“What?” AJ leapt to his feet.
“They’re grasping for answers to what is troubling you.” Lily waved him back into his seat. “I told your sons I wasn’t sitting by worrying. I’m hoping you’ll share with me what the matter is.”
AJ shook his head as he returned to his chair.
“I won’t be easily dissuaded. What could possibly have occurred to compel you to initiate such a dramatic change in your life? Handing over the Double M to Jackson. Passing off the reins of your life’s work to your son… completely out of the blue.”
“I’ve been considering this for several weeks,” AJ said, staring at his hands in his lap.
“If only I believed you.”
AJ’s head whipped up. “I do not lie to people, young lady.”
“I don’t doubt for a moment your reputation is impeccable and you’re not lying to anyone.” Lily intensified her stare. “But not revealing what prompted such a life-altering thing is equally troubling and unforgivable.”
“Lily, I cannot tell you how much your concern means to me.” AJ laughed. “If we had married, I couldn’t have asked for a more compassionate and caring wife.”
Lily gasped and her breath caught.
“Don’t be shocked, my dear. I said if.” AJ stood and circled the desk, clasping Lily’s hands in his. “There is nothing wrong with me. I’m as strong and healthy as a thirty-year-old.”
“Promise?” She leaned back, meeting his eyes.
“I promise. I’ve simply a matter to take care of which requires me to leave town for a while. But there is nothing to worry about. Trust me.” He guided her to her feet and kissed her forehead, something her father had done many times. She hugged him tightly before she could stop herself, relishing the comfort of strong paternal-like arms around her.
“Now, please report to my sons that everything is fine. That there’s nothing to fret about.” AJ released her and took a step back. “Jackson will run this ranch as well or better than I have. His brothers might balk at taking orders from Jackson, but in time they’ll realize he’s fair-minded and capable. Jackson will delegate chores and duties as he has been while working alongside me. I’d be surprised if anyone even notices any disruption in ranch operations with Jackson in control.”
“I pray you’re right.” Lily walked to the door, but paused for a moment before turning the latch. “I’ll try my best to assure your sons that there’s nothing to worry about. But I can’t promise I’ll eliminate their concerns.”
“Try your best,” AJ suggested.
“I will.” Lily nodded. “But truthfully, sir… I’m not entirely convinced myself that there’s nothing you’re keeping from all of us.”
AJ’s jaw dropped.
“Not convinced in the least,” she muttered and walked out the door.
Chapter 11
AJ stood, stunned for several moments. He lumbered around the desk and slumped in the chair. “Darn that woman anyway. She’s much too perceptive for her own good. Or mine,” he muttered, thumping his fist on the desktop.
Not convinced in the least.
Her words echoed in his head. Thank goodness, he and Lily Watson hadn’t married. The young lady represented five feet six inches of pure trouble. If the need arose, the sooner he left town the better. His sons would likely prove the least of his worries. That young Easterner probably never took no for an answer in her entire life, nor abided an unresolved issue either. Just his luck.
“I’ve got to do this. For everyone’s good. For everyone’s safety,” he muttered before standing and walking out the door.
He rounded the hallway, heading for the kitchen, and almost collided with Jackson and Daniel.
“Whoa, Pa. Where’s the fire?” Daniel quipped.
“In the woodstove. Best be a pot of coffee warming on it, too,” AJ muttered, stepping around his sons and continuing on his way.
Jackson and Daniel followed on his heels.
“Mind if we join you?” Jackson grabbed three cups out of the cupboard and started pouring.
“Do I have a choice?” AJ slumped into a chair at the kitchen table. “Just finished answering a bunch of Lily’s questions. I suppose you’ve got a whole passel of them, also.”
“Maybe one or two,” Daniel hinted.
“I ain’t ailing. I’m not in any trouble.” AJ sipped the coffee, strong enough for the spoon to stand up in it. He swallowed it anyway.
“Who said anything about ailing or trouble?” Jackson sat down at the table and met his pa’s eyes across it.
