The Treasure

by Beth Williamson

  Shit, he hated talking.

  Chapter Ten

  At breakfast the next morning, Trevor sat next to Lily and proceeded to turn on the charm. “Good morning, Miss Lily. You look just pretty as a picture with that yellow dress on.” He set down coffee and a plate heaped with biscuits, bacon and eggs.

  “Thank you, Trevor.” She surreptitiously moved a little further down the bench from him.

  Trevor was as handsome as any of the Malloys with a dazzling smile. He did not engender even a smidge of anything but appreciation for his good looks.

  “You are most welcome,” he said with a wink.

  “Don’t you have shit to do?” growled a familiar, grumpy voice from behind them.

  “Raymond,” Francesca called from the kitchen. “Did I just hear you curse?”

  “No, Mama, it was Trevor.”

  “It sure as hell wasn’t!” Trevor exclaimed with a frown.

  Lily bit her lip to keep from smiling.

  “Don’t think I won’t smack both your hands with a wooden spoon,” warned Francesca.

  “You’re an ass,” whispered Trevor.

  “You’re a fucking idiot,” Ray whispered back.

  Before she could blink, they were both hurrying out the door, grumbling and sniping at each other. They must be off to do some kind of manly cursing competition. She was alone at the table with a grin on her face.

  She swore Ray was jealous of his brother. Jealous. That particular piece of information was like a chocolate cake. Rich, decadent and sweet. No man ever had cause to be jealous because of Lily before. The very idea that the man she loved was jealous made her heart sing with joy. Perhaps they had a chance after all.

  ———

  The twins’ birthday party was coming to an end. The younger children had already been put down for a nap. Nicky and Rebecca had gone to take a snooze with their little ones. Hope, Logan, little Rebecca and Melody were playing on the floor in the living room with Bonita and Ethan.

  Lily helped Francesca clean up the kitchen. John sat at the table drinking coffee and nibbling on the last piece of cake.

  “It was a good party, wasn’t it, Fran?”

  “Yes, it was. The twins loved their train whistles. Jack is so talented with wood.”

  Lily agreed. Jack made the table and chairs in the kitchen, as well as the rocking chair and half the furniture in the house. He wasn’t only talented, he was gifted. Lily hoped to ask him to make something special for Melody but the time had gotten away from her. They were leaving in the morning to return to the Double R.

  Before she could stop herself, the plate she was drying slipped out of her hands. Expecting a crash, she was surprised when it bounced instead.

  “Tin plates,” said Francesca as she bent to pick it up with her soapy hands. “Learned a long time ago to always use tin plates when there’s children around.”

  Absurdly grateful for not being responsible for breaking yet another plate, Lily smiled. “Or a clumsy governess.”

  Francesca waved her hand, a few soapy bubbles flipping back and landing on John’s shoulder. “That’s not a problem, cheri.”

  “Thank you,” Lily murmured.

  It was hard to believe a family was that accepting, but here they were right in front of her. The fear in her heart eased a bit, but not much. Ray still had not spoken to her since the night before. Her body remembered his hands, his mouth, his tongue and she shivered every time a memory surfaced.

  As if she’d conjured him from her imagination, suddenly he was there, filling the room and her heart. He was dressed in brown from head to toe. Even his expression could probably be called brown.

  “Where did you get off to, boy?” said John as he set his mug on the table and looked at Ray with narrowed blue eyes.

  “I was helping Trevor with the tack.”

  “Sounds like an excuse to miss the birthday party to me.” John humphed as he took a big gulp of coffee.

  “Pa, you know I’m no good around kids, and—”

  John cut him off with one swipe of his hand. “That’s a load of shit and we both know it. Pardon me, Lily.”

  Lily nodded, too fascinated to pretend she wasn’t watching the play between father and son. Francesca continued to wash dishes and hand them to Lily to dry.

  “You love kids or you wouldn’t have kept Melody. Now what’s really the situation?”

  Ray turned to leave the room with a scowl.

  “Don’t you dare walk out of this room, boy.”

