Promise Canyon (Virgin River #13)(52)

Someone handed her a soda and a couple more people joined them--Walt Booth and his lady friend, Muriel, who looked familiar and, Lilly learned, had had a hand in setting up the weekend sale. Lilly heard more about how Hope McCrea had been so well-known in the town and yet a mystery to so many.

"There was a lot more to Hope than met the eye," Muriel said. "We found some valuable art in her house that has been taken to auction, and some stories have come out of the paintings. One artist, whose estate has established an impressive online catalog, began her watercolor career just south of here. During the Depression she painted in exchange for food for her family--Hope actually had four of her paintings, which have become very valuable. Not only did Hope have a good eye for art, she was helping neighbors a long while before this was even a real town."

All around them was the atmosphere of a fair--the kids on ponies or the little merry-go-round, chasing each other through the big trees, people lounging in their lawn chairs with a beer or hot dog, watching as people came and went out of the house, happily carrying their finds. Lilly wasn't sure how long she'd been standing with new friends and old, maybe over an hour, when it happened.

She saw Clay coming up the drive; he must have parked down the road and walked the rest of the way. She filled her eyes with him; there was no more beautiful man on the face of the earth.

"There's Clay," Annie said to Nathaniel. "Did you know he was coming?"

Nathaniel laughed and glanced at Lilly. "I doubt he's here for the antiques."

Lilly barely heard; a slight smile touched her lips. She knew he hadn't come to shop, and it was such a nice surprise.

Clay saw them, waved, smiled and continued toward Lilly. He wore jeans and boots; it was unusual to see him in anything else. His shirt was denim, his hat bore the eagle feather and his hair was loose. Some of it fell over his shoulder while the rest flowed down his back.

"Good," Nate said. "He can meet Jack and some of the Virgin River guys."

"Oh, I know Clay," Jack said. "He's eaten at the bar a few times. Very nice guy." Jack waved a hand in front of Lilly's face to get her attention. "I don't know too much about Native American culture--I don't even know if this is a dumb question. Are you two from the same tribe or something?"

Lilly laughed lightly, sentimentally. "Our tribes are legendary enemies."

Jack watched her face. "You gonna be able to work that out?" he asked with a sly grin.

"I don't think we have a choice," she said, her eyes moving back to Clay.

Clay neared, aiming right for her, his smile broadening just as she felt a light seem to shine from within her. Clay went first to Lilly before acknowledging anyone else and the very moment his hands reached for hers, there was a crash.

Lilly spun around and saw Dane sprawled on the steps of the porch, looking shocked and a little wild-eyed, surrounded by the scattered sterling flatware that had spilled out of the leather case he held against his chest. His eyes were locked on Lilly and Clay and his long legs were splayed down the stairs.

"Dane!" she shouted, running to him.

Clay looked at Annie with a frown. "That's Dane?"

"You don't know Dane? He owns a coffee shop near my beauty parlor--he's a good friend of mine. And Lilly's."

Clay gave a nod that was more a lift of his chin. "I haven't met him yet." Then he began to slowly walk toward Lilly and Dane.

When Lilly got to Dane, she knelt on the step. "What in the world happened?"

Dane looked a little flushed. "Is that him?" he whispered, nodding over Lilly's shoulder. Lilly took a quick glance, then nodded back at Dane. "Good Lord! You didn't mention he was friggin' Adonis!"

She chuckled a little. "I told you he was handsome."

"Lilly, I'm handsome. He's a friggin' Adonis!"

"Yeah, and then some," she agreed.

"No shit. Whew." Dane wiped his forehead. "I went into a trance when I saw him walking up the road. Then when he reached for you and I realized--"

Clay towered over them. "You okay, man?"

"Um, yeah. Okay," Dane said, sitting up on a step. "Guess I slipped. I must have had... I don't know..."

"Maybe it was the vapors," Lilly suggested wryly. "Let's pick up your silverware. I can take you home."

With Clay lifting one elbow and Lilly lifting the other, Dane seemed to stand a bit shakily, but his head was twisted toward Clay, looking up at him in sheer wonder.

Lilly gave his arm a shake. "Did you hit your head?" she asked sharply.

He finally relaxed his intoxicated gaze and turned toward Lilly. He grinned stupidly. "No, not exactly. I don't have to go home. I just, I don't know, caught my heel on the last step." He shook himself. "I am going to put this silverware I just bought in the Jeep, however."

"You do that," she said, crouching to begin picking up pieces. Between the three of them, it didn't take long to gather up the spilled items. Then Dane was off down the drive to Lilly's vehicle with his treasure. He looked back over his shoulder a couple of times, as if to be sure he'd really seen Clay. On about the third glance, Clay gave an abbreviated wave.

"I'm starting to catch on," he said to Lilly.