Always a Lady

by Sharon Sala

  Lily shivered. She wondered how long he’d been watching her. The thought was unnerving. Agreeable murmurs took away any embarrassment Lily might have felt for speaking out of turn about saying a prayer before the meal. It was such a normal part of her life that she’d forgotten many people did not practice the habit.

  She bowed her head and gripped the counter with shaky fingers, thanking God for the fact that she’d survived the first day of this crazy idea without falling on her face.

  “Amen,” Case finally said, and many of the men echoed his word.

  Lily blinked and raised her head. She’d been so nervous she hadn’t heard a word he’d said. She had to get herself under control. It wasn’t like her to be disorganized. She smoothed her hand down the side of her denim wraparound skirt and tucked her blue-striped blouse neatly back into the waistband. If she looked calm, maybe she’d feel calm.

  “My gosh,” one of the men muttered, “I may actually survive these three months after all. Real food!”

  Lily surveyed the overflowing table as the men grabbed plates and made two lines on either side of the buffet, teasing and laughing as they heaped on the food. She’d done it! A little feeling of accomplishment crept into her heart. It was the first good feeling she could remember in a long, long time.

  Case knew that if he was any kind of man, he should be apologizing to Lily Brownfield with hat in hand, but he was too hungry to take the time. Alfalfa sprouts and sunflower seeds indeed! The table looked great! Somehow she’d taken the same type of food that Pete had managed to boil to death or aptly burn and turned it into appetizing food.

  He scooped hungrily into a long pan of lasagna, and took heaping helpings of two kinds of cold salads and a couple of fried chicken legs. He lingered over the hot biscuits, slathering butter on two before being jostled by the men behind him as they urged him to hurry. As he entered the dining room, he eyed the pans of apple crisp on the sideboard and stopped to scoop up a heaping dish of dessert before he dared go sit down. If he waited until he was ready for dessert, he was afraid that it would be gone. He’d never seen the men so eager for a meal.

  The first bite was better than expected. He chewed, resisting the urge to moan in pleasure and then looked up in surprise as he saw Lily watching him for a reaction. He smiled as best he could around the mouthful and then winked his approval. The look on her face was worth it. She looked like she’d just swallowed a toad as she turned and fled into the kitchen.

  Case grinned to himself and attacked the rest of his food with relish. He hadn’t hired a pig in a poke after all. In fact, he’d hired a very capable, and from the quick glimpses she would allow of herself, a very pretty cook.

  * * *

  The last man was finally leaving the kitchen. Lily thought she was going to have to beg him not to scrape the bowls.

  “There’ll be more tomorrow,” Lily had teased softly. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  The blush that had crept up his neck matched the one on her face as he looked up and finally focused on her cheek.

  She watched his eyebrows raise, his mouth go slack with shock, and his eyes follow the path from the corner of her eye, down her cheek, toward her mouth. He swallowed, turned away and then back again, staring intently at her scar. But the remark he made was not what Lily had expected.

  He licked a bit of remaining apple crisp from his fingers, looked back at her cheek and drawled, “If you fight as good as you cook, lady, I’d hate to see what the other guy looked like.”

  Lily’s mouth dropped. The man sauntered out of the back door and into the fading daylight as Lily sank limply onto a kitchen stool.

  Suddenly the stress of the day set in as Lily began to shake. She surveyed the mountain of dirty pans and dishes still to clean and buried her face in her hands. Dear Lord, I’m tired.

  Before she had time to bemoan her fate, she felt a tug at the back of her head. She looked up. Case was yanking lightly at the thick braid hanging down the middle of her back.

  “Are you all right?” he asked, eyeing the pallor of her face.

  The protective feeling that had swept over him when he’d walked into the kitchen and seen her sitting with her head bowed in despair had hit all the way down to the pit of his stomach. It surprised him. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d worried about a woman in this manner.

  “I’m fine,” Lily answered shortly as she ducked her head, pulled her braid out of his teasing fingers, and darted toward the table to gather up the dirty dishes.

