“I know, and I appreciate it. Are you sure you wouldn’t like to come in for a while? I’d love the company.” Maggie smiled at Jack and Lily.
“May I stay with Aunt Maggie, Daddy? Please?” Lily turned to her father with an adorable look of pleading on her little face. “Pretty please?”
Thane glanced at Maggie and she gave an imperceptible nod of her head. The last thing she needed was to be alone with her thoughts. Lily would provide a welcome distraction.
“I could bring her home tomorrow, if that suits both of you.” Maggie looked to Jemma for permission.
“If you’re sure you wouldn’t mind, but she doesn’t have a change of clothes or…”
“Not to worry. She’s visiting the dressmaker. We can figure something out.” Maggie grinned and held out her arms for Lily. The child fairly leaped out of Thane’s into hers and squeezed her around her neck, knocking her hat askew.
“Oh, goody, I get to stay with Aunt Maggie. I get to stay with Aunt Maggie,” Lily chanted in a singsong voice.
“Just mind your manners, honey, and be a very good girl.” Thane touched his finger to the child’s button nose.
“I will, Daddy. I promise.” Lily squirmed down and hugged Jemma around her legs then looked up at her. “Love you, Mama.”
“I love you, too, poppet. Be a good girl for Maggie and we’ll see you tomorrow.” Jemma gave Maggie one final glance, making sure she wanted to keep Lily.
Maggie nodded and took Lily’s hand in hers. “We’re going to have a grand time, aren’t we, Lily?”
“Yep! A grand time.” Lily hopped from one foot to the other, waving as her family started to walk away. “Bye, Jack! You can have my dessert tonight!”
“Thanks, Lil!” Jack called over his shoulder and waved at his sister. “See ya’ tomorrow!”
Jemma sighed at Jack’s twang. Maggie grinned and walked around to the back door of her store then unlocked it.
Lily skipped inside and ran to the front, looking at all the displays. She stopped in front of a wedding dress Maggie had recently finished and placed on display. It was one of her most elaborate creations and she loved everything about it, from the luxurious fabric to the rich lace trim.
The little girl started to reach out to touch it, but stopped herself before her fingers made contact with the white silk. “It’s gorgeous, Aunt Maggie. Are you going to wear it?”
Maggie knelt by the child and placed a hand on her back, breathing in the scrumptious scent of little girl. “No, Lily. I didn’t make it for me, but I’m glad you think it’s pretty.”
“Mama had a dress like that the day she married Daddy. She looked like a princess,” Lily said, continuing to stare at the dress.
Lily generally didn’t stand still for long. Maggie was surprised at how long the child gazed at the wedding gown. “Your mama is a very beautiful woman.”
“Yep. I heard Daddy tell her she was a radish.”
“A radish?” Maggie tried not to laugh. “Did he call her ravishing?”
“That’s it. That’s what he said.” Lily turned around and hugged Maggie. “You’re radishing, too. Is that why Ian looks at you all funny, like Daddy looks at Mama?”
“What?” Lily’s words took Maggie by surprise. “Why would you say that, honey?”
“Because I watched him watching you when you both were at our house and he likes you. I bet he’d even slobber on your face like Daddy does to Mama when they think Jack and I aren’t watching. Would you like Ian’s slobbers?”
Maggie choked and coughed behind her hand as she struggled to regain her composure. “I, um… I…” At a loss for a response, she redirected the conversation. “How would you like to try on some clothes and maybe a few hats, Miss Lily?”
The child squealed with excitement and clapped her hands together. “I’d love it, Aunt Maggie. What can I try first?”
Two hours later, Lily had tried on a variety of clothes, paraded around in every hat in the shop, and insisted Maggie join her in the fun.
At the child’s begging, Maggie finally put on the wedding gown and modeled it for her.
“Oh, Aunt Maggie, you look so bee-you-tee-full. Just like a princess in my storybook. You should wear that the next time you come to our house. I bet if you did, Ian would be happy to slobber on you.”
