Naked, Lily stood shivering and self-conscious in the open air. She’d thought she’d long since lost her notions of personal privacy, given the help she needed for so long after her injury for her most basic needs, and sometimes on the bad days ever since. But she’d never before bared herself to the sky. A breeze blew over her, popping goose bumps on her skin.
Mrs. Pendell pointed toward a flat rock on the edge of the pool, “That’s where the steps are. Let me help you in. I’d join you, but I have dinner on the stove.”
“I understand. I can’t have you burning Mr. Dunn’s dinner.”
Leaning on the housekeeper’s strength, Lily hobbled to the stone, then with Mrs. Pendell’s support, she crouched to a sitting position, placed her hands on the flat rock to brace herself, and lowered her backside to the rock. Sunlight had warmed the stone, and she slid her feet into the water. The temperature was hot, far hotter than a bath. With a grateful groan, uncaring of how the heat scalded her cold skin, she eased herself the rest of the way until the water hit her midsection,
“Now move over,” commanded Mrs. Pendell, pointing to a spot. “You’ll find a comfortable rock next to the steps. It’s lower, but judging from your height, the water should be right up to your chin. If you want it colder, mover closer to the stream.”
Lily followed her directions, slipping sideways and settling lower into the pool. A few minutes passed before her body adjusted to the heat. Soon she was able to relax and lean her head back against a smooth round stone that made a perfect headrest, or it would if her thick braided bun wasn’t in the way. She reached up and pulled out the hairpins, allowing the plait to flop free. Then, she folded the hair into a cushion for the back of her head.
“How do you like it, Miss Maxwell?” The housekeeper hovered next to the pool, an anxious expression on her face.
Lily released a contented sigh. “It’s heavenly, Mrs. Pendell. Just heavenly.”
“Will you be all right alone while I see to supper? I’ll return in about twenty minutes.”
“Twenty minutes will be lovely.” Lily looked up at the woman to give her a grateful smile, squinting her eyes against the sun. “I appreciate all your help.”
The woman’s bulldog chin relaxed. “You just enjoy yourself.” She gathered up the discarded clothing, turned, and left.
Alone, Lily opened her eyes and stared at the sky, dreamily trying to match the vivid hue with the paints in her box. “My picture!” She sat upright, remembering that she’d left her easel and paints by the river. She berated herself for her forgetfulness, then realized they couldn’t have carted them to the house anyway. They’d be fine where they were, and she was sure Mr. Dunn…Tyler wouldn’t mind retrieving them.
Good thing I left my portfolio at the boarding house.
Lily sank back into the water and rested her head against the stone. She could feel the tension oozing from her body.
I rode a horse today
.
Something I never thought I’d do again.
She took some satisfaction in actually facing what she had been too afraid to attempt since the accident
. But
…she dismissed her accomplishment…
I only climbed on that horse from necessity, and only because Tyler was with me every step of the way
.
At the thought of riding on her own, fear caused her stomach to clench, and her heartbeat to speed up. Her thoughts leaped back in time to the fall, to the collision with the ground. Even jarred, dizzy, in physical agony, Lily heard the screams of her beloved mare and sound of the shot that put the horse out of pain, followed by the sudden silence from the animal, and the echo of the report in her ears. Old nausea cramped her stomach.
Don’t think of it. Don’t think!
Lily wrenched her mind back to the present, grabbing the edge of the rock where she sat for an anchor. A long time had passed since she’d relived her accident, and Lily had thought she’d never have to again. With a stab of disappointment, she realized,
no, I won’t ever be able to ride by myself.
To distract herself, Lily studied the rock garden. On a long, low hill that sloped to the stream, someone had set stones into the side and planted wild flowers in the pockets of dirt above them. They made her think of opera boxes filled with ladies in colorful gowns.
Tyler’s mother must have loved cool tones.
Lily admired the blues, purples, and pinks of the different flowers.