  Case stood watching her work, knowing that his presence was making her uncomfortable. He’d give a week’s pay to know what had happened to Lily Brownfield, but tonight was obviously not the time to ask.

  “Breakfast is at six,” he said shortly before turning and disappearing into the living area of his home.

  “Yes, Boss,” Lily answered sharply. But her words were unnecessary. Case Longren was gone.

  * * *

  The next few days passed in a blur of heat, smells of cooking food, hungry men, and aching back and feet, but Lily survived. And, each day it became a little easier.

  On this day, she had at least an hour before she needed to start the noon meal. She walked out onto the back porch with a tall glass of iced tea and slid sideways onto the porch swing, putting her feet on the opposite arm rest. It felt good to sit down with her feet up. Her navy blue culottes and matching blouse were cool and comfortable and still practical for her job.

  She leaned back, letting the roomy legs of her divided skirt slide upward just the tiniest bit and closed her eyes as she ran the cold glass of tea along her forehead and then down the side of her face, relishing the drip of condensation. She sighed, raised the glass to her lips, and took a long, deep drink of the slightly sweet liquid. Tea had never tasted so good.

  “Ooowee, honey, but you sure look fine.”

  The voice was unexpected and unfamiliar and Lily almost fell out of the porch swing as she scrambled to get to her feet and smooth down her skirt. She turned her face away, shielding the side with the scar from prying eyes.

  She recognized the man’s face, knew the men called him Lane, but she didn’t know whether it was a first or last name.

  “Was there something you needed?” Lily asked sharply. She didn’t like his familiar manner or the way his look lingered too long for decency on her breasts and legs.

  “Always,” he drawled.

  Lily blushed furiously. She didn’t like this man at all.

  “Then why are you here? Did Case send you up to the house for something?”

  The mention of the boss’s name made Lane turn around and sneak a quick look toward the arena where all the aspects of roundup were still in progress.

  “Naw,” he answered. “I just wanted to take the time to tell you in person that I think you’re a fine-looking woman and a great cook to boot.”

  “Thank you,” Lily answered and started back in the house. “I have to go inside now.” She wanted this meeting brought to an end. There was something ugly about the way he kept searching her body. And then his next words confirmed her suspicions and made her even more certain that this was a man from whom to steer clear.

  “Is that scar on your face the only one? Mind you, it’s hardly noticeable. Especially on a woman built as fine as you, honey.”

  “I don’t think it’s any of your damned business,” Lily shouted, and slammed the door behind her.

  She couldn’t believe she’d just done that. She’d lost her temper and composure in a heartbeat. It wasn’t like her to be so unladylike. She was still shaking from shock and anger when Case stormed into the kitchen.

  “What the hell did Lane Turney want up here?”

  Case had been on his way to the house to make a phone call when he’d seen his hired hand leaving the yard and Lily making a hasty exit from the porch into the house. The streak of anger that had swept over him at the sight of her consorting with one of his men spurred his angry question.

  Lily sp
un around, fury in her every gesture at the manner in which he’d asked. He acted as if she’d invited the man to linger about and shirk his work.

  “For starters,” Lily said quietly, anger turning the green in her eyes to a dark jade, “he wanted to know if I had scars anywhere else on my body besides my face.”

  Case sucked in his breath. The hurt in her voice tugged at his heart and conscience. It was not what he’d expected her to say, and he wished that he had counted to ten before he’d opened his mouth. He knew how he’d sounded, and he knew he was wrong. But it was too late to take back what had already been said. Before he could apologize, Lily stunned him as she continued.

  “I’ll tell you, like I told him. It’s nobody’s damned business. I cook. I don’t fraternize. I don’t want to. I hope I’ve made myself abundantly clear.”

  Case watched her gathering her wits about her like a queen. She straightened to full height, tilted her head back until the scarred portion of her face was in plain sight, and dared him to make another remark.

