“Let’s go.” Taking her by the hand they proceeded down the stairs. He found the parlor easily because of the sign written in gold lettering on the door. He gave Annie a gentle push before following her in.
Several comfortable armchairs were set up down one end of the large room. There were two floral mats on the varnished floor boards. A long table, covered by a blue and white checked cloth, would probably seat about ten people.
All this he noticed before his gaze alighted on the young woman who was already seated at the table. She was real pretty with her light colored hair and big doe eyes.
“Good evening, Miss,” he said, as he stood before her.
“Good evening.” Her tremulous smile encompassed him and Annie.
Mrs. Jones bustled in carrying a tureen of - was it soup?” It sure did smell appetizing. Luckily he was leaving here tomorrow, otherwise he might have been tempted to get to know this young lady better. She certainly made an impression on him. After Lucy’s desertion, he hadn’t taken much interest in women, not that he knew many who were available.
“Lily Reardon, this is Matt Brayshaw and his niece Annie.” Mrs. Jones made the introductions. “Horace, my other guest isn’t eating here tonight. You can serve yourselves the soup. Now what would you like for the main course?”
“A large beef steak with potato and greens would be good. We’ll both have that,” Matt said.
“I’ll have that as well,” Lily said in a soft melodious voice. “Only a small serve of steak for me. Will Annie be able to eat a large steak?”
“Of course she can, can’t you, darlin’?”
“Mr. Brayshaw.”
“Matt, please.”
“All right, if you’ll call me Lily.”
“Miss Lily?”
“Just Lily.”
He wondered why it felt so right to call her that on such short acquaintance.
“Would you like me to dish up the soup, um, Matt?”
“Yes, thank you.” It was a relief not to have to do it, he would probably end up spilling it on the tablecloth.
Lily dished up the chicken soup for Annie, then him, and lastly herself. He was glad he had not forgotten the table manners Ma had drilled into him and Rachel when they were children. Lily was so ladylike and refined, he didn’t want to come across as uncouth.
“Has Annie been ill?” Lily asked, her brow creasing with concern. “She’s so pale.”
He hadn’t noticed it. “Not ill, her mother, my sister, recently died, and I’ve come to take her back to Texas.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry.” She leaned across the table and gently squeezed Annie’s little hand. “You’re Ma’s an angel in heaven now. At night when you gaze up at the sky and see the brightest star, you’ll know it’s her.”
“Is that true, Uncle Matt?”
“Yes, darlin’, it’s true, the biggest and brightest star of all.” He swallowed back the emotion, which threatened to overtake him.
Their steaks arrived and Matt nearly drooled, it looked so juicy and succulent he had to force himself not to start eating before Lily did.
Once he bit into the meat, it sure did live up to his expectations. Lily cut her small steak into several pieces and ate daintily, while Annie sat staring at her plate. Her steak did look rather large, maybe he should have ordered her a small serving.
“Maybe you should cut her steak into small pieces, it will be easier for her to manage.”
Why hadn’t he thought of that? The way things were going he would be lucky to get his niece to Ruth and Steve’s place in one piece.
Once he cut the steak into bite sized chunks she started eating. “Thanks, I don’t have any experience with children.”
“Didn’t your wife come with you?”
“I’m not married.”
“Sorry, I just assumed you would be.”
“Nope, what about you?”
“No.” She shot the word out and lowered her eyes.
Lily had been badly hurt, he didn’t doubt it for one moment. By a man most likely.
They chatted about the weather and New Orleans. Matt enjoyed the food and the company. He couldn’t remember the last time a woman dined with him.
Having a wife to share his bed and his home, give him children had always been on his agenda. Lucy might well have given him all of it if she hadn’t believed all the lies and forsaken him when he needed her most, like everyone else in Austin. Even after the woman he had supposedly bashed and raped finally admitted he hadn’t done it, many believed he had coerced her into exonerating him. That’s why he hated Austin and would never set foot in the place again, even if it meant adding hours to his journey to avoid it.
