Lily had fallen into a deep sleep moments after her head touched the pillow. She hadn’t realized how close to complete exhaustion she’d come until she required Amanda’s assistance to climb out of the tub after her bath. Her new friend helped wash and rinse her hair, then towel dried it before tying her locks in rags to complete the drying so she wouldn’t awake to a tangled mess.
Lily slipped out of bed and attended to her morning ablutions. She chose a cerulean day dress to wear despite the wrinkles the garment acquired while packed in her trunk. Finally, she removed the rags and admired her wavy hair in the mirror above the washstand. She gathered her hair at her nape and fastened it with a navy blue ribbon to match her dress.
While making the bed, Lily recalled the moment she met AJ in the parlor. She’d stared at the man whom she’d erroneously believed would be her husband. His weathered face spoke of a lifetime of outdoor work. His forehead had creased with worry lines and crow’s feet bracketed the outer edges of both eyes. Had life treated him poorly? He’d certainly overcome any adversity, creating wealth and a legacy in this successful ranch. He’d scowled at his daughter while discussing what she’d done and how she planned to remedy the results of her actions, but Lily hoped AJ smiled easily in better circumstances.
Today she must explain to him her reason for traveling to Montana, despite his rejection. She couldn’t help being thankful AJ canceled the proposal. Talk about out of the frypan and into the fire. If she’d arrived to learn she was promised to AJ, a man forty years her senior, she’d have been fit for commitment to an asylum.
Lily slipped her feet into a fresh pair of shoes. She wasn’t certain burning her traveling clothes might be easier than washing them. She and Amanda shared a laugh before her bath when she removed her clothing and a cloud of dirt and dust drifted to the floor.
She hadn’t a clue to the time; she would locate the whereabouts of her timepiece later. It had been pinned to her traveling suit last time she’d seen it, and the garment was nowhere in sight. She pinched her cheeks for color and then headed downstairs for breakfast.
Lily descended the staircase and paused in the hallway for a moment. She admired the beautiful stained-glass nature scenes in the transoms above the double front doors, the polished mahogany woodwork, and silk-upholstered furnishing in the hallway. There wasn’t a sound coming from the parlor to her right or from the kitchen to the left; the house seemed completely deserted. How long had she slept? Had everyone started their day by now? She moved toward the kitchen and peeked inside through the open doorway. Amanda sat alone at the long pine table, writing in what appeared to be a leather-bound journal. Lily hated to interrupt but her stomach growled loudly.
Amanda’s head whipped up and she smiled. “Lily! Good morning!” She set down her pencil and leapt off the chair.
“Good morning.” Lily noticed that Amanda’s twinkling blue eyes, identical to her brothers’, hinted at a love of life and mischief. She could hardly believe this young girl had written those letters to her. But last night, Lily had seen fleeting moments of sadness in her new friend’s eyes, no doubt due to losing her mother. Lily sympathized with Amanda; she’d never experienced greater heartache than her mother’s passing in January.
“I’ve kept your breakfast warm.” Amanda pulled out a second chair and waved Lily toward it.
“What time is it? I haven’t any idea what happened to my timepiece. It must still be pinned to my traveling suit.”
“I set it there on the sideboard after I removed it from your suit. Which I put in a washtub to soak away the grime.” Amanda set a plate heaped with eggs, bacon, and fried potatoes in front of Lily. “I’ll make some fresh toast.”
“Goodness sakes, don’t bother. I’ll never eat all of this!” Lily exclaimed.
Amanda’s hand covered her mouth. “I’m so accustomed to feeding my brothers, I forgot not everyone possesses a man’s hearty appetite.”
Lily settled on the chair. “I would love a cup of coffee.”
“Oh, my word. Where are my manners? I should have offered you some the moment you walked into the kitchen. There’s a pot warming on the stove.” Amanda hurried to the woodstove. Moments later, she set a cup in front of her guest and then settled on a chair across from her with another cup for herself. “There’s cream and sugar on the table.”
