The Treasure

by Beth Williamson

  After her eyes adjusted, Lily cautiously surveyed the large interior. It was relatively clean, although it definitely smelled of its equine residents. She stepped carefully, watching for piles of manure and any other nasty gifts one might find on a barn floor.

  Several of the stalls were empty before Lily came upon a horse. It was a small black horse with a diamond-shaped white spot on its snout. It looked at her with dark, inquisitive eyes, but made no move to get closer to her.

  “Well, hello there, Mr. or Miss Horsie. I, uh, am looking for Melody.”

  As soon as she heard her voice echo back to her, Lily’s cheeks heated with embarrassment. Why was she talking to a horse? She took off her mittens with shaking hands and forced herself to step closer to the stall door. Her heart hammered in trepidation.

  “You’re not so big, are you? Are you a boy or girl?”

  “It’s a girl.” Ray’s voice behind her made Lily jump a foot in the air and screech like a little girl.

  “Sweet Saints! Are you trying to scare me to death?” Lily gasped and pressed her hand to her palpitating heart.

  Ray stood with one dark eyebrow cocked and a giant three-pronged fork in his hand. “Why the hell are you talking to the horse?”

  Lily’s bright idea now seemed like a stupid mistake. “I, um, that is…I just wanted to meet them.”

  Ray snorted. “Meet the horses? Did you expect them to curtsey or bow?”

  His comments stung. “No need to be mean, Ray. I just meant that I hadn’t seen any of the horses and since Melody liked them so much I thought…”

  Ray nodded. “You thought you could talk to her about the horses.”

  “Something like that. You see…I’m embarrassed to admit this.” Lily glanced at the small black horse who continued to stare at her. “I am afraid of horses.”

  She swore she heard Ray chuckle under his breath, but he covered it with a cough. Lily narrowed her eyes. “Did you just laugh at me?”

  “No. I’m not one to laugh, that’s a fact.” He stepped closer to her and Lily’s body immediately began to hum. Apparently just being near him fanned the flames of her sleeping desire. Since Ray was the one who would not consummate their relationship, Lily refused to move even an inch.

  “Why are you afraid of horses?” he asked as he set the implement against the beam. In the gloom of the barn, his eyes were like dark forests of the unknown.

  “When I was little, my family rode mules, never could afford horses. Once when I was about five, in Kansas, a horse kicked one of our mules to death in front of me. Vicious spiteful beast.” She shuddered at the memory of the blood and the donkey’s screams. “It was a sweet donkey named Annabelle that apparently took umbrage at a horse forcing himself on her. It was…frightening.”

  Ray stepped even closer. He took off his glove and cupped her chin. “No wonder you’re afraid. Not too many are that mean, leastwise not in this barn. I keep all the greenbroke and wild ones out in the corral. Keep clear of those.”

  His thumb swept back and forth across her cheek. Lily forced herself not to lean into his hand, not to melt into a puddle at his feet. Her nipples already pressed into the layers of cloth, aching peaks of arousal.

  “The horses in the barn won’t hurt you.” He was mere inches from her, his breath skittered across her lips. “Everything in here is friendly.”

  Before Lily could protest, his lips were on hers. The kiss was gentle, light, nearly a caress. Lily moaned and leaned toward him, hungry for more, desperate for him to stop. He reached a hand around her neck and pulled her closer. The passion from his body seeped through to her own, heating her so quickly, she perspired under the layers.

  Lily grabbed his coat and pressed against him fully, chest to chest. Yet it wasn’t enough. She needed more. Her hands landed on the buttons of her wool coat and suddenly he stepped away from her. Lily swayed from the loss of his heat.

  “Holy shit. I told myself that wouldn’t happen again.” His voice rasped in the quiet barn.

  “That’s your choice, Ray.”

  “Dammit, Lily, we can’t be kissing all the time or anything else. There isn’t any future in it.” He took off his hat and slapped his leg with it, his frustration as evident as the arousal in his trousers.

  “I didn’t say I wanted a future. I just wanted to see where it would lead,” Lily lied. Oh, she definitely wanted that future, with enough force to crack her heart.

