Loving Lily- Sequel to Loving River

Placing a hand to her throbbing head, Lily Vanculon continued her journey through the uncut field of weeds. The late autumn provided a nip to the air that hadn't been there a month before. The ground held more leaves then the trees currently wore. Lily noticed none of these things as she walked on. Though the land held beauties to delight and dazzle the human eye, Lily could think only of getting to the small cabin where she could lie down and rest for a while.

Usually, Lily's job as a serving girl provided a pleasant uneventful day. Today had been different however. On this fall evening, a very loud, drunk horrible man had drug her upstairs in the small establishment. Even though Bub, the saloon owner, had attempted to champion Lily in her time of need, Bub was much too small to be taken as a real threat. The nasty man had only laughed at him. Lily wasn't exactly certain what happened after the rotten man had taken her upstairs. Maybe he hit her. Perhaps she fell and hit her head. Whatever it was had made her head ache something awful. It had caused bleeding too. Lily had woken up in the Doc's office.

Pushing the wooden door open, Lily let herself into the small abandoned cabin. She didn't know who had lived there originally, but whoever they where they weren't living there now. Lily found the cabin before she had even seen the small western town. Tired and hungry, she had decided to rest for the night in the cabin. The next day, after seeing how worn down the cabin and lands looked, Lily figured it would make an ideal home for her.

It was nothing like the grand house she had grown up in, but it was exactly what she needed. To her way of thinking, if the cabin and its' land were so ill kept then she would be able to live in it without worrying about whoever owned it. Sure she was trespassing, but she was too tired and sad to let it bother her much. That had been almost two months ago. Lily had been living in the small ramshackle cabin for nearly two months and so far nobody had bothered her. These past two months had been the most peaceful months of her life. If it wasn't for the constant worrying over her sister, Lily would be perfectly happy in her new life.

Closing the door, Lily pushed and heaved until she managed to move the chest of drawers in front of the door. The door had no latch to secure it, and Lily was terrified of someone entering while she slept in the night. Lily was much too exhausted to eat, not that she had much in the cabin. She squirreled away most of her money, doing her best to live on nothing. It was a simple task during the last couple summer months. Bub kindly provided his employees one free meal a day. For breakfast and dinner, Lilly would search the berry bushes in the woods. She had a feeling that she would be eating just one meal a day during the winter. She didn't dare take from her money to buy something as insignificant as food. Not when her employer was kind enough to offer her a meal a day.

"It's much better to save your money until you can buy your sister's freedom."Lily mumbled to herself as she moved to her pallet set up in the far corner of the one room cabin.

---

Micah slammed his hand on he table. "What do you mean she left?" he was doing his best to keep himself under control but his good intentions were slipping away as worry and fatigue filled him.

The old doctor sighed as he turned to face Micah. "Listen, I told you, she woke up and decided to take herself home. She wasn't in danger so I had to let her go."

"How could you be so careless?" Micah snapped in frustration. He ran his fingers through his hair irritably.

"Micah." The doctor sat down in the overstuffed chair in front of the window. He gestured for Micah to be seated as well. Micah, being in the mood he was currently in, stubbornly refused to sit. The doctor sighed and continued. "The girl is young and healthy. She said her head ached some but otherwise she was fine. The bleeding stopped hours ago. Her heartbeat was strong, her pulse steady. I would have never agreed to let her leave if I thought she was in danger of any sort. You must believe me, Micah. I would never intentionally hurt anyone. I've dedicated my life to helping people, not hurting them."

Micah seemed to deflate as he sank into the afore offered chair. "I'm sorry, Doc." He mumbled. "I just worry about her. She's so..."

The old doctor chuckled and slapped Micah's knee. "I understand son." He grinned. "I'm in love with my own woman."

"She's just so pretty and sweet. And alone.. I just want to take care of her." Micah groaned as he buried his head in his hands. He had it bad, he knew he did but he just couldn't help it. He'd been attracted to the petite woman the first time she had brought him his milk and lunch. She was so unlike any other woman he's seen before. Zane's woman was feisty, she had a snap to her. But Lily. Lily was sweet and kind. She was quiet, seeming to prefer the shadows. Lily withdrew feelings in Micah that he didn't fully understand. The last few years he'd been so busy building his life as a lawman that he hardly looked twice at an available female. True, Lily did nothing to force his attention to her, but he seemed drawn to her anyhow.