“Thank you so much. This looks delicious.” Lily met her eyes. “After days of eating alone on the train and keeping to myself at the various lodgings while traveling by stagecoach, I appreciate your company this morning.”
Amanda touched her hand. “You’re very welcome.”
The two women chatted nonstop during the meal, and Lily realized Amanda hadn’t mentioned the time. She gazed around the room looking for a clock. “What time is it, Amanda?” she inquired again, meeting her hostess’s eyes.
Amanda tilted her head and placed a hand on the timepiece pinned to her own pale brown dress. “Ten-thirty.”
Lily almost dropped her fork. “Your watch must have stopped overnight.”
“No, it’s running fine. I wind it every night before I turn in.”
“Ten-thirty?” Lily flopped against the chair back, feeling her face redden. “You must think I’m the laziest person in the world.”
“Goodness, no. I’ve seldom seen anyone as exhausted as you were last night.” Amanda clasped Lily’s hand. “Had you come down earlier, I would have scolded you and sent you back upstairs for more rest.”
Lily laughed. “I’ve never slept so late in my life, but I must have required the sleep. Thank you for permitting me that indulgence. I’m surprised your father and brother aren’t sitting here, toes tapping, annoyed with the delay in hearing my explanation.”
Amanda shook her head. “Both of them were out the door at five o’clock. They returned at eight for breakfast and now they’ll be gone until noon. Papa encouraged me to let you sleep late.”
“Late? I’ve missed half the day.” Lily stood and carried her dirty dishes to the washtub. “I insist on helping you prepare the noon meal.”
Amanda chuckled. “Really? You told me in your letters that your father employed a cook.”
Lily felt her face redden. “He does, but I insisted she teach me to prepare several dishes in case of necessity. I wasn’t certain we could afford to keep her, all things considered. Father and I might have starved to death had it become necessary to terminate Cook’s employment.”
Amanda shook her head. “Pour yourself another cup of coffee and come sit down.”
Lily did as she’d suggested. “You want to learn my reason for coming? Before I speak with your father and brother?”
Amanda nodded.
“All right. I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to practice my explanation.”
Just then the back door opened. A moment later, Jackson and AJ strode into the kitchen.
“Did I hear the word ‘explanation’? Precisely why we came up from the barns a little early.” AJ washed his hands at the washstand. “Please pour us some coffee, Amanda.”
Jackson washed up next and both men settled onto chairs at the kitchen table.
Amanda clasped Lily’s hand and gently squeezed. “It’ll be fine. Just tell them the truth,” she whispered, then fetched each of the men a cup of coffee.
AJ added sugar to his cup and stirred. “Okay, young lady. First of all, please accept my apology for being so surly last night. You caught me a little off guard by showing up here.”
“Apology accepted.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it.” AJ took a sip and then leaned back in his chair. “Now, Lily, tell us why you’re so set on staying in Montana.”
“I refuse to marry a man forty years my senior,” she blurted.
AJ crossed his arms. “I understand and I’ve withdrawn the proposal.”
“Not you. My father’s business partner.” Lily brushed a stray strand of hair from her eyes. She needed to explain herself properly so the McLennons understood her situation and would sympa
thize with her predicament. And more importantly, so they would agree that she should be allowed to remain in Milestone or, at least, settle somewhere in Montana. She shifted on her chair seat. “Let me start at the beginning.”
“Please do,” Jackson muttered.
Lily grimaced. Would he or AJ even believe a word of what she had to say? She had nothing to lose, and regardless of how they received the commentary on her situation, she promised herself she would not be returning to Boston.
Lily heaved a sigh. “My mother contracted a horrible case of influenza in mid-January. Father and I were devastated when she suddenly passed away.”
Amanda reached for her hand. “I’m so sorry.”
“We’re familiar with grief, Lily. Completely understandable that you and your father would be heartbroken,” AJ added, his voice hoarse with emotion.
