Chapter 9

Trey heard horses approaching the house Sunday evening, and he sighed. Millie and Clayton were finally home. He had read so many books they were running together.

The front door opened and in entered the small redhead he’d missed so much carrying his son.

“Millie” he smiled.

Millie smiled back at him. “Hey, Trey” she handed Quinn to him.

“How’s my little man?” Trey asked.

“He’s fit as a fiddle. Doc Jacobs said he just needed to be worked with.”

Millie took up her luggage and walked up the stairs.

Millie threw her luggage on the bed and walked to the window. She felt so depressed knowing that it would be so long until she saw Texiss or any of her friends again. Those friends had been there through thick and thin, no matter how annoying, or immature, or angry she got. Those were her true friends.

“God, what am I going to do? I feel so alone now. Is it really Your plan for me to be here? Was I too quick to take this job? Did I not trust You enough to provide? I’m so confused” she collapsed down into the desk chair she had pulled over to the window and put her head in her hands. She knew that she was doubting God again. “Lord, help me not to doubt Your plans. I give this entire situation to You. Help me to take my hands off of the problem and let You take control.”

It sounded so easy when she put it that way, but she really hated letting go of a problem she was trying to remedy on her own. Moving her hands down, she slowly released her clenched fists, as if letting go of control.

Then, like a silent breeze, something swept through her soul that dislodged the lump of grief in her chest.

Peace. Peace telling that her was God was near, and that He understood.

His hand on her shoulder telling her it would be alright.

*****

Trey went down to breakfast the next morning and heard Millie’s voice in the kitchen. He walked in and saw her and Mariah rolling our biscuit dough. Millie had flour all over the front of her dress, all up her arms, and on her face. Mariah was laughing at her.

Trey spun on his heel and exited the room. The last thing he wanted was to be part of that.

“Morning, Mr. Shannon” Clayton was coming down the stairs. “Looks to be a warmer day today”.

Trey nodded. “Good”.

He felt like a ride today. Maybe Millie would like to come along.

“Where’s the kid?” Clayton asked.

“I have no idea. Millie probably has him,” Trey said.

“You don’t wanna check?” Clayton cocked an eyebrow at him.

“No. I ain’t goin’ back in there,” Trey said.

Millie was cleaned up by the time breakfast was supposed to be on the table. She and Quinn were sitting side by side as usual, but there was something about Millie was different. Her face shone with radiance and Quinn giggled as she tickled him, her lovely smile spread across her face. Maybe she just slept good.

Halfway through breakfast, Trey asked Millie if she wanted to join him on a ride.

“Sure. A leisurely ride sounds good this morning. Even if I did do a lot of it yesterday” Millie smiled.

“Mariah won’t mind watching Quinn for a while, will you?” Trey asked.

Mariah grinned. “I’d love to”.

Trey didn’t like the way she was looking at him with that knowing grin.

“Great. Oh, and I found a book in the sofa that I think may belong to you” Trey said, talking to Millie.

“Please say it’s Pride and Prejudice” Millie was quick to say.

Trey nodded. “I do believe it is”.

“Oh, thank goodness. I thought I’d lost it. I’ll keep up with my things from now on” Millie put the rest of her biscuit in her mouth.

Trey sighed. So Millie was Lance’s Lizzie. The only question now was, who was Lance?

*****

Millie bounded down the stairs in one of Mariah’s split skirts. She couldn’t very well wear her ink stained one. Trey had the horses ready when she exited the front door, only Hank wasn’t one of them. She had grown quite attached to the big fellow. Now Trey’s buckskin was saddled for her.

“Where’s Hank?” she asked.

“Figured he needed his rest. Firefly’s a good horse, though,” Trey said, leaning down to give her the reins.

Millie accepted the reins and walked around to straddle the horse.

“Need help?” Trey asked.

Millie smiled. “I got this.”

She grabbed the saddle horn and swung up. She was beginning to feel like an old hand at straddling a horse.

“Well, I’m impressed” Trey grinned.