  He narrowed his eyes. “I have trouble believing that. No woman just wants a tumble in the hay and nothing else unless she’s a whore. You are no whore.”

  Lily pushed a stray hair off her face. “Thank you, I think.”

  “That didn’t come out right. Oh, hell, why do I even try?” With that, he snatched the three-pronged fork and marched away, still cursing.

  Lily’s temper flared and she marched after him. He was in the last stall, picking up soiled hay and depositing it in a wheelbarrow. She tapped him on the shoulder. When he looked up in surprise, she took the fork, set it aside, then pushed him into the stall wall with a bang and kissed him.

  It wasn’t the hesitant kiss of two minutes previous. This was a possession. Dancing, sliding tongues, harsh breathing, pounding hearts. Lily put all her pent-up passion into a kiss that left them both gasping for air. When she finally let him loose, his eyes were wide. He licked his lips and Lily shuddered at the memory of his hot tongue in her mouth.

  “Let’s see if you can sleep tonight after that. My door will be unlocked.”

  Head held high, Lily forgot her reason for coming to the barn and walked proudly back to the house.

  ———

  Ray watched Lily leave, digging his hands into the wood behind him to prevent him from following. If he had, they would end up in her bed with him buried inside her in two minutes flat.

  Holy shit.

  The last thing he expected was the mousy governess to turn into an aggressive woman. A woman who just kissed him so thoroughly, he could remember her teeth in order. His body pulsed with arousal and his dick pressed hard against his trousers, howling to be let loose. Being celibate for five years definitely had its drawbacks.

  This was assuredly one of them. He simply couldn’t bed Lily. It wouldn’t be right and his mother would probably kick his ass if he did it.

  Of course, the alternative was likely never sleeping again, or wearing out his hand trying to get to sleep.

  “What the hell are you doing?” Rafe’s voice rang out.

  Ray shook his head like a dog. “Jesus Christ, she’s going to be the death of me.”

  Rafe grinned and grabbed the pitchfork. “Ain’t it a bitch?”

  “Shut up, Rafe.”

  Ray had no idea how long he stood there, staring at the closed door after she’d left, but it was long enough to make Rafe howl with laughter. Damn, why couldn’t the governess be old and warty?

  Why did he get saddled with such a delicious, voluptuous, tempting siren? A siren who called to him so loudly, his ears rang with want, with need, and with regret.

  Chapter Seven

  Two weeks passed with Ray and Lily carefully trying to avoid being alone. Melody continued to evade Lily during the day. No matter how hard she searched, she could not find that little girl’s hiding place.

  She felt like a failure and dared not ask Ray for help. Each day she woke with the determination to find Melody and corner her into learning. Well, perhaps not corner her, but at least get her to start reading McGuffey.

  It was Friday, nearly three weeks since she’d arrived in Wyoming. Lily sipped a cup of tea, staring out the kitchen window at the snow sparkling in the bright sunlight. In two days, they were headed to Ray’s parents’ house for the twins’ birthday party. Melody talked little, but she did express, exuberantly, that she wanted to go to the party. Lily saw Ray wanted to say no, but he promised his daughter they would go. Lily was nervous about the trip.

  What was the rest of Ray’s family like? Would they like her? She obviously was
not the governess Ray hired, or she would have gotten her pupil to sit down and learn once in a while. Instead of never. She was really working as a cook and housekeeper.

  Being around Ray was more than a curious want. It had become a need. She needed to see him, hear his voice, brush up against him as he ate his breakfast. Each moment seemed stolen, somehow more valuable.

  She was on very shaky ground and hoped fervently the ground did not open up beneath her.

  A knock at the door startled her and the hot tea splashed on her hand. After yelping from the pain, she set the teacup on the table and pressed her throbbing hand against the apron she had tied around her waist. The dress was one she had just made from beautiful green wool and she didn’t want to ruin it.

  The knock at the door sounded again, this time a bit more impatiently.

  “I’m coming,” she called out, then tripped over Melody’s wooden puzzle. She nearly fell on her head, but kept her balance by grabbing the sofa.

