Chapter Thirty-One

“Where are you going to go from here?” Lillith questioned as she, Turner and Will sat at the breakfast table a week later. 

Turner shrugged, “My ranch.” 

Will watched Turner take a sip of his coffee, “Can we still go there? You are probably a wanted man now, Turner.” 

Turner shook his head, “A lynch mob won’t make me wanted. There’s no proof I’m the one that did any of that since I didn’t exactly leave witnesses.”

“They seemed sure it was you, Turner,” Will warned. 

Turner tipped his head and smiled comfortingly, “Yeah, but they have to prove it to the governor to earn me a wanted status and the governor is an old friend…” 

“So, he’s a dirty politician that caters to his outlaw friends?” Lillith teased. 

Turner grinned behind his coffee cup, “Yep.”

“Friends in high places can come in handy,” Will noted. 

“Almost as handy as friends in low places,” Turner agreed. “It’ll take a bit longer to reach the ranch. We’ll have to go the long way around and avoid Caudilltown.”

“Won’t anyone in Caudilltown that wants revenge think to look for you there?” Lillith asked. 

“No.” Turner stood and walked to the window. He looked out at the cold late January morning. “No one knew anything about me. I’m Turner, the man that doesn’t talk to anyone and hardly leaves the mountain, that’s it. They don’t know my last name, they don’t where I came there from, if I have any family, nothing.” 

“I don’t even know your last name,” Will spoke up. Turner glanced over his shoulder at the man, “What is it?” 

“Browning,” Turner replied. “Turner Browning.” 

“Aww,” Lillith batted her lashes as she stood up and began gathering the plates, “Will Browning. It has quite a nice ring to it.” 

Turner’s heart swelled at the thought. Will’s face flushed and his laughter filled the home, “Who says I’d be the one to change my name? Turner Calhoun has a nice ring as well.” 

Turner chuckled, “You can call me whatever you want to, Will, just so long as you stay by my side.” 

“I’ll be right here even when you’re wrinkly and gray, ol’ man,” Will winked. 

“See what I have to put up with?” Turner grumbled when Lillith came to stand beside him. 

She patted his arm, “I think you are both adorable. When are you going to head to the ranch? It’ll be awfully lonely around here now that I’ve gotten used to house mates.” 

“We’ll probably leave soon. It was icing and snowing a few days ago but there seems to be a nice little break in that weather now,” Turner shrugged, “It’d probably be a good idea to head out while we can.” 

Lillith frowned and walked to the table. She put her arms around Will’s neck from behind and kissed his temple, “I’m going to miss you both.” 

Will shrugged, “Then come with us.” 

“I can’t do that!” Lillith exclaimed. “You are both just starting your life together and won’t need a tag along.” 

Turner agreed. He was fond of Lillith and she had helped them but he didn’t want her moving in with them at the ranch. The house was big but not that big and Christopher was already living there with his wife and family. However one look at the expression on Will’s face told Turner that Will disagreed completely. 

“Nonsense! You are our friend! You’re my sister for Gods sake!” Will grinned and jumped to his feet, “You can come with us. Tell her, Turner!” 

Turner shifted his feet and rubbed the back of his neck, “Well.. Uh…” 

“Hello the house!” 

Lillith’s expresssion turned to one of pure annoyance when a male voice called from outside, “Who is that?” Turner asked, moving toward the window. 

“Don’t!” Lillith exclaimed in a whisper as she grabbed his arm and yanked him back. “That’s Harry. He’s been sniffing around my skirts for the last year or so and just doesn’t seem to take no for an answer. He comes by several times a month.” 

“I’ve been here three weeks almost and this is the first I’m hearing of him,” Turner noted. 

Lillith pinched her nose, “I know. He was on business back east and the breather was nice.” 

“You want me to tell him to leave?” Will offered. 

“No,” Lillith shook her head. “Just let me deal with him. I don’t need it getting around that I’m living with two men. Everyone already thinks ill of me because I’m a woman that’s living alone. The church ladies swear I must be up to no good.” 

Will grinned, “You devil woman.”

