Cameron, Paige - The Billionaire Cattleman Wins a Wife [Wives for the Western Billionaires 4] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic)

by Paige Cameron

  She watched him go until she couldn’t see his dust cloud anymore. Her heart was breaking, but she didn’t see any other choice. Taking a breath hurt. Lily went to check the kitchen, to see that it was clean and in order. She’d begun to love this place, to feel at home. How silly. It wasn’t her home. She didn’t have one.

  The time crept by. When she saw Dirk get out of his truck and come to the door, she was both sad and relieved. She had wanted to see Ty one more time, but didn’t want to have to say good-bye. He must have felt the same and sent Dirk instead.

  “Lily, I’m sorry you’re leaving.” He bent down and looked into her eyes. “You sure you want to do this?”

  “I have to, Dirk. He’s not going to change.”

  Dirk tipped his hat back. “I don’t know. I saw changes.”

  “Not enough.”

  “Well, you know what’s best for you.” He picked up her case. “Is this it?”

  “That one and the little one here.” She held her overnight bag. He took it from her and, carrying both, headed out the door. She followed. As they drove off, she glanced back at the house and a lump formed in her throat.

  The ride was short. They sat quietly watching the sky as the jet came into sight and landed. Dirk got her bags and followed her up the stairs to place them inside the plane.

  “I hope whatever happens you’ll be happy,” he said. He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “You know I’ve adopted you as another sister. If you need anything at all, you call.”

  Lily brushed her tear filled eyes. “Thank you, Dirk. I’ll remember.”

  She watched as he strode across the ground to his truck. He waited and as the jet took off he waved. Lily leaned back in her seat and cried softly as the jet turned toward Texas. She didn’t know what was in front of her, but she’d left her heart behind.

  Chapter Eleven

  Ty hadn’t called. She’d been silly to think he might. Lily had been living with Angie and Brent for six weeks. Brent had finished teaching her to ride. She rode almost every morning. In the afternoon, she helped Angie with housework, or cooking, or just walking and enjoying developing a closer relationship with her sister.

  This morning when she returned from her ride, Angie met her at the door. “What is it?” Lily asked. She saw concern in Angie’s face.

  “Your father’s attorney called. Your father wants to see you before the trial starts.”

  Lily came in the back door and sank into one of the chairs in the large kitchen. Angie handed her a cup of hot chocolate.

  She gave Angie a wry smile. “It seems every time I get difficult news someone hands me a cup of chocolate. After this, whenever I drink hot chocolate, I’ll think of this time in my life.”

  “I’ll get you something else to drink, if you prefer,” Angie said.

  “No, this is fine.”

  Angie sat across from her. “Do you want to see him? You don’t have to, but if you do, Brent and I will be with you.”

  “What would I have done if this happened before I found you?”

  “You would have managed. You’re stronger than you think.”

  “I hope so. My legs feel weak right now.” She sipped her drink. “I’ve known sooner or later I’d need to see him and talk to him. For his sake and mine.”

  “When do you want to go?”

  “The sooner, the better. Do you know when the trial is?”

  “Brent talked with Glynes. I’m sure you remember, the FBI guy. He said they’re just about ready. The information they got from the safety deposit box helped move things along quicker.”

  “I haven’t forgotten Glynes. I’m glad he let us know. I can’t really start my life over until this is all settled.” Lily glanced at the clock. “I’ll go call the attorney before he goes to lunch.”

  “After lunch we’ll go walking. Brent said the cat had kittens. They’re in the corner of the barn. I want to see them. And we can talk about the trip to Philly.”

  Lily went to her bedroom and stood looking out across the lake. She flipped her cell open and punched in the numbers Angie had written on a slip of paper.

  “This is Mr. Rahn. How can I help you?”

  “You called me. I’m Lily Yannell.”

  “Ah yes, I left my private number so your call would come directly to me. Your father is anxious to speak with you. Will you come here and see him? I’ll arrange the meeting if you agree.”

