Wild Lilly (20 page)

Maggie blushed to the roots of her strawberry-blonde hair, climbing out of the creek and trying to smooth her dress and brush the soap off. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Bear.”

Sleeping Bear raised an eyebrow, but didn’t say anything more. He picked up the wash bucket and followed behind Lilly and Maggie as they strolled back to the house. As the sun set over the walnut trees, the air began to cool to a chilly autumn night.

“Lilly, I’m going to tend to the horses and unpack the travois.” He set the bucket down against the edge of the porch and led the horse with the goods into the barn.

Maggie whispered while they climbed the front steps. “Miss Brooks, why are you in an Indian dress?”

“It’s a long story, Maggie, and right now I’m tired.” Lilly pinched her nose and backed out of the cabin. “You weren’t kidding. Did Sampson kill a dozen skunks in there?”

“I know.” Maggie made a sour face. “You should have smelled it this morning. It ought to be gone by tomorrow, but you might want to sleep on your porch tonight.”

The thought of spending one more night without a decent bed made Lilly want to scream. “Go on home now, Maggie. Thank you for your help. I’m going to add an extra nickel to your wages this week for stupid-dog washing.”

Maggie cupped her hands over her mouth and giggled. “You should be able to run in and grab some clothes, Miss Brooks. I don’t think you want to wear that dress into town. Some folks won’t take too kindly to it.”

Lilly sighed and ran a hand down the soft buckskin. “I’m excited for clean clothes, but this is really comfortable.”

“You look very pretty in that Indian dress, it’s so beautiful. I wish my mother would let me wear one,” Maggie confided in daring tone of voice.

Boards creaked as Sleeping Bear started up the steps behind them, and Maggie gave him a shy glance as she ran to her wagon. With a wave, she rode off down the gravel drive.

“Where are you going to sleep tonight?” he asked, stepping into her personal space.

She quirked a brow and stepped back. “I’m going to change, and then I plan on staying at the Southwestern Hotel in town. Would you care to join me?”

“In your bed at the hotel?”

She stared at him then cleared her throat and lifted her chin. “No. I’d get you your own room.”

“I will stay here. Not everyone is as accepting of the Comanche as you are, Lilly.” The way he said her name was like a caress. He watched her face carefully, his eyes lingering on her lips.

“Oh, well then, all right.” She was not running away, she told herself. She just had to dash through the house to get her things before the smell of the skunk sank into her clothes. Yep, that’s what she was doing.

***

Paul slumped across from Rufus, drowning his sorrows at the Gilded Rose. A large stage sat at the back of the saloon, and two young women in flouncy black-and-green dresses were doing a lively dance to the fiddle music. The cowboys at the bar and the scattered tables roared their appreciation when the women turned around and flipped up their skirts, revealing ruffled black bloomers.

The saloon was packed to the rafters. Caldwell was the first stop on the cattle trail, on the way to the slaughterhouses in Kansas City. Following a month with no civilization, the cowboys wanted to enjoy the company of women and whiskey, and the saloons were more than happy to provide both. Further down the street stood the cribs, but Paul stayed away from them. The women there smiled as men went past, but their eyes, no matter how pretty, were devoid of light and life.

Not like Lilly’s lovely green eyes. They told the story of whatever she was feeling.

He took another swig of his beer, brushing off a questioning female arm. Normally he didn’t mind having a pretty dancer on his knee, but not tonight.

“So you ready to tell me why Lilly went home with that big Indian ’stead of you?” Rufus watched the stage as a new performer came on, a lovely little French woman with a voice like an angel.

“No.” He wasn’t going to admit what an ass he’d made of himself. At least not without a few more shots to soothe his wounded heart.

Rufus sucked his teeth and poured more whiskey. “Gutsy plan of hers, that trading post. I’m not the biggest fan of the Comanche, but if what you say about them starving is true, I hope it works.”

