Unending Devotion (Michigan Brides #1)(102)
“I think,” Stuart continued, “the townspeople made it clear they don’t want Carr or any of his men around anymore. It’s only a matter of time before he moves out of Harrison.”
“Good.” But at the moment, she couldn’t even take consolation from the fact that she’d had a part in the man’s downfall. It all was too little, too late.
“Maybe with your help,” Stuart offered, “we’ll be able to close up a few more taverns.”
She shook her head, fighting back the overwhelming emotions that threatened to make her start sobbing again.
“And we had twenty-three in attendance at the Red Ribbon Society meeting last night—”
“I can’t stay, Stuart.” She finally met his gaze. She was sure he could read the truth in her eyes, along with her regret at having to hurt him.
His kind eyes clouded.
When she looked over at Connell, at the haggard lines that drew his handsome features tight, she couldn’t keep her heart from leaping at the remembrance of his whispered declaration of love.
He’d told her he loved her.
But had he meant it? Or had he spoken the words out of the desperation of the moment?
Surely he could see the questions in her eyes. The desire for him to declare his love for her again. To promise to take her away from this place and never return.
He shoved his hands into his pockets and didn’t say anything. Even the depths of his eyes were murky and unreadable.
She dropped her chin, but not before she caught sight of the understanding on Stuart’s face. He knew why she couldn’t stay with him. His face acknowledged what her heart was afraid to admit—that she was in love with Connell.
“Lily needs some time away from this Godforsaken town,” Oren muttered. “I’m taking her back home. At first light.”
Home. The word was warm and comforting and wrapped around her like a fresh spring wind.
He was offering her something she’d never had. A home. With him.
She reached for Oren’s hand and squeezed it. “You’re right. I need some time—time to sort out my life.”
He pressed back, his eyes promising her that he’d take care of her and give her everything she needed.
As much as her heart longed for Connell to declare his love for her again, to sweep her off her feet and take her somewhere where they could always be together, she was grateful for Oren and his offer. He was giving her a chance at permanence, at settling down, at belonging.
She didn’t need Connell. Instead, she probably needed some time to get used to the idea of not taking care of Daisy anymore, of letting her go, and finding how she fit into the plans God was piecing together for her life.
Besides, hadn’t she been the one to say that she and Connell were too different, that they should go their separate ways?
She smiled at Oren. “Let’s go home.”
If only her heart didn’t already miss Connell.
Chapter
30
Glorious spring sunshine poured through the large windows of the photo studio and bathed Lily in warmth. She dipped her rag into the sudsy bucket of water and splashed it against the glass.
In the darkroom, down the hallway, she could hear the clinking of vials as Oren prepared the daily emulsion, dissolving nitrate of silver in a bromised gelatine. He’d taught her how to spread the mixture over the plates that would eventually go into the camera.
She didn’t enjoy the process of preparing the plates as much as she did the actual picture taking, which Oren had started teaching her too.
She rubbed at the window, making it sparkle, the vinegar in the cleaning solution tickling her nose. The sunshine would make for a good day in the studio, providing the necessary lighting. Thankfully, their appointment book was full.
In the early morning, the traffic on Washington Avenue outside the shop was still slow. With the recent spring thaw, the streets were nothing but giant mud puddles. By midday, they would swarm with all the shanty boys who’d left the camps during the river drives and had come to spend their hard-earned cash in the taverns and brothels of Bay City.
She tried not to think that Daisy was somewhere in the middle of all the debauchery.
It was easier to pretend she’d gone somewhere new, somewhere to make a decent life for herself.
With a sigh, Lily paused her robust efforts of cleaning the window. She’d tried hard over the past month to accept that Daisy was gone and hadn’t wanted to be with her, but the rejection still stung.
She hadn’t been able to understand why Daisy had run away again. She wasn’t sure that she ever would.
But she’d honored Daisy’s wishes and hadn’t gone looking for her. Although that hadn’t stopped her from wanting to march down to Hell’s Half Mile and search until she found her. And it didn’t stop her from asking Mrs. McCormick if she’d heard from or seen Daisy every time the dear woman visited the studio.
But the answer was always the same: She hadn’t seen Daisy anywhere.
Her sister had disappeared. And apparently not even Tierney knew where she’d gone.
And, of course, Mrs. McCormick always had news of Connell. She claimed he had approached his father with plans for reform within the company and had begun implementing some of the changes, even though Mr. McCormick had been opposed. It was clear Mrs. McCormick was proud of Connell.