Lily in Bloom (15 page)

Rings turned to the matron as she asked if there would be anything else. “Yes ma'm, who do we see to book a room?”

Lily watched the three men follow the innkeeper's wife out to purchase their rooms. While she was glad to not be in the same room with them, she had no idea how she was going to contact her family. Should she wait outside to see if they left? It didn't seem like they were planning on it anytime soon. Besides, she could risk being seen by Rings and his men first. At least Slim wasn't here, Lily thought. Tracker must have sent him in another direction. She said a prayer for small miracles. The matron of the house returned and called for a boy to fetch bath water. Suddenly, Lily smiled, she was a boy.

Lily got up from the table and, as casually as she could, watched a boy head for a back door. She held her breath as she followed him out. He began to pump water into three buckets. When he filled the third, Lily stepped out, lowering her voice. “Want help carryin' those?”

“I don't know if I'm supposed to have help,” the boy returned.

“Aw, no one'll even notice. I been thinkin' about gittin a job and this'll give me a chance to try it and help you out, too.” Lily had grown up around the Maine accent and imitated it easily.

“How come I never seen you before?” the boy asked.

“Just moved here, I'm Billy. Billy Sampson.” She stuck out her hand and the boy shook it. She hoped it didn't seem as awkward as it felt.

“Jake Cutter. I guess you can help if you don't talk to nobody or git me in no trouble. I gotta have this job. The tavern girl didn't come in today so everyone is extra busy. I could use the help.” Lily sighed with relief as Jake handed her a bucket and she grudgingly carried it to the kitchen, where they dumped it into a pot to heat.

“Let's bring up the tub.” Jake turned and Lily followed as her heart hammered in her chest. Would she finally be rescued? The two grabbed the tub and began to lug it up the narrow back staircase. He stopped in front of room 208. This must be Eric's room. Lily held her breath as Jake knocked on the door but no one answered. Jake pulled out a key ring and opened the door. They carried in the tub and set it down by the fireplace. Lily looked around, there were very few belongings in the room and nothing that she distinctly recognized as Eric's. She hoped she was helping with the right bath.

“Let's go git the water. Just be careful not to spill it over the stairs. You got to mop it up then and start all over.” Jake was warming up to her. She was helping him and apparently not causing any trouble. She nodded and they refilled the buckets to bring the now warm water upstairs.

Lily held her bucket as still as she could. She was beginning to feel faint as the day warmed up and she hadn't had any food. She gritted her teeth and stayed behind Jake. At least he was carrying two of the buckets. He headed back for 208 and again knocked.

“Who is it?” Lily heard Eric's voice call, her heart started beating wildly.

“Here's your water sir,” Jake called.

“Come in,” Eric replied and Jake opened the door.

Lily saw him sitting at the small desk in the corner of the room. She tipped her hat way back to expose as much of her face as she could. She wanted to cry with frustration. Lily couldn't expose herself in front of Jake but she didn't want to leave the room now that she had arrived.

They filled the tub with the water, then turned to leave. Lily hesitated. Should she say something, anything and hope he recognized her voice?

“Just a second,” Eric's voice halted their progress. “Could one of you deliver a message for me?” Eric looked up and their eyes met, hers pleading with him to recognize her. Surprise momentarily crossed his face but he quickly masked it. He turned to Jake. “Perhaps you could deliver this message to the front desk. It is urgent. If you,” Eric turned to her, “wouldn't mind staying for a few moments, I have another that needs to be delivered to the store.”

Jake looked relieved and nodded. With all the work he had to do, Lily was sure that he found the arrangement satisfying. Lily herself could have cried with relief. Jake took the message and hastily left the room.

As soon as the door clicked closed, Eric stood from his desk and crossed the room. Lily was momentarily disappointed that he did not come to her but she realized that he was locking the door. She heard the bolt give a distinct click then he turned back to her and, in what seemed like two steps, crossed the room and gathered her up in his arms. Their lips met and Lily lost herself in the kiss. It felt so wonderful to be held in his arms, to feel safe. She didn't even realize that she was crying until he pulled away to wipe the tears from her eyes.

