Lily laughed. “Now, admit it, AJ. You’re just happy it’s not you getting hitched.” She’d heard the term used by one of the brides who visited Amanda’s shop, looking for a wedding dress.
“That, too.” AJ hooted with laughter. “But Jackson’s due for a wife. Nothing makes a man more of a success than having a good woman at his side. I ought to know better than most. Edna was my everything while we raised these young’uns and built the ranch.”
Jackson slipped his arms around Lily’s middle. He wanted the same success for the two of them.
“You and Jackson are a perfect match,” AJ declared, smiling at Lily. “You’ll keep him from getting too big for his britches while also encouraging his wise decisions. He’ll be a good provider for you and your children. You’ll never want for anything, as it should be. You both deserve every happiness.”
Lily’s eyes filled with tears and she nodded.
“Thanks, Pa. We appreciate your blessing.” Jackson stared into Lily’s eyes. “And I’m not doing this only because of that Connors fellow’s threats. I truly love her, Pa.”
“And I love your son,” Lily added.
“A blind man could figure as much.” AJ slapped his son on the back. “Now there’s no sense in delaying the wedding. We need to get you two to the altar as soon as we can manage. No telling when Manning will show his face in Milestone again.”
“I’m still worried sick who he’s bringing with him,” Lily confessed in a whisper.
“Doesn’t matter who it is.” AJ patted her arm. “You’ll be Mrs. McLennon by then and there won’t be a dang thing anyone can do about it.”
Lily relaxed in Jackson’s arms, and he buried his face in her hair, inhaling the calming and now familiar honeysuckle scent. Home. Sharing in an embrace with the woman he loved seemed more than ever like being home. He could get used to the feeling, for the rest of his life.
Chapter 28
The next afternoon, Jackson and Lily traveled into Milestone in the family buggy, intending to meet with Reverend Fitzpatrick and hoping he would perform their marriage ceremony as soon as possible.
Twenty minutes after they arrived would suit Jackson just fine, but he and Lily had discussed the matter into the wee hours. They decided on a small private wedding at the ranch with only family and a few close friends in attendance. He reached out and took her hand in his. She smiled and leaned her head on his shoulder. He couldn’t love her more.
“Jackson, I hate that the gossips will be speculating what a sudden small wedding like this one probably means. Their hurtful accusations will discredit my reputation.” Tears filled her eyes.
“Sweetheart, Pa will have a few choice words for Frances Landers and her ilk, and very few people if anyone would believe their lies knowing Pa raised his sons better than that. The old biddies will do their cyphering nine months from now. When there isn’t a baby in your arms, folks will know the truth about both of us.” Jackson smiled at her. Or at the least, the truth as far as the McLennons were concerned. Bad enough the entire family was living on edge, nobody wanted other folks in danger because of any possible threat posed by this Connors fellow.
The miles passed quickly in shared conversation. Entering Milestone, they rode up Main Street heading for the church figuring the reverend would probably be there.
Hearing Lily’s gasp, Jackson pulled up on the reins. “What is it?”
“There!” She pointed, her hand shaking visibly. “Isn’t that Sawyer Manning standing outside the general store?”
Jackson followed her gaze and his fists clenched on the reins. The stagecoach stood outside the store where several passengers were disembarking, and by the looks of it, Sawyer Manning had been the first.
“Get down,” Jackson ordered Lily. “Stay out of sight.”
Lily dutifully slid to the buggy’s floor, covering her face with her hat’s wide brim. Jackson steered the buggy down Granite Avenue toward the church. And then he changed his mind.
“You can sit on the bench seat again. We’re out of view.” Jackson offered her a hand up.
Lily settled on the seat. “Where are we going?” she exclaimed when Jackson drove right past the church and turned right onto Second Street.
“I’m leaving you with Amanda. Then I’ll venture over to the general store and find out who Manning brought with him.” Jackson wagged a finger at his fiancée as he pulled up outside the clothing emporium. “You are staying with my sister. Don’t you sneak over there. I don’t want you walking in on an ugly scene.”