  The third knock was more of a bang.

  “I’ll be right there. Hold your water.”

  Good Lord! She sounded like a fishwife. Stifling a giggle, she walked to the door with as much dignity as she could summon. When she flung it open, she found two tall, big men who resembled Ray quite a bit. These must be two of the brothers she had heard about.

  “Well, howdy there, ma’am. I’m Trevor Malloy and this here’s my brother, Brett,” one of them said as he took off his hat. “You must be Miss Lily.”

  Brett took off his hat and nodded. “Ma’am.”

  “Hello, Brett, Trevor. Please come in.” She opened the door wider and they stepped in. Everyone in the Malloy family must be tall because these two were as big as Ray. Even Nicky was tall. Lily felt like a child next to this family.

  “What brings you to the Double R?” she asked politely.

  Trevor flashed a dazzling grin. Lily knew in a minute he was the charming brother. The one who could wiggle his way out of any situation by just opening his jar of honey. Brett was obviously the quiet one who was used to being in the shadow of his brothers.

  “Our mama sent us over to escort you to the Malloy ranch. All of you. Everyone else is already there, including Nicky and Tyler and the kids. Mama expected you a few days ago.”

  It was news to Lily. She thought they were going over for the day, not to stay for several.

  “That’s very kind of you. Why don’t you make yourselves comfortable while I go make some coffee?”

  They both nodded their thanks and with one last melting grin from Trevor, she scooted into the kitchen. While she brewed the coffee, she decided she would find out when they needed to leave. With or without the stubborn Raymond Malloy.

  ———

  When he returned from checking the cows in the winter pasture, Ray saw two horses in front of the house. He cursed heartily after recognizing Trevor’s and Brett’s mounts. His meddling mother must have sent them.

  As he stalked toward the house, he figured they must be inside. With Lily. Alone. For God knows how long. He picked up his pace. He was not running.

  He threw open the door with a bit more force than he’d intended, crashing the door into the wall behind it. He heard a crunch and realized he’d have to patch the hole he just put in the wood.

  “Hey, Ray, what’re you doing? Trying to tear the door off?” Trevor smiled from his position on the couch. A cozy, comfy position with a mug of coffee and a cookie.

  “Hello Ray,” said Brett as he nodded. Ray noticed Brett did not hold a cup or a cookie, but sat stiffly on the couch beside Trevor. Ray slammed the door closed and whipped off his hat and coat.

  Lily sat in the chair in a gorgeous green dress, whiskey-eyes glaring at him, teeth clenched.

  “Your brothers tell me that you were expected days ago at your parents’ house for the twins’ birthday party,” she added a bit too sweetly.

  Shit. He’d forgotten about the party. His mother threw a shindig for all the grandkids when they had a birthday. It was the only party Melody got, and the only children who came were her cousins. Luckily there were a bunch of them now.

  “Had some things I had to take care of here, boys.” He saw Trevor’s jaw tighten at the insult. At the age of thirty-one, he was no boy. Neither was Brett at thirty-two. Honestly, although Ray was thirty-six, he felt absolutely ancient compared to them.

  He kicked off his boots and walked over on stocking feet to glare at his younger brothers.

  “Don’t you two have work to do around the Circle M ranch? What the hell you doing hanging around here and bothering Mel’s governess?”

  “She invited us in, Ray,” Trevor responded smoothly with a crooked smile for Lily. “She warmed us up with coffee and cookies too.”

  Ray turned his glare to Lily. She raised her eyebrow at Trevor’s antics, but didn’t say a word.

  “Where’s Mel?”

  “I haven’t found today’s hiding place yet.”

  Ray inwardly winced. Dang girl had more hidey-holes than a gopher. It was his damn fault. If he hadn’t spooked her two weeks ago, she might be actually learning something from her teacher instead of hiding.

  “She’s as good as Nicky was, huh?” Trevor chuckled. “She could hide for near days before we found her. Little sh—scamp.”

