Unending Devotion (Michigan Brides #1)(53)

“That’s the problem. Nothing has happened with Frankie.” Her voice was edged with frustration. “Absolutely nothing. And I can’t let that be true of Daisy too.”

With that, she spun and began to stride away from them, her boots crunching in loud defiance, the white puffs of her breath coming in short bursts.

Tierney stepped back, crossed his arms, and watched them, his eyes sparkling with merriment—as if he were watching a scene unfold on the stage at the theater.

If Lily got in trouble, Connell was going to hold Tierney responsible. If only the scoundrel had minded his own business.

“Go home, Tierney!” Anger pounded through Connell’s chest with a ferocity that rivaled what he’d felt the day he’d discovered Tierney with Rosemarie, both half clothed and flushed with their passion. “Just go away. And don’t come back.”

He didn’t wait to see Tierney’s reaction to his harsh words. If he never saw Tierney again, he’d count himself a happy man.

He sucked in a breath of air that froze his lungs and plunged after Lily, easily overtaking her. He circled his fingers around her arm and forced her to a stop.

“Let me go,” she said between clenched teeth, holding herself as rigid as a hardwood beech. “I need to go get her. That’s my baby sister. She needs me. I can feel it.”

“You have to understand you can’t go up there by yourself and expect Carr to let her go. Not Bella—his big moneymaker.”

Along Main Street, faces peeked out of frosty windows. Some even opened their doors to watch the commotion. He didn’t have to try to imagine what people were thinking. He knew the scene would only stir up more gossip.

“Go ahead and get mad at me,” he half whispered. “But I’m not letting you go up there.” Her safety was too important to let her run off to the Stockade. “After the way Carr kidnapped Frankie in broad daylight, I don’t trust the man. Not in the least.”

Her eyes wavered.

“I’m not the enemy, Lily,” he said softly. “Believe it or not, I really do want to help you.”

She trembled, just slightly, but it was enough for him to feel all the worry, excitement, and sorrow coursing through her.

“Let’s come up with a plan together. Okay?” Even as he said the words, he knew he could do nothing less than help her. Maybe he’d regret the decision later when he was sane. But at that moment, with her heartache over Daisy so plain in every tense muscle, he couldn’t resist. “We’ll figure out something—some way to get her out of there. Together.”

She hesitated and searched his face. “If you want to help me, then come with me now. I can’t bear to think of her being in that place another minute. Even another second is too long.”

“But Carr won’t let her go without a fight. If we have any hope of getting her out alive, we’ll have to do it in secret.” If Daisy even wanted rescuing. But he didn’t dare douse Lily’s hopes.

She shook her head, impatience battling across the lovely features of her face. But then she glanced to the growing crowd they were attracting. She quickly broke free of his grasp and took a step back.

“I suppose as hard as it is, I’ll need to tie up my impulsiveness?”

“If you tie it up, then you’ll prevent me from having to tie you up.” He hoped she could hear the banter in his voice. “And I don’t think you want me wrestling you to the ground and hog-tying you in the middle of Main Street.”

“Since everyone is already talking about us, why not give them something more?” The wry grin that tugged at one corner of her lips sent relief blowing through him.

“Then you’ll wait?”

She nodded, but all trace of humor dissipated. The expression in her face said she’d wait, but it wouldn’t be for long.

Tierney was still standing next to Stuart. Still smirking. Everything Tierney had just warned him about came careening back through his gut like a horse-drawn logging sled racing out of control on icy roads.

Tierney had made it very clear he wasn’t supposed to interfere with Carr’s business again. If he did, Carr would find a way to punish McCormick Lumber.

He didn’t even want to begin to imagine what Carr would do to anyone who helped steal one of his lucrative girls.

Connell swallowed hard.

How could he possibly help Lily rescue Daisy?

But how could he live with himself if he didn’t?





Chapter

16



Under the dim oil lamp in the dining room, Lily stared at the rough sketch of the Stockade, trying to ingrain every detail into her memory.

“He keeps his dogs here.” Stuart tapped the large piece of newsprint. “They’re at the back entry of the compound.”

“Does he keep them chained?” Connell peered over the edge of his spectacles to the X with the word dogs scrawled underneath.

“Bass didn’t say.” Stuart reached for another molasses cookie from the plate Vera had brought out from the kitchen when the men had arrived. In several quick bites, he devoured it.

Lily had lost count of how many he’d eaten—at least half of the heap. Of course Oren had helped eat a few but was now sitting in a chair in front of the fireplace, his feet propped on a crate and his pipe in his mouth.