by B. J Daniels
She shuddered and stumbled toward her brother, never so happy to see anyone. He finished handcuffing Patrick, gave her a quick hug and hurried over to slip restraints on Brittany.
“You’re all going to regret this,” Brittany screamed as she rubbed her jaw. “I’ll sue. I’ll have your jobs, your bar. I’ll have your ass. You have no idea who I am. My father—”
“Skip Fairchild isn’t going to help you,” Trask said. “You did him a favor by killing Gordon, but do you really think he will ever admit it? He’ll deny he’s related to you. He’ll distance himself from you. I was just at his office earlier. He was cleaning it out. He’s skipping town, so to speak. Like you, he’s afraid a lot of truths will come out. Want to bet you’ll never see him again? If you try to implicate him, it will be your word against his.”
Brittany glared at him in the moonlight. He saw the change in her features, from fury to coy in an instant. “You should have gone out with me. Now you’ll never know what you missed.”
Trask shook his head as he stepped to Lillie and took her in his arms.
* * *
TRASK TOLD HIMSELF that it was over, and yet he wasn’t about to let Lillie out of his sight. After the coroner and several deputies arrived, Flint took Lillie’s statement and told them they could go home.
Home. He loved the sound of that. With Lillie curled against him in the front seat of his pickup, he drove her to the home she’d made for herself. Once inside the apartment, she stepped into his arms.
“Just hold me, Trask,” she whispered against his chest.
He held her, kissing the top of her head as she clung to him.
“I never thought it would be Brittany and Patrick,” she said, sounding close to tears. “They were so young. How could they do something like that?”
He didn’t know. When he closed his eyes, he could still see the excitement on their faces, the bloodlust. It terrified him to think how close he’d come to losing Lillie. He understood how angry she’d been with him the night at the construction company office.
The bond between them was so strong, always had been, even when they’d been apart. She’d waited for him. Not just that night sitting on the back stoop of the Stagecoach Saloon, but all nine years. She’d known he’d come back for her. He held her tighter, choked up with gratitude that she was alive and in his arms.
After a while, he stripped off her soiled clothing and his own and led her into the shower. Under the warm spray, he gently soaped her beautiful body, careful to avoid the bruised and bandaged areas. Rinsing them both off, he wrapped her in a towel and carried her to the bed.
“You saved my life,” she whispered as she met his gaze.
He chuckled, smiling down at her. “You saved mine years ago when you fell in love with me.” He leaned down to gently kiss her.
Her lips turned up in a smile beneath his. “You came home.”
“Yes, I came home. To you. And I’m never going to leave you again.”
Exhaustion tugged at her eyelids. He lay down next to her, pulling her into the curve of his body. She snuggled against him with a sigh as she let go of the nightmare events and fell asleep in his arms.
* * *
AS LILLIE WALKED in the back door of the Stagecoach Saloon before noon the next day, a wave of nostalgia washed over her. She stopped to take in the familiar rich scents coming from the stove. Billie Dee was singing about yellow roses and Texas. Past her, the gentle clink of bar glasses seemed to pick up the beat of the country song playing on the jukebox in the other part of the building.
She could hear the murmured voices of the regulars already cozied up to the bar.
“Made my famous chili,” Billie Dee said when she saw Lillie standing there taking it all in. “You want a bowl?” She blinked and seemed to focus more intently on her and the small bandage covering the cut in her neck. “You’re looking a mite peaked. Feeling okay?”
Lillie nodded and managed a smile as she fought tears. She’d come so close to losing this. To losing everything she loved.
“I am,” she said, realizing that she’d never felt more alive. That was what almost being killed did to you. The day seemed brighter, every emotion felt more powerful, every breath a gift. That morning she’d awakened in Trask’s arms, the only place she’d ever wanted to be.
They’d made love, slowly as if they had all the time in the world. They did, she thought.
“I need to take care of some business, but I’ll be back soon,” he’d said as he dressed. “Are you going to be all right until I come back?”
She’d stretched, breathing in the morning air coming in the window, feeling the sunshine warming the bedroom, and smiled. “Hurry back.”
Trask had laughed and come to the bed to kiss her. “I’d say goodbye, but I’m never going to say that to you again. See you soon.”
“I might have some later, thanks,” Lillie said to Billie Dee now, smiling to herself at the memory of her and Trask this morning as she moved through the building she and her brother had saved.
Darby was behind the bar. He looked up when she walked in. His expression made it hard to hold back the tears that welled in her eyes.
Without a word, he stepped around the bar to pull her into his arms. He held her so tightly for a moment that she could hardly breathe. She laid her head against his shoulder and said, “I’m all right.”
“You sure are,” he said, his voice thick with emotion.
“What about you?” she asked, pulling back to look at her brother. “How is your head?”
“Fine,” he said, smiling. “You know how hardheaded I am. I’m just glad it’s over and you’re safe.”
“Buy that woman a drink,” someone called from down the bar.
It didn’t surprise her that everyone had heard about what had happened last night. Word traveled fast in a small town.
