Chapter 8
Eight
Lily
I’d never been so ready for the weekend. The short reprieve I’d gotten while Eliot was staying with me over the weekend had vanished. Kellan had his worst nights of sleep yet.
“Thanks, Wanda.” I led Cali out of the house. “Have a good weekend.”
“You, too. Glad you don’t have to work.”
So was I. I had to catch up on everything in the house. Now that the place was mine, mostly, I could tackle some smaller, less time-consuming projects, like emptying out Grandma’s closet so Eliot had somewhere to put his clothing.
The same nerves fluttered in my belly that always did when I thought of him. Why did I have to have a crush on my husband?
Ansen and his brother dropped off several packages of meat at the vet clinic. A “wedding gift” from Eliot. Grocery bags full of Barron beef.
“What’s for dinner?” Cali asked after she was buckled in.
As much as I looked forward to a real meal that wasn’t “heat and serve,” tonight wasn’t the night. I was tired and had a task list a mile long. I started for home. “I say we celebrate Friday night with cereal for dinner.”
“Yay!”
I might’ve gotten married on Monday, but the rest of the week had been normal. Well, my new normal. Eliot said he’d let me know soon when he could return, and that meant I should tackle the subject with Cali.
“Hey, Cali.”
She kicked her feet and met my gaze in the rearview mirror.
“I need to talk to you about Eliot.”
“I like him.”
Same, girl. Same. “Well, he and I… We had to…” What could a six-year-old keep secret? “We like each other and we got married, but it isn’t going to be like the traditional marriage I had with your dad.”
“You’re married?”
I nodded.
“Can I see the ring?”
She’d rather know about the jewelry. We’d discussed why I no longer had the ring her father had given me. Was her question a sign she wouldn’t hang her father-figure hopes and dreams on Eliot? “We didn’t get them. Listen, I wanted you to know that nothing will really change. Eliot’s job is in a different state, and we live in Crocus Valley. We actually might not see him a lot.”
“Oh.” Disappointment rang in her tone.
Same, girl. “Grandpa or Aunt Linda might ask about him. He’s going to live with us, but you know, he might not be around a lot because of his job.”
“Okay.”
Okay. That was…easy.
We pulled into the garage. I was looking forward to a mellow night at home. Cali unbuckled, and I was gathering the diaper bag and my purse when my phone rang. Mom’s name flashed on the screen. My stomach dropped.
When I sent Linda a copy of the marriage certificate, she said she would talk to everyone this weekend. I told her I’d wait for her to inform them of Grandma’s will and trust, and then I’d be ready for their call. I might’ve copped out and let Linda rip off the bandage so I could bask in not worrying about losing my house before I faced my parents’ concerns.
“Hello?” I squeezed my eyes shut.
“Lily!” Mom’s voice boomed out of the phone. “ You’re married ?”
“Now’s not a good time to talk about it.” Cali didn’t think it was a big deal, but if she heard Mom’s cries, she would. “How about I call you?—”
“You can start by picking us up.”
My heart thumped so hard I feared it knocked itself out. “What?”
“We’re at the airport in Crocus Valley.”
“ What? ”
“Your father used the company jet as soon as we heard. Why didn’t you come to us when Linda was going to kick you out?”
They were in town? Now? What about my basking?
I was being selfish. Immature. Learning not to turn to my family whenever I had a hiccup was one thing, but I had to stop hiding from them when things weren’t ideal. “What could you have done?”
“You married someone you just met!”
My head was spinning. I pressed my fingers against my temples. The speech I’d rehearsed to explain everything as succinctly as possible vanished from my head. “I’ll be there in five minutes.”
I hung up. My phone pinged with a text.
Then another. I didn’t have to look to know my siblings were the ones texting. Linda was just going to pass on the trust information. Had Mom and Dad told everyone I’d gotten married?
“Cali, can you buckle up? Grandma and Grandpa came to visit, and we have to pick them up.”
Cali squealed. At least one of us was delighted.
The drive to the airport was short. The tiny airport was the size of the small grocery store in town and just outside of city limits. It had two whole hangars for airplanes, but it must be big enough for small private jets. It had to, being on the fringes of the oil and coal industry. Top execs like my dad flew in and out for business.
