Chapter Twelve
Lily had been at the ranch for eight days when Matt announced at breakfast they would be going into Guilford Crossing.
“I’ve caught up on my chores, and I think you girls deserve a day out. We’ll have lunch at Nelly’s Diner.”
“Oh goody.” Annie clapped her hands.
“Sounds nice,” Lily said. “I noticed yesterday we were getting low on a few things.”
“We can stock up. I only go into town once a month or so, although Pedro sometimes goes in on his day off. Harry rarely leaves the ranch.”
Lily didn’t need to be asked twice and Annie excitedly skipped around. A day in town was a real treat. Annie had gone out with Matt a couple of times and Pedro was teaching her how to ride a horse, which left Lily to her own devices.
She had thoroughly cleaned and explored the house. The loft space had been turned into two small bedrooms. Although devoid of furniture, she still cleaned it up. What a nice playroom it would make for Annie. She had taken down the tatty old curtains, replacing them with lace ones, which looked a lot better.
In between household chores, Lily made herself a new gown and sewed two for Annie along with a couple of extra pinafores. She had gone through the surprisingly well stocked linen cupboard and washed all the linen and towels.
If she could buy a few plants in town she might be able to start a herb garden, and maybe grow a few vegetables as well. If she kept it simple, Annie could easily manage it with a little help from Harry or Pedro once she had gone. Gone! Every time she thought about leaving this place and the people in it, her heart filled with sorrow.
Finally they arrived at the outskirts of Guilford Crossing. The first building she saw was a huge barn like structure bearing the name – Guilford Freight Line. There were several out buildings and fenced in paddocks dotted with grazing horses. Two large canvas covered wagons stood to one side.
A heavily bearded, grey haired man lounged in the doorway of the barn and gave them a desultory wave of one hand.
“That’s Sam Guilford, Freddie’s pa,” Matt explained, returning the wave. “He’s an ornery old varmint, hard as nails and not particularly well liked. The town have to put up with him as it relies on the supplies he brings in. Well, the girls and Billy bring it in, while he just hollers and cusses them all the time.”
“It must be an awful way for those girls to live,” Lily said.
“They haven’t known anything else for years.”
As they travelled down the main street, Lily was surprised to see a red and white barber’s pole outside a small shop. “Look at that.” She pointed. “An English barber’s pole, I didn’t expect to see one out here.”
Matt laughed. “How do you know it’s English?”
“I read about them in a book.”
“The barber is English, goes by the name of Oliver. He’s been here several years. Gives good haircuts and shaves. A man can get a hot bath for a couple of bits, too.”
They pulled up outside the Mercantile. Matt lifted Lily down before she could jump down herself, then he attended to Annie.
“Amos Pettigrew and his wife Bella own the Mercantile, they’ve been here for years. Nothing much has changed inside for as long as I can remember.” Matt linked arms with Lily and a little thrill ran through her like it always did when his warm flesh touched hers. Annie pranced around beside them, excited by her visit to town.
Amos was a cheerful grey haired man, about fifty or so, his wife a smiling little woman whose head barely touched his shoulder.
“Well, well, if it isn’t young Matt Brayshaw,” Amos boomed. “I heard you got yourself hitched.”
Matt grinned. “I sure did, Lily and Annie, meet the Pettigrews.”
“Pleased to meet you.” Lily couldn’t think of anything else to say. She was always reticent when meeting new people.
“My dear, so happy to meet you.” Amos reached into a jar and pulled out a pink and white striped candy stick, which he handed to Annie. “Your Ma used to like these. Every time she came in she had one.”
“Thank you,” Annie said, taking the candy. Her eyes widened. “You knew Ma?”
“Yes, since she was about your age, you look just like her, too. Doesn’t she, mother?”
“She sure does,” Bella answered her husband. “Your mother and Uncle Matt had a candy stick every time they came in, your grandma insisted on it. A special treat she always said.”
“Yeah, and Pa used to grumble about it rotting our teeth.”
