Chapter 26

“Well, look who showed up, finally.” Violet stood when Lily walked into the front parlor. She clasped her hands at her waist, showing the full side of her schoolteacher ways, and wrinkled her forehead disapprovingly. “We were nearly tempted to send out a search party for you, sister.”

That her younger sister scolded her at all, let alone before a roomful of people, should have set her teeth on edge but she smiled and ran a hand across her hair. Not a hairpin out of place, the way she liked.

“Oh, don’t be so dramatic. Surely you knew I’d be with Theo.”

He came into the room and stood beside her. He’d dropped his Stetson on the table inside the door and now ran his fingers through his thick, dark hair.

“We didn’t mean to worry you.” He nodded to Daisy, Lin, Alexia, and Thomas. Then he turned his broad smile on Violet. “It’s my fault that Lily didn’t let anyone know where she went. I sort of scooped her up from the porch this morning and took her on an adventure. So, you see, she didn’t mean to be out so long—it’s all on me. Forgive me?”

The look on the man’s face could’ve charmed the pants off Saint Peter.

Her sister turned pink when he met her gaze and winked. “It won’t happen again, I promise.”

“Well, then, how can I stay out of sorts?” She smiled at him, then glanced at Lily. “I worried about you, is all. You’re our sister and you’re not accustomed to life in the west. We aren’t in Charleston anymore, you know.”

Lily crossed the room and sat on the settee beside Alexia. The young girl moved over enough that she had extra room for another person, if they chose to sit. Which she, of course, hoped would happen.

Now that Theo no longer sat beside her in the buggy, she missed the feel of his shoulder rubbing against hers, the security of his strong, warm body nearby, and the way he made her tummy flutter when he spoke. The ride back to Wylder had been much too short and she would have lingered longer in his home, but he’d insisted they be back before dinner.

So here they were.

And she missed him, even though he hadn’t yet left.

“I’m perfectly aware this isn’t the place where we grew up, Violet. I’m sorry that I worried you, but you needn’t have wasted the effort. I’m fine, as you can see.”

Daisy grinned from across the room. She held her open notebook on her lap, but the pages did not capture her attention. “Yes, we see you are looking very fine, sister. Almost giddy, even.”

Leave it to the writer to add a dimension to a description. For once, she wished her sister were occupied with her messy ink and endless scribbles.

Alexia turned to her and asked, “Giddy?”

“My sister is being silly. Pay no attention to her.” She scrambled to change the subject. “What are you all doing, anyhow? Looks like a meeting in here, one we weren’t invited to.”

“We, indeed…” A finger traced the outer pages of the book and Lily knew that had her sister a pen nearby and she’d take notes on this conversation.

The child came to her rescue. “Daisy is reading to us. She writes stories, you know, and they are mighty interesting. Maybe I’ll be a writer when I grow up, too.” She stretched out her hands on her lap and examined her fingers. “Only I’m not keen on penmanship, am I, Miss Bloom?”

Violet crossed the room and sat in a chair beside Thomas, who perched on the edge of the wide stone hearth. She smiled at the girl. “You do well enough, when you keep your mind on the task at hand.”

Daisy looked thoughtful. “I heard tell of a machine that makes letters on paper—before we left Charleston, that is. I don’t remember what it’s called but if that’s really a thing I believe I’ll need to get one.” She smiled at Alexia. “And of course if I do you’ll be welcome to use it, too.”

A fast clap of the hands accompanied a little hop on the seat. The movement made Lily’s belly lurch but not as badly as she knew it could.

Theo sat down beside her, and she instantly forgot about her tummy. His presence calmed her.

“Are you going to keep reading, Daisy?” Thomas placed his hand on the arm of Violet’s chair. Close enough to be cozy but not improper. Apparently they were keeping up appearances, even after such a long courtship and despite the wilderness surrounding them.

“I think not. We ended at a good point to begin again.” She closed the book, then looked around the room. “Is it just me, or are the rest of you ready for dinner, too?”

“Good thought. It’s a fine time to gather for dinner. We have an easy meal today, so it won’t take but a minute to get it on the table.” Violet agreed as soon as Daisy made the suggestion.

Her sisters and Lin rose and headed for the kitchen. Alexia did, too, hurrying eagerly with the others to help.

Thomas nodded to Lily before she could rise.

“So, did Theo take you out to the homestead?”

Memories of their time together brought a flush to her cheeks. She raised a hand to her face and smiled. “He did. What a lovely ride.”

“It sure is beautiful at this time of year. Perfect drive, for sure.” He smiled. “So, did you like the place?”

The intensity in his eyes showed that it mattered what she thought. She remembered he’d built the homestead for his own family, before their world turned upside down. Every inch must still hold a piece of his heart.

She answered without hesitation. “I did. It’s such a gorgeous piece of land and the house is utterly captivating. The gardens are beginning to show signs of blooming and, honestly, what’s not to love? It is wonderful.”

Theo placed a hand over hers for an instant. The fleeting touch sent her heart skittering in her chest. “I’m so glad you feel that way, especially after the unpleasantness.”

His brother narrowed his eyes. “What unpleasantness?”

“Those two were back, with a newcomer from back east, showing him the land adjacent to mine.”

“Didn’t you run them off?” Thomas scowled. “More than once, even?”

Theo nodded. “I have.”

“They’re not taking the hint to stay away? You know, you might need to show ’em the place really is off limits.”

She looked from one brother to the other. Something passed between them, unspoken, but tangible. She wondered if she read them correctly. There seemed only one way to stop the men from trespassing, and they were in the west—and lawlessness supposedly abounded.

Her throat tightened.

Theo must be planning to shoot the men. What else could it be?