A Family For The Holidays. Sherri Shackelford

never sell that place. The old bat is stringing you along. Did you threaten to quit or something? Is that why she suddenly had a change of heart?”

      Not this time. Lily stiffened her jaw. She wasn’t letting Regina’s cynical chatter worm its way into her head. This time was different. The landlady’s rheumatism was growing worse, and she’d been pining over the idea of a small cottage located nearer to where her son lived. Surely people who pined didn’t simply change their mind on a whim.

      “Hmph.” Regina cupped her well-manicured fingers around her porcelain coffee cup. “I’d need the paperwork in hand before I believed a word of anything that woman said. Surely you have everything in writing.”

      “We have a verbal agreement.”

      “You’re being foolish.” Regina’s gaze flitted over Lily’s faded calico dress with its sad, frayed sleeves. “You’re better off spending the money on a new dress. You can’t bait a trap with moldy cheese.”

      “I beg your pardon.”

      Regina waved her hand. “I’m only joking. Don’t look so shocked.”

      “I’m not baiting a trap for some hapless male,” Lily snapped. “I’m making a prudent investment in my future.”

      Despite her bluster, the barb stung. Why must the term foolish be used so often in reference to her decisions? Foolish Lily. Naive Lily. She’d worked hard. She’d paid her dues. She’d considered all the alternatives and arrived at the judicious choice. There was absolutely no reason for her to be sitting here defending herself.

      Regina reached out and covered Lily’s hands. “This world is run by men. Men only do business with other men. If you want success beyond that silly little boardinghouse, you’ll need a husband.”

      A sharp pain throbbed behind Lily’s temple. Regina’s solution wasn’t any better. A woman was better off counting on herself. Love was never the sensible choice. Nothing tangible was secure save for the brick and mortar holding the roof above her head and the land beneath her feet.

      People could come and go all they pleased. She didn’t need their company, only their business. She glanced at the two heads bent over their checkers game and a wave of sorrow nearly engulfed her. Love inevitably led to loss. She couldn’t endure that sort of pain again.

      “I need to find someone,” Lily began. She’d grown heartily weary of the current subject. Despite the outlaw’s warning, she saw no reason to doubt Emil as a guardian. “The children’s grandfather was supposed to meet our stagecoach. He’s late.”

      “Who is he? I know everyone in Frozen Oaks.” Regina flashed a spiteful grin. “And all of their secrets.”

      “His name is—”

      A blast of glacial air indicated the arrival of another customer. As the gentleman approached their table, Regina’s face lit up. Curious, Lily studied the newcomer. His extreme fairness caught and held her attention immediately. The gentleman’s pants were striped in shades of charcoal, his waistcoat was checked in burgundy, and he’d topped his outfit with a black suit coat. The only blemish to his neat appearance was the tail end of a blue bandanna trailing from his pocket.

      Though not exactly uncomely, everything about him was slightly off. He was at least a decade older than Regina, with a wide smile that stretched his loose jowls. His light blond hair was neatly trimmed, but shot with gray, washing out the color. Despite his jovial expression, there was sharp edge to his pale blue eyes.

      Regina rose to her feet, rattling the table and sloshing her coffee.

      “Vic,” she exclaimed, her voice breathless. “This is my friend Lily Winter. Lily, this is Vic Skaar. Vic owns the hotel and the lumberyard. He’ll own the whole town before long.”

      The man grasped Lily’s outstretched hand in a bone-crushing greeting. “A pleasure, Miss Winter.”

      Lily stifled a grimace at his clammy palm. “Mr. Skaar.”

      Regina scooted closer and Vic smoothly evaded her advance. Glancing between the pair, Lily frowned.

      “Call me Vic,” the gentleman said. “What brings you to our quaint town, Miss Winter?”

      He winked at her, a curious twitch of his left cheek that didn’t completely close his eye. His greeting was so at odds with the exchange she’d shared with the gunfighter, she paused a moment before answering.

      “Are you all right, Miss Winter?” Vic hoisted an eyebrow. “I didn’t mean to ask such a confusing question.”

      “I’m fine.” Lily straightened. “I’m just visiting.”

      “How fortunate for us.”

      The look on his face was cloying and hinted at the suggestion of something more. Lily sharpened her gaze. At the boardinghouse, she’d struck down more than one overly ardent suitor who thought the maids were providing more than fresh linens. She wasn’t completely naive.

      “My visit is brief,” she replied firmly. “Just until the children are settled.”

      Much to Lily’s chagrin, Regina had noted Vic’s interest. The other woman’s face took on a hard look, jarring Lily’s fragile nerves. Though Regina’s cloying affection struck Lily as contrived, the other woman was clearly warning her away.

      “When are you leaving?” Regina demanded.

      “The evening stagecoach,” Lily cut in quickly, seeking to ease Regina’s disquiet. “I’ve escorted Sam and Peter on the last leg of their journey. We’re waiting on their grandfather. He’s late.”

      Regina was the one person in town she knew, and Lily was loath to damage the relationship until she discovered Emil’s whereabouts.

      Vic followed her gaze and caught sight of the siblings in deep concentration over their checkers game.

      “What’s the gentleman’s name?” he asked. “Maybe I can help.”

      “Emil Tyler.”

      Vic’s grin faltered. “That might be a problem, Miss Winter.”

       Chapter Three

      Emil has gotten tangled in some trouble.

      Jake’s declaration ricocheted around Lily’s brain. Had he been implying something more sinister? The idea sent her strained nerves clamoring. What sort of trouble could an elderly man tangle with?

      “Emil missed the gentlemen’s weekly poker game.” Regina chuckled, though she didn’t sound particularly amused. “Emil never misses a poker game. No one has seen him in a week. Come to think of it, I heard he had a dustup with that gunfighter, Jake, a few days back.”

      Vic bestowed Lily with another of his odd half winks. “You’d best watch your back, Lily. With Emil gone, those two boys are ripe for the picking. Even I saw their luggage stacked outside the livery. One look at the brass fittings on their steamer trunks and everyone will know we have a couple of rich orphans in our midst. Folks around these parts will slit your throat for an acre of land, let alone a juicy bank account.”

      “Stop.” Regina playfully slapped his arm. “Vic, you’re frightening the poor girl.”

      With a gasp Lily half stood from her chair, then thumped back down. Only last week the St. Joseph Star had featured a story about gravediggers desecrating corpses in search of valuables. Greed drove people into all sorts of despicable acts. With Emil missing, how difficult would it be for someone to claim guardianship of the boys and drain their inheritance?

      Vic pried Regina’s fingers loose from his coat sleeve. “A fellow like Jake is dodgy. Considering his argument with Emil, maybe you should speak with the sheriff. A pretty girl looking out for two young, helpless boys needs protection.”

      Panic