Chapter Ten
ELEANOR SETTLED INTOa chair, leaned back, and closed her eyes. “It feels so nice to sit down.”
“That’s because you’re carrying another person all the time.” Rebecca sat across from her sister. From here, she could see out the front window, where Gwynnie and Sarah had organized a game for Johnnie and Emmy. Roger was in the smithy shop, most likely watching in awe and asking a hundred questions as Merrick did his work.
“I believe I’m ready for this baby to arrive.” Eleanor cradled her rounded stomach. “Having an infant to care for can’t be nearly as difficult.”
“It depends on whether the little one sleeps well, eats regularly, and doesn’t get colic,” Rebecca said with the experience of five babies to draw from.
“Oh, colic. I’ll never forget how Sarah cried so much.”
Rebecca winced but smiled at the memory. “I doubt I’ll ever forget that either. I hope no other child of mine is colicky.”
Eleanor raised her eyebrows at that. “Is there some news you wish to share with me?”
Rebecca sighed. “No. We’re still getting to know one another.”
That made Eleanor smile. “So you’re happy with him?”
“Yes. Most of the time, I think.” Rebecca flattened her hands on her skirts. It would be nice to share her worries, and who better to hear her out than her sister? “We have good conversations, and we make each other laugh. He’s a kind man, and he’s warmed to the children. But . . .” She thought for a moment, trying to figure out how awkward she felt with Levi at times. “He can be distant.”
“What do you mean?” Eleanor asked.
“Sometimes it feels as if he’s a million miles away for no reason at all. Other times, it’s clear that something has upset him, and he’ll go outside. And then later, he’ll be perfectly fine again. He spends hours upon hours riding the property. I don’t know what to make of it.”
“He must have something on his mind. Something that worries him.”
“Maybe. But I can’t think of what that might be.”
“Money, perhaps? Or the farm? Or it could be that he thinks of his brother from time to time and it makes him melancholy?”
“I’d understand that, if he wanted to share it with me,” Rebecca replied. “I doubt it’s money or the farm, though. He hasn’t spoken of anything that would make me think either is a trouble.”
There was a knock at the door just then. Eleanor began to rise, but Rebecca jumped up. “You rest. I’m sure it’s just Levi come to fetch us.”
She opened the door, and Levi stood there waiting as the children continued to play in the snowy yard behind him.
“Come on in.” She held the door open wider, and he stepped inside. Then she leaned out and called for the children to come inside to warm up before they left for the long, cold ride home.
The kids hurried past her, laughing and red-faced from the cold, while Levi stood quietly off to the side.
“Roger should be warm enough inside the shop. It won’t take long for the others to thaw out. Are you all right with waiting a few minutes?” she asked Levi.
“Of course.” He smoothed down his coat but said nothing else.
“Would you like some coffee?”
“No, thank you.”
Rebecca glanced at Eleanor. This was precisely what she’d been discussing with her sister.
It wasn’t long before they were headed back out of town, the children piled in the back of the wagon. Rebecca turned around to see the buildings growing smaller and smaller behind them. Her heart smarted with the knowledge that she wouldn’t see Eleanor again for a little while. Unless . . .
“Levi,” she said, her voice as bright as the hope that bloomed inside her. “Might we be able to attend church services on Sundays?”
He kept his gaze fixed ahead. “It’s too far to drive for an hour of preaching.”
Rebecca pressed her lips together. There had to be some other way. “I understand. But not necessarily every week. Perhaps once a month? We could combine it with a visit to purchase other necessities.” She held her breath as she watched him. He seemed to be considering it, at least.
Finally, he nodded. “I don’t see why not.”
“Thank you. It would be good for the children.” And us, she thought. She gave him a happy smile and laid a hand on top of his.
Half a moment passed, then he turned and smiled at her. He passed the lines to his left hand and turned his right hand over to lace his fingers through hers.
Reading this man was entirely impossible, Rebecca decided. But when he let down his defenses, he could be utterly charming. She enjoyed the warmth of their gloved hands together as they traveled south alongside the railroad tracks. The children chattered happily behind them, and for a moment, Rebecca felt at peace.
“Were you able to accomplish all that you needed in town?” she asked.
“I did. The seed order should arrive in plenty of time for planting.” He turned and glanced back at the children. “I see you found all the books you could possibly need.”
“I did! The teacher was so helpful. She lent us books and slates, and she said she’d be happy to sit down with me anytime to discuss the children’s progress.” Rebecca paused, remembering the one strange thing that had happened while they’d been in town. “Did you hear that gunshot earlier? We were almost to Eleanor’s when we heard it. Emmy started to cry, and Gwynnie had to grab Johnnie to keep him from running back to see what had happened.” She placed a hand over her heart, remembering that moment. “Honestly, it scared me. It sounded so close.”
Levi’s hand tensed on hers before he pulled away and took up the lines in it again. “I’m glad you weren’t hurt. Unfortunately, that sort of thing is to be expected in towns out here.”
“It is?” Her voice squeaked a little, and she was acutely aware the older children might be listening in on their conversation.
“It’s not common,” Levi said, and Rebecca’s fear diminished a little. “Colorado may be a state now, but there’s still a bad element that takes to the mountains.”
Her mind went back to when she’d first come out to the farm. He’d mentioned the wild animals and equally wild men who might be roaming about. Not to mention her imagination was now conjuring men shooting at each other right outside Eleanor’s door.
Rebecca shivered and wrapped her arms around herself. “There is a lawman in Crest Stone, right?”
“There is,” Levi said, his voice guarded.
She glanced up at him, but he kept his gaze focused on the open valley in front of them.
“Good. Did you hear it?”
“The gunshot? Yes.”
Rebecca nodded. She had the strangest sensation that their conversation was now over, that Levi didn’t wish to continue discussing the shot they’d both heard, or how competent Crest Stone’s marshal was.
She turned, her eyes sweeping over the children in the back of the wagon. Each one of them was a piece of her heart, and she’d brought them out here, to this semi-lawless place surrounded by stunning mountain peaks.
Not willing to dwell too long on that thought, she turned her gaze toward the towering Sangre de Cristo mountains off to the west. Covered in snow, they were beautiful and forbidding at the same time. No wonder they drew men intent on ill will. No one in their right mind would seek shelter in their shadows, not when this welcoming valley existed.
She chewed on her lip as the wagon rolled along. Next to her, Levi held the lines in an expert grip. His coat covered him fully, but she could imagine the strength of the muscles in his arms. He wouldn’t be the sort to back down or run away. She knew, deep down in her heart, that he would do everything he could to keep them safe.
And she had to trust in that.