Dashing Druid (Texas Druids)

by Lyn Horner

  Squelching the unwanted memory, Lil smiled at her groom with misty eyes as the priest pronounced them man and wife. Then she was in Tye’s arms, and his lips were warm and tender upon hers, hinting at the fire they would arouse in her later.

  “I love you,” he murmured. His mouth curved into a joyous smile, and he turned her to face their guests. There weren’t many – Wiley, Etta and young Josh, and a few of Tye’s miner friends – but they cheered long and loud as he led her from the makeshift church.

  Outside in the warmth of late morning, Tye stood firm beneath thumps on the back and hearty handshakes, while Lil received good wishes, hugs and brash kisses. After that, they all headed back to the Gable’s for dinner. Etta had prepared a huge ham and heaps of fixings, but the food dwindled quickly at the hands of the hungry men.

  Giddy with the realization that she was Tye’s wife, Lil hardly knew what she ate. She was distracted by the brush of her husband’s arm against hers, by the warmth of him at her side, by the manly bay rum scent he exuded. All she wanted was to be alone with him, and his hand on her thigh under the table told her he wanted the same thing.

  Wiley had somehow gotten hold of several bottles of wine for the occasion, and one toast followed another, growing more bawdy as the dinner progressed.

  “Here’s to ye, me boy, and to yer lovely missus,” called a bullet-headed miner named Conan, raising his glass. “And should ye need a tutor tonight, why, just give a holler and Conan will come runnin’.” He waggled his brows and winked at Lil.

  The other men hooted and hollered while Lil’s face grew hot. Darting a sidelong glance at Tye, she saw him grin.

  “Anything you could teach me wouldn’t be fit for my wife to know, ye old mongrel,” he retorted, drawing more roars.

  Etta Gable cleared her throat. “Gentlemen, that will be enough of that kind of talk,” she said, covering Josh’s ears.

  Tye and Conan offered shamefaced apologies. A short while later the men adjourned to the parlor while Etta led Josh into his bedroom to put him down for a nap. Lil cleared the table and began washing dishes.

  “You shouldn’t be doing that!” Etta protested when she returned to the kitchen. “This is your wedding day. Go sit with your husband. I’ll take care of the dishes.”

  “No, ma’am. You’ve done way too much. This is the least I can do. Why don’t you go sit. You must be tuckered out.”

  Etta sighed and rubbed her back. “I am a bit tired. Very well, you wash and I’ll dry, and we’ll both be done sooner.”

  Lil tried to argue but her new friend overruled her. Rather than waste time debating, she went back to scrubbing dishes. She was rinsing off the last plate when she heard Etta groan, followed immediately by the shattering of a dish on the floor.

  Whirling around, Lil gasped when she saw the other woman bent over in front of the china closet, holding her distended stomach and grimacing in pain.

  “Etta!” Wiley shouted. He was up and at her side in a flash. “It’s the baby!” he exclaimed – unnecessarily since everyone including Lil had already guessed as much. He slipped an arm around his wife to support her and bent to pick her up, but she stopped him.

  “There’s no need for that, dear. I’m all right, the pain has passed. That one was stronger, though, I must say.”

  “You mean you’ve had others?”

  “Well, yes, but they weren’t very strong, not like this last one.”

  “Why didn’t you say something, for God’s sake?” he demanded half angrily.

  Etta patted his arm. “Because we have guests, dear.” She glanced shyly at the men standing in the parlor, then smiled at Lil, who wanted to kick herself. She and Tye never should have allowed the woman to go to so much work, preparing the feast and hosting their guests when she was so close to her time. Even if she had insisted on doing so.

  “Lads, I think you’d best be going,” Tye told the other men.

  “Right ye are!” Conan readily agreed. “Come on, men, ’tis time we clear out.”

  With polite nods and hurried thanks to Etta, who refused to budge from her kitchen until they left, the men filed out the back door and clomped down the stairs.

  “All right, let’s get you to bed,” Wiley said.

  “Wait. I broke one of the plates. I need to sweep up the shards so Josh doesn’t step on them and get cut.”

