What was it about the Malloy children and their choice of spouse? They seemed to pick the most troubled, scarred, crazy or unusual people for a husband or wife. He was apparently no exception. Why couldn’t one of them pick a normal, everyday Jane who was sweet, demure and dreamed of nothing but serving her husband?
Nope, he had to go pick a twenty-six year old with a past that would make someone’s hair curl right after they finished gasping at the horror of it.
The thing that really confused him was after all the ugliness, she still shone like a new penny. Bright, upbeat and willing to live her life to the fullest.
She was like sunshine and he was like a thundercloud. His father pressured Ray into offering for her, but after he’d done it, it felt…like the right thing to do. Even now, after he found out about her past, it felt right.
He just hoped his darkness didn’t overshadow her light.
———
The wedding took place on a Wednesday morning just after breakfast. Lily walked with a limp and had more than a few stitches in her forehead, but she stood straight and tall, well as tall as she could, next to her bridegroom. It was going to be her only wedding so she wanted to be at her best.
In two days, Rebecca had whipped together the most beautiful dress Lily had ever seen. She felt like a fairy princess in blue silk with dark gray piping. She even made her a matching petticoat with blue ribbons on it.
Ray had done his best to be distant. He had even gone home for a few days before the wedding to take care of business. Melody stayed behind and became Lily’s helper. She helped fetch water, helped her stand and walk, and even helped her empty chamber pots. The child was amazing.
Ray’s family was incredibly supportive. They nursed her, chatted with her and made her feel like a part of their family although they’d only known her a week.
Nicky and Tyler’s son, Noah, arrived the evening before. He was a tall young man with light brown hair and brown eyes, not particularly outgoing like the rest of the men. He mumbled a polite hello and she hadn’t seen him since.
A minister named Robert Campbell came to perform the ceremony. He was apparently a good friend of Ray’s parents. He had silvery hair with bright brown eyes. They stood in the living room before the ceremony getting acquainted when he asked Lillian what her full name was. That was when the reality hit her. She was going to have her name on a marriage certificate. She was going to be married.
Her stomach clenched and her sparse breakfast of biscuit and tea threatened to reappear. The minister must have seen something in her face because he ushered her off to a corner of the living room and plopped her down in a chair.
Within moments, he was back with a glass of water. After a few sips, she felt better. He patted her shoulder until she looked up at him.
“Are you ready to get married, Lillian?”
She pushed the unnecessary fear away and thought about how much she loved Ray. “Yes, Reverend, I am.”
He smiled and nodded. “I’m glad to hear it. Raymond hasn’t had an easy time of it since he married and divorced, but I think you will turn that around for him.”
“Thank you.”
He walked away and Lily gazed into her glass of water. The ripples from her shaking hand echoed in the glass. The ripples from today would echo through her life.
A shadow fell over her.
“You about ready, Lily?”
Ray looked uncomfortable in his black suit and yanked at the collar with one calloused finger. She couldn’t read his eyes. They reflected nothing but the sunshine coming in from the window behind him.
“Yes, I’m ready, Ray.”
They were married within twenty minutes. When Reverend Campbell said, “You may kiss the bride,” way down deep inside her something flared to life. The thought of Ray’s lips on hers, of his body touching hers, lit a fire that began to burn brightly.
He cocked his head and regarded her with those hard eyes, then cupped her face and kissed the stuffing out of her. His lips were relentless, plundering, rubbing, pulling her closer and closer to losing control. Her nipples peaked as her body’s arousal grew. Her nether lips grew moist and she ached for his touch, for his skin against hers.
A cough and a snicker from behind them shocked like a pinch in her behind. She jerked in surprise and her eyes flew open. His pupils were dilated with arousal and his nostrils wide as he breathed in sharply. His thumb ran back and forth across her swollen lips.
“We’ll finish this later.” With one last, hard kiss, he stepped back and allowed the horde to descend on her.