  “I am thirty-six years old, Pa. I am not a boy.”

  “I don’t care how old you are. I am looking for an explanation of what’s going on here.” John was the gentlest, kindest man she’d met, but now he looked like he could wrestle a bear and win. “I found you in the middle of the night in the kitchen with your hair all mussed, your shirt inside out and a bite on your neck. And somebody moved a barrel in the pantry a good six inches so it’s up against the shelf. Miss Lily’s a nervous wreck today and looking like she’s lost her best friend. Now tell me what you’re going to do about it.”

  Lily held her breath, waiting for Ray to tell everyone she was a loose woman. She even imagined herself on the train heading back to New York, crying and alone.

  How could John do this to her?

  “Pa, this isn’t the way I wanted to do this.”

  “Get it done.”

  Ray put his hands on his hips and turned his scowl on Lily. She jumped, bumping into Francesca and nearly putting the older woman into the sink of warm water and soap.

  “Will you marry me, Lily?”

  Time simply stopped. Lily stared at Ray with her mouth hanging open. Did he just ask her to marry him?

  Marry?

  “I know I act like a horse’s ass and that I’m as rough as the bark of a tree, but I figure we rub along good together. Melody sure likes you and so does my family.”

  Her voice seemed to have left her body. His eyes cleared for a moment and Lily saw into him. Into the real Ray. A scared, lonely man who had deep, ancient scars that may never heal. A man who needed a helpmate as much as a wife, someone who understood that when he gave, it was all he could give.

  Someone like Lily.

  “Say something, sunshine.”

  Lily cleared her throat. Her whole body was jumping inside like popcorn. He asked her to marry him. Was it enough? Could she live with a one-sided love?

  Was there a choice?

  “Yes, Ray, I believe I will.”

  Francesca whooped and threw her arms around Lily, hugging the stuffing out of her. John stood, smiling, and shook hands with Ray.

  “It’s for the best, boy. She’s a good woman. Be a great mother and wife.”

  Ray nodded, still scowling. He walked over to where his mother was hugging Lily and hovered there until they parted.

  “Can we talk alone?” he asked Lily.

  She was afraid she knew what he was going to say, but nothing could keep her from going with him. She walked up the stairs ahead of him, her palms sweaty, her head spinning and her heart aching.

  When they got to the room he shared with Brett and Trevor, he held the door open for her. She walked in and he followed, closing the door. Before she could even open her mouth to speak, he had her in his arms and was kissing her like a man possessed.

  “I’m not going to share you with anyone,” he whispered against her lips. “If you become my wife, then you’re only my wife.”

  Lily was reeling from the kiss and completely confused by his words.

  “What are you talking about?”

  He grasped her arms and held her away from him. “I won’t share you.”

  “Of course not. I wouldn’t even dream of ever being untrue to my husband.”

  He stared into her eyes with his sharp gaze for a minute or an hour, she couldn’t tell which. He seemed to be reading her soul, looking for a hint of a lie or whatever else he thought he might find. She hoped he didn’t peer too deeply and see the scars her s
oul had carried for so long.

  “Trevor was getting friendly down there.”

  “Trevor? He’s a charming man, Ray, but that’s all. The rest of me belongs to you.”

  It appeared to be what he wanted to hear, because before she knew it, they were on the bed and her skirt was up around her waist. His hand landed between her legs, in the slit of her drawers. With one swipe, she was instantly hot and wet for him, all he had to do was touch her and she was on fire.

  “Ah, God, you’re so ready for me…”

  He unbuttoned her dress and his hot mouth suckled her breasts while he freed himself from his pants. With one thrust, he plunged in. A storm of sensations buffeted her from all sides. Sizzling, wet and wild. His lips and teeth scraped and laved her nipples while his hard cock slid in and out, faster and faster.

  “Come on, Lily, come with me.” His breath gusted past her ear then he bit her lobe.

  Her nails scraped against his back as her body clenched and flexed around him. She felt the coil inside her grow tighter and tighter.