Annie tugging at his sleeve interrupted his bitter thoughts. She had eaten about half the meat and vegetables. “What is it, darlin’?”
“I want to do a pee?”
“What!” He felt the heat rush into his cheeks. The privy was out the back, one for ladies and one for men, Mrs. Jones had explained. Tarnation, what was he to do? If she needed help he could hardly take her into the men’s one, and taking her into the female one was completely out of the question.
He cast a desperate, silent plea to Lily, who by the smile on her pretty face was enjoying his discomfort.
“Would you like me to take her?”
“Oh, yes, please. I’ll come with you. I don’t like the idea of you two girls going outside into a dark garden on your own. If everyone is finished we might as well go.” He stood. “I was planning an early night. This little girl of mine looks like she’s mighty worn out. We’re catching the early morning train to Houston.” Now why did I say that?
“So am I.”
“We could travel together.” It would be perfect, they would look like a family, and if anyone was after them, they’d be searching for a man and a child, not a couple with a child.
“We’ll see.” She stood and held out her hand to Annie. “Come along, darling, we better get you to the privy.”
He was surprised when, without hesitation, Annie took hold of Lily’s hand. The pair of them had certainly hit it off. Lily was good with children. He had noticed it almost from the start.
What was her story? A pretty young woman like her not being married or betrothed? What was wrong with the men of New Orleans? Were they blind?
Annie skipped along the hallway clutching Lily’s hand. He wasn’t jealous of the instant rapport springing up between them. Of course he wasn’t. Lily would be easy to fall for, he forgot that at his peril. Her prettiness combined with the air of sad vulnerability would arouse feelings in any man who wasn’t made of stone.
The warm night air permeated with the spices and flowers, he always associated with New Orleans, assailed his nostrils as he traipsed along behind them. The two wooden privies stood several feet apart right at the bottom of the long yard.
He was glad he had gone with them. The lamp positioned outside each privy, only threw out a weak light. It cast shadows over the tall shrubs and trees causing a shiver of dread to run through him. He had been careful not to be followed, and Mrs. Jones had said Delores had got her sister to bring Annie around mixed up with four or five of her own children. These women were smart causing him to wonder whether they had in fact, done this type of thing before. There would be plenty of desperate women wanting to escape New Orleans if he was any judge.
“I’ll go in with you,” Lily said. “I’m sure Uncle Matt won’t be scared waiting on his own.”
“Are you scared, Uncle Matt?”
“Nope.” He wasn’t scared of the dark, his growing feelings for Lily were scaring the hell out of him, though. Tarnation, he had only just met her.
After they had disappeared he decided to relieve himself, save going later. He could hear chattering and giggling and he hoped they weren’t poking fun at him.
He was finished first and waited a few feet away, his thumbs stuck in his belt. It felt strange not having a gun belt around his waist. There were few places he ever w
ent without either his Colts or his trusty Winchester. After being ambushed and almost shot a few times as a Ranger, he didn’t take any chances.
“Sorry to keep you waiting,” Lily said with a laugh. “But we girls have to do what we girls have to do.”
Annie giggled.
“Women.” He gave a loud, exaggerated sigh. “A man probably spends half his life waiting for them.”
“We’re worth it, aren’t we, Annie?”
The child giggled then said. “Can Lily stay at your ranch, Uncle Matt?”
It wasn’t something he had considered, but he turned it back onto Lily. “You’d have to ask her.” He was a low down, cowardly skunk for not telling the child he was taking her to live with Steve and Ruth. How could he look after a little girl on his own? The only permanent people on his ranch were two old timers who used to work for his parents, and they would know even less about children than he did.
If Lily would agree to come to the ranch he could keep Annie, but come to the ranch as what? A housekeeper? He wouldn’t compromise her reputation by asking her to do that. As his wife? Was she so desperate she’d agree to marry a man she had only just met? Ruth had been a Mail Order Bride, and had married Steve a few hours after she stepped off the coach in Austin.