“All right. But don’t take too long. I’ll be on edge until I hear from you.”
Jackson snuck a quick kiss and stared into her eyes. “No one will ever hurt you. Try not to worry. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
He watched her slip inside the store through the front door before he drove off to face what could become the most important confrontation of his life.
* * *
For what seemed like hours, Lily had paced the entire length of the clothing shop, convinced she’d leave a groove in the plank floor.
“What’s keeping your brother?” she muttered.
Amanda caught her by the arm as she passed by the table in the staff area in back. “I have no idea but wearing out the floor won’t help. Here’s a cup of tea to calm your nerves in the meantime.”
Lily accepted the china cup and took a sip of the welcome warmth. She settled onto one of the chairs and slid the teacup across the table. “I can’t sit still. My stomach is in knots. What if something is happening, and I’m just sitting here without doing anything about it?”
“What can we do?” Amanda reached for her hand. “Jackson can take care of himself. If I don’t miss my guess, I’d bet he summoned Sheriff Robertson to accompany him to the store, anticipating the possibility of trouble.”
“I certainly hope so. I’m not certain Jackson brought the rifle with him. I didn’t see it in the buggy,” Lily added.
“He would have hidden it under the seat or somewhere. No one rides off the ranch without a firearm of some kind.” Amanda returned to her sewing machine. “Now, stop worrying. I’ve got to finish Reverend Fitzpatrick’s new white shirt. Mrs. Fitzpatrick is picking it up before we close.”
The bell above the door tinkled and Lily’s heart almost stopped. A steady stream of customers had been coming and going, and there was no need for alarm every time the bell announced a new arrival. She truly needed to get her nerves under control.
“Lily!”
She gasped, hearing the familiar voice calling her name. Jackson. She braced herself for whatever he was about to tell her.
“Coming.” She patted her hair and wiped her hands on her skirts. If he’d arrived here under his own steam, nothing bad could have happened.
Lily strode to the front of the store where Jackson stood with Mr. Manning. Another man stood behind them, his back to her. He appeared to be staring out the front window. Was he with Jackson and Sawyer or had he arrived with one of the customers?
“Sweetheart, we have a lot to tell you,” Jackson began.
Mr. Manning touched the brim of his bowler. “Miss Watson, it’s nice to see you again.”
“Thank you,” Lily replied, her voice cracking. She’d never been this nervous in her life.
“There’s someone here to see you,” Jackson continued, pointing behind himself. “He insisted on making the trip with Mr. Manning.”
Lily felt the blood drain from her face. With the sun streaming through the window, she couldn’t distinguish any familiar features. He appeared close to six feet tall, but the man could be anyone. Including the despicable William Connors. She braced herself, watching the man slowly turn around.
Her breath caught.
“Father?” she whispered.
He nodded.
Lily couldn’t believe the change in her father since she’d last seen him in Boston. Gone was the haunted look in his eyes. His disheveled appearance had been replaced with a wrinkle-free suit, white shirt and
dark tie. His boots were polished to a sheen and his hair was slicked back. He held a familiar bowler in one hand. “Is it really you?”
“Yes, Lily, it’s me.” He walked toward her, setting his hat on the countertop he passed, before clasping her hands in his. “My sweet girl, I’ve missed you so much.”
“I… I can’t believe it’s really you.” Lily managed the reply before bursting into tears when her father wrapped her in a tight embrace. “I was so worried about you.”
“Now, now, no need for those tears. I’m fine, as you can see.” Harold Watson loosened his embrace and glanced at Mr. Manning. “This fine gentleman dragged me from the drinking establishment he found me in and sobered me up against my wishes. But having heard his explanation of what happened between you and Connors, I’m eternally thankful that he did.”
Lily accepted the handkerchief her father pulled from his pocket. “Where is he?” she whispered, drying her tears.
“Connors? Gone,” her father stated. “And good riddance to him… and his brother.”
“Brother?” Lily exclaimed. “I didn’t know he had a brother.”
