“I got him the blanket,” Oliver piped up.
She sent the boy a tenuous smile. “What a smart boy you are.”
Oliver pointed. “It was really Pa’s idea.”
She relaxed against him. “How smart you
both
are. And very courageous.” Although she strove for a light tone, Tyler could hear the tears behind it.
He liked the feeling of her in his arms, although he suspected the woman didn’t realize she’d leaned into him for comfort. Up close, he could see she was pretty, with a fine-boned, narrow face and long-lashed violet eyes that reminded him of pansies. “I think you’re shaken up, ma’am. Why don’t we get you and Dove to the fire?”
She sat upright. Pink tinged her cheeks. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize how wet you are. You must warm yourself lest you become chilled.”
Tyler shivered from the cold and was glad she wasn’t close enough to notice, although she was shaking, too. “It’s goin’ to take more than a little river water to make me chilled,” he lied.
He rose to his feet, wincing as the breeze whipped through his wet clothes, then leaned over to take Dove out of her arms.
Her hesitancy made Tyler suspect she was reluctant to release the dog, but common sense won out, and she relinquished the animal.
Holding the dog under one arm, he extended a hand to help her up.
She set her left hand, long-fingered and bare of any rings, in his, and obviously needed his support to rise to her feet.
He couldn’t help comparing her awkward movements with Laura’s grace. The contrast to the woman who’d abandoned him and Oliver worked in this lady’s favor.
Once she’d settled on her feet, he didn’t relinquish her hand, suspecting she’d continue to need his strength to walk over the uneven ground. He just hoped his power would continue to hold out. The cold water had sapped his energy, and he was like an engine that’d run out of steam. He wanted nothing more than to sit by the warm fire and dry off.
Oliver galloped by the lady’s side, babbling out the story of the rescue.
She nodded and made appropriate encouraging noises.
They had to walk about a hundred yards before they reached the campfire.
The dog grew heavier with each step. Once, the creature looked up at him with such trust and gratitude Tyler felt moved. He wasn’t given to keeping pets, working as he did with stock and needing a watchdog to warn off predators, but this animal seemed…almost human somehow.
Without being prompted, Oliver raced back. He snatched Tyler’s hat off the ground and took it with him. At the fire, the boy grabbed up the spare blanket and shook it out.
Good thing we brought extras
.
I thought we might get wet.
They’d left saddle blankets spread in front of the fire, and Tyler guided the lady to one and helped her sit, and then wrapped a blanket around her. He handed the dog to her, and sank gratefully onto Domino’s blanket, allowing Oliver to drape the big one he held over his shoulders. “Thank you, son.”
The lady vigorously toweled off the dog. When she ceased her efforts, he could see a very wet spaniel. She wrapped the blanket around the dog and pulled him back into her arms.
Tyler yanked off his boots, turned them over to dump out the water, propped them by the fire, then extended his hands and feet toward the welcome warmth. He gave the lady a sideways glance.
She looked at his feet, consternation on her pretty face.
Self-conscious, Tyler glanced back at his toes to check for any holes in his stockings, but felt relieved to see they looked decent. Not that his cook and housekeeper, Mrs. Pendell, would leave any undarned stockings in his drawer. But she often complained about how hard he was on his clothes, and a hole might have popped up between the time he pulled them on and now.
“I’m so very grateful to you,” the lady said in a low voice, with just the hint of a tremor. “You’ve saved my dog, and now you’re wet and cold…”
With an effort, Tyler tried to control his shivers but wasn’t sure he succeeded. To change the subject, he introduced himself and Oliver, explaining that she’d found herself on his land.
“Oh, forgive me my manners,” she exclaimed. “I’m Lily Maxwell, and my sweet little girl here is Dove.”
Tyler reached over and rubbed the dog’s head. “We’ve been calling her a him.” Another batch of shivers shook him. He could feel his teeth start to chatter. “I think we need to forego our trout dinner, Oliver, and get back to the house. We’ll get Dove dry.”