After all the congratulations were over, the minister asked them to sign the marriage certificate. As the heavy gold band weighed down her finger, she signed her new name.
Mrs. Lillian Malloy.
She glanced up at Ray, his usual serious and annoyed self, and then at Melody. She looked ready to tear off the matching blue dress Rebecca had made for her. Her beautiful black hair was combed and in pigtails tied with blue ribbons. However, she wore her boots, which made Lily smile.
Ray’s hand at the small of her back felt exactly right. As the hugs and kisses rained around them and on them, Lily realized that she finally had what she’d always wanted.
A family.
———
A small reception followed for family and friends. Not many were invited, but every person accepted. Lily felt less overwhelmed than the day before since she’d met most everyone. Still, there were so many people, she felt a little stifled and escaped outside for a breath of fresh air.
The sunshine sparkled off the white snow, temporarily blinding her as she stepped onto the porch. A hand grabbed her elbow.
“Steady there, Miss Lillian.” Noah’s voice came from her right. “You nearly fell down the steps there.”
Lily’s cheeks heated. “Not too unusual for me, Noah. I’m, ah, a bit clumsy.”
She turned to look at him and was surprised again by how gentle Noah appeared. Most of the Malloy and Calhoun men were aggressive and loud, except for Brett who was surprisingly quiet but intense. Noah was different.
“It’s pretty cold to be out here in only a dress.” Noah draped his coat across her shoulders and his body’s warmth immediately chased away the chill she hadn’t realized she had. Lily saw the man Noah was growing into. His broad shoulders topped a wide chest and narrow waist. He still had some filling out to do, but the muscles were building already.
“Thank you, Noah. You’re very kind.”
He shrugged. “My ma and Nicky taught me manners. I try to use ‘em as much as I can.”
There was an awkward silence when Lily tried to think of something to talk about, but Noah saved her.
“I know I ain’t supposed to—I mean I’m not supposed to say anything, but I need to tell you something,” he began.
Curiosity got the better of her, and Lily gave him her undivided attention. “Of course, anything.”
He smiled and the thought struck Lily that he was a handsome boy—man actually. Noah was soft-spoken, polite and mannerly, some lucky woman was going to find a legacy when she found Noah.
“I wanted to say thank you for marrying Uncle Ray.” He held up a hand when she started to speak. “Hang on. In the five years I’ve known him, I have never seen him crack a smile, laugh, or even just look like he was having fun. I think I about fell out of my chair when I saw him grin at you yesterday.”
Lily wasn’t surprised. “You’ve never seen him smile?”
Noah shook his head. “Other than Melody, life just wasn’t giving Uncle Ray what he needed I guess. I didn’t know that woman he was married to, but whatever it was she did made him a hard man. Too hard.”
Noah took her hands into his larger ones and looked her in the eye. “I just wanted to say thanks. I think he really needed you.”
A feeling of rightness coupled with peace and joy spread through her. She’d been nervous, downright scared and uncertain. Just talking with this young man made it clear her deci
sion was the right one.
———
They went home a few hours later. Ray gruffly told her he didn’t want to spend his wedding night sharing a bed with his little brother. Although she was still sore and dreaded riding in the wagon, Lily was glad to go home.
Home.
She was astonished she had an actual home to go to. A real house with a husband and a new daughter. A house had finally become a home.
Francesca hugged her tightly and whispered in Lily’s ear. “Love him for who he is. Be patient. And don’t be afraid to kick him in the fanny if he acts like a jackass.”
Lily bit her lip to keep from laughing. Everyone kissed and hugged her like she was truly a daughter, sister, aunt and friend. Noah winked at her and grinned widely at Ray’s scowl.
With a twinkle in his eye, Trevor kissed her on the lips. She heard Ray growling behind her, but he needn’t be worried. There was no fire, no heart-pounding excitement from kissing Trevor. It was like…well, like kissing her brother.