"Have you mentioned your... 'attraction' to the girl?" The kind doctor asked drawing Micah's attention back to the conversation at present.

Micah shook his head. "I just asked her to eat with me one night." He admitted.

"And?"

"She agreed." Micah said. Just thinking about that one evening had him craving her attention and company. It was one of the best meals Micah had ever had at the saloon. Not because the food had been any better but rather because he hadn't eaten alone. Micah hadn't released before just how lonely he was, how much he craved Lily's gentle companionship. This was getting him no where. Micah stood. "I better leave, Doc. Thanks for caring for her. I appreciate it. " He pulled some coins from his inner vest pocket. "I'd like to settle her bill with you, Doc. If you haven't any objections."

"None at all." The doctor agreed pulling himself to his feet as well. "Are you sure you wouldn't rather have Bub take care of the payment? It did happen while she was in his place."

"Yeah, but I'd rather take care of it myself, if you don't mind." Micah insisted as he put some coins in the doctors hand. "Will that cover it?"

"Easily." Doc assured him.

"Hey, Doc. Don't... don't tell anyone I paid it, okay?"

"Whatever you want, Micah."

"Thanks."

"Good luck to you." The doctor called as the young man left the room. "Poor boy." He shook his head as he went to find his wife." That poor boy has it bad, I'd say. Mighty bad."

----

"Micah!" Zane smiled as he he watched his deputy walking from the doctor's house. "You not feeling well?"

"Not me, I was just seeing how Lily was." Micah shoved back his hat as he talked with his old friend. Sheriff Zane had not only saved Micah's life a few times but he was also Micah's good friend. The two made a good pair and they were well respected in the small western town.

"Lily?"

"The serving girl from the saloon. A fella got rather rough with her last night." Micah explained.

"Ah. How is she?"

"Doctor let her go home."Micah rather growled.

Zane frowned as he studied his friend. If Lily was well enough to go home, Zane assumed that should be good news. Micah, however, made it sound as if the doctor had made a grave mistake in permitting her to leave his care. "Was she well enough?"

"According to the doctor."

"What's wrong, Micah? Something bothering you?"

"I don't know." Pulling his hat rather irritably from his head he said, "Maybe I should take a few days. Go hunting. It's been a while since I've been to my cabin."

"Go then." Zane agreed. "I'm sure the town will be fine. Take a week if you need." He said, sensing that his deputy needed his approval on his plan. Micah wasn't usually so down like this. As a rule Micah was a happy, teasing man. The kind that would make you feel better with just a simple glance. Micah had taken on more responsibility since Zane had been rather attached to his expecting wife lately. Perhaps that'a all he needed to regain his sagging spirits.

"I think I will." He mumbled, his gaze turned toward the mountains in the distance. They seemed so far away and yet so close. Micah sighed. He was restless in town. "I'll go up tonight." He drew his attention back to Zane. "Want me to bring back some meat for you?"

"Never turn down good meat. I appreciate it." Zane clasped his friend's hand in a firm handshake. "Take care of yourself."

Micah nodded. "Give my best to River."

THANKS FOR READING THE FIRST CHAPTER IN LOVING LILY! I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT!

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Micah pulled his jacket closer as he rode out of town. He felt cold, not on the outside, but on the inside. He hated being alone, despised the cold empty feeling it gave him. It was days like this that he missed his sweet mother. His hardworking papa and his granny. Years had passed since he had last seen his kinfolk. Why had he allowed so much time to go by? He supposed he didn't even realize time was passing. These past years, Micah's whole life revolved around his deputy badge and Zane. It was time he got away, time he focused on something else.

He'd worked so hard building his career that he'd forgotten about the most important thing in life. People.

But this trip would be good for him. He'd get away from the never changing town and spend some time getting to know himself and what he really wanted out of his life. If he was fortunate, an early snow storm would come and he'd be stuck at his hunting cabin for weeks. Of course it wasn't fair of him to leave the whole town in Zane's hands, but at this point Micah didn't even care.

He felt the cool autumn breeze blowing across his skin, it pressed against his hat as he rode steadily onward. The leaves crunched under his horses hooves.