  “Yes, mine. You’re mine,” Ray intoned.

  The coil suddenly snapped and she was awash in pleasure, bucking against him. He shouted hoarsely as he reached his own peak, plunging deep. Waves of pleasure rippled through her body as Ray pulsed inside her. His body trembled against hers. Several minutes passed before she could even take a deep breath. Lord, she couldn’t believe every time they joined, it was better. No, not better. More intense.

  As the tremors subsided, her fingers uncurled from his shirt. She realized they were fully clothed, in the middle of the day, and just had sex in Ray’s parents’ house.

  A wave of panic assailed her and she started pushing at him.

  “Easy, Lily. It’s okay,” he said.

  “No, it’s not. I don’t want your family to think badly of me. Please.” She hated that she sounded so whiny.

  He leaned up on his elbows and looked down at her, his expression unreadable.

  “They wouldn’t. They all love you.”

  She felt her heart pick up speed again. “All of your family?”

  He knew what she was asking.

  Do you love me?

  He withdrew from her body and stood, helping her to her feet. She felt a bit empty inside. He walked over to the washstand and poured water in the basin. As she waited there with her heart on her sleeve, he handed her a wet washrag. After a quick wash, they straightened their clothes.

  “Don’t expect too much of me, Lily. My heart doesn’t have a lot to give, but you’ll never want for anything.” He reached up and tucked a few stray hairs into her chignon at the back of her head.

  “Rebecca did my hair this morning.” She tried to keep her voice steady when her heart was aching.

  “You look beautiful.” He kissed her gently on the lips, then on the forehead. “I’m glad you said yes.”

  “There wasn’t any other answer I could give.”

  ———

  Ray was wrong. There was a member of his family who did not love her.

  Melody.

  “I don’t want a mama.”

  Melody sat on a chair in the kitchen in her normal dirty trousers and shirt, black hair every which way, with a mutinous look on her face. Her lip was pooched out and her scowl could frighten birds. The battle had only begun.

  “Regardless if you want a new mama or not, Lily is going to be yours,” Ray said sternly.

  “But, Pa. It’s just you and me, we don’t need her.” She pointed one grubby finger at Lily who sat on the chair opposite the girl.

  Lily was pale, and her whiskey eyes were filled with compassion, anxiety and a touch of doubt. Ray grimaced and turned his gaze back to Melody.

  “I know you like Lily, Mel. Think how great it will be if she’s your mama now.”

  Melody stood and stomped her foot. “You can’t marry her.”

  Ray sighed and took Melody by the shoulders. “Yes, I can and I will. Tomorrow actually.”

  Melody appeared shocked and then absolutely devastated. She pushed at Ray so hard he fell on his ass.

  “I hate you! I hate Lily!” She ran from the room and out the door into the snow without a coat or hat.

  Ray looked up at Lily. “That went well.”

  Lily stood and held out her hand to him. With a mighty grunt, she helped him back on his feet. He dusted off his pants with his hands while a sigh worked its way up from his toes.

  “I’ll go find her,” he said.

  “No, you won’t. I’m her problem, not you. Let me try.”

  Ray’s first instinct was to say no. Melody was his daughter, but he needed to start trusting Lily. This was a first step.

  “Take her hat and coat with you.”

  Lily saluted and snapped her heels together. “Yes, sir.”

  “Not funny.”

  She shrugged and smiled, then leaned up and kissed him quickly. “I love you, Ray.”

  Then she was out the door with Melody’s coat and hat, and, dammit to hell, a big piece of Ray’s heart in her hand.

  ———

  Every time she walked outside, the cold slapped her in the face. Lily shivered inside her warm wool coat and marched determinedly toward the barn. She knew that’s where Melody was. She had seen her out there before, playing in the barn with the cat, Patches. Although the sun was shining, there was not a scrap of warmth to be found outside. She thought it might take months for her to get used to the cold. Perhaps even years.

