Texas Twilight (20 page)

Harriett’s face darkened and the spoon
slipped from her fingers, clattering onto the tray. “Oh, I’m
sorry.” Her voice was tiny, like a child’s.

Lily straightened the things on her tray.

“I don’t want to come down. Not yet.” She
looked away.

Lily was heartbroken at the sight of the once
independent woman. She was so tiny and scared. “Do not think
another moment about it, Tante. We will wait for the day that you
are ready.”

The older woman cautiously picked up the tea
cup and took a small sip, then replaced it in its saucer.
“Lily…”

“Yes?”

“You do understand that I’m eighty-five years
old, don’t you? You realize what that means?”

Lily couldn’t meet her gaze

“Lily? You do, yes?”

“Yes, Tante.”

“
Good. I
don’t want you to be surprised if I fly away one day. I’m looking
forward to it, so don’t be sad when it happens. You’ll do fine now,
with all our new, caring friends around to look after you. And, you
have John. He
loves
you. I
couldn’t be happier about the match if you were my own
daughter.”

Lily
looked out the window, not seeing the bustle of the town at all,
but rather the inner workings of her heart and where they longed to
take her. She couldn’t deny that what her aunt was saying was
exactly how she was thinking about John, too.
I loved him.
With every fiber. He was the man with whom
she longed to share her every dream, plan for the future and build
a family. Her face warmed just thinking about intimate moments and
what they might be like. The thought of kissing him made her
shiver, but, sadly, she pushed that image away. John would never be
hers.

“Tante Harriett, you remember that John is
engaged to another woman? She is coming to Rio Wells to be with
him. To be married.” She needed to make her understand the truth of
the matter at hand and not keep indulging in her fantasy about the
two of them.

Tante smiled and nodded. In her eyes was a
great secret that Lily couldn’t decipher. “Love can’t be denied,
Lily. It is inexhaustible and all-knowing. It is patient, too.”

She hugged her aunt and then left the room.
It was past ten o’clock and she heard voices outside on the
boardwalk. Her biggest regret was that Tante was not well enough to
enjoy it too. To see the fruits of her years of toil.

John made his way from the post office and
headed back toward his own place. He’d finally found the time to
get a post off to Emmeline.

Turning, he saw Aunt Winnie’s buggy tied out
front Lily’s shop. She and his two cousins were there, apparently
waiting for Lily to open. He was grateful they’d taken a liking to
Lily—but then, that wasn’t hard to do—and were going to help
support her endeavors. Especially today, on her grand opening, he
was happy she would have some business to celebrate.

Lector Boone approached. “McCutcheon.” The
toothpick clenched between his teeth dangled precariously when his
lips twisted into a smile. “Your sister teaching school today?” he
asked casually.

That put red before John’s eyes. “What’s it
to you?”

“Just wondered.” Taking the toothpick between
his fingers, he rolled it a few times, then flicked it into the
street. “She’s about as feisty as they come. I enjoyed seeing her
in action negotiating with the mayor. She’s a smart one, all right.
“

“You’d do well to remember she’s none of your
business.”

Across the street, Lily stepped out onto the
walk and opened her front door, hooking it back with the fastener
he’d installed himself. A broad smile wreathed her face when she
saw Aunt Winnie, along with Becky and Madeline as they descended
the buggy. They talked and hugged, then went inside. Now was not
the time to take on the gunfighter, John reminded himself. Reining
in his irritation, he crossed the street without another word.

“M
other, look at
this one,” Madeline said, running her fingers down the bolt of
lilac taffeta, her expression pure delight. “I’d adore having my
gown for the Cattlemen’s Ball made from this.” She leaned forward,
putting the fabric close to her face. “What do you
think?”

Mrs. McCutcheon came closer. “I think the
color suits you. It brings out the color of your eyes.”

Lily couldn’t believe her ears. A ball gown.
For her first order. She clamped her hands tightly behind her back
to keep them from shaking with excitement as the women made over
her fabric.

“
What
do
you
think, Lily? Is this a good
color for Madeline’s darker complexion?”