  “When is his trial?”

  “Looks like it will start next week or the week after. I’ve suggested to your father that he let me delay it, but he says he wants to get it over with. I think he’s worried about you.”

  “I have to check with my sister and her husband. But I think I can arrange to be there by the end of this week.”

  “I’ll tell him. He’ll be glad. When you know for certain, let me know the exact date of your arrival.”

  “I will. Good-bye.” Lily shut her phone and walked out the French doors to the veranda. She sat in a rocker and remembered the man who’d been such a good father to her, who’d loved her and taken good care of her. Would she see him when she returned to Philly, or the monster the press vilified in both the newspapers and on the television?

  Her old life would definitely be gone when her father was sentenced. She’d stay and be at the trial. No matter what he did, he was her father and there was no one else to be there for him. But once his fate was decided, she had to go forward and find her life. She’d hoped it would be with Ty, but he hadn’t even called once.

  “Lily, there you are. Brent’s home. Come in and have lunch with us. You can tell us about your call and what you want to do.” Lily stood and Angie put her arm around her. “We’re in this together, Sis.”

  Brent stood as they entered the kitchen. “Two of the prettiest ladies in Texas.” He smiled at Angie and Lily. “I want to have a portrait done of you two. We’ll hang it in the living room.”

  “You should have one done of you and Angie,” Lily said as she joined him at the table.

  “I will, and I’ll put that one in my office.” Angie put a bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich in front of him. “My favorite,” he told Lily. “She spoils me and I love it.” Brent pulled Angie into his lap and rubbed across her growing tummy. “How’s our child behaving today?”

  “Very active.” Angie got up and put her and Lily’s plates on the table.

  Brent took a bite of sandwich and then a sip of his milk. “Angie told me about your call,” he said to Lily.

  “I called the lawyer. The trial may start next week. I thought I’d go the end of this week and see him. Then I’ll stay for the trial.”

  “Are you sure you want to sit through that?” Angie asked.

  “Yes. I have to do this for him and me. But it isn’t necessary for you two to be there.” Angie started to speak. Lily raised her hand. “No, Angie. You need to stay home and rest. And Brent, you want and need to be with her. I’m a big girl. I can do this on my own. I need to start standing on my own two feet. It will give me time to think about my future.”

  “We don’t want you there alone, Lily,” Brent protested.

  “I insist. But I appreciate your concern and your offer.”

  * * * *

  The metal door clanking shut behind Lily gave her an uneasy feeling. How must it feel if you were a prisoner and knew you couldn’t turn and ask the man to let you out? Lily clamped her hands tight on her purse. They’d checked the inside and let her take it with her. Once she got to the room where she’d see her father, she’d have to leave it outside.

  A tall, gray-haired man stepped forward. “Lily?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m Mr. Rahn. I’d have met you outside, but your father had something to discuss and it took longer than I’d expected.”

  “That’s all right.” She glanced at the closed door behind him.

  “Do you want me to go in with you?” Mr. Rahn asked.

  She lifted her chin and took a deep breath. “No.”

/>   He walked to the door and opened it, motioning for her to go inside. A guard stood watching them.

  “Are there guards in there?” She nodded toward the door.

  “Not right inside, but they’ll be watching and listening.”

  “All right.” She handed her purse to the guard, squared her shoulders, and walked by the attorney and into the room. The door clicked shut behind her.

  Her father was sitting in a hard chair at a gray metal desk. He’d lost weight, and his hair was almost all gray now. He lifted his head when she came in the door. The room was barren and cold. She couldn’t stop the shiver that ran down her body. Slowly she walked to the table and sat across from him.

  A trembling hand reached out and covered hers. “Lily, I’ve so wanted to see you.” His gaze took all of her in. “Still as beautiful as ever.” Dark brown eyes like hers searched her face. “Do you hate me?”