  “You’ll do no such thing! Josh is napping. I’ll sweep up after while.” Looking frazzled, Wiley started to turn her forcibly toward their bedroom but halted when she sucked in a sharp breath and clutched her belly again. She squeezed her eyes shut and compressed her lips into a thin line, breathing loudly through her nose.

  Observing her, Lil held her own breath until Etta relaxed. Feeling a trifle lightheaded, she grabbed the broom that was tucked between the stove and the sink. “I’ll sweep up the china,” she said. “You just go on now.”

  “Thanks, Lil,” Wiley said before his wife could argue. “See, honey, there’s nothing you need to do but concentrate on having our baby girl.”

  Lil began to sweep the broken pieces into a pile, aware of Etta’s continued hesitation. Finally, she let Wiley lead her toward their room, arguing all the way.

  “I told you it’s another boy.”

  “Naw, it’s a girl. I know it.”

  “Just because you want a daughter doesn’t mean you’ll get one.”

  “I’ll be happy with either one. You know that. But I still say it’s a girl.”

  They were still debating the sex of the child as Wiley closed the door behind them.

  Lil quickly finished her chore and dumped the broken china in a waste pail that Etta kept under the sink. Standing the broom back in its place, she faced Tye, who stood by the outside door with his hands stuffed in his pockets and a frown creasing his brow.

  “I know we were planning to leave soon,” she said, “but I don’t see how we can. They might need help.”

  “Aye, I’m thinking the same,” he said glumly. He crossed the room and took her in his arms. “And I was so looking forward to spending the night with my darling wife in the best hotel in Georgetown,” he murmured, bending to nuzzle her throat

  “Your wife would like that,” Lil breathed, clutching his muscled shoulders and tipping her head back to allow him easier access. “Maybe tomorrow.”

  “Count on it, Mrs. Devlin.” Straightening, he swooped in to claim her lips, sealing his promise with a scalding kiss. He broke off at the sound of a door opening. Turning toward the sound, he allowed Lil a view of Wiley standing frozen with his hand gripping the handle of the bedroom door he’d pulled shut.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to –”

  “Don’t be apologizing, man. Is all well?” Tye nodded toward the closed door.

  “As far as I know.” Voice tight with concern, Wiley added, “I need to fetch Granny Higgins. She’s the midwife who helped birth Josh.” He glanced toward his son’s room. “If he wakes before I get back, can you mind him?”

  “Aye, not to worry, I’ll keep him busy.”

  “Thanks.” Wiley started for the back door, then stopped and turned anxious eyes to Lil. “Would you sit with Etta while I’m gone, Lil? I hate to leave her alone.”

  “Uh, sure, I’ll be glad to.” She nodded, hoping he’d return pronto. She’d seen plenty of calves and foals born, had even helped a few times when the mamas had trouble, but she’d never been around a woman who was fixing to give birth. The thought of Etta’s baby coming fast, before the midwife got here, made her mouth go dry.

  As it turned out, she needn’t have worried. Wiley arrived with Granny Higgins not more than a quarter hour later. The older woman had gray hair and a wrinkled face, but she carried herself with an air of quiet confidence that impressed Lil and seemed to reassure Etta. Taking command, she allowed Wiley a moment with his wife, then shooed him from the room and set about examining the laboring woman.

  Lil had been sitting on a chair by the bed, holding Etta’s hand and talking to her, no
w and then wiping sweat from her brow. Thinking her job was done and it was time to exit the room, she started to rise, but the midwife stopped her.

  “Stay there. Just keep doing what you’re doing,” she ordered.

  Sitting back, Lil watched in fascination as the older woman drew back the sheet and gently probed her charge’s swollen belly. Beneath her fingers, the mound tightened and subtly changed shape as another contraction began. Etta uttered a choked cry and ground her teeth.

  Mrs. Higgins waited until the pain eased, then quickly checked the progress of matters between Etta’s parted thighs. Embarrassed, Lil averted her gaze. The pain, she figured she could handle, but if a woman had to endure this kind of indignity, she wasn’t sure she wanted to go through it even for Tye’s child. Noticing her discomfort, Etta gave her hand a tug.