Lily blinked back tears. She needed to stiffen her backbone and get through this. “Days, I took over Mother’s duties running the household: instructing Cook on menu plans and overseeing laundry, cleaning, and upkeep. Nights, I cried myself to sleep. But Father drowned his grief in liquor at local establishments. No matter how often I pleaded with him to talk to me, or begged him to speak with his doctor, he refused to listen.”
“All of us handle grief in our own way,” Jackson said.
Lily nodded. “Father’s partner, Mr. William Connors, took over running their joint business enterprises, and despite my offer of assistance, Mr. Connors assured me everything was fine. Then two months later, I overheard Mr. Connors complaining to Father that he’d discovered irregularities and he hinted that the business could be in trouble. Father had buried himself so deeply in the liquor bottles, he barely blinked an eye.”
“That’s unfortunate.” AJ patted her hand. “I’ve witnessed more than one good man losing his livelihood and ultimately his life to drink.”
Lily swallowed hard and took a sip of her now cold coffee. She hated to consider the latter a possibility, but she feared AJ could be right unless someone dragged her father out of the abyss of grief he’d tumbled into.
“Let me warm that.” Amanda grabbed the pot off the woodstove and topped up Lily’s cup and then her own. AJ and Jackson waved off refills.
“By the way, I should mention that Father and Mr. Connors are both sixty years old and they’ve been friends since childhood.” Lily blinked back tears. “One day, I mentioned to Mr. Connors the possibility that unless something was done, Father would drink himself into the grave. Mr. Connors informed me that he’d worried about the same thing happening. Then the man nearly floored me when he said Father had given him permission to marry me.”
Amanda gasped.
“Mr. Connors explained that my father’s reasoning was to ensure I’d be taken care of should the unthinkable happen.” Lily scoffed. “I never believed a word of it since Father existed in a drunken stupor and seemed beyond such rational thought.”
“Did this Mr. Connors formally propose to you?” Amanda met Lily’s eyes. “Or just inform you about the marriage?”
“I’ve heard more emotion in that man’s voice when he bragged about finalizing a profitable business opportunity.” Lily blinked back the tears that threatened to fall. “I’d wager he considered me no more than another asset he hoped to acquire.”
“If your father passed, this Connors fellow may have feared you would inherit your father’s half of the businesses. Being your husband, Connors would ensure everything became his,” AJ speculated.
“That scoundrel!” Amanda blurted.
Lily felt her jaw drop. “Of course! This makes complete sense now.”
“Sounds reasonable to me,” Jackson added. “Tells you how the man’s mind works. I wouldn’t trust him either.”
“I fled Boston in order to escape marriage to the horrible man.” Lily touched AJ’s arm, catching a glimpse of Jackson’s murderous expression. He wasn’t accepting her treatment by Mr. Connors very graciously. Witnessing Jackson’s reaction and sharing her contempt for Mr. Connors sent her heart into a flutter. She shook herself out of her musings and met AJ’s eyes. “By leaving Mr. Connors in charge of all the businesses, have I played into that miscreant’s plan to acquire everything?”
AJ shook his head. “Not at all. As long as your father is alive, he owns his half of the partnership. And if he signs paperwork to the contrary while in an inebriated state, any competent attorney could make a case to overturn the document.”
“That puts my mind more at ease.” Lily slumped in her chair. “I’ve been at sixes and sevens about this for so long, completely lost and having no one to talk to about it.”
“Well, you’re not alone now,” Amanda said, meeting her father’s eyes. “We’ll help Lily. Won’t we, Papa?”
AJ glanced at his daughter and nodded. “I don’t doubt your father will have someone searching for you, Lily. I would if my daughter suddenly boarded a train for parts unknown and disappeared from my life.”
Lily gasped. “What if Mr. Connors comes looking for me? Could he force me to return? Could he force me to marry him?” Leaving Boston had seemed such a simple solution to her problem: escape the situation and start fresh.