She recognized the tight-coiled lavender blossoms of the Silverleaf Phacelia, the Side-flowered Miterwort’s delicate pinkish flowers arranged on one side of their erect stems, the showy clumps of blue and lavender Jacob’s Ladder, and the Parry’s Townsendia, with the daisy-like purple ray petals. But a few were new to her, and Lily wondered if they were native, and she could paint them. She’d have to ask Mrs. Pendell.
As she soaked, the ache in her hip subsided. She moved her leg to experiment and felt the familiar dull twinge of pain. Not completely better, but far improved from the stabbing she’d expected.
She inhaled a happy breath. The faintest scent of minerals lingered in the air. The babbling of the brook made a soothing rhythm to her thoughts.
I wish I could live here. Bathe every day in this water.
With both hands, Lily rubbed her hip and the flesh of her leg, kneading the relaxed muscles. She forced herself to dig into the tight spots, taking the deep breaths she’d learned helped ease her through the pain.
Her thoughts drifted to Tyler Dunn, to the feeling of being held in his arms. Wistfulness curled through her heart, and she wished for the freedom to enjoy the attentions of a man…to indulge in a ladylike flirtation…to fall in love. Although the wishes weren’t new, for the first time, she had someone to weave the fantasy around. She could easily paint a romantic dream of living here with Tyler. But Lily knew dreaming about such a life would only make it harder to live with her reality.
Yet she couldn’t help imagining him in a pool like this—naked as a newborn babe—yet all man.
CHAPTER FIVE
Tyler leaned against the big rock that provided a backrest, grateful to soak his chilled body and to have quiet time to think.
Oliver sat across from him on a higher stone near where the cold water entered the pool. His son had gathered some leaves and was uncharacteristically silent, absorbed in sailing them across his patch of water.
The hot water hurt where it touched Tyler’s skin, but he gritted his teeth, knowing he’d soon adjust to the temperature. As the tingling pain of the heat eased, he relaxed, feeling grateful for the springs. Once again he blessed the wisdom of his paternal grandparents, early settlers to this country. They’d chosen this land, with both mineral thermal springs and sweet cold springs, and plenty of water crisscrossing the spread. The ranch wasn’t large, like Carter’s or Thompson’s, but big enough to provide for all those who lived and worked here, which was enough for him.
Oliver stood. “I’m going inside, Pa. I bet Mrs. Pendell will give me a biscuit with jam.”
Tyler grinned at him and sent a small splash his son’s direction. “Won’t take that bet.”
Oliver scrambled out of the pool, dried, dressed, and ran off.
Tyler leaned his head back and looked to the heavens.
Bathing in hot water, with the wide blue sky overhead, and green of springtime promising plentiful grazing and a good beginning to the small acres of cropland he and the hands had planted, a man could wish for no more. He looked upstream at the fence that hid Lily Maxwell from his sight but not his imagination.
For the first time since Laura’s desertion, Tyler could think without bitterness of being with a woman. When his body had reacted to Lily sitting against him, Tyler realized he’d been numb for far too long. He imagined her sitting in the pool, her small breasts bobbing with the water, her limbs smooth and white.
Although he shouldn’t be having lascivious thoughts about a lady who was his guest, just the thought of Lily bathing naked made his body feel more awake than it had since Laura left. And if he were completely truthful with himself, long before then.
Did my wife turn to another man because of my neglect?
Yet Laura had rejected him far too often after Oliver’s birth, until he’d mostly given up approaching her. The lack of regular relations had hurt and bothered him at the time, but not like the devastation Laura had caused when she ran away—with a painter, no less.
Tyler squished down the niggling worry that he’d caused her flight...that he might cause another woman to turn away from him. He shook his head to dislodge thoughts of his unfaithful wife.
Women are too much trouble. Don’t even think of getting’ entangled with another.
He closed his eyes and focused on the warmth that seeped away the river’s chill.
Lily Maxwell is not for me.