  “Dad, I don’t know what I feel. I’ve always loved you. I can’t put you and this man they describe on television together. It just doesn’t match in my mind.”

  “I’m sorry”—he swept his hand around to encompass the room—“for this and for all the unhappiness I’ve brought into your life.”

  “You were a good father. I never suspected anything. My life was idyllic.”

  “And now I’ve made a mess of it for you. I understand you’ve been staying with your sister.”

  “For a little while. Before that I was with friends.”

  “My attorney is working with yours to try and get the money I made legitimately put into an account for you.”

  “I don’t need your money. There are people you hurt that need it more. Give it to them.”

  “You can’t stay with your sister forever.” He snarled the word sister.

  “Why do you hate her? She was an innocent pawn, like me, in whatever happened between you and our mother.”

  “That woman was a curse to me. The only good thing she did was to give me you.” He held tight to her hand.

  “Your trial will probably start next week.”

  “Yeah, unless I make a deal with the Feds.”

  “What kind of deal?”

  “A better prison, maybe fewer years.”

  “Are you going to take it?”

  “Do you want me to?”

  Lily blinked the tears away. “Do what’s best for you. Nothing can put things back the way they were. We both have to go forward in different directions.”

  For the first time she could remember, Lily saw tears in her father’s eyes. “Will you write me occasionally? Let me know you’re all right?”

  They stared across at each other, separated by more than the desk between them. In her mind, she saw the man who’d been the one constant in her life. She remembered his smile, his gentle touch, a kiss good night. No matter what had happened she couldn’t turn her back on him now.

  “I’ll write.”

  A flash of relief crossed his face.

  Lily stood. “Will they allow me to hug you?”

  Her father glanced at the camera in the corner. A burly guard came into the room.

  “You can come around the table, Ms. Yannell.” He unfastened the handcuffs but not the leg irons.

  Her father stood and held out his arms. Lily stepped into his embrace. She clasped him close. His body was frail and she felt him tremble. They stood silently, holding each other tight.

  He tipped her face toward his and kissed each cheek. “Go home. Have a good life, be happy.”

  She nodded and stepped back when the guard moved forward. “I’ll be in touch, Daddy.” But she knew she’d be in the courtroom on Monday. She walked to the door and stopped to force a smile and wave before she went out. The attorney had waited.

  “Do you need a ride to your hotel?”

  “No, thanks. I need to walk.”

  As quickly as she could she got out of the jail. Stepping outside, she took a deep breath of fresh air. Her mind was jumbled and her insides ached. She started walking through the streets toward the center of town. Later she never remembered how she crossed the busy streets, what she saw, nothing but putting one foot in front of the other.

  It was dusk when she got to her hotel and entered the lobby. A tall, lean man walked toward her. His hands reached out and pulled her tight against him.

  “Where have you been? I was so worried. If you hadn’t come in soon I planned to call the police,” Ty said.

  She cuddled closer to his warmth. She was so cold. His heart beat steady against her ear.

  “Lily, are you all right? They said you left the jail hours ago.”

  Leaning back she looked into the face she loved. “Where did you come from, Ty?”

  “I flew in from Montana. When Brent said you insisted on coming here alone, I decided to follow and be here if you needed me.”

  “I always needed you. But you don’t need or want me.” She backed away. “Go back to Montana and your memories.”

  “Let me take you to dinner. Just let me be with you for now.”

  Lily wanted him to stay so much. She didn’t have the strength to fight his offer.

  “I need to change.”

  “No problem. I’m on the fifth floor. Give me your room number. I’ll pick you up in an hour.”

  “Room 712. In an hour.” She left him staring after her and went to the elevator. When the door closed, she leaned against the cool metal wall. She was glad no one else was riding up with her. Her reflection stared back at her. She was pale, thinner, and looked tired.