  “Don’t be afraid,” she said raggedly. “When the baby comes . . . it’s worth everything.” She attempted to smile but it turned into a grimace as another pain struck.

  Lil remained doubtful until a while later when, with a final mighty effort, Etta pushed the child from her body. She gave a cry of victory and collapsed in happy exhaustion, while Mrs. Higgins tended to the baby and tied off the cord. Watching Etta’s glowing face as the new daughter Wiley had predicted was placed in her arms, Lil felt a pang of envy and knew she could endure anything to experience such joy.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  The sun was high the next day before Tye finally pressed Lil into leaving. He’d spent the night tossing and turning on a pallet in Josh’s room while Lil lay curled up in the boy’s small bed. She’d been exhausted and had fallen asleep almost immediately, but knowing she was so near yet separated from him, he’d gotten very little sleep. He was in no mood to go through that again, but feared it might well happen unless he soon pried his wife away from baby Katherine – or Katy as her proud parents were already calling her.

  “Thank you both for staying,” Etta said as they made ready to go. “I’m sorry for spoiling your wedding day.” Propped up with pillows on the brocade sofa, she gently rocked her sleeping daughter in her arms.

  “You didn’t spoil it,” Lil denied. “We were glad to help, weren’t we, Tye.” She glanced at him, and he smiled and nodded even though he wasn’t nearly so happy about the delay.

  As she bent to exchange hugs with Etta and kiss Katy’s bald head, he was again struck by Lil’s fascination with the baby. He’d been dazzled by her angelic smile yesterday when she carried the newborn from the bedroom and laid her carefully in Wiley’s arms. Since then, every time she looked at wee Katy, she radiated a feeling of near adoration that frankly astonished Tye. Knowing how she loved working cattle alongside her father and his men, he’d wondered how she would take to motherhood if they managed to start a family. Now he had his answer. It was obvious she longed for a child of her own. With God’s blessing and a bit of luck, perhaps they’d start one growing within her tonight.

  Shaking hands with Wiley, Tye thanked him for everything he and Etta had done for both Lil and himself.

  “I don’t want you to go, Uncle Tye,” young Josh declared. Perched on Wiley’s hip with his father’s arm supporting him, he stuck his bottom lip out, chin wobbling.

  “Ah now, don’t take on, lad. Perhaps your da will bring ye down to Texas for a visit one day.” The grim thought that he might not be alive to see that day lurked in Tye’s mind.

  Brightening, Josh patted Wiley’s cheek excitedly. “Can we go real soon, Papa? Please! Can we, can we?”

  “Hush, boy!” Wiley ordered. Shooting Tye a glare that said Thanks a lot, he informed his offspring, “Your sister’s too small to go traveling. When she’s older we’ll see.”

  Josh hung his head and pouted but didn’t argue, evidently knowing it would get him nowhere. Seizing the moment, Tye caught Lil’s eye.

  “’Tis time, love. We’ve a difficult ride ahead of us down the mountain. I want to be done with it before the sun starts to go down.”

  She nodded and, with a final round of farewells, Tye finally ushered Lil out the door, toting a basket of leftovers from yesterday’s feast at Etta’s insistence. The horses he’d rented waited out front. Lil climbed into the saddle, fighting with her skirts.

  “Should of worn my britches,” she groused, unhappy because he’d insisted they don their wedding finery again.

  “Wear them tomorrow if ye wish, but when we walk into that grand hotel today, I want everyone in the place to notice my beautiful bride. And not because you’re wearing a pair of pants.” He heard her grumble under her breath, but grinned when he saw the blush staining her copper-gold cheeks and the pleased smile curving her lips.

  * * *

  The entrance to the Hotel De Paris led directly into the dining room. When they at last stepped over the threshold late that afternoon, Lil stopped to stare in wonder at the interior. Although not overly large, the room was decorated in an elegant style the like of which she’d never before seen. The walls were crowned with some sort of carved and painted molding, below which hung pictures in fancy frames. The floor beneath her feet was laid out in alternating rows of dark and light woods fitted together perfectly. And the tables, oh my, the tables! Covered by creamy white cloths, each was set with delicate china and silver serving pieces polished to a bright glow.