Lily thoroughly agreed with the assessment.
It would be stunning on her. She thought back to how Tante used to
help assist women picking fabric and patterns that would best show
off their beauty—and minimize their flaws. This color would bring
out the young woman’s earthy glow and add some sparkle. “I think it
would be beautiful, and it is the one I would choose for her
myself.”

“That settles it. One gown for the
Cattlemen’s Ball, please. Do you have any patterns we may look
at?”

“I do. Right over here.” Lily went to the
wall and pulled out a drawer that held eight different Butterick
patterns. Only three were for ball gowns; the others were of
everyday clothes for men and women. Madeline and Winnie hurried
over while Becky looked around the shop.

“Three only?”

It was Madeline and she was holding the
patterns in her hands.

“Yes. But the options of the things I can do
with them are almost limitless. I just use the pattern as a start.”
That brought a smile back to the girl’s face. “I have a book of
sketching of the gowns and dresses we made in Boston. All you have
to do is look through them and tell me what you like.”

Madeline’s expression turned serious. “Can
you have it finished in time for the ball? I know it’s a lot of
work for the few weeks remaining.”

“What is the date? I’ve never heard it
mentioned.”

“That John,” Winnie said, with exasperation,
and then laughed. “Just like a man not to say anything about the
most important event of the year. It’s on the 4th of July. We all
thought that’s why you were hurrying to get your shop open. It’ll
be such a treat to have someone who’s able to create beautiful
clothing. We do have a tailor in Rio Wells, but he makes everyday
clothing. The kind we can sew at home.”

Lily did a mental counting. She could have it
completed if it wasn’t too complicated and she didn’t run into any
problems. “I can do it, depending on the kind of dress you want.”
She smiled, then added teasingly, “I will be sure to question John
the next time I see him. Perhaps he has a reason why he’s kept the
celebration a secret.”

John stepped through the open door without
warning. “Did I just hear my name mentioned?” In the flutter of
excited greetings Lily could not help but think about Tante
Harriett’s proclamation about love just a few minutes before. She
glanced up through her lashes to see him watching her as his
youngest cousin wrapped him in her arms. His conspiratorial smile
and wink made her face heat up unbearably. He was so handsome she
feared she might swoon away right now on the floor. Her face must
have given her feelings away, because he laughed in pleasure.

“You most certainly did, young man,” Mrs.
McCutcheon said, shaking her finger at him. “You’re getting more
and more like Dustin and Chaim every day. How come you didn’t tell
Lily about the Cattlemen’s Ball on July 4th?”

He turned his gaze from hers and looked at
his aunt. “Possibly because this is the first I’ve heard of it. I
know, I know, that’s impossible. But it’s true. I’ve been busy
working all this out,” he said, sweeping his arm wide.

Adoration shown from Madeline’s eyes. “Then
you’re forgiven. Look at the fabric we’ve chosen for my dress.” She
took him by the arm and dragged him over to the bolts of fabric.
“The first ball gown Lily will make.”

Lily watched as John patiently took his time
looking it over. “Very pretty, Madeline. I’m sure you’ll be among
the belles of the ball. Which fabric did you choose for Becky’s
dress?”

Lily had to stop the gasp she felt in her
throat.

“I found a dress in Abilene on our last visit
there, or I’d be commissioning one today also.”

He looked over to Lily and shrugged, giving
her an “I tried my best” look.

“I am actually a bit relieved to hear that,
because without my aunt’s help I do not believe I could finish two
gowns in time. As it is, I’m going to have to get busy today. We’ll
take measurements, go through sketches and I’ll need to get it
pinned and ready to be cut out.” She tried to hide her excitement
about her first project but knew she was failing miserably.

“Then you best get going,” John said, moving
toward the door. “I won’t hold up your progress any longer.”