My phone blew up the entire way. Linda must’ve gotten a hold of everyone. This shitstorm of a weekend started early. There went my quiet Friday night.
My parents were waiting outside the doors of the airport. Dad was still dressed in his black slacks and pewter-gray dress shirt. He’d ditched the tie, and his salt-and-pepper hair was ruffled from the wind. Mom wore short pants with black-and-white Converse. She had a pair in every color. Her dark, curly hair was pulled back, and she looked more pensive than when she had been fretting over me moving.
I parked and got out to help them load the luggage, but Dad came around the hood and jerked me into a giant hug.
“How you doing, kiddo?”
The comfort of Dad’s hug seeped in. His cedar aftershave was the same he’d worn his whole life. I returned his hug. “I’m good, Dad. Really.”
“I don’t understand what my mother was thinking.” His expression clouded over. “Or my sister. We’ll see if we can get you out of this.”
I should be relieved Dad would use his legal resources to fight the trust, but my anxiousness grew. Could I enjoy being married to a nice, considerate guy for a little while longer?
“It’s fine.” I pulled away. “Eliot’s a good man. You’ll like him.”
Dad’s frown deepened at my sincerity.
Mom straightened from the other side of the car. She’d been bent in hugging and kissing her grandkids. “How can you know him well enough to say that?” She cast a worried look toward my dad.
“He’s the brother of my boss. His whole family lives in town, and I guess I have the same last name as them. I’m Lily Knight now.” For the next year anyway, the paperwork was still processing.
Dad’s brows drew together. “Knight? Does he have a brother named Alcott?”
“Cody? Yes.”
A wide smile spread across his face. “Well. That changes things.”
“West?” Mom wasn’t sold on Dad’s change of heart. I was just plain confused.
“If he’s anything like his brother, then our littlest girl might just be in very good hands.”
“You know Cody?” Of course he did. Cody worked in the oil industry, controlling wells all over Montana and who knew where else.
“King Oil has a deal with Knight’s Oil Wells. Come on, let’s go get something to eat.” He went around to load their suitcases in the back.
Several of the knots along my spine loosened.
“Mom, don’t we get cereal?” Cali asked.
“Grandma and Grandpa are taking us out,” I said, sliding into my seat.
She clapped her hands. My mom got into the back, wedging herself between the kids’ car seats.
“I’d like to talk to this young man,” Mom said when we were back on the road.
“Mom, he’s forty.” My stomach tightened. Don’t scare Eliot off yet. I’m in my honeymoon period.
“Can he meet us at the restaurant?” Dad asked.
“He lives in Buffalo Gully.”
“He’s not living with you?” Mom’s voice pitched up.
Crap. “Yes, but he still has the ranch. He’ll be commuting.”
Cali kicked her feet and grinned. “He makes the best pancakes.”
A divot formed between Mom’s eyebrows. “Does he now?”
Why’d I feel like a teenager caught with a boy in my room?
Dad tapped his fingers against his knee. “He’s good with kids?”
“He has nieces and nephews.”
“Call him,” Mom said.
“I’m sure he won’t mind if we call him later.” How embarrassing though.
“Now,” she said. “While we’re still parked.”
I shot her an incredulous look in the rearview mirror. A grown woman does not simply ask how high when her parents tell her to jump. My former mother-in-law was a bitch, but she wasn’t wrong.
But my parents were worried. Rightfully so, after the way Carter treated me. I’d had a month to get used to the idea, and then a few days after announcing Eliot’s name. Mom and Dad hadn’t processed for a day yet.
“Call him up.” Dad pointed to the radio. “You can put him on the car speaker, right?”
They’d continue insisting, and if I didn’t, Dad might track down Cody at his house and ask for Eliot’s contact info. Calling Eliot was the least I could do to ease their nerves.
I grabbed my phone and groaned.
Violet: Why wouldn’t you tell us?!
Alder: Lily. Call me.
Poppy: WTF WTF WTF Is he at least hot?
Clover: Way to lock it down.
Jasper: Call me if you need me to beat him up.
That was the same thing Jasper said when I told him I was getting a divorce.
I let out a sigh. “I was going to let everyone know.”