Paul nodded, looking at the bubbles of the beer crawling up the sides of the glass. He was trying to get up the courage to go to Lilly’s house and beg her forgiveness. Thoughts of finding her in Sleeping Bear’s arms tortured him, and he hadn’t figured out what to say yet. She was so angry with him, but he knew she still wanted him. Maybe he could use that to get her to listen.

“Paul,” a warm voice purred into his ear. “You haven’t been to see me lately.”

Estrella sashayed into his view and gave him a smirk. Here was a woman who wanted him, who wouldn’t tell him no. Too bad he didn’t want her in return.

“I’ve been busy.” He returned to watching the bubbles crawl. The amber color of the beer was a few shades darker than Lilly’s hair.

Estrella dropped the sensual purr and leaned down into Paul’s face, putting a coquettish smile on her face for the crowd that was always watching her. “I’ve heard some bad things about your blond
puta
.” She ignored Paul’s snarl and continued. “A few cowboys were in here yesterday, talking about getting a job with Lee Krisp. Said he was expanding his cattle empire with the Brooks land pretty soon.”

Paul shoved his chair away from the table, his hand reaching for his gun. Estrella flounced down into his lap in a flurry of purple petticoats, forcing him back into his seat. “Now
cariño
,” she squealed loudly. “You know I don’t drink before I sing.”

Paul growled and tried to shift her, but she held onto his neck with surprising strength. “Listen to me, you idiot,” she whispered through her smile. “If you go gunning after him, you’ll die. There is no way you’ll make it past all his men. You need to get her out of town. I’ll see what I can find out while you’re gone.”

Rufus leaned over the table, enjoying the view of Estrella’s cleavage. “Why you telling us this?”

Her smile turned icy. “Even though Paul is a bastard, I don’t want him or that blonde dead. And that’s what will happen if he tries to get between Lee and that land.” Her eyes darkened with pain and the flirty smile fell from her lips. “No one should have to face living the rest of their life without their beloved.”

Rufus had the good grace to look chagrined and his ears turned red. Estrella gave Paul a big kiss on the cheek. “Have to go,
cariño
? Take my advice and get the hell out of town.”

Estrella was right. He had to go with Lilly when she headed East. He’d like to keep her at his ranch, but since she was the one Krisp wanted, trouble was going to follow her wherever she went. And if he stayed in town, Lee would come after him and he couldn’t protect all of his family all the time. Better to get both of them out of the area. Rufus and the hired men would make sure the ranch and his brothers were well taken care of. Lee was going to lose his mind when he found out about the lease to the Comanche. He was just glad the documents hadn’t been signed yet.

Glancing up at Estrella, he felt guilt mix in with the sorrow over the loss of Lilly—or rather, Lilly’s land. Yeah, he was feeling rotten because of the loss of the land. Not the beautiful woman whose compassion and strength stunned him. A woman whose affection was more than he deserved.

Feeling lower than dirt, he spoke honestly. “Estrella, I’m sorry I hurt you.”

Her false smile wilted for a moment. “Don’t worry, Paul. I’ve survived pain like you could never imagine.”

She blew them both a kiss as she sashayed across the floor, the eye of every man following the roll of her hips. The piano player began to belt out a bawdy tune, and Estrella’s deliciously husky voice filled the rafters.

Rufus sighed and rubbed a hand through his beard. “That woman could make a priest sweat. What’re you gonna to do?”

Ignoring him, Paul began to plan. Scanning the room, he found the owner of the general store balancing a pretty dancer on his knee. What he was about to do was low-down and dirty, but it had to be done.

He tried to tell himself that he would break it off when they got back from the East. First they would visit her family, and then to his sister’s to pick up the breeding stock she was holding for him. Once they got back and she signed the deed over, he would do what he had to in order to make her never want to see him again. The thought made him sick, but he pushed back the pain and tried to convince himself he was doing the only thing he could.