Her father nodded. “That’s because I never mentioned him. Winston Connors was a good-for-nothing man throughout his entire miserable life.”
“Was?” Lily glanced at the Pinkerton and then peered at her father. “Is he dead?”
“We’ve got a lot to tell you, Miss Watson,” Agent Manning interrupted, stepping toward her. “Would you accompany us to the hotel for a bite to eat? We’ll offer further explanation then.”
“Certainly,” Lily agreed readily. Knowing her father had returned to himself, she looked forward to hearing whatever they were willing to divulge. And apparently, William Connors was out of her life. Forever. She could breathe again. For the first time in weeks.
* * *
Lily found it difficult to believe her father truly was sitting across from her at the dining room table in the Milestone Hotel. His health had returned; his eyes looked bright and aware. Obviously, he hadn’t indulged in drink for weeks, as he’d explained at the clothing shop.
AJ had joined them. Amanda and Ruby also, leaving Nancy Cameron in charge of the store during their absence. Everyone carried on pleasant conversation while sipping tea or coffee, waiting for their meals to arrive.
Lily introduced her father to AJ.
“I cannot believe the lengths my daughter went to while protecting herself.” Harold Watson shook AJ’s hand. “And I cannot thank you enough for taking her under your wing, as her protector.”
“It was my pleasure, Mr. Watson.” AJ shook her father’s hand again. “Lily is a remarkable young lady. She and Amanda operate a thriving business here in town, and I couldn’t be more proud of both of them.”
“A business?” Harold exclaimed.
“Yes, Father. Amanda and I own an equal share in the store where you came to find me.” Lily smiled at him. “Amanda and Nancy, our newest employee, are kept busy sewing the garments, and I was in charge of serving customers and keeping the books which I’m still doing. But we weren’t certain who was accompanying Mr. Manning back to Milestone, so we hired Amanda’s Aunt Ruby to help with customers while I returned to the ranch for safety’s sake.”
“My goodness, I never would have imagined my daughter a businesswoman. Good for you.” Harold gazed at Lily lovingly, and she knew his words were sincerely spoken.
“Father, what happened with your companies? William Connors told me all sorts of tales about the businesses being in dire straits. About missing funds. He insisted you’d agreed that he and I marry, supposedly to protect your business interests since you were…” She couldn’t finish her thought which would only remind her father of his temporary shortcomings.
“While I was lost in liquor?” Harold shook his head. “While I behaved in such an unforgivable and irresponsible way? Out of my head with grief over your mother?”
“I tried to understand, Father. I truly did. But you left me in such a precarious situation with that horrible man.” Lily’s hand flew to her mouth. “I’m so sorry. William is a good friend of yours.”
“Was a good friend,” her father corrected. He straightened in his chair and cleared his throat. “William Connors was right about one thing. There was money missing. A lot of it. And indirectly it was my doing. Apparently, while inebriated I provided his brother with the combination to our office safe. Winston helped himself to cash on several occasions to feed his gambling habit.”
Lily gasped. “He didn’t!”
“Oh, yes, he did,” Sawyer Manning chimed in. “It was proven.”
“Only William and I knew the combination to the safe. Naturally, William blamed me for the missing funds, believing I’d drunk them up. If he’d checked my personal accounts at the bank, he would have realized that wasn’t the case. I cannot believe the sum I’ve wasted.”
“Which we did check and realized your father’s innocence,” Sawyer added. “Then I investigated further and proved Winston the culprit.”
“What happened to William and Winston?” Lily glanced from her father to Sawyer.
“Winston… hung himself while incarcerated in the local jail.” Harold shivered. “Nasty business. I believe he lost all hope when William disowned him and insisted charges be laid against his own brother. We’re not certain where William went. Just collected his money and left.”
“What do you mean?” Jackson blurted. “After the grief he put Lily through, you just allowed him to leave Boston?”
Harold nodded. “By then I’d had enough. We sold the businesses and divided up the profits. We’ve gone our separate ways and good riddance to him. Why I ever trusted that man is a mystery. Your mother never liked him. That should have told me something.”
