Dashing Druid (Texas Druids) (10 page)

“Quit staring at that varmint and come on,” he growled. He didn’t release her until they were downstairs and outside.

Jeb waited by the buckboard. “Frank took off mad,” he said, helping Lil into the wagon box while her parents climbed up onto the seat. “Aims to ride back to the ranch instead of staying at the hotel. Said he’d be gone when we get home tomorrow.”

That was good news as far as Lil was concerned.

“Hotheaded idiot! He’ll probably break his neck in the dark, drunk as he is,” her father muttered as he gathered up the reins. Then he cut loose over his shoulder at her.

“Girl, I’ve got a good mind to thrash you. I told you not to mix with Devlin, and I coulda sworn you hated the sight of him during the roundup. But tonight . . . what in blazes got into you?”

“I . . . I don’t know,” she mumbled, hunched down beside Jeb, who whistled softly and patted her hand in reassurance.

“Well, from now on, you’re not to go near him, missy,” her father ordered, setting the team in motion. “That Yankee’s no good. Damn his hide, he’s got some gall sweet-talkin’ you, connected to Taylor like he is. If it didn’t mean breaking my word to Reece about throwing in with the River T come spring, I’d . . . .”

Lil closed her ears. She was tired of his ranting, tired of her mother’s festering hatred. Most of all, she was tired of feeling guilty just because she found Tye Devlin handsome and charming, just because she’d let him kiss her once and longed for it to happen again.

An alarm went off in her head and she sat up straight.

Don’t be an idiot! So he makes you feel pretty, so he melts your insides with a look. That doesn’t mean he cares about you. You’d better remember that.

CHAPTER SIX

Tye dismounted and wound his reins around a hitching post outside the general store, near a buckboard awaiting its owner. He’d volunteered to ride into
Clifton
and pick up supplies for the line shack he shared with a colored cowboy named Dewey Sherman. The trip was a welcome break from the winter tedium. Riding the border along their section of the ranch, to stop cattle from straying and drive off predators, was a cold, lonely job.

David had stationed him as far from the Double C as possible to keep him away from Lil – to prevent trouble with her father, Tye both understood and resented – but she was never far from his thoughts. He’d foolishly hoped this change of pace might take his mind off her for a short while. So far it hadn’t worked.

Two months had passed since the social in
Meridian
, yet he couldn’t stop picturing her in that tantalizing red dress, with her beautiful dark hair rippling down her back. He also couldn’t forget the way she’d gazed up at him when she was in his arms, and how feeling her excitement had made his blood pound. He still thought himself unworthy of her, but that didn’t stop him from longing to hold her and kiss her again. As always, he became half aroused at the mere thought.

Unbuttoning his jacket, he resettled his gun belt and told himself he’d simply gone far too long without a woman. While in town, he ought to stop by the saloon and take one of the birds of paradise upstairs for a while, but alas, the idea soured the instant it crossed his mind. He wanted Lil, no other.

Impatient with his unruly thoughts, he stepped up onto the boardwalk and crossed to the store entrance. He was about to open the door when it swung inward and an overloaded customer plowed into him. A feminine cry of alarm rang out as tinned goods and paper-wrapped parcels toppled from a crate the woman carried.

Tye grunted in reaction. Then, to his astonishment, he found himself face to face with the object of his pent up desires. Lil stared back at him, lips parted and brown eyes wide with shock.

“Careful,” he said belatedly, reaching out to stabilize the wobbling crate. Despite the gloves he wore when he touched her hands, her agitated emotions slipped past his mental barriers with ease, as always. Amid that confused mix of surprise and alarm, he detected a thread of gladness. An answering rush of pleasure swept through him. He longed madly to kiss her.

Lil’s gaze fled his. “I-I’ve got it. Turn loose.”

He reluctantly complied, and she stepped back. Setting the crate on the floor, she knelt to retrieve her scattered goods.

“Sorry for running into you,” she muttered. “I didn’t see you.”

“Lil, you all right?” the paunchy, gray-haired storekeeper inquired, coming out from behind his counter. He made his way toward them, between barrels of flour and pickles and a table stacked with bonnets, gloves and other feminine sundries.