“Don't stop,” she murmured as she sought his lips again.

“Sweetheart, I would love nothing more to lay you on the bed and keep you there for several days but...” he paused, “I think I should tell your brothers that I found you and—”

“Just a few minutes, please. It has been so difficult to get to you and I have been so alone,” a sob escaped her lips and he wrapped her in his arms, sitting them both down on the bed.

Lily sat there in the warmth of his embrace and wanted nothing more than to cry out all of her frustration, anger, and loneliness but she had to be strong. They were still in danger and she had to warn her brothers.

“Okay, I'm ready,” she lifted her head up and he kissed her again, long and deep. It was intoxicating and Lily almost felt as though Eric loved her the way she loved him.

As the moment lengthened, Lily felt herself growing dizzy and when he stood up, she swayed back into him.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“Fine, I just haven't eaten very much today.” Lily shrugged but Eric had placed his hands around her waist.

“My God, Lily, have you eaten anything at all?” He felt her arms, then her shoulder.

“A little. We didn't stop very often.” Lily rested her head on his chest.

“I am going to go get your brothers. I will get you some food as well. Why don't you take a quick bath,” Eric started to turn away.

“We're being watched,” Lily told him as he turned to go.

Eric nodded as his lips pursed, “I'll be back soon.” He kissed her one more time then left.

She heard the lock click behind and she turned to the hot bath she had just poured. A quick soak would be lovely.

Lily wasn't aware that she had fallen asleep until she heard the key turn in the lock. She bolted up then just as quickly sunk under the soapy water to try to cover herself somewhat. She sagged with relief as Eric walked in.

“Your brothers will be in a few minutes. I have to warn you James is not himself. Deep frown lines marked Eric’s face.

“Why?” Lily’s own brow furrowed.

Eric sighed. “Lean back, we may as well wash your hair while we have a few minutes.” He poured water over head, then began to lather her hair. “He is angry at me for starters. James thinks I am to blame for getting you in this mess. He's most likely right. I think he's angry at you as well, for choosing me...”

“Technically, I didn't choose you,” she smiled at him although she was amazingly aware of his gentle hands in her hair and the fact that she was naked. At the same time, she was surprised by how natural it felt.

He smiled back, a chuckle breaking through his lips. “Too true,” he rinsed out her hair and Lily turned slightly in the bath to be able to better see him. “I'm sure he thinks that if your reputation had been intact, you would have had more options.”

She looked at him and burst out laughing. “What is so funny?” Eric looked at her incredulously.

 “I wouldn't want to marry anyone but you anyway.” Lily smiled at him softly and he leaned forward and kissed her lightly on the lips. When he started to pull away, she reached up a wet hand and wrapped it around his neck, deepening the kiss. She had never done this before but she wanted to kiss him so much.

“Lily, we have to stop,” he said as he pulled away for a moment before the kiss resumed.

“I don't want to,” her arm wrapped tighter around him as he tried to pull away a second time.

He cupped her face. “There is nothing I would like to do more than pull you out of that tub and carry you to the bed but I can't. James would...”

“Eric,” Her voice was full of her desperation. “Please.” Was all she could get out. She took a breath. “I barely made it back here alive and with my...” she paused, blushing slightly “I don't want to wait. What if...”

He pulled her up out of the tub and handed her a towel to rub herself dry. “You are going to be fine. We'll get you out of here,” he kissed her forehead. “Get dressed. We'll talk about this later and I promise, we will keep you safe.” He smiled reassuringly but Lily remained unconvinced.

She turned away from Eric and began to wrap her breasts. Now that they were not being intimate she was feeling more awkward about her nudity. She turned briefly to see him staring at her from across the room and she blushed.

He smiled a little but said, “You look too thin.” Concern colored his face.

“I haven't had very much to eat.” She pulled on her pants, then socks but groaned at the thought of the boots.

Eric smiled more broadly. “Leave them off for now, Tom should be up with some food any minute.”

Lily's face could have split with a smile. She didn't know if she was more happy about seeing her brother or eating a real meal.

