Chapter 18
CHAPTER 18
R achel awoke the next morning feeling more alive than she’d felt in days. She’d been exhausted when she crawled into bed last night. She’d spent the evening with Felix until he could no longer stay awake. Her heart throbbed when Levi had to carry him upstairs.
How quickly could a life change? She’d always felt healthy. Felix probably had, too, but now she understood to pay attention to the warnings that signaled something was wrong.
She didn’t know if Felix had ignored warning signs, but she had thought her weakness and shortness of breath would pass. It had—it passed right into a virus.
As she lay in bed, she listened through the quiet but heard nothing. Was it too early for anyone else to be up? Not likely. She knew enough about ranch life to know everyone rose early.
She felt along the top of the nightstand until she touched her phone and held it above her.
Her eyes widened. Seven o’clock!
Everyone would have been up for hours. She couldn’t lay in bed. She wanted to help.
She bolted upright. The blood rushing from her head made her eyes squeeze tight. She’d take it slow, dress and then move downstairs to help Naomi. Levi and his family were kind enough to let her stay. She’d help them until she left.
The sinking feeling in her chest hit bottom. As much as she loved staying at the ranch, her life wasn’t here. It was in her apartment on Main Street. No one in the McSweeney family had time to take care of her. Felix needed help with everything. She could help him, too.
Balancing herself along the nightstand, then the vanity, she crossed the room to the closet where Naomi had hung the clothes she had packed. Levi’s mother had added a few more items. Maybe in case Rachel stayed longer than she planned and ran out of clothes. She was grateful she felt well enough to climb out of bed and dress.
Standing in the shower, she closed her eyes and relished the warm water streaming through her hair and down her face, but the spinning in her head was the reminder that she hadn’t completely healed. She propped one hand against the shower wall and struggled against her waning strength.
Please, Lord, let me be strong. I need to return to my apartment. I can’t stay here.
If she stayed, Levi and the others would take care of her. She refused to be a burden. The McSweeneys managed a ranch while working other jobs.
Determined to be well even if she felt the lingering effects of the virus, she grabbed a towel from the rack and wrapped it around her head, then stepped from the shower.
Dressing was slow but finally she stared at her reflection in the three mirrored vanity. Her hair sprang in damp curls about her pale face. The long-sleeved t-shirt may have fit her a few days ago, but now it smoothed over her hanger-like shoulder and hung loosely about her waist. She slipped a belt through her pants’ loops and gathered her jeans in place. She pulled on a pair of boots. If she had a chance to go outside and enjoy the sunshine, she would.
Downstairs, she didn’t see Felix in the living room. She crossed the dining room to the voices coming from the kitchen and stepped through the archway .
Levi stood next to his mother and spoke quietly. Tall and strongly built, his presence filled the room, even one as large as the McSweeney kitchen. His gaze shifted to Rachel. His jaw tightened with disapproval. If he thought she wasn’t well enough to get out of bed, she’d set him straight.
“There she is.” Naomi glanced over her shoulder and smiled.
“Good morning,” Rachel said. She shifted her gaze. She hoped Levi and Naomi wouldn’t tell her to go back to bed. As lovely as the bedroom was, she didn’t want to be by herself. The McSweeneys were bubbling and vibrant. She felt better being in the same room with them.
She glanced at the table. Seeing a smiling Felix sitting in the chair by the window made her hesitate.
“Hello,” he said the word slowly and clearly.
“Good morning.” Delight filling her, she slid into the chair next to his. “You’re looking wonderful.”
He grinned. The paralyzed side of his face lifted.
She breathed in surprised pleasure and squeezed his hand. She glanced at Naomi.
“That side of his face had slight movement last night.” Naomi’s eyes danced before looking serious. “This morning, the lift was more obvious. I called the doctor and scheduled an appointment with a specialist to have him examined. They had an opening this morning. I have you to thank.”
“Me?” Rachel drew back. “I didn’t do anything. I wouldn’t even know what to do.”
“We’ve all been rushing around and making sure he had what he needed.” A sheen filled Naomi’s eyes.
“You took the time to be with him. That was what he really needed.” Levi never stopped looking at her.
“I’ve seen the way all of you work with him,” Rachel spoke quickly. “I did no more than anyone else. The time was right for all that to work together.”
“Maybe.” Levi didn’t seem convinced. “Are you sure you’re up to being out of bed? ”
“I can’t lay in bed one more minute.” Despite her weakness, she set her teeth. If he argued with her, she’d stand firm.
“I can’t imagine that’s the most enjoyable way to spend the day.” He laughed softly. His shoulders relaxed. “What would you like for breakfast?”
“A bowl of cereal is fine.” Food didn’t sound that appealing.
“You still don’t have much of an appetite,” he said flatly.
“My appetite is improving,” she said slowly. She wouldn’t admit food was unappealing, even if it were obvious.
“Then one bowl of cereal it is.” His eyes narrowing, he gave a soft laugh.
“I can get it.” Rachel pressed her hands to the tabletop.
“Because I know where everything is, I’ll get it.” He turned to a cupboard before she could respond.
“Thank you,” she murmured. She settled back in her chair.
“I’ll leave you two to your conversation and cereal.” Naomi moved to Felix. “It’s time for me to take Grandpa Felix to the doctor’s.”
“Give me a minute, and I’ll help you.” Levi glanced at his mother.
“No need.” Naomi smiled at him. “You have that conference call this morning?—”
Before he could tell her he had time to help, his brother Seth stepped through the back door.
