Lily’s Cowboys

Chapter 2-2

Lily stood in the door of the diner, biting her lower lip with uncertainty. She pushed a strand of dark hair behind her ear as she looked around. She didn’t have much money, but she needed to get warm and find something to eat.

The diner was the first place she had seen when she had arrived in town. Walking over to one of the barstools at the counter, she lowered her canvas bag and sat on the stool. Earl walked around the counter to take her order, smiling a welcome as he handed Lily a worn menu.

Lily looked at the menu for a minute, trying to decide. Her mouth watered at all the delicious selections. She had a hard time choosing what to order. It would have to be something very inexpensive. She finally settled for ordering a glass of water, no ice, and a cup of soup.

It was all she could afford until she found a job. She would ask the man behind the counter before she left if he knew of anyone who might be hiring locally. She would also have to find a place to stay tonight. She really didn’t have enough money for a room.

She sighed. She’d better get as warm as she could now, because she had a feeling she was going to be very cold tonight if she couldn’t find a really, really cheap place to sleep. Pulling out a small battered change purse, she pulled a couple of crumpled dollar bills out of it. She sighed again; she was going to have to find a job soon or she would be going hungry as well as cold.

Sipping the hot soup, she let the warmth slide through her frozen body. She hadn’t realized it was so cold out until she came in out of it. Smiling at the man behind the counter, Lily asked softly. “You wouldn’t know if anyone around could use a good housekeeper or cook, do you? I’m a hard worker and dependable.”

Gladys had risen when Lily had ordered, moving toward the kitchen. She smiled at Maggie as she walked by her. “This one is a keeper. I say hire her if she needs a job. She is just what the boys need,” she whispered.

Maggie had been sitting in the booth watching the young girl as she looked over the menu. She could tell the girl was cold and hungry, but probably didn’t have much money, if her jacket was any indication. It was hardly appropriate for early October in Wyoming.

When Maggie heard her ask Earl about a job, she thought she had hit pay dirt. She stood up and walked over to the girl. Maggie studied her closely for a minute before speaking.

“I might know someone who’s looking for a housekeeper. My name’s Maggie Cunnings. Why don’t you sit down with me at the booth over there, and we’ll talk for a bit?”

Lily studied the older woman for a moment before nodding. The woman looked to be in her late sixties or early seventies. It was hard to tell really, as she had one of those ageless faces.

Lily couldn’t believe her luck. She watched wide-eyed as the woman turned and went back to the booth she had been sitting at when Lily had first come into the diner. Lily quickly collected her canvas bag and picked up her water. When she turned to grab her cup of soup, Carl had already picked it up and placed it on the table across from Maggie, along with a cup of hot tea.

She started to say she hadn’t ordered hot tea, but her protest died when she saw Carl wink at her. Smiling her thanks, Lily turned to study the woman sitting across from her as she slid into the booth. Maggie continued to stare at her for a moment longer. Feeling a little self-conscious, Lily tucked a stray strand of her dark brown hair behind her ear.

“So, you want to be a housekeeper?” Maggie began.

“Yes, ma’am. My name is Lily. I have plenty of experience with maintaining a house, and I’m an excellent cook. I am also very good with children,” Lily said earnestly. “I’m honest and dependable, too.”

“Call me Maggie. I’m sure you are, dear. I can tell a lot from the way a person holds themselves if they are telling me the truth. The house you would be working at has three males in it. They are brothers. Ethan is the oldest, followed by Caleb and Allen. They aren’t easy to work for, but they are good men. They’ve been through six housekeepers in the last eight months.”

Lily leaned back and stared into Maggie’s eyes thoughtfully. “If you ask me, it sounds like they haven’t found the right person for the job yet. I’m not afraid of hard work, and it isn’t easy to drive me off, ma’am. I stay until the job is done. Do you mind me asking if they are married? Do they have any children who need tending?”

Maggie smiled at the old-fashioned term. “None of them are married and none of them have children—at least none that we know of,” Maggie said humorously. “It hasn’t been easy. All three of those boys need a strong hand to get them into shape. I’ve done the best I can over the past two months, but I’m getting too old for this.”

“Are you their housekeeper? Will they have a problem with you hiring me?” Lily asked curiously.