“You knew all along?” Lily touched her father’s arm. “Mother confided her dislike of the man but she tolerated him for your sake.”
“She never spoke more than a dozen words to William the entire time we were in business together. I couldn’t help but know her opinion of the man.” Harold shook his head. “I should have taken her intuition into consideration. Would have saved all of us a bucket of heartache.”
“Well, it’s over now.” Lily hugged her father’s arm. “And I cannot tell you how pleased I am to see you in such good health and lively spirits.”
“Oh, my dear Lily, I’ve had enough spirits to last me a lifetime,” Harold teased. “Nothing but coffee or tea for me now.”
Lily chuckled. “I’m happy to hear that. But you’ve sold your businesses, Father. How will you occupy your time?”
Harold glanced at Mr. Manning and smiled. “Actually, I wanted to stay close to my daughter, so I’ve accepted a job right here in Milestone.”
Lily gasped and her hand covered her mouth. “What will you do?”
“I’ve been hired by a fellow in Butte. I’m the new manager of the Milestone First National Bank.” Harold smiled at his daughter. “And I cannot tell you how excited I am, starting this new adventure in life.”
“The entire town will be thrilled to hear the bank is opening again.” Jackson extended his hand. “Welcome to Milestone, Mr. Watson.”
“Thank you.”
Jackson slid forward on his chair. “Mr. Watson, while you were in Butte, did you hear anything about the bank robbery investigation?”
“Actually, I didn’t.” He looked at Mr. Manning.
Sawyer cleared his throat. “In truth, the Pinkerton Agency was hired by the owners of First National Bank to investigate the robbery. They suspected one of the bank employees was involved, and I was sent here awhile back to investigate.”
“That’s why you came to Milestone?” Lily blurted, recalling the hours spent wondering if he’d been sent by Connors and worrying Manning would force her to return to Boston with him.
“Yes, ma’am. Only Sheriff Robertson knew my true purpose for being in town.” Sawyer glanced at Jackson and then back at Lily. “Had nothing to do with you.”
&
nbsp; Jackson leaned back in his chair, a slightly guilty expression on his face. Lily couldn’t fault him for his tenacity when protecting her. Even if his suspicions proved completely unfounded.
“The bank clerk, Milton Brown, seems to have disappeared into thin air,” Manning continued. “And anything the manager, Sid Cameron, knew went to the grave with him.”
Jackson frowned. “So, the bank owners have called off the investigation? All the stolen money will never be recovered?”
“I never said that.”
“Then what are the owners doing, Manning?” AJ demanded.
“When I was here last, I talked with Charlie Hughes at the Copper Nugget. The saloon owner recalled a couple of drifters talking with Sid Cameron outside the saloon a day or two around the time of the robbery. Could be a coincidence, of course. Charlie insisted he couldn’t recall what either of the men looked like.” Sawyer shrugged. “The piano player confided that Charlie regularly samples his own wares. Told me Charlie couldn’t describe what his own mother looks like some days.”
AJ chuckled. “Sounds like Charlie all right.”
“I’m not holding out any hope that the saloon owner will ever be of much help in finding those drifters.” Sawyer leaned back in his chair. “But I’m convinced they participated in the robbery. Whether in collusion with anyone or not. We need to find those two men.”
“So the investigation is still ongoing?” AJ met Sawyer’s eyes. “I suspect some folks are out a lot of money.”
“All I’m at liberty to say is the agency and the local law could be investigating for months, maybe years, until we solve this,” Sawyer hedged.
“Is my father in any danger, working as the new bank manager?” Lily met Sawyer’s eyes.
He smiled at her. “The chances of the same fellows returning to rob the bank again are extremely slim.”
“But it could happen.” Lily pushed the agent on the matter.
“I’d be surprised that they had the audacity.” Sawyer shifted in his seat. “I mean… I would be stunned if such a thing happened.”
Canceled-Order Bride (Sons Of A Gun Book 1) Page 20