  She hadn’t asked where they were going. Probably to one of the better restaurants. It was a good thing she’d brought one fancy dress with her. She had been going to call a girlfriend of hers and invite her out to dinner at one of their favorite spots. But Ty had arrived before she’d made the call.

  After unlocking her door, she went straight to the bed. Lying across the soft mattress, she closed her eyes. Her body had been unusually tired the past few weeks, and this week she’d had morning sickness twice. What was she going to do? Did she tell Ty that in spite of his desire not to be a father, fate had taken a hand, and she was almost certain she was pregnant?

  A hard laugh escaped her. Fate had a way of showing how little control you really had. Pushing herself, she got up and went into the bathroom to shower. She wouldn’t say anything to anyone until she knew for sure that her suspicions were right.

  * * * *

  Ty knocked on her hotel room door. His heart had dropped when she walked into the lobby. He’d been so worried, and then she was there looking beautiful and lost. When he held her in his arms his world felt right side up again. He’d been out of kilter since she’d left, but his stubborn pride had kept him from calling. When he finally got up his nerve, Brent had answered and told him she’d gone to Philadelphia.

  Her door opened. “You’re right on time. I just have to grab my bag and I’m ready.” She walked across to a small desk and picked up a black satin evening purse. Her dark blue cocktail dress fit snug on her trim figure. At the top, tiny stones sparkled in the light. Her lilac fragrance went straight to his head. She stepped out and shut the door behind her.

  “You are looking very handsome tonight, Mr. Terrell.”

  Her soft voice purred and slid like hot liquid through his veins. She intoxicated him.

  Cupping her elbow, he led her to the elevator. Several couples were already in the car when the door opened. They stood silent as it stopped at each floor until the lobby.

  “Brent told me about a quiet restaurant on the other side of town. Did you have a preference?”

  “No. Wherever is good with me.” Her warm, honey-colored eyes looked at him and sent his heart rate soaring. The limo he’d ordered slid to the curb.

  “For us?”

  “Yes.” He opened the door. “Will you join me?”

  She smiled and got inside. He got a good look at her sweet derriere, and his cock went straight to attention. When she was settled, he slid into the seat an
d moved right against her.

  “This is a big car. We don’t have to sit so close.”

  “I know.” He smiled at her.

  “I don’t think you’re Ty Terrell. You’re an alien, and you invaded his body.”

  “You’ve found me out.” He took her hand in his. “Tell me what was it that you didn’t like about this Ty fellow?”

  “It’s a long list.” Her eyes sparkled back at him.

  “We have all evening. But first let’s have a drink of champagne.” He pulled a bottle out of a holder of ice and poured the bubbly liquid into a glass. He handed the glass to her and poured his. “To the demise of this Ty character, and to you and me.”

  “Are you going to use his name, or do you have a name?”

  He loved that she was going along with his teasing. It might be easier to say what he had to while pretending to be someone else.

  “My name is Jeffrey,” Ty said, using his middle name.

  She turned her head to the side. “I like that. Does anyone ever call you Jeff?”

  “No, only you.” His fingers ran up her arm. Her pupils widened, and he heard the catch in her breath. “Your skin is incredibly soft.”

  “Someone else has told me that.”

  “Ah, this Ty fellow.”

  “Perhaps, and maybe a few others.”

  Ty pushed down the flash of jealousy that sparked inside him. “I’m not surprised. You’re a gorgeous woman. I’d like to take your clothes off right here and kiss your whole body.”

  “We hardly know each other.”

  “Then there’s no time to waste. But first, I will feed you.”

  He reached into another cooler and pulled out a bowl of strawberries that had been dipped in chocolate. Taking one, he put it up to her lips. Lily bit into the sweet, tasty combination.

  “Hmmm, wonderful.”

  She licked her lips. His cock pulsed, demanding attention. Ty pushed a button and curtains closed on the windows. The partition between the driver and them was already shut. He picked up a phone and spoke into it. “Take us for a long drive. I’ll let you know when to head for the restaurant.”