Texas Twilight (17 page)

When Lily
looked up, John was smiling at her.
Again
. The nod of his head was so imperceptible she had no doubt
no one else noticed. Maria came in with a

tray laden with slabs of meat still crackling
and popping with a detectible buttery scent.

“It’s beef,” Winston assured the guests. “Of
the finest cut. Porterhouse for the men and filets for the ladies.
There’s plenty more in the kitchen, so don’t be shy.”

Dustin stood and went to the sideboard.
Taking a decanter full of wine, he went around the table, filling
everyone’s glass. Tucker looked up in surprise. “Go slow, young
man,” Dustin said. “I don’t want Bixby coming after me.”

Mr. McCutcheon picked up his glass. “A toast.
To family. And, to friends. And to knowing what life is really all
about.”

Glasses were raised and the clinking began.
Becky laughed and so did Charity. The two girls were so much alike
it was remarkable. Madeline glanced at John longingly as he reached
his own glass toward his sister for the toast.

“L
ily?” Dustin
said, gaining her attention. He touched her glass with his. “To
good times ahead. Success for Lily’s Lace and More. To long and
lasting friendships.”

Chaim reached over to find her glass, too.
“To weddings and children.” He winked at her, then broke into a
grin.

This time when Lily peeked from the corner of
her eye, John wasn’t smiling. It was evident he had heard what his
cousin had said and it was more interesting than the toasting on
his end. She brought her glass to her lips and took a small
sip.

“So,” Mrs. McCutcheon said, looking at John
and then Charity. “Is this like The Heart of the Mountains?”

Charity set her wine glass on the tablecloth
as Maria continued to bring in bowls and platters. “Very much. It’s
amazing how at home I feel. The only real difference is that we
have a passel of little ones, too. Someone is always crying, or
needing changing or a nap or something,” she said, laughing. “At
the present, Matt and Rachel have three and one on the way, Mark
and Amy have one and one on the way, and Luke and Faith have three.
Mother had to hire more help for Esperanza this past fall. She just
couldn’t keep up.”

“Flood and Claire must be so proud. We’re
waiting for the day one of this brood gives us a grandbaby,” Winnie
said.

“In all fairness, our oldest is Luke’s age,”
Mr. McCutcheon added quickly. “Flood, even though he’s younger, got
an earlier start. We’re not that far behind.”

“And Luke came with two built in, if I
understand the explanation of the fiasco correctly.”

Lily was surprised at Dustin’s remark. It was
clearly an insult.

“If any of us do as well as Luke, we’ll be
fortunate,” John shot back, the timbre of his voice deeper than
Lily had ever heard it. “He’s a lucky man, in my opinion.”

“Have you even met Faith?” Dustin asked
offhandedly, scooping a large spoonful of mashed potatoes onto his
plate and then holding the bowl out for Lily. “I was under the
impression you haven’t been home for years.”

“Of course he hasn’t with his medical
schooling and all,” Charity spoke up. “But I kept him informed with
letters and the others did, too. We all love Faith. There isn’t a
more giving person on the face of the earth,” she said, “and
beautiful, too.”

“
Then
indeed, Luke is a lucky man.
Mother
,” Dustin chuckled, “you look like you’ve bitten into a
lemon. I didn’t mean anything by my observation. John understood
what I meant.”

“Absolutely, Aunt Winnie,” John added, dryly.
“No offense taken.”

The situation was so tense Lily could not
bear to look up. Instead, she stabbed at the creamy sauce-drizzled
asparagus, that Chaim offered by her side.

“Boys,” Winston said sternly. “This is a
celebration. I’ll have you remember that. Winnie has worked all day
in preparation and I intend to enjoy it. Do I make myself
clear?”

“Sorry,” John said, ignoring Charity’s
disapproving look that said he hadn’t defended Luke enough. He took
a bite of sweet potatoes mixed with cranberries, chewed and
swallowed.

“Tell us about what life in Germany is like,
Lily,” Dustin said.

She smiled. “I have a large family, with two
brothers and five sisters. Times are difficult sometimes with so
many mouths to feed, but my parents work hard to provide a good
life for us. It is not like this,” she said, and made a small
sweeping gesture to take in all around them, “but, we are all happy
and well.”