“I thought you might’ve told them of your crazy-fast marriage. Or that they’d been invited,” Mom said pointedly.
I had only thought they’d disapprove and try to talk me out of it. Were they hurt I didn’t include them? Of course they were. Hurt, confused, and concerned.
“The timeline was escalated, I’ll admit. I hope you understand.”
Mom let out a heavy breath. “It’s your grandmother I’m upset with. And Linda. You shouldn’t have been put in that position. Not after—” She cut her gaze to Cali and snapped her mouth shut. “You should’ve called us.”
“I know, but you guys have done so much.” And that was all I could say. They’d have saved me in a heartbeat, just like they moved me to college. Just like they moved me again when I got into vet school. They’d moved me after a different quick wedding because I insisted I was in love with Carter and everything would be fine. Then they’d moved me back to Billings. Then to Crocus Valley.
At least this way, I was the only one inconvenienced. Me and my new husband. I dialed Eliot.
When he answered, wind blasted over the phone. “Lily pad. I was going to call later this evening.”
The way his deep voice boomed through the car was all kinds of soothing. He’d used a nickname and he didn’t know my parents were in the car. “You’re on speaker and my parents are very interested in talking to you. Is this a bad time?”
Another gust of wind came over the line. “Nah, I’ve got a few minutes. I’m on my way to get an escapee. She’s having a good time at the neighbor’s, but I don’t need her running into a bull quite yet.”
“Hi, Eliot!” Cali called.
“Hey, boss lady.”
Cali leaned forward, straining against her seat belt. “Kellan might be teething.”
“No kidding? No wonder the champ was keeping us up all night.”
She giggled and poked my mom to look at Kellan’s swollen gums.
I gauged Mom’s reaction. Some of the concern had drained away and not just because she was squashed between her grandkids. The easy interaction between Eliot and Cali was hopefully a good sign in her book. In fact, she might put it in her book. I wouldn’t be surprised if she wrote a character named Champ.
“Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Duke,” Eliot said next. “Nice to meet you. Sorry it wasn’t in person, but ranch life called me back.”
“When can we meet you?” Mom asked, leaning forward until the shoulder belt caught her.
My cheeks blazed. Thankfully, Eliot wasn’t here to witness my parents acting like I was sixteen and he’d asked me to prom.
“When are you coming home next?” Dad asked.
I tensed. He was home. So was I.
The wind was the only response for a moment. “There’s a dance recital at the end of the month that I have some nieces and nephews in.”
“The end of the month?” Dismay poured from Mom’s voice. My stomach sank.
“I apologize,” Eliot said easily. “I’ve got some interviews scheduled for a new guy, and then I’d like to be around to train him. I know it’s not the ideal answer for a newlywed man. It’s a good thing Lily understands my work almost as well as me.”
I smiled at the way he both answered and ignored all their questions. Even Dad couldn’t argue his response.
A faint shout came through the line. “I hate to go, but we’ve spotted the runaway.”
“Don’t worry, Eliot. Thank you.” I let my appreciation flow through my simple thanks, but mostly, I was trying to suppress the thrill I got knowing I’d get to see him at the end of the month.
“Love you, Lily pad.”
I drew in a sharp breath. His words wrapped around me like a warm blanket. It’s for show . But they didn’t sound like they were fake.
This was the most dangerous part of our ruse. I could forget the situation and let my hopes take the wheel. I couldn’t allow it. “Love you too, Romeo.”
Eliot
I’d been married for two weeks, and I hadn’t seen my wife since I said my vows. Other than a few check-in texts to make sure she was doing okay after her parents’ visit, we didn’t talk. I just returned from running to Miles City. I made an unplanned stop. I was supposed to pick up some horse supplement, and I needed a new pair of pants since I’d torn a pair in the stables when I caught myself on a bent clasp. One of the horses had slammed against her stall so hard she’d twisted the metal. Alexander had about pissed himself laughing when he’d seen me with a gaping hole in the butt of my jeans.
I entered the house. The smell of the pie Chambers’s wife had sent with him filled the air. Cherry? My stomach growled. I went straight to the kitchen. The pie already had a slice missing. There was nothing my bookkeeper liked more than fresh pie.