“I’ve practiced” Millie said.

They rode in the opposite direction that they had the time before, and there were more open spaces along the path they took this time. The sun peeked through the holes in the canopy of trees, giving little bursts of warmth here and there. The only sounds Millie heard were the birds singing and the horse’s hooves clomping against the ground. Soon the trail led to a little pond, surrounded by an open meadow.

“Wanna stop for a minute or two?” Trey asked.

“Sure” Millie dismounted and walked over to the pond, leading Firefly with her.

“Perty ain’t it?” Trey asked.

“Sure is” Millie smiled.

Trey sat down on the bank and patted beside him. Millie sat down and felt her heart quicken at his closeness.

“Care if I ask a question?” he asked.

“Shoot.”

“Who’s Lance?”

Millie inhaled sharply. “How’d you find out about Lance?”

“The note in the book” Trey said.

Millie sighed. That stupid, fibbing, note. “Oh,” she sighed. “Lance was my fiancé.”

“Really? You were engaged?” Trey asked.

“Yeah. Last year.” Millie said.

“What happened?”

Millie took a deep breath. “It was the day before our wedding. Lance’s aunt and uncle came into town on the train, and I went to Lance’s house to tell him. In my excitement, I forgot to knock and just went on in. I should’ve knocked. I never would’ve seen him-or her- in there. They were both so drunk I don’t think they knew their own names. He tried to pass it up as ’his last day of freedom’ and said ’it wouldn’t happen when we were married’. I knew better than to believe him. I told him it was over and he was gone by the end of the week. I never saw him again until this last time I went into Casden.” Millie blinked back tears. “C-Can you believe that he wanted an apology? He wanted me to come crawling back to him like I was some lost pup who needed nurturing.”

“I can’t imagine” Trey said.
Millie laid back. “Let’s change the subject. He’s gone now. For good.”

“Alright. So what does a person like you do for fun?” Trey turned to face her from the side and crossed his legs.

“Me?” Millie thought. “Well, I like riding, of course.”

“Obviously. What else?”

“I like to cook some. As long as I’m not obligated, it’s lots of fun” Millie smiled.

“Okay, what else?” Trey pressed.

“Hmm… I don’t know.”

“I’m beginning to think you’re no fun at all,” Trey said.

That sounded like a dare.

Millie sat straight up. “Really?”

“Yeah, seems like you don’t know how to just let go and have fun” Trey smiled. He was challenging her.

“Oh, you haven’t known fun until you’ve known a Williams” Millie said.

Trey leaned forward slightly. “Prove it”.

Millie gaped at him. He was serious.

“Fine,” Millie stood. “How?”

Trey thought a moment. “Seems like a good day for a swim, don’t you think?” he said.

Millie narrowed her eyes at him. “Seriously?”

Trey nodded.

Millie stared at the pond. “What about gators?”

“There’s no gators. Nothing but a few stray turtles live in that pond” Trey explained.

Millie walked over to the edge. “Are you sure?”

Trey said nothing but simply smiled.

“I’m so going to regret this,” Millie mumbled.

Pinching her nose, she summoned all her courage and jumped in, the cold water shocking her. She came up gasping her air, nearly shivering.

“You actually did it!” Trey was beside the pond, bending over her.

“Yes, I did. No fun, you said” Millie reached up her hand.

Trey took it and pulled her out.

“I-I didn’t think you would!” Trey said.

Millie was dripping wet and feared that her sticking clothes was most inappropriate. Well, there was only on way to fix that.

“What in the world!” Millie pointed to the opposite side of the pond.

“What?” Trey turned around. “I don’t see anything”.

Millie stood back and ran into Trey, pushing him into the chilly water.

“Didn’t think I’d do that, either, did ya!” She said after he’d resurfaced.

“WH-Why?” He stammered.

“Hey, it’s only fair. Now come on before we freeze to death” Millie left him in the water and grabbed the reins to Firefly.

Trey pulled himself out of the water and stood there, dripping.