“Lily told me you two were doing a mess of speculatin’ about my trip out of town.” AJ wagged his finger at his sons. “I dare say you near frightened the daylights out of that girl. She’s counting on me to keep her safe and here you two are, scaring her with all these ‘what ifs’ about me.”
“Dang it, Pa.” Jackson leaned back in his chair. “We’re worried about you. Handing over the ranch like it was nothing out of the ordinary. Something you do every day. Simply a ‘here you go, son. Best of luck’.”
“Jackson, if you don’t want the responsibility, Daniel will take it on,” AJ muttered.
“Pa, that’s not the point,” Daniel argued. “Don’t matter who you put in charge, none of this adds up. Why now?”
“Every morning when I wake up, these old knees tell me loud and clear that this is the perfect time.” AJ rubbed one leg. “Ain’t gettin’ any younger, boys.”
“You can handle the work of two of us any day and you know it.” Daniel sat beside Jackson, arms crossed over his chest. “Try again.”
“What in tarnation do you want me to say?” AJ shifted forward on the chair. “That I’ve got one foot in the grave and I’m going gallivantin’ before they put me six feet under?”
Jackson laughed. “It would make more sense than what we’ve heard so far.”
“I’ve got to say, all this mistrust is a little disappointin’. You boys are plumb gratin’ on my last nerve with your suspicions where none are justified.” AJ slumped in his chair. “I just ask that you trust me and watch over Amanda and Lily while I’m away.”
Adam, Simon and Michael joined them, having completed a final check at the barns and locked the henhouse for the night. Simon poured three cups of coffee while his brothers seated themselves at the table.
“When hasn’t a McLennon looked out for the womenfolk, Pa?” Daniel demanded.
“You’re right. That last part was a totally daft statement to make,” AJ conceded. “But you’ve got me a tad riled with your endless questions.”
“What questions?” Adam inquired, frowning.
Daniel waved off the comment. “We’ll catch you three up later.”
Michael threw up his hands in disgust.
“Just one question, Pa,” Jackson said.
Daniel nodded.
“What’s that?”
Jackson leaned forward in his chair and planted his arm on the table. “What on earth aren’t you telling us?”
* * *
AJ’s fist thumped the table; the coffee cups danced and part of their contents sloshed over the sides.
“You boys will be the death of me!” AJ blurted.
Adam and Simon glanced at their older brothers. Michael’s jaw dropped.
Michael straightened in his chair. “What the heck did we do now?”
“I told you I was sorry about leaving that gate open, Pa,” Simon offered.
“Not you younger boys. I meant Jackson and Daniel.” AJ crossed his arms over his chest. “Been fussin’ over me like an old mother hen with a dozen chicks. Questionin’ my every decision. Speculatin’ about things that aren’t any of their darn business.”
“Does this have something to do with you giving Jackson the ranch?” Simon glanced at his oldest brother.
“No,” AJ replied, knowing it was a lie. Darn it anyway. He’d taught his sons not to take things at face value. To question things that didn’t add up or seem right. Apparently, he’d taught them a
tad too well.
“It has everything to do with that,” Daniel argued. “Dumbest thing I’ve ever heard of.”
Jackson threw up his hands. “Pa did not give me the ranch. He put me in charge but all of us will run the Double M while he’s out of town.”
AJ shook his head. “My decision is a mite more permanent than that, son. I could be gone for quite a while.”
“Dang it, Pa. You plan on ever coming back?” Daniel demanded.
“I plan on it. But…” AJ shrugged. “Could be things keep me away longer than I’d like.”
Adam pushed his chair away from the table. “Dammit, Pa—”
“Watch your language, boy!” AJ interrupted.
“Sorry. But you’ve got me plumb flummoxed here. What’s going on with you?” Adam slumped against the chair back.
“You boys know everything you need to know. I’ve said all I’m sayin’ on the matter.”
“So you’re just going to skedaddle out of town, and we’ll never see you again?” Jackson demanded.
AJ chuckled. “Well, being my age, my skedaddler has slowed up a mite. I reckon on letting you know when I’ll be going, and I don’t plan on leaving without saying goodbye to all of you.” AJ stood and wandered toward the back door. “I require some air to clear my head before turning in for the night. See you boys in the morning.”
