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

finishing cooking the bacon and eggs. He’d warmed leftover fried potatoes and biscuits from yesterday. Quickly, he filled her plate with them. “Start on this. I’ll add the rest in a few minutes.” Brent and Drake sat at the table with her, drinking their coffee and smiling as she gobbled every bite down. As soon as Ty had the rest cooked, he put the bacon and eggs on her plate and joined them.

    * * * *

    She’d never been as hungry in her whole life. When she finished and sat back, she had to smile at the three men watching her every move. “I’m fine, really. Thanks to all of you.”
    “I’ve never seen a small woman put away that much food,” Brent said and smiled. “I’m amazed.”
    “We all are, about your eating and you being alive and well,” Drake added. “How did you survive?”
    Lily told them about what happened between her and the leader just before they left. “The thin man urged him to leave me alive. That helped.”
    “But your courage saved your life,” Ty said, and the other two nodded in agreement.
    She was embarrassed, but pleased by their praise. “There wasn’t anything else I could do. I thought if I was going to die, I didn’t plan to die whimpering.”
    “When a man or woman is in that position, they each have to make their own decision. What they think might work to save their life. What you chose saved yours because there was a thread of decency buried somewhere in that evilness facing you, and you tapped into it,” Brent said.
    “He’s right,” Mick added as he came into the kitchen. He walked to the table and grinned at Brent. “He got himself into enough close calls where he’s used all sorts of ways to wiggle out.” His joke eased the seriousness of their conversation and soon they were joking and laughing over old stories.
    Lily sat back and watched the interplay between the men. Ty cooked food for the rest of them, and they talked as they ate. The kitchen was bright with sunshine, her belly was full, and contentment wrapped around her like a warm cloak.
    Ty listened to the conversation and occasionally glanced at her. She wondered how all of this had affected him. Would he stay close to her or step back again?

Chapter Ten

    Lily and Ty had gone to the airport to see Brent and Drake off. Mick had left earlier after checking with some contacts. He had several names as to who the person behind the kidnapping might be.
    He left the names with Ty to give to the Sheriff. The FBI were arriving soon to pick up the kidnappers.
    The silence in the house wrapped around them as they walked back inside. They hadn’t talked on the drive from the landing strip.
    “I need to do a few chores and talk with Dirk to see if there are any problems concerning the ranch. I’ll check the house first, and then keep the doors locked until I return.”
    “Don’t worry about me. I doubt anyone else will be trying to get me. Not after the way you all managed to rescue me and get the bad guys.”
    “I can’t help but worry. I—” He turned and strode out the door.
    Her kidnapping had not helped their relationship. He’d been more open to her before, and she’d let hope enter her heart. But his fear was back. Lily sighed. His walls came down briefly, but were easily raised again.
    Still tired from her ordeal, she checked the doors and went to her room. She curled into a ball under the covers. Tears ran down her face and she sniffled. All the energy she’d focused on being brave was melting away. Deep, heaving sobs followed the tears. She cried until her eyes were puffy and red.

    * * * *

    Ty strode across the snow into the barn and saddled Night Star. “Time for us to go for a ride, old boy.”
    Cold air blew in his face as he headed across the fields. He saw several of the men working on a fence and rode toward them. Work would keep him mind off the woman back at the ranch. Maybe.
    He helped the men repair the fence, told them Lily was safe, and then rode on. Away from the ranch