A smile spread across his features as Micah enjoyed the sounds and sights of nature for the first time in a while. There was so much in life that he'd been missing. So much he had taken for granted. When was the last time he'd gone fishing? True, the weather was turning a bit cold for that activity but what hadn't he done it during the warm summer months? He would next summer, he promised himself. He'd go fishing, and hunting. He'd put his back and money into fixing up his cabin. He'd let Lily know he was sweet on her, and if that didn't scare her away, he'd court her and if she still stuck around he might even offer her marriage.

Micah grinned, as he rode up to his cabin. This time next year, he may have a wife and even a family on the way. As the cabin and it's surroundings penetrated his brain, the grin slipped from his face. Micah hadn't been to his cabin in nearly three years. "Gracious, " He mumbled as he climbed down from his horse. "This place needs a lot of work before I can bring my wife and family here." The roof looked like it was ready to cave in, the porch had several rotting steps. The brush that was growing up on all sides of the house made it seem like something from an enchanted forest. "Although it's not very enchanting." Micah mumbled as he stared at the overwhelming brush. The barn looked worse than the cabin. The barn left barn door was nearly ripped off, it hung on on leather hinge. Several boards were missing, a gaping hole in the roof. Micah stood in the door way and grimaced at the large bush that seemed to be flourishing in his ramshackle barn.

"I may have to take you into the house with me." Micah spoke to his horse as he walked back to the cabin. "I don't think that barn is safe for anything except errant bushes." Careful to step around the bad spots on the porch, Micah pushed the door. It didn't budge. "Must be stuck." Micah muttered as he shoved against the door. "There's more wrong with this place then I thought." The door still didn't open. Frowning, Micah threw his shoulder door. It took two tries before something went toppling on the inside of the house and the door flew open.

Micah walked into the cabin and looked around. "What in tarnation?" He muttered. Micah stared at the interior. It didn't seem to belong to his cabin. Reaching out, he swiped his hand against the table. His finger came away clean. The floors were swept. No cob webs were anywhere. How in the world could the inside look this good while the outside looked like an overgrown forest. "Little men must be living here." He said. "No, men wouldn't make it look this nice." Micah said looking around again. Turning back to the door, Micah pushed it shut. The door swung back open. Frowning, he pushed it shut again. The door swung back open. It was then that Micah noticed the chest of drawers tipped over nearly behind the door. "That must have been what held the door shut when I tried coming in." Bending down, Micah examined the door. "That's why it won't latch." He muttered to himself. "I can have that fixed in a jiffy." Fetching some rusty tools from the barn, Micah banged at the door for awhile before smiling in satisfaction as the door closed and latched. "Now that is a door."

Micah opened the door and went out to his horse. His saddle bags had some food stuffs and a couple changes of clothing. He frowned slightly as his hand felt a soft material. Pulling it out of his bag, a small smile turned up his lips as he gazed at the pink calico print dress. Nearly two weeks ago, he had been sitting in a chair in front of the jail when he noticed a certain sweet lady admiring the soft pink and lace dress from the window of Meyer's mercantile. Unable to resist, Micah had gone and purchased the dress as soon as Lily had walked away. For two weeks, Micah carried the calico dress with him everywhere he'd gone. Stuffing the contents back into his bag, he slung the saddle bag over his shoulder and walked back into the cabin.

Tossing the bag on the table, Micah spotted something rather curious in the back corner of the cabin. It looked like... like a pile of blankets. Micah didn't remember leaving blankets piled up like that. Moving over toward the pile, Micah leaned down and pulled back the blankets.

Eyes wide, Micah found himself staring into the sleeping face of Miss Lily.

THNAKS FOR READING THE FIRST TWO CHAPTERS OF LOVING LILY! IF YOU LIKED IT EVEN A LITTLE, VOTE! HAHA HAVE A GREAT DAY AND THANKS FOR READING MY LITTLE TALE!

As the sun lowered and darkness descended on the fancy four story house, the city began quieting down for the night. Soon, everyone that mattered would be home eating supper or reading the paper in the parlor. The night life would be be coming out, men of all sorts would be dropping coins in saloons cash drawer. Lacey knelt near the stairs in the fancy house. Her were knuckles white from gripping the banister. The house was silent and Lacey prayed that it would stay that way. Not a lamp nor a candle illuminated the house, the servants were in the kitchen having their supper.

