Molly stood outside the door to Lily'sroom working up the nerve to knock on the door. She'd gone over whatshe'd planned to ask Lily several times in her mind. Lily had provento be liberal with her views on a lot of different topics includingmen and women. She had encouraged Molly's relationship with Buck andwhere most at this point may be urging marriage, Lily understood whatMolly's Independence meant to her and the price she'd paid for it.But if anything might test the true nature of Lily's acceptance,Molly's request might be it. Deciding she had nothing to lose, shefinally knocked on the door. It opened nearly immediately.
"Good morning, chere," Lilygreeted cheerfully. She wore a simple day dress of cream and blue buteven a simple dress on Lily was worn with an elegance most womenwould envy. "I was wondering when you'd bring yourself toknock," she stepped back and allowed Molly to enter the room.?
"You know you never have tohesitate at my door," she said, taking a seat at her vanity shebegan to unwind her hair from the braid it was in. Molly set herschool things down on the table near the door and pulled off hergloves.?
"Yes, well, I have aquestion...more like a request and I'm not quite sure how to ask it,"Molly said, walking up to the vanity. She picked up Lily's brush andpulled it through her hair. Lily sat up straight and looked at Mollythrough the mirror.
"I would suggest the directapproach might be best,¡± Lily responded. Molly nodded as shedivided Lily's hair into several sections. ¡°You also know I neverexpect you to...tend to me when you come see me?¡±
¡°Of course I know that. I don'tmind.¡± Molly focused her attention on her task for a couple ofminutes.
¡°Is your request to quit teaching andbecome my lady's maid?¡± Lily teased. ¡°Because it would be verydifficult to say no.¡±
¡°It's about Buck,¡± Molly said,¡°About Buck and I. We've only been...together...one night. Thenight we were at Mr. Larabee's house. It's been...aggravating to nothave any privacy. The time we've been able to find alone is hardlyever enough to be conducive to...¡± Molly placed the last hairpin inplace and Lily turned on the vanity seat to face her. ¡°He won'ttake me to his room...¡±
¡°I should hope not,¡± Lily respondedand stood up. ¡°I may have an idea,¡± she walked to the door andled Molly into and down the hallway toward the back staircase Mollyused when she came to visit so she wouldn't have to go through thesaloon. She stopped in front of a door Molly had always assumed was acloset and opened it. Except for several crates stacked at one end ofthe room, it was empty. ¡°It simply needs a bed.¡± Molly felt herface heat as she crossed the room to a window that looked out on tothe alleyway.
¡°How would you explain that?¡± Mollyasked, turning back around.
¡°This is my place, chere, I owe noone an explanation.¡±
¡°What about Buck? What would hethink? Maybe this isn't a good idea...¡± Lily crossed the room andtook Molly's hands in hers.
¡°Buck would be charmed. I know it.He's waited this long to be with you again, he's taken care to seethat your reputation has been kept up and he's taken care to be sureto see how very special you are to him. Leave this to me. Give me afew days and then this is your space.¡± Molly embraced Lily, sothankful to have found a friend in her. They walked out the room andback toward Lily's when a noise stopped them both. Molly reached forand grabbed Lily's hand.
¡°Was that...?¡± The pair hurriedtoward the front stairs to see several men exit the saloon. Molly wasabout to start down when Lily pulled her back.
¡°Wait.¡± The pair stood for whatseemed to be hours while more gunfire and shouts and screams filledthe air. Molly was thankful it was still early enough that herstudents wouldn't have begun making their way to the school yet.Finally, it seemed to be quiet and the pair cautiously made their waydown the stairs and out the door.
Buck hurried across the street to them,holstering his gun and a chill ran through Molly.
¡°Nathan asked for Miss Emma but hemight need you both too,¡± he said. The trio made their way down thestreet toward Nathan's clinic as Buck explained what happened; therewas an attempted robbery at Belle's Mercantile that resulted inJosiah being shot. Molly kept vigil helping where she could andattempting to calm and comfort Cheyanne who was nearly hysterical atthe thought of losing him. Belle was able to arrange for a surgeonand Vin was sent to bring him back. Molly set to work as she had withhelping after Emma had been shot knowing the only thing she could dowas not make herself a hindrance and to pray.
Linda Brown