She smiled and pulled back from her brother’s hug to look at the loyal regulars at the bar. They’d been coming since the Stagecoach Saloon had opened and had always been supportive of whatever was going on at the bar. Lillie didn’t think she’d appreciated them enough before now. Almost dying seemed to bring everything into sharp focus. She’d never take any of this for granted again.
“Just coffee,” she said as her brother stepped back behind the bar to pour her a cup. She climbed up onto a stool next to a local rancher. He patted her arm and then quickly changed the subject to the weather. This was Montana, where the weather mattered.
Darby set the cup of coffee in front of her. He still looked worried about her. She gave him what she hoped was a reassuring smile before she took a sip. It tasted amazing.
In the kitchen, Billie Dee began to sing “Amazing Grace” as Cyrus and Hawk came rushing into the bar and headed straight for Lillie. Apparently, they’d just heard the news. From their expressions, they didn’t like being the last to hear. But it was the concern in their faces that made her eyes blur with tears.
“Easy,” Darby said as the two brothers began to fire questions at her. “You’ll hear all about it. Just give her a little breathing room.”
Hawk, once he was sure she wasn’t injured, dragged Lillie off the bar stool, the two sandwiching her in a bear hug.
“I said let her breathe,” Darby ordered, only half joking as he put two draft beers on the bar for them.
Lillie appreciated their show of affection. Neither of them was good at expressing emotions, especially love, but it was clear how much they cared. She’d never doubted their love. But had never felt how deeply it ran until now.
Past them, she saw her father. Ely had stopped just inside the door. She’d never seen him so emotional as he walked toward her. Like Darby, he said nothing as he pulled her to him. He hugged her for a long time, until someone at the end of the bar insisted on buying them all a drink.
&
nbsp; “It’s a little early for me,” Ely joked as he let go of her and took a stool. Everyone laughed. “Make it whiskey. Straight up. I think we need to celebrate.”
The bar had that kind of feel today.
“Where’s Trask?” Darby asked.
“He’ll be back.” She met her brother’s eyes. “He saved my life.”
Her brother nodded. “Flint told me.”
“Where is Flint?” Hawk asked. “He should be here.”
“I would imagine he has his hands full down at the sheriff’s office,” Darby said.
“We should have a picnic,” Ely announced, holding up his shot glass of whiskey. “A picnic to celebrate before I go back up into the mountains.”
Lillie and Darby shared a look. “A picnic sounds like a great idea,” her brother said. Lillie agreed.
Kendall came in then, as always early for her bartending shift. “Lillie, I just heard.” She rushed to her to give her a hug. “I’m so glad you’re all right.”
Lillie nodded. “Thank you.”
Darby cleared his throat and looked at his watch as if he thought Lillie needed her space.
“I better get ready for my shift,” Kendall said, shooting Darby a grin.
Lillie noticed the way her brother’s gaze followed the young woman.
“Something going on with you and Kendall?” Lillie asked quietly of her brother.
Darby chuckled. “Nope, just thinking about who I have on the schedule to work the Chokecherry Festival.”
“Darby—”
“Stop trying to marry me off, little sis. If I ever meet a woman who makes me hear wedding bells, I’ll let you know.”
The front door opened. Everyone turned as Trask Beaumont stepped in.
* * *
TRASK DIDN’T KNOW what kind of reception he would get as he pushed open the Stagecoach Saloon door. He stopped just inside.
Everyone turned, but it was Darby who came around from behind the bar to walk toward him. Trask wouldn’t have been surprised if Lillie’s twin punched him. He knew he had it coming. He’d hurt her. He’d almost gotten her killed.
But it wasn’t the man’s fist he held out. It was his hand. “Welcome back,” Darby said, and Trask shook his hand. He saw her other brothers slide off their stools and head toward him and braced himself.
But to his surprise, they too were welcoming, if though a little grudgingly. Trask knew he’d have to prove himself to Lillie’s brothers. He was good with that. He’d come back to make up for the past. He’d spend the rest of his life doing whatever it took to make Lillie happy.
The Cahill brothers parted and Lillie stepped to him. He wrapped his arms around her, breathing in her scent as he buried his face in the side of her neck.
“I think this calls for drinks on the house,” Darby announced, and everyone but the two of them moved back to the bar.
“I hate to steal you away from here, but there’s something I need to show you,” Trask said. “I promise we won’t be long.”
Lillie cupped his jaw with her palm, looking at him as if memorizing the angles of his face. “I thought I’d never see you again. That feeling was worse than the thought of dying.”
“I know. But we’re together now and no one is going to come between us if they know what is good for them.”
She laughed. He could tell it felt good. It certainly sounded good to hear.
“We’ll be back in a minute,” she called to her brothers.
Darby still looked worried but seemed to be trying to hide it. Trask knew that he worried about what would happen next. Her brothers had little faith in him sticking to anything. He’d have to show them what kind of man he’d become thanks to their sister.
He’d come back. He’d cleared his name with her help. But now what?
It was the question that seemed to chase them out of the bar.
