Unending Devotion (Michigan Brides #1)(28)

“I’ll go up there,” he said.

“You will?”

He nodded. “I’ll see if I can find out what happened to her.”

Hope sprang to life, along with something else—something she couldn’t define—something that made her want to throw herself back against him and feel the solidness of his chest and arms again.

“But only if you promise you’ll stay here.” He leveled his gaze at her. “Promise you won’t go anywhere near the Stockade. Not now. Or ever.”

“I promise I’ll go back inside the hotel and wait for you.”

He studied her face for a long moment.

She couldn’t promise him she’d never go near the Stockade. Because the truth was, she’d go inside the pit of hell itself in order to find Daisy.

“All right, then.” He glanced toward the Stockade. Through the growing darkness the sharp points of the fence were like fangs waiting to capture anyone who came near.

“I’ll be praying for you,” she said.

“Good. I’ll need it.”





Chapter

9



Lily paced back and forth across the dining room until Oren barked at her.

“Sit down, girl, before you wear out my last nerve.”

She dropped to the nearest bench, perched on the edge, and drummed her fingers against the table. “He’s been gone for too long. What if Carr did something to him?”

Oren pushed his empty plate aside and reached inside his vest pocket for his pipe. He muttered under his breath, his overgrown mustache muting most of what he said.

“Don’t you worry about Connell.” Vera swiped at the table covering, brushing crumbs onto the floor. The stale scent of her overused dishrag lingered on every surface. “He’s strong. He’ll take care of himself.”

“I’m hoping he comes back with a broken arm.” Oren packed a pinch of tobacco into the bowl of the pipe with his thumb. “Then I won’t have to be the one to break it when he finally gets up enough nerve to touch Lily.”

“Oren!” Lily scolded through a smile. Good thing Oren didn’t know Connell already had touched her—even if it had only been brief.

“I see the way that man’s been looking at you,” Oren mumbled, adding another layer of tobacco. “Even a blind man could see that he can’t keep his eyes off you.”

Her inexperienced heart flushed with pleasure at Oren’s words.

“Connell McCormick’s a good boy.” Vera wiped her arm across her forehead, brushing her frazzled hair into greater disarray. “I haven’t met too many boys as good as Connell.”

Lily had to agree. She’d never known a man like Connell—someone so thoughtful and considerate.

“All I have to say is he’s lucky I haven’t poked out his eyeballs yet for all the liberty he’s takin’ looking at Lily.”

“He’s attracted to her,” Vera retorted, never afraid to give Oren the guff he deserved. “You can’t blame the boy. Lily’s probably the prettiest girl he’s ever laid eyes on.”

“Well, ’course she is.” Oren packed a last layer into his pipe.

Mr. Heller shyly nodded from his spot near the fireplace, where he was whittling on his usual stick.

Lily ducked her head at the words of praise. She wasn’t used to compliments. There hadn’t been much of anything but harsh words where she’d come from.

And was Vera right? Was Connell really attracted to her?

A small flame, like the one in the oil lamp hanging above the table, flickered in her stomach. Why would a man like Connell be interested in a girl like her?

But even as she tried to silently deny the validity of Vera’s declaration, she couldn’t keep her heart from warming at the thought of their encounter outside.

The door swung open and Lily jumped to her feet.

Connell stepped out of the blackness of the evening, and a blast of cold wind burst in with him.

She scanned him from his hat to his boots. The tension in her muscles evaporated. He was safe—not a scratch in sight.

He shoved the door behind him, fighting against another gust of wind. When it was finally closed, he swiped off his hat and blew out a long breath.

That’s when Lily realized he was alone.

Disappointment tumbled through her. “Where’s Frankie?”

His brow crinkled. And the sadness in his face only made her pulse patter faster.

“What happened?” She crossed to him, rubbing her arms to ward off the sudden chill.

His fingers fumbled with the edge of his hat. “She’s not there.”

“Really? Are you sure?”

“I’m positive.”

A whisper of hope wafted through her. “Then maybe she decided to leave Harrison. Maybe she took the train back to her home. Maybe she just didn’t know how to say good-bye.”

Connell didn’t say anything. Instead, his chin dipped and he stared at the brim of his hat, where his fingers twisted at the hard felt.

A cold shiver chased away the tiny voice of hope and left in its place a blaring warning. Something had gone wrong. Terribly wrong.

She took a step back, not sure she wanted to hear.

It was then Connell lifted his gaze and met hers straight on. “I’m sorry, Lily.”