  Two tables were occupied, one by a well dressed couple in their middle years, the other by two men who appeared to be businessmen judging by their gentlemanly attire. All four of the diners paused to stare at Lil and Tye. Throwing back her shoulders and returning their curious looks, Lil was grateful for Tye’s insistence that they wear their wedding togs.

  Drawing her attention, a pleasant-faced man in a neatly pressed black suit hurried forward to greet them. He smiled cordially.

  “Good evening, monsieur et madame. I am Louis Dupuy. May I be of service?” he inquired in an accent Lil recognized as French, having heard it once or twice in the past.

  “Indeed ye may, sir,” Tye replied. “We’ll be needing a room for the night if ye please.”

  “Of course, and do you wish dinner as well?”

  “Nay, we’ve our own store of food.” Tye nodded toward the basket of food Lil carried. His own hands were filled with their possessions, Lil’s saddlebags among them. “Unless my wife prefers to eat down here,” he added, giving her a conspiratorial wink.

  “No!” She shook her head emphatically. “I . . . I’d rather eat later. In our room.” Flustered, she hid her eyes beneath a screen of lashes, wondering if the hotel man could tell they were newly married. If he did, he didn’t let on.

  “As you wish. Step this way to register, s’il vous plait.”

  Moments later, the Frenchman ushered them upstairs to their room. Opening the door, he stepped back. “If there is anything I or my housekeeper, Madame Gally, may do for you, please do not hesitate to ask. Bonsoir, mes amis.” He smiled with a twinkle in his eyes that said perhaps he did realize this was their wedding night and left them to their privacy.

  “Wait here a moment, aye?” Tye said before Lil could enter the room. Giving her a quick kiss, he stepped inside and dumped their bags in a corner.

  “Why can’t I come in?” she asked.

  “Give me a wee moment.” He came back to take the food basket from her, leaving her even more perplexed. While he went to deposit the basket on a small table near the lace-curtained window, she stuck her head in and had time to admire the room’s ornately carved furniture, lovely woven rug and fine bed linens. Then her husband returned to her.

  With a grin, he bent and swept her up into his arms.

  She laughed in surprise. “What are you doing?”

  “Why, I’m carrying ye over the threshold, Mrs. Devlin. What else would I be doing?”

  A warm glow pervaded Lil. Watching the sweet, sensual curve of Tye’s mouth, she wound her arms around his neck. “Mrs. Devlin. I like the sound of that,” she whispered in his ear.

  “So do I, love,” he said, turning his head to
capture her lips. He kicked the door shut behind them and stood her on her feet, his mouth never leaving hers. By the time he finally ended the soul-deep kiss she was breathing hard and clinging to him for support. He gazed at her, eyes soft as blue water and dazzling as the starlit sky.

  “God, you’re beautiful,” he murmured, fingertips tracing the bones of her face. They glided down her throat and across her shoulders, then backtracked to slip down the vee neck of her bodice. She closed her eyes when his hand dipped beneath the lacy edge to investigate the upper curves of her breasts and the valley between. His caress sent ripples of desire through her and made her pulse race.

  “We’d best get ye out of this gown, love,” he said hoarsely. “I treasure the sight of ye in it, but I fear I’ll rip it from your body if I can’t touch ye soon.”

  She met his hungry gaze with heavy-lidded passion, nodded and presented her back to him. “Undo me.”

  Muttering impatiently, he fought open the row of tiny hooks, then turned her to face him. She grabbed the neckline of her gown and started to pull it down, but he stopped her hands.

  “Nay, let me,” he said, and with a mercurial change of mood, he slowly inched the gown off her shoulders and down her arms until it barely clung to her breasts. Bending, he kissed her throat and the areas he’d uncovered.

  Lil slid her hands under his coat, feeling the fiery warmth of him through his starched linen shirt. Anxious to touch him, she tugged open the shirt buttons, parted the material and splayed her hands across his bare chest. He groaned and pushed her gown lower, his mouth descending to explore new territory.

  They undressed each other piece by piece, kissing, fondling, arousing, until at last they stood clothed only in the soft light of the setting sun filtering through the curtains. Held motionless by the joy of this moment, they gazed at one another.