Free Charlene Sands by Lily Gets Her Man Page A

the weeds.”
    Lily’s eyes met with his and lingered. His touch always turned her mind to mush. “Uh—no. Thank you.”
    He let go of her hands and Lily was able to release the breath she’d been holding. “Why not?”
    She shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess I want the garden all to myself. When each root takes hold, each flower blooms, I want to know it’s because of me. Silly, isn’t it?”
    “Nothing silly about seeing something through on your own, Lily.”
    “I’ve always dreamed of having a garden.” She lifted her eyes to his. “Thank you.”
    Tyler stared at her, then nodded. His gaze went to the upturned soil. “What’d you decide to plant?”
    Lily smiled and looked over the plot of land. She pointed to the front of the house. “In this bed, I’m planting a flower garden. The flowers will need the protection of the house from the north and west winds. And the foundation will radiate heat and warm the soil here.”
    He glanced at her and she smiled. “On the west side, corn and sunflowers, on the north, carrots, radishes and turnips.”
    “You sharing your crop?”
    “Of course,” she said with a chuckle. “Couldn’t possibly eat them all myself.”
    “Bethann won’t eat vegetables.”
    “I bet she’ll eat these.”
    Tyler grinned. “That I’d like to see.”
    Lily noticed the color had come back to Tyler’s face. He seemed stronger each day. He moved about more easily now and she hadn’t noticed pain contort his features when he lifted his arm. The last time DocRamsey had come out to the ranch, he’d said the wound was healing nicely.
    He’d also said Sheriff Singleton had no further information about the shooting. They may never find out who shot Tyler. Or why.
    Lily plucked out another weed, watching Tyler walk over to where Bethann was playing with her doll. He scooped his daughter up and nuzzled a kiss onto her neck, causing Bethann to let out a string of sweet giggles.
    Lily sighed. Tyler was lucky to be alive. And she was lucky to have found this home. Temporarily. But as she viewed the handsome man walk his daughter to her pony, she prayed she’d be lucky enough not to fall in love with him.
    After dinner that evening Lily poured Tyler a cup of coffee after sending Bethann to her room to get undressed.
    “I want to learn to shoot,” she said decidedly.
    “Huh?”
    “I said, I’d like to learn how to shoot a gun, Tyler.”
    Tyler cringed. Lily had that determined look in her eyes again, but her request startled him. Not that women didn’t take up arms. Many did. Somehow he hadn’t pictured Lily holstering a gun.
    “I heard what you said, Lily. Why?”
    “For protection, of course.”
    Tyler gulped down more of the steaming liquid than he intended. The coffee burned his tongue. “But there’s more than enough men around here who know how to shoot. Damn good, too. You’ll be protected.”
    “I don’t want to rely on a man for protection.”
    Tyler let out an audible sigh. He looked into his coffee cup. “Now, Lily. I don’t know.”
    “Tyler, you’re leaving for spring roundup next week. No one knows who shot you or why. I think with Bethann and me staying here by ourselves, I should learn.”
    “I’ve told you, I’ll leave a hand here to watch things. You won’t be alone.”
    “Will he be sleeping in the house?”
    Tyler pushed the coffee cup away and stood up. “Hell no!”
    Lily cast him a smug expression. She put her hands on her hips and stood her ground. “There, you see. We will be alone. Who’ll be staying on?”
    “Does it matter?” he asked. Tyler knew it did. He’d have to leave his most trusted hand on the ranch. With two females alone, no telling what could occur. But Tyler was curious. Was Lily hoping for someone special to stay on while he and the others were gone?
    “No, as long as he’s good with a gun, I suppose.”
    “He will be. Don’t worry. I wouldn’t leave the ranch unless I thought it was safe.”
    “I still think I