  “I’m sorry, Lily,” Case said quietly. “And I can promise that won’t happen again. I’ll talk to the man myself.”

  He walked out of the door with purpose in his step and left Lily standing in the middle of the kitchen. He was going to tear a strip off of Lane Turney. And then he thought, who’s going to tear a strip off of me? He deserved it and he knew it. Case wouldn’t admit, even to himself, that the feeling he’d experienced was jealousy, not concern that his hired hand was shirking his assigned work.

  Lily watched the door slam shut and turned away from the gust of wind that came with it. The wind was hot, an echo of her emotions. She tried to take a deep, calming breath, but when it came out, it sounded more like a sob. A strand of hair fell across her eyes, and she lifted her hand up to tuck it back in place. As she did, her fingers grazed across the tender area on her cheek, down the slow-healing gash. She began to shake. The kitchen walls began to close in on her. The hallway leading toward her bedroom beckoned. Solitude! It was just what she needed.

  Tears welled. She squeezed her eyes shut, fiercely trying to block out the pain of Lane’s question and Case’s angry accusation. It didn’t work. For the first time since her accident and her fiancé’s betrayal, she wished she’d just gone home and let her father and brothers take care of her world. Right now, she didn’t think she was able to do it herself.

  She staggered down the hallway to her room and fell onto the bed. The inviting homespun decor did not soothe her spirit, nor give her any feelings of comfort. It was nothing more than a place to hide. She buried her face in the curve of one arm, clutched the coverlet with her fingers and let out the pain.

  It was then she cried. At first there were tears, silent, swift, and sudden. But then came the sobs that deepened into gut-wrenching painful gasps for air.

  She cried for the unjustness of life that had changed her world from happy and safe into life-threatening and pain. She cried for the loss of a love that had obviously never been true. She cried for the comfort of her family’s arms that were too far away to help. And she cried because if Todd had been the man she’d imagined, today would have been her wedding day.

  And then she was lifted from her bed, gathered against a wall of muscle, a fiercely beating heart and strong arms and gentle hands that held her tight and kept her from flying apart.

  Lily was too far gone to realize she was being held and, when she did, too distraught to care. All she could concentrate on was the comfort she was receiving and the knowledge that for a moment, someone made the hurt lessen.

  The sound of her crying had pulled him down the hall. And when he’d stepped into her room, it had pulled him apart, a piece at a time. The heartrending sound of her pain was overwhelming. He’d never been so helpless and so furious all at the same time, knowing that he was partially to blame. Dear God, but he wanted to take away her hurt. He wrapped his arms around her trembling body and cradled her gently, whispering softly against her ear as he bore the brunt of her weight against his chest.

  Damn but she’s soft! And there isn’t a curve out of place on this lady. She feels just about perfect in my arms.

  His wandering thoughts startled him. He had no business letting his imagination run riot like this. It didn’t seem right to be enjoying this when she was so unhappy.

  “Stop,” Case begged, as he held Lily’s shaking body in his arms. “Please, Lily. Stop crying. You’re going to make yourself sick. I’m sorry. I swear to God I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings, and as for Lane, it’ll never happen again.”

  The quiet strength of his voice soaked and soothed her hysteria. Her sobs lessened, her shaking quieted, and the tears fell slower until they finally ceased to exist. The arms holding her loosened gently, and Lily felt her face tilted upward. She opened her eyes into a blaze of blue and tried to turn away, suddenly reminded of the view Case Longren had of her.

  “Don’t turn away from me, Lily,” he whispered. He cupped her face in his hands, caressing the tender curve of her cheeks with rough, callused palms as he wiped away the last of her tears with his thumbs. “Talk to me about this.”

  The soft, gentle manner in which he traced her face lessened the embarrassment Lily felt as he touched her so intimately.

  But then she shrugged out of his arms, shocked at the way she’d clung to him only moments before. She turned away in confusion.

  Case watched her wrap her arms around herself and knew that she was gathering strength to continue. She was some lady, his cook.

