Lily's Secrets [Elk Creek 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Read Online Free

days.”
    “What about the schoolhouse?” Maia asked. “I heard you were a teacher once…before…what happened. I’m sure they’d love to have you back. Dedicated teachers are always hard to find.”
    Lily knew that Maia was trying to be helpful, but if the woman knew what she was suggesting, she wouldn’t. Lily just couldn’t face all those young folk turning to her for guidance and knowledge, counting on her to nurture them for the time that they were in her safekeeping. Besides, she highly doubted their parents would be enthused to have her teaching their kids now. She had been tainted by the “savages” and was no longer trustworthy enough to handle children, not their lily-white youngins anyway. Lord knew what sort of ideas she had picked up from the Kiowas during her time living among them and would spread to the youngins of Elk Creek. Oh sure, the town folk professed their relief at her escape from “those savages.” They even acted glad to have her back, conveying their sympathy and dismay at her ordeal, but not a one of them would be first in the line when it came to giving her the responsibility of teaching their kids.
    “I couldn’t,” Lily finally croaked.
    “Couldn’t what?”
    Lily started and turned toward the mouth of the aisle with the other two women to see none other than Wyatt standing there.
    He had his legs planted and braced apart, fists on his hips, and his Stetson tipped back on his head as he stared at her.
    The sight of him never failed to take her breath away, and now was no different. From his slightly long, golden-blond hair to his size-twelve boots, the man plumb made her go all liquid inside with just a word. It was like she was looking upon him for the first time, all excited about being in his presence and happy that he took notice of her, even if he didn’t exactly look happy to see her surrounded by the other women.
    Maia wrapped an arm around Lily in a protective gesture and Wyatt’s azure gaze glinted as if he was angered by the idea of someone else feeling the need to protect his wife. “We were just discussing the possibility of taking Lily on here at the shop.”
    “We were?” Lily asked.
    “Work with me, Lily,” Maia whispered out the side of her mouth.
    “Take Lily on here?” Wyatt dropped his fists from his hips and glanced around at all the well-stocked shelves and the customers roaming the floors before he returned his gaze to Lily. “Lilybelle doesn’t need to work if she doesn’t want to. She’s got me to provide for her.”
    Lily could just hear the disdain in Wyatt’s voice at the idea of someone offering to take care of his wife in any way, shape, or form.
    “No offense, Wyatt, but there’s more to providing for your wife than keeping a roof over her head, food in her belly, and clothes on her back. And what if she wants to work?”
    Wyatt looked at Maia as if she’d just spoken in tongues, and Maia laughed. “Don’t look so bewildered, man. She’s your wife.”
    “I know that.”
    “Well then, act like it and treat her right.”
    “No disrespect, Mrs. Malloy, but I know how to treat a woman.” Wyatt took two long strides down the aisle and stood before Lily.
    She was tall for a woman but still had to crane her neck to look him in the eye. She could feel the heat of his gaze like a physical touch and shuddered.
    “Let’s go.” Before she could object, he grabbed her hand and steered her toward the exit.
    Lily followed Wyatt out of the aisle, glancing back over her shoulder at Maia’s and Rebel’s concerned expressions.
    They needn’t have worried. Wyatt could be abrupt, frank, and gruff, sometimes all three at the same time, but he’d never hurt her.
    Not physically anyway.

Chapter 2
     
    Wyatt had known better than to let Lily go gallivanting in that highfalutin store all alone. Now those women had put fool ideas in her head about working.
    He’d only let her go in alone as he couldn’t see himself surrounded by so much