“I’m fine, Mister Benedict. Just had an accident,” Lil replied, frowning at Tye as he squatted to help her. “I can do it.”

“Of course ye can,” he said, picking up a tin of peaches. “But since I’m the one who stepped in your way, I insist upon lending a hand.”

Her frown remained, but she didn’t argue. Once they’d collected everything, Tye lifted the crate and pushed to his feet. Lil rose, clutching several parcels which she stacked atop the crate. When she reached to take the load from Tye, he evaded her attempt.

“Is that your buckboard out front?” he asked.

“Yes, but you don’t need to –”

“But I want to.” He swung on his heel and headed for the wagon, leaving her to exchange a hasty good-bye with Benedict. As Tye stowed his burden in the buckboard, he heard her booted footsteps cross the boardwalk. He turned to watch her descend into the street.

She looked very different from the last time he’d seen her, at the dance. Today, she wore striped wool pants and a buckskin jacket, with a calico shirt underneath. Her hair was plaited in its usual braid. Her masculine clothes mattered not; he yearned for her just the same.

An idea struck him. “Are ye in town alone?”

She threw him a wary glance as she approached the wagon. “I rode in with Neil MacClure, our top hand. He’s down at the blacksmith’s getting some work done. Why?”

“Oh, I was just thinking ʼtis near midday. Would ye care to be joining me for lunch?”

Lil halted to stare at him, then shook her head. “I can’t. I told Neil I’d be along soon. If we’re late getting back to the ranch my folks will worry.”

“I see. And naturally they wouldn’t want ye consorting with the likes of me,” he said on a sour note.

Her gaze darted away. “No, they wouldn’t.”

“But a wee lunch won’t keep ye long, and they needn’t know.”

“I said no,” she snapped. Looking ruffled, she moved to step past him.

Tye blocked her path. “’Tisn’t your parents’ wrath ye fear, ’tis me.”

“Hogwash! I’m not afraid of you.”

“Oh no? Then why not dine with me and prove it?” He crossed his arms and cocked an eyebrow at her in challenge.

Defiance
shot from her eyes, and she gritted her teeth. “All right, Yankee, let’s go.” Swinging on her heel, she started for the café across the street.

Congratulating himself, Tye caught up with her in three strides. He placed a hand on her elbow, but she jerked away.

“I don’t need any help. I can walk just fine.”

He crooked his mouth in amusement. “I never doubted it, colleen. ’Twas only my feeble way of showing respect to a lady.”

She tossed her head. “Well, just keep your distance.”

“As ye wish,” he said dryly.

Outside the café, he reached around her to open the door, then stepped back and held up his hands, making a show of not touching her. She scowled and marched past him, toward a table near the window. Rushing ahead, he pulled out a chair for her. When she hesitated, he whipped off his hat and swept her a bow.

“Will ye have a seat, Miss Crawford?”

Lil frowned, tossed a look at a pair of curious customers, and accepted the offered chair. Tye took a seat opposite her as she removed her hat and opened her jacket. Noting how she avoided his eyes, he set his own hat aside, tugged off his gloves and stuffed them in his pockets.

“I can’t dawdle here long,” she reminded him sharply.

“In that case . . . .” Glancing around, he caught the eye of a buxom, blond-headed waitress. Her name was Jewel, he recalled from a previous visit.

“Be right with you, folks,” she called, sending him a flirtatious grin. She delivered the plates of food she was carrying, then bustled over to their table. “Haven’t seen you in a while, cowboy. Uh, you either, Miz Crawford. What can I get you? Today’s special is chicken ’n dumplings.” She went on to list other items on the menu while her aqua gaze lingered on Tye.

“I’ll have the special and coffee,” Lil said curtly.

“Aye, the same for me,” Tye agreed.

Jewel flashed another grin and gave him a hooded, seductive look. “Good choice. I’ll be right back with it.” The gleam in her eyes said she’d be happy to serve him more than a meal. When she turned and headed for the kitchen, he unwillingly noticed the provocative sway of her full hips.

“If yuh wanta have
lunch
with Jewel instead, don’t let me stop yuh,” Lil sneered, her
Texas
drawl broader than usual.

Tye gazed at her in surprise. “What? Ye can’t think . . . ?” He broke into a grin and leaned forward, crossing his arms on the table. “Lily, I believe you’re jealous.”