Trask’s pickup was parked outside. He opened the passenger-side door and she slid in. As he climbed behind the wheel, he said, “It’s a short drive.”
The spring day sparkled like the rare jewel it was. Before long a squall would blow through, bringing rain, possibly even hail and often wind that whipped the pines and kicked up dust for miles.
But right now, it was beautiful, a day that promised new beginnings.
* * *
LILLIE LOOKED OVER at Trask as he drove. For so long there had been tension in the lines of his face. Now, though, a peacefulness had taken over his features, softening the hard lines, making him even more handsome.
They hadn’t gone far when Trask pulled over to the side of the dirt road. “What I have to show you is a surprise.” He pulled out a bandanna from the glove box. “I’m going to have to blindfold you.”
Lillie smiled over at him. “What are you up to, Mr. Beaumont?”
“You’ll see.” He tied the bandanna around her eyes, making sure it was tight enough but not too tight. “No peeking.” He shifted the pickup into gear. “The smartest thing I ever did was fall in love with you. If it wasn’t for you, well, I might be in prison right now.”
The pickup bumped along the road, made a few turns. Lillie lost track, too excited to concentrate on where exactly they were going. She could feel Trask’s excitement, as well. Whatever the surprise, it was something he’d planned for some time.
“Can I see now?”
“Not yet. You have no patience.”
“I never had. You should know that.”
He chuckled as he braked and brought the pickup to a stop, climbed out and opened her door. She felt his hand on her arm. He pulled her out of the pickup and into his embrace. “Okay, you can take it off now.”
With trembling fingers, Lillie reached up and pulled down the bandanna. She stared in surprise at the ranch house on the side of the mountain. “Trask?” she asked in a whisper.
“I bought the old Chandler place. The house isn’t much, but we can build the house of our dreams over on that hill.”
She couldn’t take it all in. “You bought a ranch?”
“Lock, stock and barrel. It’s all ours under the company L.T. Enterprises.”
“L.T.?”
“Lillie and Trask. I told you I worked hard those nine years, saved every penny I could. I dreamed of coming back to you, but not as the saddle tramp who’d left here. I wanted to make you proud. I thought we’d start by running a few hundred head of cattle. I know you’ll still want to work at the Stagecoach Saloon with your brother, but I was hoping down the road some maybe we could have a baby or two or three?”
She looked over at him, tears blurring her vision. “Oh, Trask.” Her voice broke.
“I couldn’t tell you about the ranch until I knew I wasn’t headed for prison. I know you love your apartment. Tell me you wouldn’t mind living here with me and making a family of our own.”
“Mind?” She laughed. “Oh, Trask” was all she could get out without crying. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.
“There is one more thing,” he said as he held her at arm’s length for a moment before he got down on one knee, reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box.
Her eyes widened as she looked at him, at the box, back at him.
“I told you that nine years ago I was putting money down on an engagement ring for you?”
She nodded, unable to speak.
“Well, John T. Marshall down at the jewelry store let me keep paying on it. Marry me?”
Lillie couldn’t believe this was happening. For so long she thought Trask was lost to her. Even when he returned, she didn’t see how they could ever have a happy ending.
“Be my bride?” he asked again, looking a little worried.
Married. They were going to be married.
Tears filled her ey
es. She made a swipe at them as she smiled and nodded vigorously, her heart lodged too securely in her throat to speak.
Trask slipped the ring on her finger. She stared at the large diamond. “Is this—”
“The ring I had on layaway for ten years?” he asked with a laugh. “It seemed right somehow, though I remember the diamond being much smaller. I think Mr. Marshall gave us an upgrade.”
Lillie laughed and burst into tears as he rose and took her in his arms. “I love you and I don’t want to spend another day without you. I suppose you want a big wedding.”
She laughed. “You know me better than that. You’re all I want or need. But if you don’t invite my brothers, there could be hell to pay.”
“We don’t want that,” he agreed as he kissed her.
“I’ll call them. Mind if we get married at the stagecoach stop?”
“I’d love it.” Trask kissed her.
Lillie melted into his kiss, telling herself there would be a million kisses more in their future. “Oh, there is something I probably should mention,” she said when the kiss ended. “How do you feel about starting that family sooner rather than later?”
His eyes widened. “Lillie, you’re—”
“Not yet, but with a little luck, soon.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
FLINT BEGAN WORKING late at night to avoid going home to his empty house. Since the breakup with Maggie, the place felt hollow. His footsteps seemed to echo as if mocking the loneliness he denied.
He told himself he’d been fine before Maggie. He would be fine again. But he felt as if he hadn’t known what he’d been missing before Maggie.
Sometimes he would think he heard her laugh at the grocery store and he’d follow it only to be disappointed when it wasn’t her. When the laugh was wrong, when he realized that no one but Maggie could put the right lightness into it.
He missed her smile and her easy manner. He missed kissing her. Holding her. Talking with her.
Amazingly, their paths hadn’t crossed even in such a small town. Unfortunately, he’d run into Celeste more than a few times.