***

It was only a few steps from Lily’s shop to
his office, and soon John was in the cool, dimly lit kitchen,
looking around for something to eat. This small town doctoring
wasn’t much doctoring at all. Since the operation, two weeks ago,
he’d more or less had been biding his time, waiting for something
to happen. He found a loaf of bread in the sideboard and sliced off
the end, spreading it with peach jam Bixby had gotten from someone.
He and Tucker were off somewhere now, doing something, and with a
big mouthful John found himself drawn to the small safe he’d stuck
in his corner of the office.

Twirling the dial, John set the numbers to
the combination and listened, hearing it click open on the last
spin. With a pull, he opened it.

Looking between the few drugs and possessions
he had locked away, he spotted the fabric that held the mysterious
stone. Unwrapping it, he held it up to get his first real look. It
wasn’t costume, he was sure, and from the weight he figured must be
worth a small fortune.

“You Doc McCutcheon?”

John spun, closing his hand around the jewel
to find a boy about thirteen standing before him with a disgruntled
expression on his face. “Who’re you?” John asked, a bit
defensively. He couldn’t tell if the kid had seen what he’d been
looking at.

“Harland Shellston. Miss McCutcheon wanted me
to tell you there’s a rattler trapped in the outhouse, and would
you come get it out. I told her I could kill it myself, but she
said no.”

“Go tell her I’ll be right there.”

The boy went out the door as if in no
particular hurry. John re-wrapped the stone and put it back into
its hiding place. He retrieved his pistol from upstairs and started
toward the school.

Charity was on the porch, watching his
approach. As he got closer he saw two children and Harland
Shellston, sitting on a log a safe distance from the outhouse,
probably forbidden to get up until the threat was taken care
of.

She ran down the steps to his side. “I didn’t
have a gun or I would have handled it myself.”

That sounded funny to John and he laughed,
realizing how much he was enjoying having Charity’s company again.
He pulled her into his arms and gave her a hug. “Sorry about
yesterday,” he whispered into her ear.

“Me too.”

A small quiver ran through her body and he
looked at her questioningly. “It must be a big snake?”

“Huge. From the sound of its rattle I’ll bet
it’s almost eight feet long.” He saw her try to hide another
shiver. “I can’t imagine how it got in there with the door
closed.

“Let’s go have a look.” Before he got within
ten feet of the tiny structure a buzzing sounded that was almost
demonic. He’d never heard anything like it. He looked at her
astonished expression and felt his mouth go dry. “A real
doozie.”

“So?” She glanced over her shoulder to check
on the children. “What do you think?” She had to raise her voice to
be heard.

“Well, I could just shoot through the wood
and hope to hit it, but I’d have to fire several times and the
whole town would come running.” He removed his Stetson and swiped
his arm across his wet brow, then settled it firmly back on his
head. “I’d rather not do that.”

“How about I get you a stool and you shoot
through the moon.” She looked doubtful. “Can snakes climb up
wood?”

“I’d rather not find out.” The rattling
stopped as if the snake was preparing some sort of counterattack on
them. “Any rope in the school house?”

She shook her head.

“Harland,” John called. “Go over to the
livery and get a length of rope from Cradle. If he’s not there just
find something that will work.”

“Why can’t you?”

“Because I asked you to do it.”

Harland looked at John for a long moment,
then got up.

“What’s the rope for?” Charity asked.

“I’m going to tie it around the latch, back
up a few feet and pull it open. I’ll have a clear shot and be out
of striking range.”

She nodded. “He’s being awful quiet in
there.”

“We haven’t moved. He can feel our vibrations
in the ground.” John took a step and the hellish buzzing started up
instantly.

Charity stepped away. “I’m really glad you’re
here. I don’t ever remember a rattler sounding so deep before. Our
Rocky Mountain rattlers get big, but I’m debating if I even want to
see this one. It’ll haunt my dreams for months.”

“Yeah, and I remember how much you love
snakes.”

Charity nodded, her face a pasty white.

“Who found him?” John asked to change the
subject.

“Poor little Jane. She came running back into
class like the wind. I shudder to think about if she’d opened the
door.”

Harland returned with a ten-foot rope and
John wondered if he’d chosen the shortest one he could find.
“Cradle there?”