She reared back in her chair, curling her fists on the table. “I am not! And don’t call me that.”

Tye chuckled. “Forgive me, colleen, but I still think the name suits ye.” He winked. “And in case ye didn’t notice, the green-eyed monster nipped at my own heels when last we met. Ye were a sight to behold that night, in your red dress. Watching that long-haired mongrel put his hands on ye near drove me mad.”

The fire in Lil’s eyes gave way to a look of wonder. Her cheeks took on the dusky rose glow Tye admired and she licked her lips nervously.

“I might add I’ve yearned to see ye every day since.”

Hiding her gaze behind thick, dark lashes, she fiddled with her fork. “Don’t talk like that. You know how my folks feel. ʼSides, I’ve got work to do on the ranch. I can’t lollygag around with you.”

“And what of your friend, Howard? D’ye have time for him?”

She shot him a puzzled look. “Frank? I haven’t seen him since he headed home. He lit out the morning after the social.”

“Oh aye, I remember ye saying he’s from
Fort Worth
. And were ye sorry he left?”

“After the way he acted that night, I . . .” She paused then continued, “. . . I was put out with him but, sure, I was sorry to see him go.”

Tye’s mouth twitched. She was lying; he could feel it. He’d also detected the disgust she emitted when mentioning Howard’s behavior at the social. However, he didn’t challenge her answer. “Naturally. Because he’s such a good friend.”

Squirming in her chair, she turned her head to gaze out the window. After a moment’s silence, she said stiltedly, “I noticed you’re wearing a gun.”

“Aye, I decided I’d better have one if I’m to be a real cowboy,” he said lightly. He didn’t tell her he’d purchased his used Army Colt after nearly being bitten by a rattlesnake, shortly after the dance. If Dewey hadn’t shot the head off the reptile, Tye doubted he’d be sitting here now.

“You know how to use it, or is it just for show?” Lil eyed him skeptically.

He shrugged. “Oh, I’ve done a wee bit of practicing. I might be able to hit the broad side of a barn.” Actually, he practiced every chance he got. He seldom missed what he aimed at and was becoming faster on the draw all the time. According to David, who’d taught him how to handle the gun, he showed natural talent for it.

“Yeah, well, making tin cans dance ain’t the same as shooting a man, you know.”

“I’m well aware of that,” Tye snapped. Seeing her lips thin, he sighed and shook his head. “I’m sorry, colleen. I didn’t mean to bark at ye.” He traced the red checked tablecloth pattern with his finger. “But ye see, I did shoot a man once, though ’twas more by accident than anything else. Killed him too, I did.”

“When was that?” she asked.

“A couple of years back. Seems like a century ago.” He smiled wryly. “I was tussling with the man, trying to stop him killing me, when his gun went off. I was a green lad back then, ye understand, and when I saw him lying there dead . . . I came near to vomiting on myself.”

Grimacing, Tye looked up to find Lil staring at him oddly. Did she think him a coward for his past weakness?

“How old were you then?” she asked.

“How old? Why, I’d just turned twenty-two that spring, before Jess and I left home.”

She dropped her gaze. “So you’re twenty-four now?”

“Aye, for a couple of months yet. Why?”

“Just curious, that’s all.”

That wasn’t all. Waves of unhappiness radiated from her, reverberating in his head like the pounding of a drum. Before he could drag the cause out of her, Jewel arrived with their food. He gave her an impatient glance then ignored her. She lingered as long as possible, but finally took herself off with an angry swish of her skirts.

Tye breathed a quiet sigh of relief and glanced at Lil. Head bent, she attacked her chicken and dumplings, ignoring him. She deflected his attempts at conversation with terse answers, clearly meaning to eat and run off. He wasn’t going to let her slip away that easily, he decided, astounded by what he was thinking. He was about to leap into dangerous territory – dangerous for them both – but he couldn’t stop himself.

“I’ve something to ask ye,” he said when she was about to take a last swallow of coffee.

She blinked and paused with her cup halfway to her lips.

“Would ye do me the honor of keeping company with me, Lil?”

The cup wobbled. She set it down with a clink, nearly missing the saucer, and stared at him, wide-eyed. “You must be loco.”