And me too.
“No need, Pa,” Oliver said, his eyes alight with eagerness. “We’ll bring the trout with us, and Mrs. Pendell can cook them on the stove.”
Tyler laughed and ruffled Oliver’s brown hair. “We’ll send Hank back to get them. We first need to see to Miss Maxwell’s comfort.”
“Yes, Pa.”
Tyler wasn’t sure how he felt about bringing a woman to his home. But he had no choice. He certainly couldn’t leave her here.
~ ~ ~
Lily let the conversation flow over her. She squeezed Dove to her chest, more grateful than she’d ever felt to have her dear baby in her arms.
I love you so much, and
I almost lost you
.
Even though she knew Dove was safe, Lily couldn’t recover from the horror of the experience. Inside she still trembled. If she’d been alone, she would have burst into deep sobs. Instead she suppressed them, striving to appear as if all was well.
She realized Tyler had fallen silent, and two pairs of gray eyes stared at her. The man had rugged features, and the boy took after him.
“Amazing how life can change in a moment,” she told them, trying to convey what she was feeling. “I was perfectly happy, enjoying the day. Then Dove chased a bird off a rock and fell into the water… If I’d lost her, especially through my own carelessness, I’d have been
haunted
by her death. I would never forgive myself and would have grieved for her for a long time. Maybe always.”
Lily braced herself for the
it’s just a dog
comment that would likely follow. People, especially men, didn’t love their dogs like she loved Dove.
Mr. Dunn gave a thoughtful nod. “I had something like that happen to me when I was only a few years older than this little shaver here.” He ruffled his son’s hair.
“What happened?”
I don’t think I can tell you that story, ma’am. I’ll bawl like a baby.” His voice sounded teasing, but the pain in his eyes was very real.
He does understand.
The shared moment lingered between them.
With reluctance, Lily looked away to break the tenuous connection.
“Miss Maxwell?”
She glanced back at him.
“My house isn’t far from here. We’ll bring you back with us. Let my housekeeper fuss over you.”
He didn’t mention a wife.
“Do you have a horse?”
Lily repressed a shudder at the thought. “No. Pepe from the livery stable picked me up from Mrs. Murphy’s, drove me here in the surrey, and dropped me off.”
“He left you here alone?”
At the sound of his disapproving tone, she lifted her chin. “Of course.”
“Is Pepe picking you up?” Mr. Dunn must have recognized he was treading on dangerous ground, for his tone sounded milder.
She lowered her chin. “Yes, at three o’clock.”
Tipping back his head, he glanced at the sun. “I’ll send one of my hands to town to let him know where you are, and that I’ll drive you back.”
“Thank you, you’re quite kind.”
Mr. Dunn pulled his boots on and stood, grimacing. “We’d best get back to the house and warm up.” He stood, picked up the saddle blanket and strode toward the pinto.
Lily dropped a kiss on Dove’s wet head, and then set her on the ground. “Stay.”
Dove didn’t try to wiggle out of the blanket.
When Lily looked up, Mr. Dunn had saddled the horse and returned to where she sat. He extended his hand.
She placed her hand in his and started to rise. But her leg hitched, the pain in her hip worse than it had been in a long time. She gasped and sank back down.
He crouched down by her. “Are you hurt?”
She tried to smile in reassurance, hating to talk about her lameness. “An old injury. Broken leg and hip. When I tripped, I wrenched it.”
As he glanced from her to his horse, a frown wrinkled his brow. “This isn’t going to be easy, Miss Maxwell. Getting you on my horse…riding to the house…is going to cause you pain.”
“Oh, no. I can’t possibly get on a horse!” The fear, which had started to ease from Lily’s body, tightened her muscles again. “I’ll wait here for Pepe.”
“You can’t stay here.” He gave a pointed look at her dress.
Lily became aware of the breeze blowing through her wet garments and shivered.