“We’re going to the diner for lunch,” Annie said, obviously taking a liking to this cheerful, friendly couple.
“That will be nice, Amos never takes me there, do you?”
“Nope, we’ve got enough food here to eat, no point paying good money to someone else.”
“Men.” Bella rolled her eyes. “We can’t live with them and we can’t live without them.”
Both men laughed.
“All right, enough frivolity,” Amos said. “I’ve got a business to run.”
A successful business, Lily guessed, by the amount and diversity of his stock. She had written Matt a list of dried goods she thought they needed and the quantity for about a month. He had added a few extra items she hadn’t thought of.
“Anything else, my dear?” Matt asked with a smile. All put on for the benefit of the Pettigrew’s.
“Um, eight yards of white lawn would be good, I’d like to make Annie some new undergarments, a couple of yards of lace, too.”
“Get whatever you need.” Matt stepped back a pace. “Women’s frippery I’ll leave up to you.” He scurried off like a mouse after a piece of cheese, and the women burst out laughing.
“Nothing like mentioning women’s undergarments to spook a man,” Bella said. “I like you, Lily and I’m glad Matt found you, he deserve some happiness.”
Lily didn’t know what to say. Bella made her feel such a hypocrite. She hated herself for accepting their friendship knowing full well she intended leaving Matt in a few months.
Once all the shopping was completed, Amos and Matt took everything out to the buggy and Lily and Annie followed on behind.
“Well, if it ain’t Matt Bradshaw, disgraced Texas Ranger.” The man’s voice was rough as gravel.
Lily spun around.
“I want what’s mine. I won that little gal fair and square off Dunbar.”
“Go to hell, you’ll never get her,” Matt snarled.
The man went for his gun. Lily pushed Annie to the ground beside the buggy and dived on top of her. A shot rang out followed by a deathly silence. Several cowboys dashed out from the saloon opposite.
Lily glanced at Matt who was holding his gun. The man lay dead on the ground, his hand clutching his gun. Matt had been so fast on the draw, even though the stranger had the drop on him, he had fired first.
Lily climbed to her feet and pulled Annie up, making sure the child was facing the store and not the figure lying in the dust.
A young man, guns drawn, dashed up. By the badge glinting in the sun, it was the sheriff.
“Gawd-damn, what happened here?”
“That lowdown skunk fouling the street is Alvin Thompson. He drew on me and I shot him.”
“Matt was like greased lightning,” Amos said. “If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes I wouldn’t have believed it. The stranger had his gun half out of the holster, and Matt still beat him.”
“I’ll get a statement in writing, Amos, it’s clear what happened, though.” The sheriff spun around to face Matt.
“Did Thompson want you dead?”
“Yeah. He wanted to kill me and take Annie, Rachel’s daughter. Apparently Dunbar sold Annie to him to pay off gambling debts, and he was coming here to collect.”
“What! This sweet little gal’s father used her as a gambling chip?”
“I admit I shot him, Noah, in self-defense. I’m not sorry his carcass is lying out there in the dirt. Annie would never have been safe while he lived.”
“I saw what happened, Sheriff.” Lily gathered her wits enough to speak. “The other man drew first. I saw his gun so I dropped to the ground with Annie. A split second later I heard a shot.”
“And you are, Miss...” The sheriff grinned at her even as his gaze swept over her.
“Mrs. Lily Brayshaw,” Matt growled obviously annoyed. “My wife.”
“Sorry, I didn’t know.” The sheriff backed up, hands raised.
“Lily, meet Sheriff Noah Sanders, the biggest skirt chaser in the county.”
“I’m not that bad. Can I help it if I’m attracted to pretty young ladies?”
“Yeah well, concentrate on the unmarried ones.” Matt turned away. “Do you still want to go to the diner, Lily?”
“No, I couldn’t eat a morsel at the moment.”
“Why can’t we go, Uncle Matt?”
“We’re running a bit late, I promise to take you next time we come in. All right?”