Maggie smiled at Lily, entertained by her fascination with making sure Ian “slobbered” on her. After the fiasco at the dance, she seriously doubted he’d ever speak to her again. Considering the barbaric way he and Tully behaved, she wasn’t sure she wanted him to.
The thought of never again hearing his Scottish brogue, of watching his blue eyes twinkle with humor, or seeing the sunlight streak through that tousled hair made her realize how much she’d miss his friendship and presence if that were to happen.
Despite his poor choices and inappropriate behavior the previous evening, she still wanted him in her life. At least she no longer needed to be jealous of Eunice Morrow. She felt sorry for the girl, overhearing Ian’s words last night, though. It had to have stung her pride.
Tugged out of her musings by Lily yanking on her hand, Maggie smiled at the lively little girl.
“Let’s change back into our clothes and see about making some cookies. What do you think?”
Lily spun in a circle, sending the scarf she wore draped around her neck flying as she giggled. “I love cookies!”
Convicted by his actions the previous evening, Ian barely slept at all that night. Bleary-eyed and troubled, he forced himself to track down the sheriff and offer him an apology before the morning church service.
Much to his surprise, Tully didn’t seem too bothered by the whole thing and merely told him to be mindful of losing his temper in the future.
Ian planned to offer an apology to Maggie as well, but he didn’t get a chance before she disappeared after church. He went home and spent a few hours working up his courage to face her before walking to her shop.
As he sauntered past the window, movement inside caught his attention. He stared in the glass, watching her model a wedding gown that fit her to perfection.
An ache for what he couldn’t have made him wish he could take her in his arms and profess his love.
Instead, he continued peering in the window. Although he was unable to see to whom she spoke, her face bore an incredible look of love. Ian finally turned around and went home.
Clearly, Maggie had forgiven Tully and would soon become Mrs. Barrett.
Chapter Fifteen
Ian hefted his end of a heavy desk and frowned at Tully as the two of them helped carry furniture into Thane and Jemma’s new house.
The two men maneuvered the desk through the front door and down the hall to the room Jemma referred to as the library and Thane called his office. They tipped up the desk and squeezed it through the doorway, careful not to nick the wood of the doorjamb or mar the wallpaper.
Relieved sighs escaped them when they set the desk down where Thane indicated he wanted it placed.
As they exited the room and returned outside to move in the side chairs, Ian cleared his throat and stuck out his hand to Tully.
Tully shook it but gave him a confused glance. “What’s that for?”
“Congratulations are in order, aren’t they?” It galled Ian to admit Tully was the better man, but obviously, it was true. He’d won Maggie’s heart and would soon make her his wife. Only the very best of men would have been able to accomplish such a feat.
“For what? Getting that behemoth desk in Thane’s office?” Tully grinned as he hefted a leather upholstered wingback chair and started inside the house.
Agitated, Ian grabbed a matching chair and followed him. “I meant about your upcoming nuptials.”
Tully set the chair on the porch and stared at Ian as if he’d lost his mind. “Nuptials?”
Ian snorted in disgust. “Your wedding. You know, the exchange of vows with your bride, promising to love, honor and cherish her. When is your wedding?”
A strange look passed over Tully’s face as he hefted the chair and carried it inside. Once he had it situated in front of Thane’s desk, he turned to Ian and watched him position the chair he carried. “How did you hear about the wedding?”
“Let’s just say I happened upon the information entirely unplanned.” Ian stared at Tully. “It’s more than obvious she loves you, Tully. Just promise she’ll always be taken care of and cherished.”
“Oh, she will. I have no doubt about that.” Tully grinned and slapped Ian on the back.
Ian rolled his eyes and changed the subject, asking Tully about the horse named Loco he’d been trying to sell.
“I found a horse trainer who thinks he can work the crazy out of that beast. If he can’t, I might just take Loco south of here and turn him loose with a herd of wild horses.” Tully grunted as they slid the bookcase into place along one wall in the office.
“Best of luck to the man,” Ian said, glancing at the sheriff. “From what I’ve seen, the trainer has his work cut out for him.”