“I can’t come to live with you on the ranch, it wouldn’t be proper, besides your uncle is probably stepping out with a pretty young lady.”
“I’m not stepping out with anyone.” They walked inside and he purposely led the way to the parlor. “I haven’t had my coffee yet.”
“It will keep you awake,” Lily said.
“Well, we’ll all have a cup of cocoa, I’m sure Mrs. Jones wouldn’t mind getting it for us.” He could just about kill for a whiskey.
Obviously hearing their return, Mrs. Jones bustled into the parlor. “Is there anything else you need? Coffee, tea?”
“We’d all like a cup of cocoa if it isn’t too much trouble.” Matt hoped his smile wasn’t a grimace. He detested the stuff.
Annie sat down in one of the armchairs after Mrs. Jones left the room, leaving him and Lily standing.
“It’s only a nightcap,” he said, watching the indecision on her face.
“I’m being foolish, it’s just .... All right, thank you.” She took the chair next to Annie’s, leaving him to take the one opposite.
“What are you going to Houston for?” he asked.
“Work, I thought a large town would have more opportunities for me. I can’t stay in New Orleans.”
“Why not?”
Chapter Five
Lily stared at Matt. He was a handsome man with his dark, slightly overlong hair. It was the kindness and compassion in his brown eyes, which ensnared her. Annie was adorable. What had the little girl meant when she’d said in the privy about the bad men chasing them?
Had Matt in a roundabout fashion asked her to marry him? A decent man like him would banish her from his life if he knew what kind of woman she was. He was harboring secrets as well, she instinctively knew. Julia had been right to call her a whore, although she had been forced into it.
Inwardly she hated herself, felt defiled even though it hadn’t been her fault.
“I’m not wealthy,” she heard Matt say. “I could give you a good life, Lily.”
Surely she wasn’t hearing him right. His presence and the way he made her feel had scrambled her brain. “Are you asking me to be your wife?” she queried, her voice wavering.
“Yes, I reckon I am.” He stared at her, obviously anxious for her response.
“I....um....”
“It could be a marriage in name only until we get to know each other better. If that’s what you want,” he added quickly, as though he desperately wanted her to accept.
Her first marriage proposal from a man she would like to marry. It was because she liked him so much she couldn’t burden him with someone as ruined as her.
“I can’t marry you, Matt.” Tears filled her eyes. “It wouldn’t be right. I’m not the woman I appear to be, I’ve done such terrible things my sister hates me. She’s leaving for Charleston with my Aunt, and they don’t want me to go with them.”
“What could you have done that was so bad?”
“I can’t tell you, I’m sorry. Strange as it may seem to you on such short acquaintance, I like you a lot and I adore Annie, she’s so sweet. Don’t you see that’s why I can’t marry you.”
“What is it? I can tell you’re a virtuous woman and....”
“No.” She cut him off. “I’ll travel to Houston with you, pretend we’re a family if it will help keep you safe. Annie said there were bad men chasing you.”
“I’m not sure, although there could be. My sister Rachel wrote to me to come and get her and Annie. It’s obvious to me now she was scared. I just didn’t get here quickly enough to save her.” His voice broke.
“I’m sorry, I’m sure you did your best.”
Matt’s eyes burned with fury mingled with sadness. “By the time I arrived here Rachel was dead.”
“Oh, Matt.” Lily reached over and clasped his hand “How awful for you.”
“Worse was to come. Apparently Annie’s father sold her to pay gambling debts.”
“What!” Lily’s shocked exclamation sounded over loud in the quietness of the parlor.
“He sold her to another gambler, Alvin Thompson, a vicious sonofabitch who is always just one step ahead of the law. Rachel’s friend hid Annie until I came for her.”
“I’ll accompany you both to Houston, other than that...” she trailed off. It was tempting to accept his marriage proposal. She couldn’t, it wouldn’t be right for someone as unworthy as her to marry a kind, obviously upright man like him.