Annie nodded her head and Matt lifted her up on to the buggy seat, then turned to Lily who let him assist her.
“What’s that man doing lying on the ground, Uncle Matt?”
“He must have fallen asleep, the silly man,” Lily said. “Don’t worry, one of his friends will wake him up so he won’t get run over.”
“Giddup,” Matt urged the horse, and as they drove past the body, Lily purposely leaned forward to block Annie’s view.
“What will happen to him?” Lily asked.
“I don’t know and I don’t care. Someone will probably plant him in boot hill. The town wouldn’t want his stinking carcass lying around for too long.”
They lapsed into silence as they drove down the main street. Lily was pleased to hear Annie humming a lullaby she had recently taught her, obviously, the child wasn’t fully aware of the violent episode.
Chapter Thirteen
Matt was sprawled out in a kitchen chair with his stocking feet resting on the brick hearth. How was a man expected to sleep when his body ached to hold Lily in his arms and make wild, passionate love to her? She wasn’t indifferent to him, her skittish behavior when he accidentally touched her was enough to alert him that she was attracted to him.
Why in tarnation wouldn’t she let him make this a real marriage? Annie was sleeping upstairs now in Rachel’s old room. Pedro had even found Rachel’s old childhood bed for her. The child loved being up there, perhaps it made her feel closer to her mother.
What terrible secret did Lily harbor? He had believed her when she’d denied willingly giving herself to a man....unless.
He leapt from the chair and started pacing the floor. Some man had forced himself on her. The thought hit him with the force of a bullet in the gut. Rape. It was such an ugly word he couldn’t even bring himself to utter it out loud.
He was a thoughtless fool. How many times had he mentioned the word virtuous when he commented about women? It must have cut her to the bone. She obviously thought he would condemn her for what had happened in her past.
How hypocritical was he? There were secrets in his past he hadn’t told her about. Maybe it was time for both of them to be honest with each other. What if he’d got it wrong and Lily didn’t care for him? Where would that leave them? She was leaving in a few months anyway if he couldn’t stop her, so he had nothing to lose by speaking up, and maybe plenty to gain.
As ribbons of pink unfurled against the grey sky, Matt had made his decision. He would have it out with Lily once and for all. Play all his cards and hope and pray he held a winning hand.
He poured a mug of coffee from the still warm pot sitting at the side of the stove.
Lily wandered in and skidded to a halt on seeing him. Her nightgown was covered by a long coat made of some blue lacy material. Her hair hung in a long plait over one shoulder. She had never looked so beautiful or desirable.
“I couldn’t sleep. I....I got up to get a drink of water.”
“Come in. I won’t bite. Like a coffee?”
“No thanks, I’d never get back to sleep if I did.”
She was agitated and ready to take flight at any minute. It was now or never.
“Look Lily, it’s time we were completely honest with each other.” He took a deep breath. “I love you.” He heard her gasp and hurriedly continued before he lost his nerve. “I’d like us to make our marriage a real one.”
“But....”
“No, don’t interrupt. I know you have secrets. They’re eating you alive the same as mine are.”
“I....I can’t stay here longer than six months....”
“Of course you can. I want the truth, Lily.” He walked to her side and took her chin in his hands, gazing down into her eyes. “Do you love me?”
She hesitated and his heart dropped to his boots. He had made a monumental mistake.
“Yes, I do love you, Matt, that’s why I have to leave.”
“No!” He grabbed her by the hands. “Don’t be afraid of me, darlin’. No matter what happened, I’ll understand. I think I can guess.”
She gnawed her bottom lip, her eyes filled with tears and she trembled from head to foot.
“Listen to me, Lily.” He held her hands tightly. “You want to know my secret? Why I’ll never set foot in Austin again?”
She nodded.
“I was a Texas Ranger until they kicked me out.”
“Why?”
“I was innocent, but I was accused of bashing and raping a woman.”
He was sure she would have jumped back if he hadn’t been holding her hands.
“It was horrible, the woman who accused me lied because a rich, powerful man named Alvin Thompson forced her to.”