Of course, having her engagement canceled had thrown a wrench into her plans, but the situation hadn’t seemed anything unsurmountable. She’d simply find work caring for a well-to-do family’s children. Or serving as companion to a widow who required assistance with her daily living needs, as long as it didn’t require too much cooking. Until this moment, she hadn’t anticipated anyone looking for her. Could she be fooling herself?
“What will I do?” Lily muttered, her heart beating an erratic rhythm in her chest.
Amanda patted her hand. “Don’t worry. Papa won’t allow any harm to come to you.”
“Or any woman in his care,” Jackson added.
“Lily should remain on the ranch with us.”
“Certainly, my sweetheart,” AJ assured his daughter. “I’ll provide a safe home for Lily until her situation is sorted out to everyone’s satisfaction.”
“Thank you!” Lily leapt out of her chair and hugged AJ before she realized what she’d done. When she heard his convictions, AJ seemed the equivalent of a father figure. “I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your kindness. You’ve lessened my apprehensions.”
“I’m so thankful you came to Montana. To us,” Amanda added.
Lily hugged her new friend. “Me, too. I haven’t felt this safe in weeks.”
AJ rose from his chair. “I’m riding into town on another business matter this afternoon. I’ll drop by Sheriff Robertson’s office and ask if he’s heard of anyone making inquiries about you, Lily.”
“Goodness, should you discuss my situation with the local law?” she blurted.
“I’d trust Carl Robertson with my life,” AJ claimed.
Jackson nodded. “He’ll keep watch for anyone new arriving in town and making inquiries about you. Giving us a little warning of anyone who could prove trouble.”
Lily nodded. While their kindness provided a degree of safety she wasn’t anywhere close to worry free. “All right, I’m thankful for everyone’s understanding. I’ll trust your judgement.”
“Don’t worry, Lily. You’ll be fine.” Jackson smiled at her.
Lily sighed and offered him a weak smile. If only she believed him.
Chapter 5
Later that afternoon, Lily stepped into the kitchen, expecting to discover Amanda standing at the woodstove, stirring a pot of something smelling delicious, and humming a pleasant tune while she worked. Instead, Amanda sat at the kitchen table, lost in her thoughts.
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
Amanda glanced up from the journal she’d been writing in. “Help with what?”
“With supper.”
“Supper? What time is it?”
“Almost five-thirty. The men will expect a meal on the table at six.”
Amanda slammed the journal closed and leapt off t
he chair. “Oh, my word. I had no idea it was so late in the day.”
“I’m so sorry. I should have come downstairs to inquire sooner.” Lily had been unpacking and pressing her day dresses, skirts, and whatnot then putting them in the wardrobe and the chest of drawers. She still hadn’t touched the other trunk holding her fancy gowns and party clothes which she probably wouldn’t need anyway. “Had you lost yourself in your journal?”
“This isn’t a journal,” Amanda muttered, grabbing a paring knife and peeling a potato. “I’m recording everything I’ve been planning for my new business.”
Lily inhaled sharply. “You have a business?”
Amanda dropped the quartered potato into the pot and grabbed another one. “Not yet. But I’m very close.”
“Have you another paring knife?” Lily inquired. “I can help.”
Amanda shook her head. “Wipe the table down and set it please.”
“Shouldn’t we worry about the food first?”
“If Papa and my brothers wander in, as long as the table is set, they believe supper will be ready in a matter of minutes.” Amanda winked at her. “They’ll sit and chat for a half hour without realizing they’ve had a substantial wait. But if I’m busy at the stove and the table is bare, there’s no end to the complaining about their supper being delayed.”
Lily chuckled. “I shall have to remember that.” She set about getting plates and cutlery out of the breakfront. “Tell me about this business you’re planning.”
“It’s a custom clothing shop.” Amanda set the large pot of potatoes to boil on the woodstove and tossed in another log. “I’ve even settled on the name Amanda’s Clothing Emporium.”
Canceled-Order Bride (Sons Of A Gun Book 1) Page 4
