep if he was getting poetic about a woman he’d just met. He put down his cup and went to his bedroom. He’d dress and saddle Night Star. He and the stallion had spent a lot of nights riding until dawn.
* * * *
Lily looked out of her window, staring at the vast prairie in front of her. There was something about the vastness, the quiet, and the strength of the tall mountains in the distance that soothed her. She might be able to sleep. She’d started to turn when she saw a lone figure on a horse racing across the land. Instinctively, she knew it was Ty. Was he trying to run away from whatever dark thoughts haunted his spirit? She hoped it worked for him.
She lay on the sofa bed. It was comfortable, but her head filled with thoughts of her father, and the way she’d known him. How could she reconcile that man with the one who tried to kill Angie, to the one the news said was the head of a mob. A gang that was involved in fraud, narcotics, and had killed people.
Why didn’t she suspect? Maybe she did, but she’d buried her head in the sand. He was all she had. Her mother and sister had left so long ago she had very little memory of them. She’d ignored her suspicions and believed everything her father told her. She’d loved him. At this point she didn’t know how she felt.
The only good thing that had happened had been finding her sister. They had a long way to go, though, before they were sisters in the heart and not just in the head.
Forcing herself to close her eyes, she tried to clear her mind. One man's face popped into her head. He had dark blue eyes, light-brown hair with golden highlights, a strong jaw, and a sensuous mouth. When Ty walked into the room, heat had rushed to her face, and a zing went straight down to her lower abdomen. She turned, burying her face in the pillow. A man with his own ghosts was the last thing she needed.
* * * *
Angie’s cell rang early.
“Hi, honey.” Brent’s voice sounded seductive and made her pussy ache with hunger.
“What did you think of my folks?”
“They’re very nice. They’ve given us a wonderful welcome.”
“Did you see Ty?”
She told him briefly of the incident the night before.
“Honestly, he is getting better. I’m sorry he went off the deep end with you and Lily. How are you all doing?”
“Being in a plane alone together is conducive to talking. We’ve taken the first steps to getting to know each other. I like her.”
“Good. I don’t like to see you hurting as you were after that first confrontation.”
“Are the news people still around Saddle Creek?”
“They did a few shows from here, but once they realized you two had disappeared, their interest went to Yannell. Watch the news later and you’ll see him being brought into court. Nate wants you both in town. He’ll question you two, and then you may need to testify at the grand jury.”
“Lily’s going to have a hard time with it all.”
“When Nate says it’s time to bring you, I’ll fly to Montana, get you and Lily, and take you both to the city. As soon as he calls, I’ll let you know.”
“Did he find out where the key belonged?”
“He’s got people working on it. See you soon, sweetheart.”
Angie closed her phone and got up. She might as well dress and go downstairs.
She peeked in on Lily. Her sister lay sprawled across the bed, her covers tangled around her legs. Looked like she’d had a rough night. Angie quietly shut the door and went downstairs to the kitchen.
Mrs. Terrell turned from where she was mixing ingredients in a mixer. “Want some breakfast?”
“If you let me cook it. You’re busy.”
“You go ahead. I expect it’ll make you feel more at home.” She pointed out the skillet. “How’s your throat? Brent told me what happened. You must have been terrified.”
“It’s better this morning. I was scared, but I held on to the hope that Brent would find me, and he did.”
“He’s a good boy, and has a successful business in finding people and protecting them. But I’ve worried about him, especially since he got shot. I’m glad he’s bought a ranch and wants to settle down. It surprised me,”—she raised her head and looked at Angie—“until I met you. Now I understand.”
“I’m glad I’m getting this chance to know his family better.” Angie ducked her head into the refrigerator and took eggs, cheese, tomatoes, and onion out. She’d make an omelet.
“Lily looks fragile and frightened,” Mrs. Terrell said.
“Looks can be deceiving.” She told Brent’s mother how Lily had worked to find her mother and Angie. “Then she gets to Saddle Creek and discovers mom has died, and her father tries to kill her sister. The fact she’s not hysterical tells me she has a strong inner core.”
Mrs. Terrell turned on the mixer and spoke over the noise. “But she’s going to need support during the next year or so.” They’ll take forever bringing her father to trial, and have his name on the news frequently.”
Angie nodded, agreeing with her.
>
“She can stay here until she decides what she wants to do. If you’re going to marry my son, which I expect you are”—Mrs. Terrell turned the mixer off and scraped the batter into two cake pans— “you’ll need privacy, especially at the start of a new marriage. Lily has to have a place to hide and heal. This ranch is the ideal spot. Let her know she can stay as long as she needs.”
“You hardly know her. Are you certain you want to make that offer?”
“Yes.” She slid the pans into the oven and straightened to face Angie. “I’m a good judge of character. She’s like a little, wounded, lost animal. I see it in her eyes. This ranch will help her heal faster.
“And by the way, I like the looks of you, too. My boys are choosing fine women for my daughters-in-law.” She walked across to where Angie was putting the omelet on her plate, and hugged her.
“They had a good role model,” Angie said.
Chapter Fourteen
Angie’s cell rang just as she finished breakfast. She stepped outside the back door for privacy. “Hello, Brent. More news?”
“Some. How are you all doing at the ranch?”
She walked down the veranda toward the front of the house. “Your mother and father are great. I haven’t seen your brother but the one time, but it’s early yet. Lily was still sleeping when I came downstairs.”
“Nate wants me to bring her to his office. I’d hoped he might agree to come to Montana, but he’s too busy. I thought I’d fly home later today. We’ll leave in the morning and take you and Lily to see him.”
“I’ll let her know. The next few months, and then when they have the trial, are going to be rough for her. Your mother said she can stay here while she’s going through all of this.”
“That’s a good idea.”
“We’ll see what she wants.”
“I miss you, pansy eyes.”
“I haven’t thought about you at all.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Good.” She laughed. “I do lie occasionally.”
Cameron, Paige - The Billionaire Maverick Bargains for a Wife [Wives for the Western Billionaires 3] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) Page 12