“Alvin Thompson? The man you killed?”
“Yeah the one I shot. He did it, but he forced the woman to say it was me. She thought he was going to take her to New Orleans with him. Of course, he left without her so she confessed. It was too late, my career in the Rangers was finished.”
He drew in a shuddering breath. “Some people in Austin still believe I’m guilty. I was stepping out with a young lady and she wouldn’t have any more to do with me.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Fortunately, I had the ranch to come back to, so I hightailed it to here, and here I stay.”
“My secret is much worse than yours. Please don’t despise me.”
“I would never despise you. I love you.”
Haltingly, she told him what had happened to her, and she was sobbing and shaking by the time she was through.
“Oh, my darlin’ girl. The torture you’ve put yourself through. If I could get my hands on the sonofabitch, I’d rip him to pieces. As for your sister and aunt, I’ve never heard of anything so mean or cruel.”
“I’m not unworthy?” she said on a sob.
“No.” He dragged her into his arms and his mouth closed over hers in a desperate, wanting kiss. She tasted as sweet as he had fantasized she would. When she didn’t push him away he became more daring and slowly slid his tongue inside her mouth, giving her time to refuse him if she wanted to.
She didn’t. Her arms locked around his waist and her tongue thrust and danced with his. They were both gasping for air when he finally released her.
Love shining out of her hazel eyes turned them to green. Delicate pink tinged her milky white cheeks.
“I love you, Lily. Will you let me be a real husband to you, right here and now?”
Her lips trembled.
“I’ll respect your wishes if you say no, but....”
“Yes. I want to be a true wife to you, Matt, only I’m scared someone might find out about what I did.”
“How would they find out? Even if they did, too bad. If I don’t mind, why would anyone else mind? Besides, it wasn’t your fault.”
He picked her up and she nestled her face against his shoulder. I hope Annie doesn’t wake up and disturb us he thought. He wanted Li
ly so badly it would just about kill him to be denied now.
He strode into the main bedroom, and the bedclothes were only slightly rumpled. They would probably be tied up in knots by the time he was through. He wanted to take it slow and easy after what she had been through, but feared he wouldn’t be able to control his rampaging need.
Lily couldn’t believe how Matt made her feel. His touch ignited a fire inside her and a need so great she hadn’t realized it even existed.
After placing her on the sheet, he hurriedly undressed, pulling off his clothes and tossing them on the floor. Once he was naked, she couldn’t drag her eyes away from him. What a beautiful specimen of manhood he was, proud and princely. She had never seen a man naked. The Major did not remove his clothes, only loosened them enough to violate her.
“Will you let me take your nightgown off, darlin’? I want to feel your soft flesh against me as I make you mine.”
He lifted the nightgown over her head and tossed it on top of his own clothes. He kissed and caressed her body, tasting and savoring her flesh like a starving man who had been invited to partake of a banquet.
Nervously, she explored him, liking the feel of his hard, slightly hair roughened body. Heat invaded her limbs. Her womanly bud fluttered and for the first time ever, she felt the burning fires of desire.
Her body opened to him and she was wet enough for his manhood to easily slide inside, and her pulsating flesh drew him in more deeply. In a frenzy, he thrust and parried, bringing her to the brink of sanity before exploding inside her. As she rode wave after wave of desire, she was now, in every sense of the word, Matt Brayshaw’s wife.
Once wasn’t enough for either of them. Finally, exhausted and sated, Lily fell asleep in Matt’s arms.
Matt couldn’t believe what had transpired between them. Lily was a passionate woman once he lit the fuse on her desire. He was glad he had persevered with their marriage, watched and bided his time, until she was ready for him.
EPILOGUE
Twelve months later.
Lily Brayshaw stood outside the small weatherboard church in Guilford Crossing. In her arms, dressed in a long, lacy christening gown, was ten week old Rachel, and beside her stood a happy, excited Annie. Matt had dropped them off near the church entrance before driving the buggy out to the back yard.
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