She ate voraciously as the three men sat in silence. She knew that they must have a hundred questions for her but she couldn't wait another second to eat. She felt her energy returning and her head clearing from the fog it had been in. When every ounce of food had been consumed, James cleared his throat.

“Lily, we need to ask you some questions.” James shifted in his chair.

He didn't say anything. Perhaps he was unsure of where to start. Tom began. “Lily, you said you were followed here. How do you know?”

Tom was right. The story of the kidnap could wait, what was important was who was here at the inn and what they knew. “I was in the tavern while you were having breakfast.” All three men looked startled by this information and Lily shrugged. “I was trying to blend in.” Tom and Eric both grinned but James ran his fingers through his hair. “I was in the corner when Bags, Rings, and a man I believe is named Jack came in. He wasn't traveling with us, though. I could hear their conversation and they said that they had come to watch you because they thought I would come here to try and find you. They were hoping to intercept me, I guess.”

Eric looked thoughtful. “They know who we are, what we look like and what direction we might be heading. We will have to find a way to disguise ourselves. At least until we can get to Portland.”

Tom nodded his agreement. “We will have to find new clothes and horses. Perhaps we could find another traveler to accompany us, look like a completely different group.

“I agree.” Eric thought for a minute. “Maybe even a wagon to make us look like settlers.”

James had said little but finally spoke. “For now we will have to keep Lily out of sight. She will eat here and sleep here but not with Eric. Eric can stay with Tom and I will stay with Lily.”

Of course Lily knew that James would not allow her to stay with Eric even though he was to be her husband but she couldn't help but to feel disappointed. Fear that she would be kidnapped and assaulted again tore at her insides. She didn’t want her first experience with a man to be forced. Lily wanted Eric to take her virginity before someone else had the chance.

Suddenly an idea occurred to her. “What if Eric and I got married?” Lily blurted out.

“What?” James shot up out of his seat.

“Hear me out, James. The reason I was kidnapped was because the Colonel wants to marry me. What if I am already married? Doesn't that make all of this unnecessary?”

“Your reputation is already in tatters. There is no possible way I am going to return you to Boston already married. It is suspicious enough that you disappeared in the middle of Tom's wedding. Absolutely not.” James’s face was rigid.

“But James...” Lily began.

“He's right, Lily.” Eric shook his head. “If the Colonel finds out you are married, he may stop trying to kidnap you but will most likely try to kill both of us. It is far easier to keep you safe when everyone wants you alive.”

“Do you really think he would try to kill us?”

Eric grimaced. “I think he is capable of anything. I made a huge error in allowing you to be kidnapped.”

“That was not your fault.” Lily grabbed his hand.

“It was his fault.” James spit out.

“James.” Lily turned to her brother. “He cannot control the actions of other men, of Kingsley.”

Eric reached for her hand. “Regardless, it is my duty to keep you safe. I will do whatever it takes to make sure nothing happens to you. For now, we will keep the wedding at its scheduled date.”

Lily wanted to cry in frustration but said nothing. She could feel a fire building inside of her, a fire of anger and resentment. She felt like her mother again, always so bold and brash. She had the urge to slip out in the night with Eric and leave her family behind, to be married and escape from all the pain. It scared her because her family had always been the most important thing to her, her safe harbor.

“Hey, are you in there?” Tom gently touched her arm. She snapped back to the present and nodded, unsure of how long the conversation had been going on without her. Eric was looking at her with a great deal of concern.

“How did you get away?” James asked. He seemed to have forgotten his anger at Eric for the moment.

“To tell you how I got away, I have to tell you who I was with and—” she paused it was painful to say it out loud but she mustered up her courage. She couldn't meet any of them in the eye “What I have done.”

She felt the tension rise in the room and James looked angry again. She couldn't help that, though. She had to be honest. Lily tried not to share the fear, the constant fear. Instead, she focused on the facts. She told them what she knew about Tracker, the Colonel, Slim. When she got the part by the river, she couldn't express the danger she knew Slim posed.