I set my small plastic bag on the island and circled around to get a plate and fork. I was digging a slice out when Chambers sauntered out of the old office I’d renovated to be his. The sweet smell of the dessert wafted up to me. Yep. Cherry.
I’d had too many sweet cravings in the last two weeks after remembering how Lily licked caramel off her lips.
“Hey, there’s the mister.” Chambers had taken to calling me that since I’d returned from Crocus Valley married. He knew the same story my family did.
“Anything happen while I was gone?”
“Something always happens while you’re gone.” He pulled up a stool at the island and flipped my bag over. “What’s this?”
His next favorite thing was being nosy, and he’d answered my question in an ominous way.
I dug into the slice of pie. “Chambers.”
He sighed. “Red Wildfire ripped her cheek open on a fence post.”
I groaned and closed my eyes. Another vet emergency. Between colic, arthritis, and regular maintenance, the vet costs were hemorrhaging the ranch. Life had been a different story when Sutton had worked for Knight’s Arabians and Cattle Company full-time.
“Alexander took her in. I told him I could report to you.”
I took my animals’ injuries personally. So did a lot of the guys, which was why they didn’t like telling me when something bad happened. I’d get pissed, they’d think I was blaming them, and none of our emotions would treat the animal.
“Doc isn’t sure about nerve damage. Won’t know for sure until the healing starts. He patched her up real good, said it was a good thing she didn’t take out her eye, and of course, there’d be an emergency surgery charge.”
I stuffed a huge hunk of pie in my mouth. Our emergency surgery charge would be extra high. The vet in town had hated the Knights for years. Sutton’s time with us had been a nice reprieve.
At least the horse got the treatment she needed, and Alexander would stay on top of it. I’d check her out as soon as I finished eating. The horse and the handler could relax for a bit.
I opened the bag and dropped the two silicone rings on the table. Both were black. With my job and Lily’s, any other color would get disgusting after a week. “Figured we should have something.”
Chambers folded his hands on the countertop and stared at the rings. “Oh?”
I shrugged and shoved another piece of pie in my mouth. The idea came to me, and I’d done it. “People’ve been asking around town.” One thing spread faster than fire in a dry field and that was gossip. “Might as well make it look official.”
“It is very much official.”
I shrugged again. We’d be married almost a month before I met her family.
Nerves made a tight ball in my gut. Few relationships had gotten serious enough for me to meet the parents. If the girls were local, I already knew them. Technically, Lily’s dad knew my brother. He might’ve talked to Barns before, which didn’t make me feel better. “I’ll just do an overnight when I go down for the recital.”
“Take the weekend, Eliot. What are you going to miss? Putting up hay?”
“The new hire is starting next week.”
“The Baltimore guy? I can show him the ropes until you get back. Take the weekend. Meet the ’rents.”
“You’ve got your own family.”
“Roxie likes to hang out here. She enjoys the country without having to do the work.” He took a slow drink of his coffee. “You talk to her lately?”
He meant Lily. He was being nosy again. “Not really, why?”
“Just thought you might be checking in on her.”
“I do.”
“Don’t you call her?”
“It’s not that type of deal. We don’t text every day.”
He made a noncommittal sound. “What’s she look like again?”
I put my dishes by the sink. “She’s a little shorter than Aggie. Her hair’s dark and curly. I’m sure she cut it short after Kellan was born. That kid’ll take a fistful of anything he can. She’s got these really cool eyes. They’re like so blue they’re purple.” Nice tits. Round ass. Cheeks that turned pink in a heartbeat. Made a guy think about what else would get her to flush. I gazed out the window over the sink. It faced toward the drive. “She’s stubborn. Hates people treating her like she can’t do anything. You can see it in her face. Won’t ask for help.” Wait. Why’d he care what she looked like? I glanced over my shoulder.
He took a slow drink from his mug, wearing a message in his gaze I didn’t care to interpret.
The pie sat like lead in my gut. “I’ll go check on the horse.”
Before I walked out the door, I changed out my ball cap for the old tan cowboy hat I wore for work. Outside, I tugged the brim down to block the wind and pulled out my phone.
I tapped out a message to Lily. How’s it going?
Fucking Chambers.