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Edward stood outside Lily's house watching Ray through the window. The house was small, smaller than he'd thought. He could tell that Lily tried to keep it clean, but he also saw that such a feat in a place like this was impossible. There were holes in the walls and roof, the floor itself looked made of dirt. And as he watched, her husband sat with his feet on their coffee table, his boots still on.
Ray was a large man. Not tall like Edward, but the whiskey he drank had added weight. His midsection protruded over his pants, and the front of his shirt strained not to rip. He wore no overcoat to cover himself, and he had a generally slovenly appearance.
Edward stepped away from the window and knocked on the door. He'd had to come while Lily was at work, telling her a small lie and saying he'd felt his cold returning and wanted to go and see Dr. Shannon before the illness could settle back in. He did not think, with the lies she had told him, that he should have regret about telling one of his own. Especially when he'd only told it to help her.
They had not spoken of her husband again in the last two days, though it had never fallen from his mind. If Lily thought he was prepared to let her remain with a man who would not only hurt her but threaten her very family, then she still had a lot to learn about him.
Edward knocked again, louder this time, and a moment later, the door opened. Lily's husband nearly fell through it. It was ten in the morning, and he was already drunk.
"Ray Dickinson?" Edward asked.
The man swayed on his feet. "Who's asking?"
"I'm Edward Saunders. I own the Saunders Factory with my father, where your wife works."
Learning who he was seemed to change Ray's attitude. He looked... impressed.
"Mr. Saunders," he said, bowing and almost falling over again when he did so. The top of his head actually touched the ground. "I'm Ray Dickinson. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit? And won't you come in?"
Ray hiccupped and took a step back, swinging the door wide. It banged against the inside wall of their home. Edward stepped inside. Ray stared at the door as though he'd forgotten how it worked, so Edward shut it for him.
For some reason, that seemed to get Ray's attention, as if snapping him out of a trance.
"What's this about?" Ray asked, and Edward noted the cuts on his knuckles. Had that been the result of his hands on Lily, or had he gotten into some drunken saloon fight?
"I'm here about Lily," Edward said, straight to the point.
"Has something happened? That woman's clumsy as a mule. Is she hurt?" It was not concern in his eyes; it was scorn.
"The only one who's hurting her is you," Edward said. "And that's about to change."
A look came slowly over Ray's face. His eyes, already so much like those of a snake, turned black as night. His dried-up lips drew back in a snarl, exposing yellow teeth where he still had them. He'd spent so much of his time fighting and drinking that it was difficult to determine his true age. If Edward hadn't known better, he'd have guessed the man to be fifty. As it was, he knew he couldn't be over thirty.
"Is that so?" Ray asked.
Edward nodded.
"You been messing with my wife?" Ray asked, also getting to the point. He stepped closer to Edward, his fists ready to fly.
"No," Edward said, shaking his head. "Lily wouldn't do you the dishonor."
"Am I supposed to believe a liar like her? For all I know, you're a liar, too."
Ray jumped at him, his hand just missing Edward's face and hitting air. Edward stepped quickly to the side and turned in a circle so his back was facing the sitting room. He ducked as Ray swung again, and when he rose, he grabbed hold of Ray's arm and bent it behind his back. Ray let out a sharp yowl.
"Throw another punch at me, and I'll snap this arm right off," Edward growled.
Ray stopped struggling. "Let go of me," he hissed.
"Not until you listen. I'm not messing with your wife, I told you."
"But you want to, don't you?" Ray’s voice was low, menacing.
Edward said nothing.
"I know your type," Ray continued. Every word was spoken as if it were a poison he was trying to instill in Edward's body. "Rich. Proud. You think the world owes you everything and everyone in it should bow at your feet."
Edward inhaled slowly, forcing himself not to punch this man into the ground. What had Lily ever seen in him? He could only imagine that when they'd first met, he must have been a very different sort of man.
"Will you stay still and listen to me?" Edward asked.
Ray nodded, and he let him go. Once free, he jumped out of Edward's reach and faced him with his back to the door. His hands were as steady as his feet now. Ray was one of those guys who sobered up fast.
"You didn't come here to tell me my wife is your best worker or that you want her for yourself," Ray said. "You got a purpose." Edward realized the man wasn't dumb as he'd thought he'd be. If not for the alcohol that had no doubt ripped holes in his brain the size of apples, he might even have been clever.
"You're right," Edward said.
"So, get to it. Tell me why you're really here so I can go ahead and beat you into the ground. And when I'm through with you, I'll start on her."
Edward tried not to laugh. His threats were funny considering Edward had come within an inch of breaking the man's arm. The only reason he hadn't was Lily. She'd be furious with him if he did. He wouldn't start their relationship by going against her wishes.
Edward reached into his pocket. Ray stiffened, and Edward had to contain his laugh again. The man thought he had a gun. If Edward had any sense of his own, he probably should've brought one. Instead, he pulled out a wad of money.
Ray's eyes lit up. "What's that?"
"Two hundred and fifty dollars." Edward let that sink in for a minute.
"Who's it for?" Ray asked, licking his lips as though he were a starving man who'd just seen his first meal in a year.
"You."
"Me?"
Ray looked at him skeptically. "What would you want to give me two hundred and fifty dollars for?"
Edward drew in a deep breath. This is it.
"To stay away from Lily."
The smile faltered on Ray's face.
"What in tarnation are you talking about?"
"Leave. Or let Lily leave. Don't hurt her, don't hurt her family, just take the money and go. Grant her the divorce she wants."
Ray's eyes popped open so wide Edward thought they might fall right out of his head.
"I should report you for making such a proposal. It's indecent is what it is."
"I suspect you're not a man who cares much about decency and indecency. You care more about the dollar. Am I right?"
Ray considered Edward's words and slowly nodded, his smile resuming its place on his face. "Money's important, all right, but so is marriage. I took a vow before God, for better or worse, till death do us part. You expect me to just give that up?"
Edward put the money back in his pocket.
"Whoa, there," Ray said quickly, holding out one hand. "I didn't say no, did I? I thought we was just talkin' here. Man to man, you know?"
Edward smiled. I've got him. "How much do you want?"
Ray ran a hand over his mouth, wiping the spit off his lips.
"Well, now, I don't know exactly. You're asking me to break a solemn vow to the Lord Almighty. To a wife who I love dearly."
"How much?" Edward repeated.
"Double."
Edward smirked. "Five hundred dollars?"
"That's right," Ray said. "Five hundred dollars and I leave tonight. I give her the divorce. All of it, just like you said."
Edward reached into his other pocket and brought out a second wad of money exactly the same size as the first. "I had a feeling two hundred and fifty might not be enough."
Ray smiled, and Edward handed him the money.
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