“You coming?” Millie asked, straddling her horse.

Trey shook his head and mounted his roan.

The looks they got when they got back to the house were not as amusing as Trey had expected.

“What happened?” Mariah asked.

“Did you guys go… swimming?” Clayton asked, staring at them.

“Gator” Millie said.

Trey looked at her. “Yes, a big gator. Chased her all over the place.”

“I had to jump into the pond to get away,” Millie said.

Mariah and Clayton looked to Trey.

“Well, I had to go and save her, of course!” he said.

“He beat up the gator. Knocked him out cold” Millie said as Trey made a punching motion with his fist.

“And the horses?” Clayton asked.

“They ran away,” Millie said. “Got spooked.”

“Uh huh” Clayton said. He obviously didn’t believe a word they had said.

“Trey made me jump” Millie blurted.

“Me? You did it on your own free will!” Trey exclaimed.

“Hogwash. I’m going to change” Millie turned to walk upstairs.

*****

Millie carried her wet clothes down the hall and stopped by Trey’s study.

“Did you change?” She asked through the closed door.

The door opened, and Trey gave her his wet blue shirt.

“That’s it?” Millie asked.

“Yeah. Why?” Trey asked.

“What about your pants?”

Trey looked down. “What’s wrong with ‘em? They’ll dry.”

“They’re sticking to you like flypaper,” Millie said.

“And that’s a problem?” Trey grinned.

“Uh…” Millie didn’t quite know how to answer.

“Most women like the view” Trey grinned bigger, holding his hands out to his sides.

Millie couldn’t resist a smile. “Not me. Now change into some suitable pants.”

“The lady’s wish is my command” Trey bowed and grinned.

Millie rolled her eyes and walked on down the stairs.

That man beats all I’ve ever seen.

*****

Trey lay in bed that night, wide-awake and not the least bit tired. He tossed and turned, pounded on his pillow, but nothing helped. His body just refused to rest.

Maybe a glass of water will help.

He thought.

He stood and jerked on his pants, not bothering with a shirt. No one would be up at this hour anyway. Walking down the stairs, Trey heard what sounded like leather squeaking. He stopped.

Nothing.

He continued walking and heard it again. He stopped.

Still nothing.

He continued down the stairs and looked down. He had buckled on his gun belt out of habit. That would explain the squeaking. He shook his head. He really wasn’t with it when he was sleep-deprived. Walking into the kitchen, Trey lit a lantern and carried it to the counter where he poured himself a glass of water out of the pitcher. He heard what sounded like a door.

He listened.

Nothing.

Probably the wind.

After downing the glass of water, he went on back upstairs. Nearing his room, he glanced down the hall and Millie’s door stood wide open. It was really unlike her to leave her door open. After a moment, he decided to investigate.

Walking down the hall, he silently approached Millie’s door. The sunlight poured through the window, revealing two figures in the room. Quinn’s door was closed and…

Wait.

Two figures?

Trey studied the room and saw that his eyes hadn’t played tricks on him. Millie was backed into a corner, visibly shivering as a big, masculine figure slowly moved toward her. She held her pencil in her hand, raising it like a dagger.

“Wes?” Trey spoke up.

The man whirled around. “B-Boss?”

“What’re you doing here?” Trey asked, not quite processing the scene.

“I… um…” Wes stammered.

Trey then realized what the man’s intentions were just as Wes put his hand on his gun.

“Don’t even think of doing that” Trey withdrew his own gun from its holster.

“It’s not what you think” Wes said.

‘I’m sure it isn’t” Trey said sarcastically. “Clayton!”

Clayton came out of his room, groggy and half-asleep. “Yeah?”

“Escort this man out” Trey said.

“What should I do to him, sir?” Clayton asked.

“Nothing. But if you ever see his face again, kill him” Trey said.

Wes’ eyes widened as Clayton grabbed him and jerked him down the hall.

Millie was in her same position, pencil upraised and a fearful look on her face.

“Millie?” Trey took a few steps toward her.