Tully laughed. “That he does. Loco is a handful, for sure. I would never have kept him, but an old friend asked me to take him when he passed away and I just couldn’t tell him no.”
Ian nodded and followed the sheriff back outside. As much as he wanted to dislike — even hate — the man, he couldn’t. Tully was easygoing, big-hearted, and fun. It was easy to see why Maggie loved him, although Ian did wonder why it took her so long to get around to admitting her feelings.
The stories he’d heard around town alluded that Thane and Tully both asked her to marry them and she diligently refused. When Thane married Jemma, it seemed that Tully would marry Maggie. It wasn’t until Ian finally started making headway with the thickheaded, exasperating, wholly enchanting woman that Tully seemed to pursue her.
Ian had been so certain he would eventually get past the walls Maggie built around her heart and build a happy future with her. He’d been so wrong.
It wasn’t walls from her past that kept him out, but her love for the sheriff.
For a brief time, though, he’d genuinely felt her affection for him. She sat by his side for hours and took such good care of him when he suffered from the concussion. Then again, she often helped others. It was possible his desire for her to care colored his perception of what had really happened.
Ian watched Tully and Thane joke with Jemma and Maggie. Once Maggie married Tully, it would make living in Baker City difficult. He considered how hard it would be to stay in town if the two of them did wed.
There were always buyers interested in a thriving, prosperous business. It wouldn’t be hard for him to sell his lumberyard and move elsewhere. He’d heard there was a nice valley south of Portland where he could settle. He might even travel down to California where they didn’t have the bone-chilling winters he’d experienced in Eastern Oregon.
Before he made any decisions, though, he needed to give himself some time. Ian had learned long ago not to do something rash based on his emotions. On occasion, he forgot the lesson, but always seemed to receive a reminder when he needed it most.
Lost in his maudlin thoughts, Ian startled when Lily wrapped an arm around his leg. Her coppery eyes glowed with excitement as she smiled up at him.
“Ian! Did you see my room? It’s so pretty. I bet fairies will come live with me there and we’ll have the grandest parties.”
“Och, my wee bonny lass, do you think so?” Ian asked swinging the little girl into the air and making her giggle.
“I do. Come see!” He set Lily down and she took his hand, leading him inside the house and up the stairs to her room. Dainty pink rosebuds danced up the walls while white furniture gleamed in the afternoon sunlight. Pink curtains fluttered in the afternoon breeze floating against a rocking chair that held a soft green cushion. Accents of pink, white, and pale green combined to make the room something fit for a princess, or a high-spirited fairy.
“Isn’t it gorgeous?” Lily flung her arms wide and spun around in her room.
“It is indeed, lass. It’s a beautiful room for a beautiful little girl.”
“Thank you,” Lily said, curtseying to Ian before bursting into giggles.
Ian glanced around, trying to think if he’d ever seen such a girlish room before and decided he had not. “Did you pick out the wallpaper?”
“Mama let me help. We tried to match it to my quilt. I got to pick it out when we moved here. We bought it at the mercantile. It’s called a rose wreath.” Lily rubbed her hand over the stitched covering on her bed done in shades of pink, white, and green.
“Well, you and your mama did a very good job.” Ian grinned at the child. She held out her arms, so he picked her up and savored one of her tight little hugs around his neck along with a kiss to his cheek.
She pulled back and stared at him for a long moment. With an inquisitive glance, she tipped her head to the side. “Do you like kisses, Ian?”
“Only from certain people, lass.” Ian wondered where the conversation headed but decided to go along for the ride. “I like kisses from you.”
“Oh, goody.” Lily studied him closely, peering at one side of his face then the other. “Did you know my daddy gives Mama slobbery kisses when they think I’m not watching?”
“I was not aware of that. What do you think of these slobbery kisses?” Ian sat down in the rocker and settled Lily on his knee.
“I think they’re nasty.” Lily wrinkled her nose. “But Mama seems to like them. Daddy always gets a happy look on his face when she lets him slobber on her.” Lily wiggled her feet and hummed while Ian rocked back and forth. Suddenly, she stopped and gazed up at him. “I asked Aunt Maggie if she was gonna let you slobber on her.”