  Lily took her time walking to the barn since she didn’t want to fall in the snow again. Especially without Ray to rescue her, she thought with a grin. A few extra minutes also gave Melody time to calm down. Lily remembered very well how she felt at the age of nine after her mother remarried. That’s when her life really became a living hell she didn’t escape for two years.

  Her boots squeaked on the snow as she finally made it to the barn door. Pulling it open, she peered inside the gloomy interior. She heard a few horses whicker, some shuffling of hooves and an occasional thump, but no child’s voice and no cat’s meow.

  After entering the barn, she shut the door behind her and waited for her eyes to adjust. When she could see what was on the floor in front of her without falling, she walked forward, looking in each stall as she passed. Horses glanced at her with what she thought was horsey curiosity, but none bothered her, thank God.

  Lily found Melody in the last stall beside a huge black horse. She sat in the straw with the calico cat on her lap, huddled and shivering. Although frightened to death of the horse, Lily unlatched the gate and swallowed her fear long enough to enter the stall. Keeping a wary eye on the animal, she tiptoed around him slowly until she reached the girl.

  Lily sat on the hay and handed the coat and hat to Melody.

  “Your father and I were worried about you in the cold without a coat.”

  Melody took the coat and hat, shoving them on with enough force to pop seams.

  “I don’t expect you to say thank you; however, I wanted to remind you that it was proper manners to do so. I’m going to tell you a story, Melody. A secret. This is going to be between you and me. No one else knows this secret.”

  She could tell she had the girl’s attention. She stopped stroking the cat and simply stared at the wall of the stall.

  “My father was a gambler. A really bad gambler actually. He made money occasionally, but not enough to support my mother and I. So we begged a lot and slept in many alleys and barns. He wasn’t a bad man, just misguided and weak. He was shot and killed in a card game when I was nine. My mother was even weaker than my father. I used to be the one to get food and a place to sleep. Without my father, she fell apart.”

  Melody turned to look at her. “Your pa died when you were nine?”

  Lily nodded. “Yes, and we couldn’t afford a coffin, so he was buried in a pauper’s grave somewhere in Mississippi.” The thought still caused a sharp pain in her chest, like a small knife had been thrust in. She had loved her father de
arly, even if he was never a good father.

  “So then what happened?”

  Lily put her arm around Melody, who snuggled in close to her. She felt the child shivering and was heartily glad she had some warmth to share with her.

  “We were in Mississippi where the gambling is near the Gulf. My mother was like a lost puppy, whimpering and pitiful.” A bad taste filled her mouth at the memory. “One night while I was out getting scraps from the restaurant in the hotel, my mother met a man named Archibald Darvey.”

  Even saying the name made her throat hitch as her gorge rose. Lily was convinced he was a spawn of Satan sent to Earth to punish every person he ever saw.

  “Archibald was not only a bad man, he was an evil man. My mother fell under his spell—he was very charming at first. But his true colors came out a week after he married her.” She swallowed hard.

  “What happened?” Melody asked.

  “Someday I might share more with you when you’re older. But I told you that story to let you know that I have been you, Melody. I know exactly how you feel right now. Scared, uncertain and believing that I’m going to take your father away from you.”

  She cupped Melody’s small cheek in her hand. “I love him, Melody. As much as I love you already. I know I’m not your real mother, but I hope we can try. Will you give me a chance?”

  “Is it true you lived in an orphanage?” Melody blurted.

  “Yes, sweetie, I did.”

  “Was it horrible?” Melody’s dark eyes lit with curiosity.

  “No, it wasn’t horrible. The nuns were the kindest, gentlest people I had ever met. I was fortunate they took me in and taught me everything.”

  “So you’re not a nun?”

  Lily chuckled. “No, I’m not.”

  “Will you tell me about them? The nuns, I mean. I don’t know any.”

  “Sure, but can we go inside the house? I think my fanny is frozen.” Lily spoke the truth about that. The cold had seeped through her coat and dress.

  Melody stood quickly, setting the cat down, then looked back at Lily with her head cocked.

  “I guess we can give it a try.”