She stared at him, gripping the pencil harder.

“He’s gone now, Millie. It’s me, Trey.” Trey tried taking the pencil from her, and she slowly released it.

Her lower lip started trembling as she grew weak-kneed.

“Trey?” She blubbered through her gathering tears.

Trey placed the pencil on the desk and took her in his arms, her tears starting to flow freely as she slowly grew limp in his arms. He sat down on the bed with her, gently rocking her back and forth.

“What’s going on, Trey?” Jess appeared in the doorway.

“Go check on Clayton, will you?” Trey asked.

Jess started to close the door.

“Leave it open” Trey said.

Once they were alone again, Trey kissed Millie’s forehead.

“I’ve never been so scared in my life,” Millie said, her tears wetting Trey’s bare chest.

“Shh” Trey said softly. “He’s gone now.”

He stayed there and cradled her for a while, and no one came back into the room. Trey knew that if something happened to Clayton while escorting Wes out, Jess would have told him about it. Millie’s crying had died down some, now it was just a whimper, but she still shook like a leaf.

Why would Wes try to do this to her? She was the sweetest person he’d ever met, and she would never hurt anyone. What was Wes trying to do to him?

Then, it occurred to him.

They see that I have a weakness now.

     Sunlight poured through the windows and reflected off the walls of the room, pulling Trey out of sleep. He sat in the same position he had the night before, and Millie was sound asleep in his lap.

She can’t know I stayed in here all night.

Trey thought.

He picked Millie up and laid her on her pillows. Thankfully, she didn’t wake up with the movement. Trey took a throw from the back of the chair behind the desk and put it over her. Staring down at her, he saw that she looked completely different than she had the night before. She looked peaceful now. Bending down, he placed a light kiss on her forehead and left the room, closing the door behind him.

“You stayed in there all night?” Clayton was coming out of his room and saw him.

“I fell asleep. Look, you can’t let her know, okay. She’ll not like it one bit” Trey said.

“Okay, but you’d better get dressed before one of the other women sees you,” Clayton said.

Trey nodded and went into his room.

*****

Sunlight in her face woke Millie up from a sound sleep, eliciting a yawn.

Help this day, Lord. Bless it and help it be productive.

She had prayed the same prayer the second she woke up each morning for the past ten years. Her father had told her that giving the first moments of the day to God ensured His presence throughout the day.

Suddenly, she recalled last night’s events. She looked around the room quickly. A light throw covered her, and the door was shut.

Trey.

She stood and changed out of her nightgown, brushed her hair, and resisted the urge to try to braid it. It was too short now. So she just pulled it back with a ribbon.

Later on that day, Millie strolled by Trey’s office. She hadn’t seen him all morning, and Clayton said he was planning on riding out for a few hours later on in the afternoon. She knocked on the doorframe. He was leaned back on the two back legs of his chair, his boots propped up on the desk, a map open across his lap. He was tracing something with a pencil. He looked up when he saw her.

“Come in” he folded the map.

Millie entered and stood in front of the desk. “I wanted to thank you for last night. I was…”

“Terrified? Yeah, I would have been too if a big, nearly bald, ugly man came in my room in the middle of the night” Trey said.

Millie smiled. “Thanks for staying with me, “Millie looked at her feet. “I know I was a little out of sorts.”

Trey put his boots down and opened his arms. “Come here. “

Millie walked over to him and he pulled her into his lap. Millie leaned against him and breathed. She heard the beating of his heart in his chest, steady and constant.

“If you ever need me again, I’m here,” Trey said.

Millie smiled.

Just then, Jess entered the room.

“Shannon, I’ve gotta clean the…” She stopped in the middle of the sentence.

Millie jumped up. “Yep. Definitely irregular heartbeat. You should really get that checked out” she said.

Trey nodded. “I will.”

Jess narrowed her eyes and walked back out of the room. Millie looked up at Trey and laughed. He smiled and shook his head.

“I’ll let you get back to work.” Millie walked out of the room, grinning.