  Lily stood with her usual grace and almost tripped over her skirt. Ray put a hand out to steady her, but Trevor had already grabbed her elbow.

  “Easy there, little filly.”

  Ray’s gut clenched at the way Lily returned Trevor’s smile. Dammit all to hell! He was not jealous. He could’ve been in Lily’s bed already if his conscience hadn’t prevented it.

  “Thank you, Trevor. Let me go check on that roast.” She turned to look at Ray. “I’m making a pot roast for dinner with carrots and potatoes.”

  Ray’s stomach rumbled in anticipation of Lily’s cooking wonders.

  “Can you ring the bell to see if Melody will come to eat?”

  He nodded and walked back to the door. Stepping outside, he grabbed the triangle from beside the door and rang it three times.

  As the last tinny sounds echoed across the snowy plains, he realized he was standing on the front porch, in the snow, in his socks.

  Shit.

  ———

  After dinner, Ray bullied his brothers into going out to the bunkhouse with Clyde and Rafe to play poker. When Lily tried to interrupt him to say she’d like to play poker, he talked louder so no one heard her.

  Brett and Trevor tipped their hats, said goodnight and thank you, then left to go join the poker game. Leaving her alone with Ray. The most stubborn, grumpiest man on the planet.

  He sat at the table sipping a cup of coffee and going over the ledgers for the ranch.

  She stood with her hands fisted on her hips until he looked up at her. “You were very rude to your brothers.”

  “You have a sassy mouth for a governess.”

  She shook her head. “I am always polite.”

  Ray snorted and returned his gaze to the ledger book. “And I’m always a ray of sunshine.”

  She couldn’t help it. She laughed. It was pretty funny and awfully witty.

  “I strive to always be polite.”

  “That I won’t argue with.”

  “You were very rude to them. They could have stayed here for the evening.”

  He snorted a laugh and took a gulp of coffee. “You wanted Trevor to ogle you some more?”

  Lily was nearly speechless with shock. “Ogle? Me? I think you may need spectacles, Mr. Malloy. I am nothing special, and certainly not worth an ogle.”

  When he glanced up again, his eyes blazed green fire. He set the mug down with a thump, then stood. He walked toward her like a predator stalking his prey, with a feral intensity that was almost physical.

  “What you are, Miss Lillian Wickham, is a goddess wrapped up in wool. From your incredible lips to breasts that would more than fill my hands, all the way to your curves that keep me up at night. L
iterally.”

  By the time he reached her, she was trembling like a babe. The world seemed to have turned upside down. This man had her pulse pounding, her body moist in places she dared not mention, and her heart aching.

  He cupped her cheek and his thumb stroked back and forth. Shivers traced the movement.

  “I don’t know whether to put you back on a train, put you over my knee and spank you, or throw you on my bed and make love until either one of us can’t move.”

  Lily shuddered under the sensual assault. She had never experienced such raw desire before, the kind that grabbed hold and squeezed until you could hardly breathe. She leaned toward him as he lowered his lips toward hers. Her eyelids fluttered shut and she prepared for the assault.

  It was like the fireworks she’d seen over the Hudson River. Flashes of light exploded behind her eyes as she was swept into his arms, and the kiss deepened. She mewled like a kitten when his big hands caressed and kneaded her behind.

  His lips slipped off hers and slid down her jawbone, planting light kisses as he headed toward her ear. His rough tongue laved at her lobe. With each stroke, she felt an answering pulse between her legs. She pressed her body to his, rubbing her aching nipples against his hard chest. Tingles ran up and down her skin.

  Lily was drowning in sensation. When he started sucking her neck, she realized she wasn’t breathing. She pulled in a hard breath and let it out shakily.

  “Ray…”

  “Mmmm…” he murmured against her neck. When his hand landed on her breast, she moaned.

  “Ray, we can’t…do this…here,” she managed to squeak out between gasps as the sensations continued to barrage her.

  He wasn’t listening. Now his thumb and forefinger tweaked a nipple between them and her eyes nearly rolled up in her head. She had to do something now before things really got out of control. She kissed his temple in apology, then yanked on his hair as hard as she could.