Cameron, Paige - The Billionaire Cattleman Wins a Wife [Wives for the Western Billionaires 4] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) Read Online Free Page A

waiting, rush it all along, as though unconsciously they realized their time had been limited.
    She’d been beautiful in her wedding gown and in her maternity clothes. She’d looked great in anything, or nothing at all. The dark cloud on the horizon had never darkened their days together.
    If only he’d stayed with her that last day, when she was in labor. She and the doctor had both said to go and work. Come back later. A first baby took hours to get born. Her mom and his had stayed with her.
    He’d left and never forgiven himself. When they called he’d hurried, but he arrived minutes too late. The years had dimmed the pain, but it was still there, waiting inside him, to spring out and attack. As he’d attacked Lily tonight. How dare she try to tell him how to handle grief. How dare she be so beautiful, so full of life, how dare she try to bring him into her sun-filled world. Everything around her glowed, her hair, her sparkling eyes, the air around her.
    Carefully, he replaced the box in the closet. He went to his storage shed outside, switched on the light, and looked at the piles of things that had been his life. He’d marked each box with what was inside. Maybe he’d call her parents tomorrow. He’d ask how they were, and see if they’d like to have some of the items he had packed away.
    It was a big step. He wasn’t sure he could take it.

Chapter Three

    Moira had been happy to hear from Lily and was glad to have her come to California for a visit. Lily packed one small bag. Later, she’d have the rest sent to her. It was ten o’clock. Ty and Dirk would be off working somewhere on the ranch.
    She stepped out into the cold. No snow fell, but the ground was covered and there were patches of ice on the porch. Lily took her time trying to miss the icy patches. The roads on the ranch had been cleared early. She’d heard the snow plow.
    Ty had left his keys in the ignition. When the truck started, she noted it had a full tank of gas. Good, she wouldn’t have to worry about getting struck on the side of the road. She backed up and started down the two-lane road leading to the entrance and onto a two-lane blacktop.
    Lily had taken a map she found in Ty’s office. The nearest town looked to be about thirty-five miles away. Hopefully she could get a bus out of there to a city where she’d catch a plane. She had a long trip ahead of her. In the rearview mirror the ranch house gradually faded in the distance. A tear trickled down her cheek. Ahead of her the future looked bleak and lonely, but she had her pride. She’d stand on her own, find a job, make her way. She’d show Ty.
    As she turned onto the blacktop her confidence rose. She could do this. She’d left a message for Ty about where to find his truck. He’d be pissed. That was all right. He stayed angry most of the time.
    Ten miles, fifteen, nothing around but open prairie and mountains in the distance. Hopefully she was going in the right direction. There hadn’t been any signs.
    She never saw the patch of ice. The steering wheel was useless. She tried to correct the slide, but the truck went hard to the left and hit a snow-covered bank. The air bag released and hit her face and chest. She hurt from the force of the bag. Steam rose from the radiator, and her purse had fallen under her feet. Struggling around the steering wheel, she managed to get the purse. It was open. The better to reach her phone if needed, but now the phone was gone and she didn’t know where. The truck was tilted, making it difficult for her to search for the cell phone.
    Cold seeped into the truck. She zipped her jacket up. Thank goodness she’d worn heavy slacks and socks. Ty would find her. But she wasn’t sure how long it would be before she was missed. He wasn’t going to be happy.

    * * * *

    “I think we’d better head back to the barn,” Dirk said. He glanced at the sky. “We’ll be getting more snow before long.”
    “Guess you’re right. The guys have it all