Charlene Sands by Lily Gets Her Man Page B

it from his impish child. He always believed in doing your fair share. It was what ranch life was all about.
    An errant thought filtered in his mind. Lizabeth. Ranch life had been hard on her. In the end, it killed her. He never should’ve brought her here. God knows, if he hadn’t, she’d be alive today.
    So now he was to take another wife. For Bethann, for the ranch. Tyler would be decent to her, but he’d not love her. He couldn’t. This time, marriage held no special meaning to him. It was a means to an end. So be it.
    Tyler searched Lily’s face. She was a good woman. She’d saved his life. She deserved more than he could give. But he knew if she wasn’t in a desperate situation, she wouldn’t agree to his proposal.
    “I’ll send for the preacher tomorrow.” He’d tried to keep the regret out of his voice and honestly didn’t know if he’d managed.
    “No!”
    Tyler winced at her sharp tone. “Lily, I’m not one for going to church, but if you want a church wed—”
    “No, you don’t understand. I don’t want to get married. I meant I’d take you up on your job proposal. That is, if the offer still stands?”
    “Y-yes. I, uh—” Tyler was baffled. Was this the same woman who made short work of telling him how improper living on the ranch without benefit of marriage would be?
    “Good.” She breathed out a heavy sigh. “I’m asking thirty dollars a month. And I want to plant a garden.”
    Tyler let it all sink in. He wasn’t getting married, but rather hiring an employee. He should be rejoicing. But it didn’t set right with him. Why was Lily doing this?
    “I’ll pay you forty and you can have your garden.”
    Her expression changed from courageous to plain curious. He’d offered her the same pay as his ranch hands.
    “And what would you expect for your forty dollars a month, Mr. Kincaide?” He imagined the bristles on the back of her neck going up. She folded her arms across her chest and waited.
    “You’ll do the household chores, keep the place clean, cook the meals, but more than anything, I want you to care for my daughter. She’s most important. There’ll be times she’ll get stubborn. She won’t want to do as she’s told. Got a wild streak in her that needs taming.”
    “I’ve seen it. I think I can manage her. She’s a sweet child who needs guidance, is all.”
    “She’s the only thing that makes life worth living. That and the ranch.”
    Lily nodded. “I understand.” She hesitated, staring into his eyes. “Is that all you’ll be expecting?”
    Even in the darkened room, Tyler saw a pink blush rise to her face, bringing a rosy hue to her cheeks. And the color brought out the blue in her pale eyes, making them look like a cloudless spring sky. Her silky waist-length hair draped over her shoulders. Tyler blinked, remembering his stolen glance days ago after the shooting, of two small, well-rounded breastshidden beneath a thin cotton chemise. His body hardened at the thought.
    “’Less there’s anything more you might want to give, Lily,” he said softly.
    “No.” It was her flat-out answer. Tyler knew as much. He sighed inwardly. What was he thinking? Lily, always the proper lady.
    But for the briefest moment she seemed…
    Nah! Tyler wasn’t going to let his imaginings get the best of him. It was probably time to visit the ladies at the Golden Garter. He’d harbor no such illusions about Miss Lillian Brody.
    He was her employer now. It’d be best to remember that. He had nothing to offer her but a roof over her head and a paycheck at the end of the month. “Why’d you change your mind, anyway?”
    Lily’s shoulders slumped. She seemed nervous, as if she were debating about telling him something. “My uncle moved west. It’ll be a while before I can locate him.”
    “So you’re still planning on leaving?”
    “Yes, in time. I don’t know when I’ll find him.”
    “I need to know you’ll be here till after we drive the cattle north. Cattle drive