Usually they served the family before retiring for the evening, but Lacey, claiming a headache, begged off from dinner and went up stairs to rest.

Lacey lay her head against the banister. If her father came home too soon this night, she really would have a headache. The clock in the parlor struck seven o'clock. With each chime, Lacey's heart lightened. Hope was beginning to take place in her heart. The cities offices always closed every evening at five. The fact that Mayor Lawrence Vanculon wasn't yet home meant only one thing. He'd stopped by the saloon to lose a few coins. Lacey found it difficult to believe that a man of such social status would be caught drinking in public. Apparently, the city held that same opinion. They boosted several saloons and dance halls. One saloon was especially discreet concerning the wealthy and privileged. They serviced only such people. It was a place that the elite could go in the evening without soiling their reputation.

Creeping down the steps, being careful to keep her dress from tangling, Lacey crouched in the doorway of the parlor to check the time. Seven-ten. Mayor Lawrence was two hours and ten minutes late. Turning around, Lacey moved silently up the stair and into her bedroom. Kneeling before her bed, Lacey clasped her hands and bowed her head. "Please father, please let me escape without notice. Please, I beg you to see me safely from this house. Thru Jesus name, Amen." Reaching beneath her bed, Lacey pulled a flour sack out. The flour sack contained an extra dress and set of underclothes. Tied up in two handkerchiefs were several biscuits that she had managed to sneak away from the kitchen. It had taken some doing, but Lacey had managed to sneak away from her maid and buy a canteen from town. Rising to her booted feet, Lacey stuffed her mama's bible in the flour sack and tied it with a bit of ribbon she pulled from her vanity. A suit case would've been too difficult to carry and much too noticeable.

The way the house had been designed, Lacey's chambers stood just above the kitchen. Lacey could hear the murmuring of the servants as they had their dinner and rested after a long day of work. Hoping to escape the house before they finished their meal. Lacey made up her bed to look like she was asleep. Giving her bedroom one last look, she silently pulled the door shut. This part of her life was over. No longer would she live in this morbid house. She would not associate herself with her father ever again. Lacey couldn't wait for her sister to make enough to send for her and support the two of them. Lacey was more then capable of helping to provide for her own life. Gripping her flour sack in one hand, Lacey tiptoed down the stairs. Murmurs from the kitchen could be heard but otherwise the house remained like a tomb- dark and silent. Determined to escape the haunted life she lived, Lacey eased the door open and peered out. The street lamps were lit. There flames burned merrily, gently illuminating the empty street. Ever so cautiously, Lacey stepped from the house and pulled the door shut behind her. A few more feet and Lacey was standing on the sidewalk facing away from the house that had served as her dungeon. This sidewalk- this wonderful sidewalk started the first steps of her freedom. Without a backward glance, Lacey stayed close to the shadows as she made her way out of town.

In her flour sack, an addressed letter waited to be posted. Lacey hadn't dared post it in this city. She knew word might easily get back to her father. She didn't want to risk Lily's new life. No, she would wait until she was far enough from her hometown to post the letter to her older sister. In the meantime she would walk. She would walk as far as her small feet could carry her, then she would rest. And later she would walk some more. Fully determined to let nothing deter her, Lacey raised her head continued on.

The cooler air, caused Lacey to pull her clock closer to her. Autumn was in the air. Normally, Autumn was Lacey's favorite season. She adored spiced cider and apple pie. The leaves scurrying on the ground as the wind blew. The satisfying crunch they made when she stepped on them was nearly addictive. Normally, she adored Autumn. Today was not like a normal day, however. Worries invaded Lacey's mind as she walked. Would it snow before she reached her sister? Would the evenings be too cool for her thin cloak? What if her father discovered her disappearance too soon? He might send out people to search for her before she got far enough away. Her worries would slow her down. She couldn't afford the distraction! Struggling to push her concerns from her mind, Lacey walked on in the night. The darkness made the going slow, but at the same time, it provided a certain comfort that made Lacey feel secure. Perhaps when she was far enough away, she would sleep during the day and travel at night. Of course, if she happened to run into unscrupulous men during the night, there wouldn't be many people awake to hear her cries for help. Switching her flour sack to her other hand, Lacey walked on. Each step contained a prayer, a prayer for her sister, a prayer for her escape, and most of all, a prayer of safety for the both of them.