Ray gently lifted her into the wagon and settled her and Melody in. Lily sat in back on piles of blankets and a pillow given to her by her new mother-in-law. As they waved goodbye, Lily swallowed back a few tears.
Her entire life had changed over the last week and a half, and it was all part and parcel with becoming a Malloy. Trevor rode along with them to help out for a few days and give the newlyweds some time together. Ray kept darting sharp glances at his younger brother, who just smiled and waved.
Lily’s initial enthusiasm about going home began to wane rather quickly. The two hour ride seemed to last two days. By the time they reached the Double R, Lily was ready to get out and walk the last half mile. She felt like the horse had kicked her all over again. She was sore, tired and ready for a hot bath.
The first inkling that something was wrong was the seats on the front porch. They were turned around backwards as if someone didn’t want to watch the sunset. Ray frowned when he stopped the wagon and hopped down to get Lily and Melody out of the back.
“The chairs…”
“I know. I see them. Stay here while I take a look around.” He glared at Trevor. “Go check the barn.”
Trevor saluted and hopped off the horse, heading for the barn with his hand resting on the pistol strapped to his thigh.
Lily was grateful to be standing instead of sitting. She stamped her feet on the snow, willing the circulation back to her legs. Ray went around to the back of the house.
“I’m cold, Miss Lillian.”
Melody’s little face was white with cold and her lips were an unnatural shade of blue. Lily didn’t see Ray anywhere, so she made the decision. The child needed to be warmed up. Truth be told, so did she.
“We’ll go get a fire started.”
She took Melody’s hand and together they made their way into the house. When the door swung open, Lily was surprised to find it already warm inside. A fire crackled merrily in the living-room fireplace. She could also smell coffee somewhere, old coffee that had been sitting long enough to get sludgy and rancid.
“Somebody’s in our house,” whispered Melody.
Cold fingers of fear tickled Lily’s spine. Her stomach squeezed up tighter than a walnut and her hands got very, very damp.
“Who the hell are you?”
The harshly worded question nearly knocked her off her feet. After trying to catch her heart and stuff it back in her chest, Lily turned and saw a blonde woman with an elaborate chignon standing in the doorway to the kitchen.
She was beautiful with big blue eyes, a perfect bow-shaped mouth, slender yet curvy, with a smirk that looked well used. Her burgundy dress was of the highest quality, a fact Lily knew immediately. All of her previous positions were with people who could afford fancy, expensive dresses. This woman’s face was familiar in some way. Lily searched her memory.
It hit her with the force of the kick from that black horse. She was familiar because Lily had met her sister.
It was Regina. Ray’s ex-wife had come home.
Chapter Twelve
Ray found a few unfamiliar footprints in the snow, but otherwise, the house looked secure. He knew Rafe and Clyde were likely out riding the fence this time of day. It meant somebody else was in the house. His internal warning bells were clanging like crazy. Something was definitely wrong.
When he stepped back around the front of the house, he found Lily and Melody gone. Son of a bitch!
Married three hours and she was already not listening to him. He saw their footprints leading into the house and followed in a hurry. God forbid anything happened to them.
He burst through the front door and slammed it right into the hole he had made weeks ago when he found Trevor and Brett there. Only this time it wasn’t Trevor and Brett.
His stomach knotted up and his entire body jerked with a kick to his heart.
Regina.
She sat in the chair by the fireplace like a queen on her throne. She was as beautiful and perfect as ever. Her blue eyes were as cold as the wind blowing behind him and the look on her face was enough to send him screaming from the house. It was a punch that stole his breath and his ability to speak.
“Raymond,” she trilled. “About time you got in here. I was just speaking to this woman.” She inclined her head toward the sofa. Lily sat there, pale as milk with her hands clutched together in her lap. She stared into the fire, away from him.
Sweet Jesus.
“I think there was a child here too, but she ran off.” Regina flapped her hand in the direction of the hallway.