“Lillith, are you home?!” 

Lillith scowled, “I’ll deal with this.” 

Turner and Will watched her go outside before she closed the door in their faces. When the voices began outside they were too faint for either man to hear what was being said. 

They waited several long tense minutes, wondering what was going on but staying away from the windows to honor Lillith’s wishes. Then an angry yell pierced the morning.

“You’ll get your hands off me now!” Lilltih exclaimed. “I am not interested!” 

“I haven’t been bringing you food and supplies for a year to keep being turned down, Lillith! I’m going to have you dammit! I’ve waited long enough!” 

Turner growled and burst out the door. The sight he was met with was enough to have him pulling and cocking his gun as his long legs ate up the ground. 

This man, Harry, had Lillith in his grasp. One hand was wrapped around her curly blond hair and the other was gripping her upper arm as he dragged her toward the barn.

Turner raised his gun and fired a shot into the air, “You’ll be wanting to stop that now!” he warned. 

As the sound of the shot echoed into the distance, Harry released his hold on Lillith and stumbled backward, throwing his hands in the air, “Who the hell are you?” 

Turner ignored him and instead motioned for Lillith to come to him. She had tears in her eyes and quickly crossed the muddy ground to stand behind him. Turner didn’t have to turn to be aware of Will coming to stand behind him as well. 

“Lillith, what’s going on here?” Harry demanded. “Who are these men?” 

“Why don’t you get back on your horse and go on back to wherever it is rode here from?” Turner offered.

“Now wait a minute…”

“That’s a one time offer, friend,” Turner cocked the revolver and set its sights directly on Harry’s red face, “Take it or die.” 

“Turner, no!” Lillith came around him and put her hands on his arm, “Just put the gun down, Turner. Harry’s going to leave, aren’t you, Harry?” 

Harry remained silent and Turner glanced at Lillith’s face, “KIlling him won’t bother me one bit,” he admitted honestly. He’d happily kill this man. All it would take was one single pull of the trigger.

Will came to his other side and his hand rested on Turner’s chest, “Please don’t, Turner. Not like this. Peter wouldn’t want you killing so easily and… neither do I.” 

Turner glared at Will, “Don’t you tell me what Peter would or wouldn’t have wanted, damn you. It’s because of you that I had to start killing again in the first place!” 

Turner shoved both Will and Lillith away from him and stepped toward Harry who stumbled back several paces, “You’re going to saddle up and get the hell out of here, Harry. Lillith isn’t interested in you. Thank you for whatever help you’ve given her the last year but I’ll be tending to her now.” 

Harry spared a last glance at Lillith and then turned tail and ran back to his waiting horse. He slipped in the mud and fell before scrambling back to his feet and pulling himself into the saddle. 

Turner didn’t turn around until he was no longer visible on the road in the distance. When he did turn he found that only Lillith was still behind him. Will had disappeared. 

“Where the hell did he go?” 

“Away from the giant brute of a jackass that yelled at him,” Lillith snapped before crossing her arms over herself protectively and shivering.

Turner sighed, “I get called that a lot.” 

Lillith frowned, “Thank you for helping me with Harry…” 

“You might as well get packed, Lillith. It’s not yet ten in the morning. We can get ready and head out by noon.” 

“Wait just a second!” Lillith exclaimed, grabbing his arm and stopping him when he attempting to walk around her, “I’m not going anywhere! This is my home.” 

“You’re coming with us. It isn’t safe for you to be alone here. You think Harry really won’t come back? Or that there won’t be another Harry some other time? One who doesn’t scare quite so easy?” Turner demanded. 

Lillith’s chin quivering was the only proof of her fear as she squared her shoulders, “I have been just fine out here for four years…” 

“Yes and if not for me being here today you wouldn’t be just fine any longer,” Turner reminded her as he holstered his gun. “Now get your damn things ready because we’re leaving in two hours.” 

A/N: The queen of updates is slacking today! It's already nearly 5 pm here and this is the first i'm getting up! Might be the only one today, I"m not sure! Hopefully this will not result in loss of my title!! ;)  Love y'all!