Paul, stunned, watched a familiar head of golden curls enter the hotel across the street. He slammed the rest of his beer and tossed a coin at a bewildered Rufus. Making his way through the crowded saloon, he leaned down to whisper into the ear of the shopkeeper.

Chapter Fourteen

Bubble and Squeak

Lilly increased the flame on the cut-glass oil lamp next to the bed. Her hair was still damp from her long and luxurious soak. A white robe provided by the hotel lay on the violet comforter of the large brass-framed bed. She had splurged and rented one of the South Western’s best rooms and a big soaking tub of warm water. The air smelled like the honeysuckle bath salts.

Stretching out on the bed, she wiggled her water-wrinkled toes over the brocade comforter. The occasional muted shout and loud laughter came from the street outside, but the noise was easy to ignore. A hearty fire snapped in the grey marble fireplace and warmed the room against the chill of an early fall night. The light of the fire was partially blocked by the large metal tub in front of it, with steam still rising from the water.

She was trying to live in the moment. To relish being alive, comfortable, and safe. Paul, however, refused to stay out of her mind. Thoughts of him kept intruding upon her relaxation. What was he doing right now? Was he at home on his ranch? Was he thinking about her? Did it matter?

Disgusted with herself, she grabbed the room service menu and scanned the list for something to eat.

A knock at the door drew her attention away from what kind of steak she wanted. Her first impulse was to open the door, but fear froze her in place. What if it was Hank, come back to finish his dirty work? She stood there with her hand on the cool brass doorknob and hesitated.

“Miss Brooks, its Paul McGregor. Please open the door. I have something important to tell you.” At the sound of his voice, her treacherous body sent a quick flash of heat through her stomach and into her pussy.

Running back to the bed, she flopped down and put a pillow over her head. Maybe she could pretend she wasn’t there.

“I know you’re in there. I saw your name and room number on the registration.”

With a muttered curse, she slammed the pillow back on the bed and marched over to the door. Fumbling with the lock, she jerked the heavy door open and glared at him. Clean tan pants clung to his long legs and hips. The top two buttons of his golden cotton shirt hung open beneath his black leather vest. His eyes, intense to the point of distraction, pinned her to the spot.

She cleared her throat and clutched at the robe. “What do you want, Mr. McGregor?”

He twitched his lips and brushed past her into the room, kicking the door shut behind him.

She squeaked and backed away, putting the bed between them. “I didn’t say you could come in, Mr. McGregor. You can tell me whatever you need to in the morning. I’m tired and in need my sleep.”

He took off his black Stetson and tossed it in the corner. His dark hair shone in the subdued light of the fireplace. “Why are you here?”

“That stupid dog got sprayed by a skunk and stunk up my cabin.” She drew her shoulders back and lifted her nose, giving him a superior glare. She imagined it was ruined by the wet mass of curls that came out of their loose bun and fell in her face.

His lips twitched again, and he began to move around the edge of the bed. “Where is Sleeping Bear?”

His rough fingers trailed over the brass frame as he stalked toward her. Hormones purring in anticipation of his touch, she tried to rally her flagging resistance. “I really don’t think that’s any of your business, Mr. McGregor. You need to leave.”

“Not here. Good.” He was on her side of the bed now and she darted a glance around the room. There was nowhere to run.

He moved against her, a long hard line of muscle that radiated heat even through her robe. She could smell the beer on his breath and the hint of smoke in his hair.

“You’ve been drinking! Mr. McGregor, if you don’t leave this room right now, I’ll be forced to have the hotel kick you out.” She rushed past him and he moved to block the door with his arms crossed over his broad chest.

“No.”

“No? Who do you think you are to tell me no? This is my room!” The metal tub stood between them now. She tried to keep her robe closed as it flapped open over her legs.

“No, I’m not leaving.” He pursued her, pulling off his leather vest and beginning to unbutton his shirt. She licked her lips in a nervous gesture. “I don’t like you anymore, Paul. Can’t you understand that?” The lie hung in the air between them and even she didn’t believe it.