AJ hurried out the door before another round of questions detained him. He gazed up at the twinkling canopy overhead as a shooting star flashed briefly across the dark night sky. He took a deep breath and blew it out.
Why, after all these years, had this had to happen?
He couldn’t explain it to anyone without giving himself away. And after almost four decades of keeping the secret from everyone but his wife on their wedding day and his own conscience, the whole thing—indeed his entire reprehensible past—could blow up in his face. And it all hinged on what could result from Ben suddenly showing up in town and whether or not he’d left after being let out of jail.
AJ leaned on the back veranda railing and closed his eyes. His sons would keep digging for the truth. Given similar circumstances, he’d do the same. Dang it, he’d taught his boys well. If it don’t ring true, question it. If it don’t sound reasonable, it probably ain’t. Now those lessons were back to haunt him. He’d bet his prize gelding his boys weren’t going to let this be until they got answers that made sense.
He opened his eyes and straightened.
Too bad that could never happen.
Chapter 12
Lying in bed for her last night’s sleep at the ranch, Lily couldn’t recall being happier. The first two weeks in May had flown by. Amanda had become more a younger sister than business partner, and they’d worked endlessly together making plans for their new property.
The town’s lawyer, Mr. Jamieson Davies from the Davies Law Office, completed the partnership papers, and he included the rental agreement between the two of them and Ray Cochrane at no extra charge. His fees had been quite reasonable, in Lily’s opinion, compared to the fees the Boston lawyers charged her father. She and Amanda had burst into tears when they finished signing everything, much to Mr. Davies’ chagrin. But they’d assured the poor fellow the two of them were shedding tears of joy, not remorse.
They’d spent hours scrubbing walls and shelving at their new store. The plank floors gleamed, the front windows shone, and the air inside the store smelled clean and fresh. They’d each chosen a bedroom in the upstairs living quarters and all the upstairs rooms were cleaned with disinfectant, especially their small kitchen which had been inhabited by a family of mice until Jackson had moved them out and plugged and mended the hole inside one cupboard where they’d found their way in.
Harold Watson had taught his daughter how to read financial statements at an early age, and Lily agreed to handle the bookkeeping duties for their enterprise. She’d already prepared all the journals, recorded their assets including the value of Amanda’s sewing machine, the sets of lacy curtains Amanda had sewn to frame the front windows, and the sturdy floor-length panels that now separated the back room from the business area. She recorded the costs of their rent, the cord of wood, lamps, oil and candles they’d purchased. And the Persian rugs and gilded mirrors that added to the business’s cozy feel. She inventoried the costs of all the clothing samples, as well as Amanda’s purchases of stock and supplies. Almost giddy with anticipation, Lily couldn’t wait to record the revenue from their first sale.
Tomorrow, three ranch hands would help them move to town. Everything had been carefully packed, including their personal belongings, into trunks, Amanda’s ready-made stock, materials and sundries into sturdy wooden boxes, and the prized sewing machine would be secured on the supply wagon to prevent damage. AJ surprised them by arranging a large order of groceries and housewares at the general store, charged to his account. Ray had promised to have everything sent over in the morning. Amanda had balked at the gesture, but her father insisted it was his gift to them to celebrate their shop opening. Considering neither she nor Amanda had factored in the cost of outfitting their new kitchen, Lily couldn’t thank AJ enough for his forethought and generous gift.
Perhaps the new housekeeper had put a bug in AJ’s ear about the groceries and housewares. A penniless, middle-aged widow named Mrs. Nellie Sheridan answered their ad for a housekeeper. She’d been delighted to accept the position, wanting to escape the memories of her deceased husband’s untimely death; he’d died suddenly at home a couple months ago. After accepting the position, Mrs. Sheridan left the sale of her house and the settlement of her husband’s estate in her lawyer’s hands. Mr. Sheridan had steadfastly refused to discuss the topic of money with his wife, and the lawyer had mentioned gambling debts to Nellie. Assuming she’d find herself forever penniless if she stayed, Mrs. Sheridan left Butte without a moment’s regret. Being the owner of a restaurant with her husband at one time, Mrs. Sheridan and her cooking abilities proved a godsend. The McLennon men hadn’t stopped praising her meals since she arrived.