“And is there school there like here in the
States?” Becky asked.

“Of course. It is structured differently,
but, nonetheless, a good system. My parents also require all of us
to either learn an instrument or a trade. I learned to make
lace.”

John was captivated. But so were the rest of
the male occupants at the table, it seemed. Lily looked like a
princess. Her blond hair was swept up on her head, but some strands
had worked free and floated around her face like a halo. When she
spoke, it was unhurried. It seemed she’d relaxed as her eyes roamed
from face to face, recalling her life back in her homeland. Her
voice spread over John like an intoxicating balm. He longed to
sweep her up and away, and not share her with anyone ever
again.

“…is proficient on the organ and plays in
church all the time.”

John snapped out of his reverie, realizing he
hadn’t heard what she’d just said. He was engaged he reminded
himself with a shake of his thoughts. He had no right to fantasize
about Lily at all. She was his friend and he’d better remember
that. Emmeline was a good woman. She didn’t deserve this.

“It sounds so beautiful, Lily,” Charity said,
awe written on her face. “I’d love to go there someday. Meet the
rest of your family. I think that would be exciting.”

Lily laughed. “I think my family would enjoy
having visitors from the Wild West. But, be warned. There are many
more people compared to here. Everything is much smaller. Our house
would fit into your front room.” She wiped her mouth with her
napkin. “Let me correct myself. The houses and apartments are
smaller, but our church is huge. St. John the Baptist is many
stories tall, with a bell tower that is even taller.” She laughed
again, and everyone still stared, fascinated. “It overlooks the
village square protectively like a lofty army soldier.”

As Maria cleared the dinner dishes from the
table, another young woman came into the dining room to help.

“How long have you been in the United
States?” Aunt Winnie asked.

“I have been here a year and a half, all the
while living in Boston while learning to become a seamstress.”

“We’re wearing Lily out with all these
questions,” John interrupted. He tasted the coffee Maria poured
into his cup. “She needs a break. Dustin, what do you do with your
days? Besides ranching, that is. Are there any issues in Rio Wells
that’ve become contentious?”

“What answer do you want first, cousin?”

“Boys,” Aunt Winnie said wearily. “Must you
really? What is this between the two of you?”

“I think she’s sitting at the end of the
table,” Madeline added sulkily, then patted the corner of her mouth
with her napkin.

Maria’s appearance broke up the uncomfortable
hush. John’s mouth watered as the maid served large slices of
chocolate cake. Tucker, in an effort to help, reached out with good
hand, but upset the tray. He tried to rectify the situation, but
his left arm made the circumstances worse. The cake fell onto the
white tablecloth. It rolled onto the shocked boy’s lap, then
plopped to the floor. Gooey chocolate frosting was everywhere. His
face clouded over and he bolted from the room.

“T
ucker, come
back! It’s okay,” John called sharply as he sprang to his feet and
ran through the living room and out the open front door. Lily
rushed to his side and the rest of the family followed close
behind.

John hurried to the barn. “Tucker, come on,
let’s talk,” he called. “No harm was done. We’ve all had
accidents.” Unlatching a gate, he ran into the trees behind the
barn and paddocks, looking for prints. Finding nothing, he
continued on. Almost ten minutes passed. Tucker was fast and smart.
They wouldn’t find him until he wanted to be found. When John
turned to go back he caught a glimpse of Lily’s pink dress where
she was searching in the trees. The last thing they needed was for
her to go off into the wilderness and get lost. He headed in her
direction.

She startled when he called out to her.

“John, I did not hear your approach. Have
they found Tucker?”

“I haven’t been back yet. But I’m thinking
that we’re not going to find him tonight. Humiliation is a potent
emotion. Especially at his age. He’s either hiding or on his way
home.”

Lily’s eyes were dark with worry. “I feel so
bad for him. He is such a good boy, kind and caring. I want to help
him. There must be a way.”

“Are you talking about finding him or
something more?”

“Both. It is such a shame about his hand.
There must be something that can be done. There must be some kind
of operation.”

