“I’m very well aware. I explained that to him on the ride back to town. He had objections.”
Her mouth curled in a half smile. “I’m certain he did.”
“There are ways in which he can still assist me, if you will permit it, but I will not allow him to accompany me out of town even when the work site is miles beyond where we were today. You can take me at my word, Mrs. Salt. Today’s little adventure is not something I wish to repeat and not because I was shot.”
Lily appreciated that Roen Shepard did not avoid looking at her. His gaze remained direct, sincere, and he tolerated her taking his measure. “All right, Mr. Shepard. I will take you at your word.” Could he possibly know how difficult it was for her to say that? Unlikely. He struck her as someone who was used to being trusted, and undoubtedly he had earned that reputation among his colleagues and from the company that employed him, but what did he really know about making and keeping promises to the mother of a headstrong boy? Lily released a breath she didn’t know she was holding as she realized she had just agreed to find out.
“Thank you,” said Roen. “I appreciate your confidence.”
“Don’t disappoint me.” Even to her own ears it sounded vaguely like a threat. Roen must have heard it the same way, she thought, because he blinked rather like an owl. Ratherthan dwell on the moment so that it required an apology, Lily forged ahead. “What did Ben have to say about the shooting? Does he suspect Mr. Hardy?”
“No. Not Mr. Hardy himself, but I understand he has four sons and that any one of them might have found my presence objectionable. I’m going to ride out to the Double H with Ben tomorrow and introduce myself. None of the Hardys came to town for my presentation so this is an opportunity to put the facts before them.”
“Or get yourself shot again. You could let Ben go alone, you know.”
“I could. I suspect he’d prefer it, but he left it up to me. I don’t believe there was intention to do harm. The purpose was to run me off, and it worked. Whoever was doing the shooting might not realize he hit me. It’s merely a graze.”
“Let me see.”
“I don’t think—”
“Mr. Shepard.” Lily spoke his name in the firm and patient manner of one who would not be ignored or dismissed. He must have recognized the tone because he sighed and began to remove his coat. She observed him wince several times but declined to draw attention to it. When he finally shrugged off the coat so that it lay over the back of his chair, she had her first glimpse of the bloody rent in his sleeve and the bandage that covered his injury under it. “How many stitches did Ridley give you?”
“Five.”
Amused, Lily looked away from his wound to examine his face. “A graze doesn’t require stitches, Mr. Shepard.”
He grinned sheepishly. “I realize that. Now. You tricked me.”
“If you’d like to think that...” She offered an innocent, elegant shrug. “If you take that shirt to Mrs. Fish, she’ll pass it on to me for repairing.”
“Or I could give it to you directly.”
She shook her head. “It’s not done that way.”
“Appearances. Yes, I understand. Very well, I’ll take this shirt and another that I purchased at Hennepin’s to Mrs. Fish.”
“What’s wrong with the other shirt?”
Roen lifted one of the drooping shoulder seams. “It looks like this.”
“Oh.” Lily felt herself begin to smile and quickly raised her teacup to hide it.
“It’s all right,” said Roen. “Your son’s already pointed out the flaws in my work attire.”
Lily was genuinely appalled. “He did what?”
“He spoke the truth. You can’t fault him for that.” Roen explained how one of his bags did not follow him when he changed trains in Saint Louis. “He also told me he prefers a hat like the sheriff wears to my derby.”
“Clay is a bit too free with his opinions.”
Roen shrugged. “Maybe, but he’s not wrong.”
Lily’s lips parted, but the thought that was on the tip of her tongue stayed there. She bit her lower lip instead.
“Go on,” he said. “I can see you want to say something. Is it the hat?”
She shook her head.