He heard the clock ticking somewhere as he stared at his ex-wife. The woman who destroyed his life, his future. The acid churned in his stomach as his shock turned to anger.
“That woman is my wife and that child is my daughter. What the hell are you doing here?” he growled.
She smiled and it looked more like a sneer. “Your manners have not improved, Raymond.”
“Neither have yours. Get out of my house.”
“Was that our daughter?” she asked.
“None of your fucking business. Get out of my house.”
“Aren’t you going to let me see her? She is my daughter, isn’t she? Are you going to keep me from her?”
Lily stood and walked out of the room. Ray longed to follow her, but he needed to take care of the cougar in his living room.
The cold from the open door caressed his neck. He shivered and finally closed the door. Taking a deep breath, he turned back to Regina.
“Are you deaf? Get out of my house.”
She rose and sashayed toward him like a predator stalking its prey. That awful smile was still on her face. As she got closer, Ray wound tighter and tighter. By the time she stopped in front of him, he was afraid he was going to strike her. His fists clenched so tight, his knuckles popped.
Up close, her face had a grayish tint to it and he saw lines around her eyes and mouth that hadn’t been there five years ago. She was perspiring around her hairline. Regina didn’t look good. In fact, she looked like she was sick.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Concerned about my welfare, Raymond? How kind of you. I had a touch of the flu, but I’m better now,” she said. Running her finger along his shoulder, she smirked again. “Especially now that you’re here.”
Ray forced himself to stay still when all he wanted to do was push her away and out the door on her perfect ass.
“What do you want, Reggie?”
Her smirk twitched. Direct hit.
“Don’t call me that, Raymond. You know I don’t like it.”
“The door is behind me. Just turn the knob and walk out.”
He turned to step away from her. He had to. She grabbed his arm and he couldn’t stop his reaction. He wrenched away and took two steps back.
“Don’t ever touch me!”
She held up her hands in mock surrender. “My, my, you didn’t used to say that to me, Raymond.” She grinned and leaned in to whisper at him. “In
fact, you could barely keep your hands off me.”
“Me and a few dozen others,” he snapped.
Her mouth tightened. “That’s not very nice.”
“Neither was finding out that your wife fucked anything in pants. Or that your daughter was the seed of one of those faceless men who you took between your thighs.”
Oh, God, it hurt. It hurt more than he thought it would to see her again. Regina looked over his shoulder and smirked.
“You shouldn’t listen at doors, dear daughter.”
“Pa?”
Melody’s voice scraped across his skin like a rusty saw, full of pain and confusion. He swung around and saw her standing in the hallway, the dress traded for a pair of overalls and a sweater. Her dark, dark eyes riveted on him.
“You’re not my pa?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Oh, don’t listen to him, Melody. You are not his daughter.”
“Shut up, you bitch!”
Melody looked between them and started crying in great, gulping sobs. Lily appeared behind her and scooped her up in her arms. She glared at Ray and Regina.
“You should be ashamed of yourselves. She is a person too, not just a thing to wound each other with.”
They disappeared into the hallway and a door closed softly, but he still heard the sound of Melody’s wrenching sobs. Ray’s were locked inside him howling to escape.
“Get out of my house. Now!”
“You would kick me out when it’s getting dark outside? You didn’t used to be such a hard man, Ray.”
He counted to ten and then counted to ten again. “I don’t care if it’s midnight, I want you out of here. I’ll go hitch up your horse to your buggy. Get your shit together. You have five minutes.”
His entire body felt like a raw, gaping wound again. Ray turned and went back outside into the cold. As he walked toward the barn, he wiped the tears off his face. He would not waste any more on Regina.
———
Lily sat on Melody’s bed, rocking and soothing the hysterical child. Her mouth was as dry as cotton; she was shaking and sick to her stomach. Her wedding day had turned into a nightmare.
The Treasure Page 13