They drank their cocoa in silence. Lily noticed Annie’s head starting to droop. “I think you’ve got a tired little girl on your hands.”
“Oh, I didn’t notice.”
It was obvious he had no idea about children. She felt sorry for him, he was trying to do his best under tragic circumstances.
“You want to go to bed, darlin’?”
Annie blinked and rubbed her eyes. “Guess I need to take this little lady for some shuteye. Thanks for your help, Lily, I sure appreciate it.”
“The pleasure was all mine. It took my mind off my own problems for a while.”
“Think about it. My offer still stands. There are few people who don’t have some deep dark secret.”
He picked up her hand and drew it to his lips and a shaft of excitement shot up her arm. What was it about this man that made her want to forget her hatred of men? It was tempting to accept what he offered. When it came time for him to claim his marital rights, she wouldn’t be able to do it, the act was too repulsive, and no young man would tolerate a marriage in name only forever.
“Goodnight, Matt, Annie. Sleep tight.”
“Goodnight,” they chorused.
Sadly, she wended her way to bed knowing full well she wouldn’t sleep.
****
Matt carried Annie upstairs to their room. Hopefully she would be able to get herself ready for bed. He didn’t like being so inept and ignorant of the needs of a child. And it was far from decent him undressing a girl-child.
The buttons on her dress were at the back and she couldn’t reach them. He fumbled with them, his fingers feeling about twice their normal size and as stiff as a board. He cursed under his breath. He didn’t have much experience in undressing a woman, but he had done it a few times in the past. Finally, he completed the task and the dress fell to the floor leaving her standing in her petticoat and drawers.
“Do you have a nightgown?” He glanced at her shabby carpet bag. He would have to buy her new clothes as it was obvious even to him she didn’t have much.
He would support her financially, he didn’t expect Steve and Ruth to be out of pocket by looking after her. They would lavish love and attention on her, give her everything a little girl needed. Without a woman’s help he couldn’t give her a de
cent life.
Once Annie had her nightgown on she knelt by the bed to say her prayers.
“God bless Ma, I hope she’s happy with the angels. God bless Uncle Matt and Lily.” The heartfelt words almost moved him to tears.
“Hop into bed now, darlin’.”
When she did so, he snuffed out the lamp, stripped to his drawers and climbed into bed only to lay there going over the happenings of the last couple of days. Poor Rachel. If only she had contacted him earlier before she was so beaten down and ill. Or if she had even hinted at being in trouble he would have hurried to them. He had just assumed she was homesick for Texas and wanted to get away from New Orleans for a while. In his wildest dreams he never would have thought her and Annie were in danger.
I’m glad the sonofabitch is dead. If he wasn’t I’d put a bullet in his gut and watch him die, long and slow.
Was this Alvin Thompson the same man who had ruined him? He would like to stay and find out, only Annie had to be his first concern now. Revenge could wait.
Matt woke up and tried to focus his eyes. What in tarnation....
“Don’t let the bad men hurt me. Don’t let the bad men get me,” Annie cried out. He leapt out of bed, stifling a curse as he stubbed his toe.
“What’s wrong, darlin’? No-one is going to get you I won’t let them.” He lit the lamp and leaned over her. He was shocked to feel her trembling. “Shh.” He stroked her hair. “Nothing is ever going to hurt you.” He pulled her close so the child would feel more secure.
He felt like a lying hypocrite because he was planning to dump her off at Steve’s place. They would love and look after her, there was no doubt in his mind, only they weren’t blood like him. Dammit, why was he torturing himself like this?
He stroked her rumpled curls. How could a man in his position care for her properly? Once the child quietened, he gently disengaged his hand and returned to bed. Not that he expected to sleep, but he could hardly sit up all night wearing only his drawers.
****
Lily climbed into bed and wriggled around trying to get comfortable. It was going to be a long night. Little Annie was beautiful, she had felt immediately drawn to the pretty mite. As for Matt. He had kind eyes although sadness lurked in them, any wonder after losing his sister in such tragic circumstances.
Lily Page 3