Ian stilled the motion of the chair and stared at Lily. “You did. What did Maggie say?”
“She didn’t say anything. Aunt Maggie started coughing and got a funny look on her face, kind of like Mama used to have before she and Daddy liked each other so well.”
“Is that right?” Ian asked, trying to figure out what Maggie’s reaction meant. Once again, it seemed as though he created something that clearly didn’t exist. “What about Tully? Does Maggie give him slobbery kisses?”
Lily wrinkled her nose in disgust. “No, silly. Uncle Tully’s our friend. You don’t slobbery kiss a friend.” The child rolled her eyes and shook her head like Ian was the most daft man she’d ever encountered. “You only slobbery kiss the person you marry. Don’t you know how these things work?”
Ian chuckled. “No, I guess I don’t, but I’m glad I have you to explain things to me.” He started rocking the chair again. “Are you sure Tully and Maggie are just friends?”
Lily pursued her rosebud lips and gave him an exasperated glare. “Positive. I bet if you slobbered on Aunt Maggie, she’d really like it.”
Ian realized the absurdity of taking courting advice from a tiny child, but maybe Lily knew more about such things than he did.
Despite Maggie’s plans to wed Tully, until there was a ring on her finger, he still had a chance to win her heart. How could he go wrong with Lily cheering him on to victory?
Chapter Sixteen
Frustrated, Maggie tossed down the pencil in her hand and ripped a sheet of paper into tiny pieces. She threw them in the wastebasket and got to her feet, stomping around her workroom.
The day Ian had shown her the weapons above his fireplace, she’d been fascinated with the pattern on the targe.
Multiple times, she’d attempted to recreate the design on paper so she could work it into the stitching on a dress she planned to sew.
The thistles she reproduced fairly well, but she couldn’t remember the exact pattern of the intricate knots on the battle shield.
Determined to swallow her pride, she pinned on her hat, yanked on her gloves, and marched out the door, headed toward the lumberyard. If she asked nicely, perhaps Ian would let her borrow the shield long enough to copy the pattern for her dress.
At the very leas
t, he might allow her to trace it on a piece of paper she’d stuffed in her reticule.
Before she could change her mind, she hurried up the steps to his office and rapped on the door.
Although it was well past the time for his employees to leave, she wanted to be sure that he didn’t linger in the office.
When her knock went unanswered, she walked past the lumberyard, searching for Ian. No fire burned with brands heating in the coals, and no noise emanated from the warehouse, so she set off across the meadow.
Excitement fluttered in her stomach as she opened his gate and strolled down the walk. The thought of seeing Ian again, perhaps even catching him at the river bathing, sent her pulse skipping like a rock across smooth water, each ripple spreading further out than the last. She’d hardly seen him since the day they helped Thane and Jemma move in furniture. He’d missed church on Sunday and she realized then how much she looked forward to his presence in their pew.
Church wasn’t the only place she missed him.
In the last week, he’d not stopped by her shop once. He hadn’t invited her to dinner or for a walk, or even offered a teasing comment.
Concerned, she’d tried to convince herself his absence meant nothing to her, but it did. Maggie missed him greatly, despite her resolve to ignore him.
Briskly tapping on his front door, she hoped he would answer. She needed to see him, to make sure he was well, whether he let her borrow the targe or not.
Footsteps resounded from inside the house before Ian swung open the door. Surprise turned to a pleased smile when he recognized the finely dressed figure on his front step.
“Maggie, lass, what brings you by on this bonny day?” Ian stepped aside so she could enter the front hall.
Impressed again by the warm and inviting interior of Ian’s home, she glanced around. Quickly gathering her thoughts, she turned from studying the house to the man who owned it. If possible, Ian appeared even more appealing as he stood in the hall wearing a blue shirt the same shade as his eyes.
Thimbles And Thistles (Baker City Brides Book 2) Page 15