Chapter 34

Lily refused to see Theo for two days. She heard his knocks on the door, saw his horse tied to the front gatepost from an upstairs window, and heard his voice carrying up the stairs when he implored her sisters to persuade her to see him.

To his credit, they tried. More than once. But she had her mind set.

Fleeing South Carolina because a man had broken his vow should have taught her a lesson. Apparently, she didn’t learn as quickly as she thought she did.

She’d arrived in Wylder, fallen under the spell of another man almost immediately and, she had to admit, lost her heart. And this time, things were different.

Warren had been a convenience, but Theo worked his way into her soul, claimed a bit of her she hadn’t realized existed, and had given her hope for a peaceful future. Her chest ached thinking about how she’d believed in him and the fantasies she’d had about the life they might build together.

But she’d been wrong. Again. There wouldn’t be another ill-fated dalliance with her emotions. She wouldn’t allow it. No, better to send him on his way now, than let him shatter the heart he’d already managed to wound.

Being homebound for days did nothing for her disposition. The others urged her to go to town with them, but she put them off. How could she be certain they wouldn’t arrange to steer her toward a spot where Theo might be? She couldn’t take the chance.

They’d all left early so the house sat silent.

Violet taught at the schoolhouse while Lin and Daisy ran errands in town. They’d mentioned picking up dinner supplies from the mercantile. They would be on Wylder Street which meant the other side of town might be sister-free—and a spot for getting some fresh air without being urged to give a certain man an audience.

She grabbed her reticule and bonnet and headed for the door. No one would be the wiser if she hurried. With any luck she’d be home before the others returned and would act as if she’d spent the day reading on the back porch, the same as she’d done for the past few days.

A warm breeze kissed her cheeks as she tied the bonnet’s ribbons beneath her chin. She threw Mother’s advice to the wind and lifted her face to the sky. So much joy in feeling heat on her skin—it seemed silly to deprive herself of such pleasure.

She set off toward town. Eagerness made her feet move quickly, sending a rush of excitement through her. Finally, to be out and on her own, without having to answer to anyone or do anything save what she wanted. Freedom felt glorious, and she breathed in its invigorating scent.

Reaching the far side of town meant passing near the end of Wylder Street. With any luck, no one would notice her.

There were wagons and riders in the streets and enough foot traffic for her to blend in. She glanced toward the mercantile. No sign of Theo or any of her sisters.

A look across the street. Lin and the gemstone dealer stood with Daisy and a man Lily had never seen before. They were in front of the gemstone shop, in a space out of the way of passing riders.

The group looked comfortable together, laughing and talking with familiarity. The man beside her sister wore blue jean trousers with a white shirt and brown leather vest. That he wore white on a weekday made an impression. He must have the means to keep a clean wardrobe. Many of the men she’d seen out here wore darker colors to hide dirt.

His build did not give his occupation away. He could have been banker or rancher, with a broad back, wide stance, and slim hips. Her gaze lowered to touch on his buttocks. The man was certainly well put together.

He leaned toward Daisy, and it occurred to her that the man’s hair color matched her sister’s almost perfectly. It touched his shoulders, a smooth fall of chestnut brown with golden highlights. She wondered what a child of the two would look like, and whether its locks might grow straight or curly like her sister’s.

She shook the thought from her head. With a final glance, she turned toward the schoolhouse but kept to the opposite side of the road. Violet should be inside, but one couldn’t be too careful.

A woman she’d met at the mercantile nodded as she passed. “Mornin’, Miss Bloom.”

Lily tipped her head and smiled. “Good morning.”

There were too many new faces and unfamiliar names for her to give much thought to matching them, but it seemed that this woman might be one of the ladies whose children attended school. Milligan, maybe—with a half-dozen or so offspring. Yes, that must be it. She remembered the woman’s name too late to use it but next time, she’d be prepared.

She surveyed the schoolhouse from a shaded position across the street. The bright building beamed like a beacon, inviting the town’s youth to enter and learn. It melted her heart to see what her sister’s presence in this rugged place meant. She softened the rough edges of frontier living by elevating minds. Lily resisted the urge to cross the street, dash into the schoolhouse, and tell Violet how proud she felt.

“Well, it’s nice to see you again.”

She whirled and came face to face with Gertie. The woman’s last name did not come to mind but that didn’t matter.

A smile, and a nod. “A pleasure to see you, too, Gertie. Beautiful day, isn’t it?”

“Sure is. We love these spring mornings, before the summer heat sets in.” She tipped her head toward the school. “Goin’ in to see your sister?”

Lily took a step back, farther into the shadow of the building behind them. “No, not this morning. I just stopped to admire the place and, um…” She searched her mind for a reason to stand and stare. Her gaze fell on an object beyond the schoolyard. “Wondered about that wishing well. Seems unusual to have one of those, doesn’t it?”

The other woman chuckled. “It sure does. Between us, the feller who built the thing was in the lead when tongues were handed out but most of what he said weren’t fit for listenin’.” She shook her head, sending a light brown curl bouncing on her ruddy cheek. The woman looked as if she hadn’t led an easy life, but her eyes twinkled anyway. “Sure, he talked a lot but made no sense. Like that wishin’ well. He insisted Wylder needed it and set about buildin’ the fool thing, with his own money, supposedly.”

“What happened to him? Does he toss coins into the well every day when he passes?”

The older woman snorted. “Hardly. Right after he put the last stone on the well, he died of throat trouble.” She pantomimed being hung and added a small smile. “He had it comin’—seems the money he used for that silly thing and to buy property from a few people in town didn’t rightly belong to him. On his way from New York he shot a man and stole every bit of his money. So he arrived here lookin’ all fancy but when the law caught up with him we saw who he really was.”

She looked over at the wishing well before turning back to Gertie.

“I guess that’s how it is sometimes. We think we know someone, but we only see what they’re willing to show us.”

“Amen to that. Well, I’d best get moving. I’m headed to the mercantile for supplies for my pumpkin bread.” The other woman squared her shoulders and gave a small smile. “It has a bit of a reputation around these parts, if I do say so myself. I’ll bring one by your sister’s place so you can taste it. Kind of a welcome to town gift.”

“That’s very kind of you, Gertie. Thank you. I’ll look forward to it.” She took a step away. “Nice seeing you this morning.”

“You, too.”

Lily passed the land office and made a mental note. It might be the place she’d have to visit to put in a claim. She’d decided to buy the land adjacent to Theo’s. If it were even half as enchanting as his piece, it would offer a fine spot to raise her child.

She’d investigated the claims process. All she needed, a small structure and willingness to live on the land for a period of time, met her current situation. She had to get out of town, but not too far, so her sisters weren’t adversely affected by their unwed sister’s baby.

And if she were to stay in Wylder, which had always been her plan after Warren’s dumping her, she needed to set up her own home. Away from the shadow of Violet’s life. And close enough to oversee Daisy’s.

Homesteading provided the ideal solution, and with the money left to her by Aunt Hilda, she had the means.

The land office would be tomorrow’s errand.

Today, a walk in the sunshine without running into anyone else would suit her fine.