“You ready?” As tall and broad-shouldered as Levi, Seth grinned at his mother.
“Whenever you are.” She smiled.
“Come on, Dad.” Seth placed his hand on Felix’s arm and helped him stand. “I think you’re going to like this doctor appointment.”
“Take your word,” Felix spoke haltingly. Despite the doubt in his face, he let Seth help him rise. His right side shuffled slightly as Seth guided him out of the kitchen.
“You’ll let me know how it goes?” Levi arched a brow at his mother.
“Absolutely,” Naomi spoke causally, but there was excitement in her eyes .
Rachel felt her hope. She doubted she had anything to do with Felix’s improvement. She thanked God.
The kitchen suddenly quiet, Levi set a bowl, spoon and a box of cornflakes in front of Rachel.
“Do you think your stomach could handle a glass of orange juice?” he asked before straightening.
The tip in her stomach made her take a breath. “Maybe later.”
“Still not completely ready for food.” He stepped to the refrigerator before she could respond. He lifted a quart of milk and set it in front of her.
“Is everyone else in the barn?” She sprinkled a couple of spoonfuls of cereal into her bowl.
She felt Levi watch her. If he had a comment, he kept it to himself.
“Aaron is. Everyone else is at work. Madeline is at school, where she didn’t want to go until she saw you, but I reminded her that she would see you when she returned this afternoon.” His mouth curved.
“I can’t wait to see her.” Rachel’s heart warmed.
As much as she loved that little girl, she wondered at the wisdom of getting too close to her. The attachment would make it difficult when it was time to say goodbye. Levi had said he was here until his father could start working the ranch again. Because today Felix showed improvement, a sign that he may be better soon, Levi’s help would soon no longer be needed.
His phone rang, and he glanced at the screen. “I need to get this.” His mouth curving with apology, he stepped from the room.
Rachel pushed herself up from the table and moved to the kitchen window. The sun shone in a cloudless sky, drawing her to its promise of warmth and sparkling light. She stepped out the backdoor and onto the deck, where she lifted her face to the sun. At the end of the yard, rows of tomatoes, carrots and lettuce nodded in the breeze. She moved down the steps. Wandering down a row, she filled her lungs with the fresh fragrance, so different from the air she had breathed when she caught the city bus from her Columbus apartment to the school where she’d taught.
“There you are.” Levi’s gentle voice filled her with that familiar thrill she’d felt when she was growing up. “I had thought you’d gone back to bed.”
“I can’t stay in my room when it’s so beautiful outside,” she said, smiling.
“I understand.” He held up a jacket she hadn’t noticed before. “Are you up to walking to the barn?”
“Always,” she said brightly.
“Put this on.” He moved behind her. “If you remember, Colorado weather can be fickle.”
She remembered. There had been a day when she’d walked home from school and a surprise rain shower had swept over the valley. Levi had appeared from nowhere. His arm around her, he rushed her to an overhang next to an old building on Main Street. She saw no one else.
Her heart took a startled leap. She hadn’t paid attention to where they were going, and she hadn’t cared. She was with Levi. He had wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her to the broad chest she’d struggled not to stare at.
“Are you all right?” His tone was husky. She remembered every nuance and every word.
Rain pounded the tin roof above them and splashed against the red slate sidewalk.
“Yes.” She’d winced at the strain in her voice.
He peeked up at the sky, his smile in that casual curve. “Sometimes these storms sweep through, then they’re gone.”
She had stared at him dumbly and nodded.
When he looked at her, he hesitated, then his mouth tipped into an understanding smile. “You’re sure you’re all right.”
“Yes.” She dragged her gaze from his and stared at the rain.
She was in Levi McSweeney’s arms. How could she be anything but? Should she tell her friends what happened? And what should she say? It sounded silly to say Levi had rescued her from a rain shower, though they would pump her for every detail.
As hard as it was, she never told them anything. Instead, she’d treasured that memory in her heart .
When the rain lessened, her heart dipped low in her chest. Colorado rainstorms were brief. This one signaled it would be gone soon.
Levi reached his hand into the sprinkles, then drew it in. Only a few drops covered his palm.
“I think it’s safe.” He tipped his head toward the sidewalk. “I’ll walk you home.”
When he walked her to the door, she still searched for words. Her mind drew a blank and she never said a word.
“There you are.” Her mother flung open the door. “I was beginning to wonder if I needed to hunt for you. Jonathan said he hadn’t seen you.”
“Sorry, Mrs. Bonneville.” Levi offered her a rueful smile. “I didn’t think we should walk in the rain, so we waited out the storm near Mr. Baxter’s drugstore.”
“That’s a relief.” Her mother sighed. “You never know how much rain we’ll get with these flash showers. Do you want to come in?” She opened the door wider. “I made brownies.”
“Thanks, but I need to go,” Levi said with regret.
Rachel’s heart sank.
“My dad is at the feed store picking up supplies. I’m meeting him there to help load the truck.”
“Another time then,” her mother said.
“Thanks.” He sounded like a man, not a boy. He turned to Rachel. “I’ll see you at school tomorrow.”
She tried to speak, but her voice stuck in her throat. All she could do was nod. She hadn’t missed her mother’s knowing look.
Still standing on the front porch, she watched Levi move down the sidewalk.
“Come inside, Rachel,” her mother said.
Reluctantly, she did. She had no appetite for brownies. Instead, she went to her room and daydreamed about the afternoon she’d never forget—and she hadn’t.
Levi McSweeney had put his arm around her. The reason didn’t matter. She’d remember his touch forever.