John stepped closer, drawn by her concern. He
took her chin in his fingers and tipped her face up, gazing into
her eyes. A current of attraction passed between them. “Some things
we just have to accept. Life is hard. Things happen.”

That statement gave her pause. “Maybe he is
watching us now, hoping we think enough of him that we will not
give up so easily. Sometimes just knowing that a person cares is
all that is needed to heal a broken heart. I am not giving up.” She
picked up the hem of her dress, meaning to run up the rise, when
John pulled her back until her lips were a fraction away from
his.

“I admire your desire to find him, Lily,” he
said, feeling his world somersault with her so close. Just the two
of them, alone, in the trees. “To help him. To hurt for him. To
love him.” He moved closer knowing he was going to kiss her,
wanting it more than the air he breathed. His senses thundered,
making it hard to think of anything but her.

“John,” she whispered, her mouth looking soft
and ripe as a strawberry. Then her startled blue eyes went wide,
and her gaze moved to his lips.

“John. There you are.” Charity ran forward,
then stopped.

He pulled back quickly. “Have you found
him?”

Charity shook her head.

John wrapped his hand around Lily’s, afraid
she’d run off again in search of Tucker. “I promise you he’s okay.
He is. He’s just embarrassed. Let it be for now. Okay? And if he’s
watching us then he knows how much you care about him. That alone
may be all he needs for now. Agreed? Lily?”

Several moments passed before she looked up
into his face and nodded. “Agreed.”

The ride back to Rio Wells took almost an
hour with the slow pace in the dark. There was moon glow for
guidance, but John still had to search the road carefully, not
wanting to hit a rut and take the chance of breaking a wheel. There
was one part of the road that had been washed out by heavy rains,
which left two big boulders in the center and made the going
difficult for the buggy. On horseback it would be easy, but tonight
he had to navigate off the road carefully and go around the
washout.

As they approached Rio Wells, the strains of
piano music floated out to meet them. Laughter from the Black
Garter was clear all the way down Dry Street, where they were
approaching the livery. They passed Cradle’s place on the way to
drop Charity off at the hotel, and the old bay slowed, thinking he
was finished for the night. John had to slap the reins a few times
to get him moving.

John pulled up at the hotel. “Mind if
Theodore walks you up?”

She gave him a look. “That’s fine.”

The two climbed out of the buggy, leaving
John alone with Lily. Her hair fairly sparkled in the moonlight,
and the warm evening air wrapped around them like a soft, finely
knit blanket. “Did you have a nice time tonight?”

She looked at him with her soft blue eyes,
and he felt her tumble even more deeply into his heart. “I did.
Your family is so kind. Everything was perfect.” She looked at her
hands folded in her lap, troubled.

“I know. I’m worried about Tucker, too.”

She looked surprised he’d been able to read
her thoughts. He longed to put her thoughts to rest. “I’m sure this
isn’t the first time he’s been embarrassed by something he’s done.
He’ll get through it and be better for it, stronger. That’s how it
works.” He reached across the small distance between them and
touched the tip of her nose, making her smile. “Life is hard.
There’s no getting around it. All we can do is try to make each
moment count.”

“What about the je…”

Before she could finish her question, John
put his finger on her lips. “Shhh. Remember, mum’s the word. I’ll
find out how it came to be in your aunt’s luggage. But…remember—”
She was nodding, wide-eyed. “—don’t discuss it with anyone. Not
even Harriett.” He wouldn’t worry her tonight about the bounty
hunter that had shown up in town yesterday. She had enough to worry
about with her aunt’s health and opening the new store, and now
Tucker, too.

Theodore bounded out the hotel door,
seemingly exuberant from his time with Charity, and hopped into the
back seat. “She’s back in her room safe and sound. Checked it all
out myself.” John turned the buggy around and started back toward
the doctor’s office. “She sure is offish, though. It’s like I’ve
done something wrong to offend her. Don’t know what that could
be.”

John smiled to himself. Maybe Charity was
finally facing up to the fact that she was in love with Brandon
Crawford. Probably missed him all to heck and back but would die
before admitting anything of the kind. This visit of hers was going
to prove to be her downfall, John figured. She’d probably go
running back into his arms.