~ ~ ~
Just about the time Lily was becoming overheated, Mrs. Pendell returned. “How are you feeling, Miss Lily?” she asked.
Progress. From Miss Maxwell to calling me Miss Lily.
“Better than I have in days,” Lily said, truthfully.
“Good. Let’s get you out of there and into clean clothes.” The housekeeper held out a hand to Lily. “For now, I’ve hung yours on the clothesline to dry.”
Lily grasped Mrs. Pendell’s hand and, to her delight, navigated the climb up far more gracefully than she had the one down. The breeze played over her hot body, the cool air teasing her skin.
Mrs. Pendell wrapped her in a towel that covered her from knee to shoulder.
Lily took the two steps, reveling in being able to walk with only the slightest limp. The pain would return as her body cooled and stiffened. But for now…
Bliss
!
Mrs. Pendell helped her dress.
The skirt and shirtwaist hung on her. But Lily liked the pale blue material, which she knew would bring out the color of her eyes.
And just why do I want to look good?
But as soon as she asked herself the question, she knew the answer.
Because of the naked man who was enjoying a bath just twenty yards away from where she stood.
Lily stepped sideways around the fence and her hip twinged at the wider stride, although the ache wasn’t nearly as bad as it had been. But the slight pain served as a reminder of why she shouldn’t let her mind wander in the direction of a man, lest her heart soon followed. Falling in love would just make her solitary life even lonelier.
CHAPTER SIX
Lily walked into the warm kitchen, self-conscious about wearing Mrs. Pendell’s too-big clothes. The good woman stood by the stove, ladling stew from a pot into a blue willow patterned tureen. Four men and the boy sat around the long table, Tyler at the head, Oliver next to him, Habakkuk near the other end, and two men she didn’t know in the middle.
They all turned at her entrance.
Dove wiggled out from under her blanket, stood, shook, and ambled over, pressing against her leg.
“Hi, baby.” Lily petted the dog. She was glad to see Dove was almost dry.
Chairs scraped back, and the men stood.
Oliver scrambled to his feet and flashed her a cheeky grin.
Her face heated, and Lily tried not to limp as she made her way over to the table. Tyler pulled out the chair next to him and across from Oliver.
Lily perched on the edge of the chair, allowing Tyler to scoot it forward, then slid back in the seat.
Dove plopped down next to her chair.
Lily nodded at the two men she didn’t know.
Both ducked their heads and looked away, before their gazes returned for a moment and dropped down to their plates.
They’re shy.
Tyler introduced them as Hank and Aaron, and each bobbed their head in her direction. Hank was long and lean, with a pointed chin, and Aaron was a bit taller than Tyler with tan, even features and dark brown hair.
Mrs. Pendell placed the tureen of stew in front of the rancher. Tyler took a hold of the ladle and motioned for Lily to hand him her plate. He gave her a generous helping and passed the plate back.
Lily set the food down in front of her. The rich aroma made her stomach rumble, and she realized she was starving. But she politely waited until Tyler had served the men.
Mrs. Pendell placed a large basket with biscuits in front of Tyler.
Surely, they can’t eat that many?
The housekeeper added a round crock of butter and a jar of purple jam to the table.
Tyler took a biscuit, set it on his plate, and passed the basket to her.
The basket was heavy, and Lily handed it to Aaron, and waited until he held the sides before she took one for herself. The roll felt warm in her hand, and the yeasty scent of fresh bread made her hunger sharpen.
Mrs. Pendell took the empty seat at the foot of the table, which seemed to be the signal for Tyler to fold his hands and bow his head.
Everyone else followed suit.
Tyler said a prayer, thanking the Lord for the food. Then to Lily’s amazement, he went on to express gratitude for Dove’s rescue and the presence of Lily at their table.
Touched by his words, Lily silently echoed her thankfulness for Dove’s deliverance, then trailed a thought of gratitude for the hot pool that had made her body feel so much better.