“I’m their aunt. I’ve been helping out. Each one of those boys needs something different. They all have very distinctive personalities. Ethan works too hard and never takes time for himself. Caleb bottles everything up, and it eats away at him. But the one needing the most help is Allen. He has a lot of anger he needs to work through. They have grown apart over the years and now can’t seem to be around each other for very long without losing their tempers and fighting,” Maggie said, watching carefully for Lily’s reaction. She wondered if she was giving Lily too much information, information that would scare her off. Maggie let out a small prayer, hoping Lily would be strong enough to accept the challenge. She felt it was only right Lily knew all the facts going into the position.

Lily smiled gently. “It really sounds like they need more than a housekeeper. They need someone who can help them become a family again.”

Maggie grinned with relief at Lily’s insight. “You might be right. Those boys need someone who won’t leave the first time they growl at them. They need to learn there is more to life than work or heartache. And, they need to learn how to be brothers again. They were very close growing up, always hanging out with each other and supporting one another through all the scrapes they used to get into. It seems like they have forgotten that.”

Lily nodded. “Ma’am – Maggie – I need a job, and it sounds like your boys need an experienced housekeeper who won’t take their growling personal. If you are willing to hire me, I won’t disappoint you. I’ll stay as long as they need me.”

“Well, then, consider yourself hired! I need you to start as soon as possible. Are you staying in town? Can you start tonight?” Maggie couldn’t contain her joy at the prospect of Lily being at the ranch. Somehow, she knew Lily was the right one. If Maggie didn’t know any better, she would have thought Lily had been heaven-sent as she fit her earlier prayer for an angel to help get those boys back in shape.

“Actually, I just got off the bus, and I haven’t found a place to stay or anything yet. All I have is what’s in my bag.” Lily nodded to the large canvas bag at her feet. Lily didn’t want to admit she didn’t have any money to stay anywhere, and the thought of a nice warm bed was a welcome relief.

Maggie frowned, looking at Lily’s jacket. “We need to get you a few things. Your jacket isn’t going to help keep you warm. We’ll head over to Pete’s Trade Stop before heading out to the ranch. They’ll have everything you’ll need.”

Lily shook her head. Determination made her lips form a straight line. She never took anything without being able to pay for it. Her parents had raised her to believe it just wasn’t right.

“I’ll get it when I get my first paycheck. I have enough to keep me warm until then. I don’t want to take anything until I’ve earned it.”

Maggie studied the girl sitting across from her. She seemed so young, but her eyes told a different story. “Child, how old are you? Do your parents know where you are?”

Lily smiled sadly. “I’m older than I look. My parents passed away a few years ago, and I don’t have any other family. I’ve been on my own for a while now,” she explained in a quiet voice.

Maggie’s eyes shone with compassion, “Well, let’s get you out to the ranch. I can show you the house tonight, and if you don’t mind, I’ll head out back to town tonight so I can get an early start in the morning. I miss my Albert something fierce, not to mention the warm, sunny weather of south Florida. Albert and I met there ten years ago when I moved to get away from the cold Wyoming winters. I have to admit, I don’t miss them at all.”

Lily suddenly had a terrible thought. “Maggie, what if the men don’t like me? What if they fire me before I even have a chance to prove myself?”

“Now, don’t you mind those boys. I’m the one hiring you, so they can’t fire you unless I tell them they can. In fact, I will guarantee you the first three months’ salary plus living accommodations just for taking the job. How does that sound?”

Lily couldn’t help the relieved smile that curved her lips. “Like a plan. You won’t regret it, Maggie, I promise.”

“Gladys, Carl, Earl, I’ve found a new housekeeper for the boys. I’m going to take her out to the ranch and get her settled in. If you don’t mind, can I stay at your place tonight so I can head out early tomorrow morning for the airport? It will save me at least an hour’s drive,” Maggie asked as she gathered her things together.

Gladys smiled warmly at Lily before replying. “Anytime, Maggie. You know that. The guest room has your name on it.” Maggie gave Gladys a quick kiss on the cheek and flushed when both Earl and Carl came up and gave her a kiss on the lips. Shaking her head at the two men, she turned and grinned at Lily, a nice pink glow on her cheeks.

Lily gathered her bag and waited as Maggie put on her coat and gloves. Following the older woman out the door, Lily turned at the last minute to look at Gladys, Carl, and Earl. “Thank you. The soup and hot tea were very good.”

Gladys leaned back into Earl’s arms and smiled up at both men. “I think those Cunnings men aren’t going to know what hit them.”

Carl leaned down and gave Gladys a kiss. “I think you’re right, dear. I think you’re right.”

Earl tightened his hold on Gladys and smiled. “I think they have finally met their match. I just hope they are smart enough not to throw her away.”