If I’m freezing, he must be cold too.
But even with the knowledge of how much she owed him, she couldn’t bring herself to mount his horse.
“You
and
Dove need to get warm.”
Lily glanced at Dove, and her stomach knotted.
The dog shivered under the blanket, misery in her brown eyes, instead of her usual happy expression.
I can’t.
Lily bit her lip and shook her head, not daring to make eye contact.
Mr. Dunn made an exasperated sound. “Why?”
Lily made herself tell him the shameful truth. “Because I’m afraid. No,” she forced out the truth, “terrified!”
His brow creased, and he looked at her, his eyes puzzled. “Terrified? Of me?”
“Oh, not you, Mr. Dunn.”
He gave an impatient shake of his head. “Call me Tyler.”
She wet her lips. “My accident was caused by a fall from a horse.”
“Ah.” He rocked back on his heels. “I promise not to let anything happen to you.” He stopped. “Well, not more than you already have experienced. I won’t deny getting you on and off that horse will hurt, but… Will you trust me, Miss Maxwell?”
After what they’d just been through, the familiar address sounded right. She pointed back and forth to the space between them. “Lily. If you’re Tyler, I’m Lily.”
“All right, then.”
She shrugged. “I’m used to pain, Mr…Tyler.”
Tyler held out his hand. “Trust me, Lily.”
Slowly, she extended her hand and slid her fingers into his. His hand was cold, but the squeeze he gave her felt warm.
“I’m going to put my other hand under your arm and pull you to your feet. Ready?”
Lily braced herself, and when he lifted, she pushed herself to her feet, biting back a groan at the fiery stab of pain.
His arm slipped back to steady her. “Is it always this bad?”
She leaned against him, grateful for his strength. “Running after Dove, the fall…jarred me. I’ll be all right in a few days.”
If I stay bedridden.
Although she could hardly say so to a man.
But I can’t
, Lily realized, despair making her weak.
I need to paint the flowers before the deadline.
“I don’t see how you can ride astride, so I’ll put you sideways on the saddle. You’ll have to hook your good leg over the horn. I’ll ride on the rump. Domino’s going to wonder what the heck we’re doing,” he livened his tone in an obvious attempt to make her relax. “But he’s a good steady gelding, so we won’t have any trouble.”
During their conversation, Oliver had been petting Dove’s head and talking to her.
“Son,” Tyler said to Oliver. “I want you to bring Domino over to that boulder.” Tyler indicated with his chin which one he meant.
“Yes, Pa.” Oliver gave Dove one last pat, leaped to his feet, and ran to the horse and pony. He led them over to the rock.
“Here we go.” Tyler scooped her into his arms and carried her to the rock.
If she didn’t hurt so much, Lily would have enjoyed being in his arms. As the situation was, pain from the movement made her bite her lip to keep from crying out.
He set her down on the surface and held her until she found her balance. “You steady?”
“Yes,” Lily murmured, sure her cheeks must be red from embarrassment. In spite of her wet dress, when he had picked her up, heat flashed through her, unlike anything she’d ever felt before.
Tyler climbed on the rock behind her. He wasn’t much taller than her, only a few inches, and there was just enough room for the two of them. He turned her, and she looked up at him, their faces close enough to kiss.
Tyler’s eyes focused on her mouth, making her heart run crazy, and she wondered if he was thinking the same thing. He looked away and extended a hand for the reins of both the horse and pony. “Unbuckle the scabbard and put it on your pony.” he told his son. “Then fetch the rifle and sheath it.”
They waited while Oliver followed his father’s directions. When he was finished, the boy ran over to them, carrying his father’s hat, and gave it to him.
Tyler set the hat on his head and handed back Domino’s reins. “Hold his head, son.”
“Yes, Pa.”
“Can you give me a little jump, Miss Lily? “Tyler spanned her waist with his hands. “Put your hands on my shoulders now and…”