Lily closed her eyes and attempted to silently talk herself into falling asleep, but her mind raced with thoughts concerning their new venture. Once everything was moved into the spotless premises, there would be innumerable more hours of work ahead of them. Stocking the shelves with bolts of materials and boxes of sundries including bows, laces and threads. Setting up the sewing machine. Putting the groceries away and finding a suitable spot for their dishes and pots and pans. Sorting out the linens and hanging up their clothes. AJ suggested they each take with them the small chest of dressers with the mirror in their rooms on the ranch, to hold whatever couldn’t be hung in the built-in closets. And two ranch hands had already shown up at the store with the supply wagon, bringing them two beds and a box filled with bedding and pillows from the ranch. Lily felt truly blessed with AJ’s generosity, but her back ached just thinking about all the work still ahead of them.
Someone knocked softy on her door. She almost called ‘come in’ but stopped herself. What if it was AJ? Or Jackson? She wasn’t wearing anything but her nightgown. She shouldn’t be inviting men into her bedroom despite being snuggled beneath the coverings.
“Just a minute,” she called.
“Miss Watson, it’s just me,” Mrs. Sheridan replied.
Lily heaved a sigh of relief; she hadn’t wanted to leave her warm cocoon. “Come in, Mrs. Sheridan.”
The door cracked open and the housekeeper stuck her head inside. “I thought you might be too excited to sleep.”
Lily chuckled. “Excellent thinking on your part.”
“I just left Amanda’s room. Same situation there.” Mrs. Sheridan stepped into the bedroom and closed the door. She balanced a large wooden tray with one hand but Lily couldn’t distinguish the contents from the dim light emitted by the oil lamp the housekeeper also carried.
“I’ve brought you some warm milk,” Mrs. Sheridan said, as if reading Lily’s mind. “And some molasses cookies if you’re hungry.”
Lily scooted out from under the covers and sat with her back leaning on the pillows propped against the headboard. “You’re a lifesaver, Mrs. Sheridan.”
“Oh, please, just call me Nellie.” The woman set the plate containing three cookies beside Lily and handed her the glass of milk. “It shouldn’t be too warm to drink.”
“Thank you.” Lily sampled the welcome, comforting beverage. “Oh, that’s so good. And just what I needed.”
“Is your mind racing with all that’s planned for the morning?” Mrs. Sheridan dragged a chair closer to the bed and settled herself on it.
“Yes. Thinking about everything still to do once we’re moved in seems mind-boggling. I’m not certain we’ll know where to start.” Lily munched on a cookie, one of her favorite treats. Mrs. Sheridan claimed there was a secret ingredient in them that she wouldn’t share with anyone.
“As I explained to Amanda a few minutes ago, I’ve asked Mr. McLennon if he can spare me from the ranch tomorrow. I’d love to help you and Amanda get settled in, and I’ve spent days getting the Double M’s kitchen in order to my liking.” Mrs. Sheridan laughed. “Comes from having owned a restaurant, I suppose. A bit fussy about things being in the proper places.”
“What did AJ say?” Lily held her breath, waiting for the answer she hoped to hear.
“He told me to take all the time I needed to get you girls settled in,” Mrs. Sheridan replied, beaming. “I’ve never even entered a custom-made clothing shop, never mind bought anything from one. But I’m hoping I can offer a bit of advice you might find of use.”
“We’d love your help!” Lily exclaimed, reaching for Mrs. Sheridan’s hand.
“That was Amanda’s response, too.” Mrs. Sheridan’s eyes filled with tears and she wiped them away with the corner of her apron.
“I can’t believe you’re doing this for us. Thank you so much.”
“Nonsense. It’s my pleasure, dear. I need to keep myself busy these days, and this enterprise of yours sounds wonderful.”
Canceled-Order Bride (Sons Of A Gun Book 1) Page 9