  “There’s nothing much to talk about,” Lily finally answered. She turned to face him and stuffed her hands in her pockets to hide their tremble. “I went to a bridal shower. I started home and a drunk driver changed the shape of my face...and my life...forever. Is that what you wanted to hear?”

  Her words were angry and defensive. Case ached for her.

  “Is that why you wanted this job? Because your life took such a drastic change? Or are you hiding from your life by coming halfway across the country to take a job you’re obviously overqualified for.”

  “This job, as you call it, is little more than what I did for the last twelve years of my life before I finally moved away from home. My mother died when I was thirteen. I became chief cook and bottle washer for my father and four older brothers. They all had jobs and I didn’t. Feeding them became my job. In the beginning, I wasn’t very good at it, but I got better. Daddy let me falter and helped me along the way. My brothers never complained about my failures. It took me several years to realize that they’d given me that job to help me get through the emptiness I felt when my mother died.”

  “Is that where you were living when you had your accident?” Case asked.

  Lily hesitated. Now it got sticky, and she wasn’t certain how much of her private life she felt like revealing.

  “No, I was living in L.A., remember? I grew up outside of Laguna Beach.”

  Case felt her reticence. There was more; he could tell.

  “So what did you do in L.A.? Surely you weren’t a cook?”

  “I worked as a legal secretary in a law firm.”

  Case watched the pain growing as her lips tightened and the fury in her eyes turned them back to that darker shade of jade he’d noticed was a signal of her anger.

  “And...” he coaxed.

  “And I had my accident, and I left to come out here,” she answered.

  It was too pat and too quick.

  “And there was no one in L.A. who tried to stop you? Surely you had friends, Lily. Couldn’t you go back to your old job?”

  Anger exploded, surprising Lily as much as it did Case.

  “My fiancé wanted his ring back because he didn’t want to walk down the aisle with a bride who had a face like this. I couldn’t go back and work in the same office with a man who hated the sight of me, now could I?”

  Case grabbed her hand as she gestured angrily toward her face. His eyes narrowed until they were mere slits of bl
ue.

  “Are you telling me that a man who claimed to love you wouldn’t marry you because of that little scratch on your face?”

  Little scratch!

  She caught her breath and blinked back a fresh set of tears. She’d be damned if she cried in front of this man again.

  “Well, Lily Brownfield, if you ask me, which you didn’t, I’ll tell you one damned thing is obvious as hell. You’re the luckiest woman alive that the bastard dumped you because he doesn’t deserve the ground you walk on.”

  Lily stared. She couldn’t help herself. Case was furious, and if man could have breathed fire, she’d have sworn she saw smoke pouring from his nostrils.

  “Well,” she muttered in shock and embarrassment. “Thank you...I think.”

  “You’re damned well welcome,” Case snarled. “Are you going to be all right?”

  “I think I’ll probably be just fine. All in all, I think I’d rather be feeding your crew today than having a wedding anyway.”

  Case’s silence was deafening.

  “Today was to have been your wedding day?” he asked quietly.

  Lily nodded, afraid that speaking would call back the pain.

  “If you’ll excuse me,” Lily finally said, walking quickly past him. “I’ve got to get busy or dinner will be raw. But the way the men eat, I doubt they’d notice.”

  She was nearly running by the time she got to the kitchen. Case walked out right behind her and through the kitchen door before she had time to take another breath. She watched the stiff thrust of his shoulder as he pushed his way through the opening and shuddered as he slammed the door so hard behind him that the glass rattled in its frame.

  She heard him start a litany of curses that lingered in her head and heart long after she’d lost sight and sound of her boss. It did her soul a tiny bit of good to think that someone besides herself damned the ground Todd Collins walked on.

  A couple of hours later, the men entered in their usual boisterous fashion and Lily’s attention was claimed by the hustle and bustle of feeding the starving crew. Case was in and out so quickly Lily wouldn’t have even noticed were it not for the fact that he asked for some aluminum foil with which to wrap his food.