Painted Montana Sky: A Montana Sky Series Novella by Debra Holland Page B

so frozen for so long. “Truth is, Lily, I’ll never forget you, either.”
    ~ ~ ~
    The next day, Lily sat at her easel in front of a thicket of thimbleberry trying to capture an image of the maple-like leaves and white flowers, with five flat petals that shaped a star. A relatively easy specimen . Or so she’d thought.
    The thicket made a natural hedge between the clothesline and the small meadow, and with the height of the shrubs, Lily didn’t even have to bend to see them, or pluck off a specimen for closer study.
    Dove slept nearby in the shade of the thicket, exhausted from playing with her new friend, Patches. The bigger dog had worn out the spaniel, and then ambled off to the barn, presumably to look for Habakkuk.
    After another frustrated attempt, Lily ripped her current composition off the easel. Without waiting for the painted side to dry, she tore the drawing in half, then quarters, wadded it up, and petulantly tossed it to the ground to join its fellows. That action wasn’t enough to ease her ire, so she stood and, with her good leg, kicked the ball.
    The paper sailed up and into the hands of the man coming toward her, splattering green paint across his cheeks.
    Tyler held up the paper, laughter in his eyes.
    Horrified about being caught in such a childish act, Lily clapped her hands to her face and wished she could sink into the ground. Maybe by the time she reappeared, Tyler would have forgotten her unladylike behavior.
    Dove surged to her feet and scampered over to sniff Tyler’s leg.
    “Mighty fine kick you have there, Lily.” He wiped the back of his hand across his face, smearing the paint.
    Lily let out an inward groan. She smoothed down the paint-splattered apron covering her dress and leaned over to pick up a damp rag hooked onto the bottom of the easel. She held the rag out to him. “You have paint on your face. And the back of your hand, too.”
    Tyler crooked an eyebrow, looking mischievous. “Then I guess you’d better wipe it off. I’ll probably just spread it around.” He walked forward, pushed back his hat, and leaned close.
    Lily gently scrubbed at his cheek. When she finished, she had to resist kissing the reddened area. “There.” She made her tone sound hearty. “All better.”
    He straightened, waving a hand to the scrunched-up papers caught in the thimbleberry shrub.
    She pressed her lips together, and then sighed. “My unsuccessful attempts to paint a thimbleberry flower. Something that should be easy.”
    He used both hands to center his hat on his head. “Oliver’s home from school, and Mrs. Pendell sent me to tell you she just took out a batch of oatmeal cookies.”
    Lily cast a longing glance in the direction of the house. “No,” she said reluctantly. “I need to stay here and focus. The deadline hangs over me waking and sleeping.” She sank onto the campstool and resolutely clipped another sheet to the easel.
    Tyler extended his hand to her. “I happen to know Mrs. Pendell’s oatmeal cookies are good for what ails you. Taking a break for a few minutes might do the trick.”
    Lily had to laugh at his combination of timeworn phrases. Maybe he’s right. But I shouldn’t….
    Laughter lit his eyes. “Or, maybe some of Mrs. Pendell’s thimbleberry wine will provide some inspiration.”
      “I give in. Cookies, though, not the wine.” She put her hand in his and let him assist her up.
    He held on until she was steady, then lingered before releasing her hand.
    Touching him felt so good. Lily had to resist clutching his fingers and not letting go.
    Only a few more days , she lamented, longing for more time with Tyler. But she also knew she needed to leave before Green Valley Ranch and the people who lived here burrowed too deeply into her heart.

 
    CHAPTER NINE
     
    Tyler halted Domino in the side yard between the two-story Thompson ranch house and their big barn. After partaking of cookies and milk with Lily and his son, he’d set out to ask a favor from a