Chapter Eleven
AS THE DAYS ROLLEDinto weeks, Levi spent more and more time watching the ranch house down the creek. And as he stood there, hidden and silent, all he could think about was how close he’d been to Prather—and how close Prather had been to Rebecca and the little ones.
The former thought maddened him, and the latter one sent fear racing down his spine.
And every day, when he left his post behind the trees to return home, he vowed yet again to get Prather out of this valley for good. The man had shown he was willing to leave—and even pay a visit to town—but Levi had spooked him.
He was restless now, though. Levi could feel it. A man like Prather couldn’t remain trapped forever. At some point, he’d throw caution to the wind and leave again.
The question was whether Levi would know when it happened.
Outside the corral, he yanked off his hat and raked a hand through his hair. That was the most troubling thought, and short of asking Denver for reinforcements he’d never be able to explain to Rebecca, he didn’t know how he was supposed to live a regular man’s life, run a farm, and keep his eye on Prather—all at the same time.
He was beginning to think he’d need to draw the man out. The thought was dangerous, but it was better than letting Prather escape because Levi was busy tilling the dirt or enjoying a good night’s sleep after one of Rebecca’s filling meals. He hadn’t entirely settled on that course of action yet, though.
Satisfied that the animals were taken care of, he slowly made his way toward the house. Nothing about Rebecca’s demeanor toward him had changed, but now he knew that she sensed he was keeping something from her. He’d overheard it, that day in town, when he arrived at her sister’s house. Before he’d lifted his hand to knock, he heard her telling Eleanor about how he seemed to be withdrawn and distant at times.
He winced now at the memory. She was right, of course, even when he didn’t realize he was doing it. He was trying to protect her. And maybe, he’d begun to think, he was trying to protect himself. Because if she knew what his real job was here, she’d likely pack up the children and leave him.
It was hard to change his ways, though now he was aware of every word that came from his mouth and every movement he did or didn’t make. But tonight he had something that he thought might make up for the reticence she saw in him.
Inside the house, the scent of roast beef made his stomach rumble. Rebecca stood over the stove, stirring something that looked like mashed potatoes. Damp strands of her chestnut hair curled around her face, which was flushed pink. She was so beautiful, and she had no idea. All he wanted to do was go to her and take her up into his arms and kiss her until she understood how very lucky he was to have her here, in his life.
“I drew you a picture.” Johnnie tugged on his coat, pulling Levi out of his own reverie and back into the moment.
“You did?”
The little boy nodded, a mischievous grin tugging up the corners of his lips. He handed Levi the handwritten receipt they’d gotten on their last trip to the general store. Levi turned the receipt over in his hands, and there, staring back at him in pencil, was a stick figure wearing a giant hat and an equally giant frown. A deformed horse stood at attention nearby, sending a suspicious sideways look at the grouchy stick man.
“It’s you,” Johnnie said unnecessarily.
Levi stared at the picture another moment, wondering if his frown really was that large, then glanced down at the little boy with the round face who was waiting for his reaction.
And he laughed.
He laughed so hard that he had to press a hand to his stomach and lean forward.
“Levi?” Rebecca’s incredulous voice sounded from across the room, but Levi couldn’t look at her because tears were starting to stream down his face.
Curiosity got the best of the other children as they crowded around him. Sarah took the drawing, and immediately started laughing too as she passed it to her older sister.
“Me too,” little Emmy cried as Gwynnie and then Roger began giggling.
Levi couldn’t catch his breath. Every time he thought he’d laughed as much as he could, he took one glance at the drawing and it would start all over again.
“Oh, my.” Rebecca held the receipt now, a hand over her mouth.
“It’s not that funny,” Johnnie said in between giggles, and that was all it took for Rebecca to begin laughing too.
“Gwynnie,” she finally managed to say after a few minutes had passed. “Will you begin filling plates before our supper gets cold?”
Gwynnie wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and nodded. “Of course, Mama.” But one look at Johnnie as the children followed her to the kitchen, and she was trying to cover her laughter all over again.
“That boy has a way with capturing life on the page,” Levi said. His stomach hurt from laughing so hard, but it felt as if he’d dropped an enormous weight in the process.
Rebecca cringed but smiled. “I don’t know about that . . . The exaggeration was impressive.”
“I don’t frown that much, do I?” Levi knew the answer even as he said the question out loud. “Please don’t answer that. Can supper wait a moment? I have something I’d like to show you.”
Rebecca glanced from him toward the children. “I suppose. Gwynnie seems to have it all in hand.”
“Good.” He handed Rebecca her coat, and as soon as she’d buttoned it up, he held out his hand.
She took it, and he led her outside. The frozen ground crunched beneath their feet, and the only sounds were the cow lowing and the far-off trickle of Silver Creek breaking through the ice. It was nearly sunset and getting colder, but inside the barn the temperature was much more comfortable.
Levi let go of Rebecca’s hand and crossed to where an old quilt lay draped over his latest creation in the corner.
“What is that?” she asked.
With a smile and a fervent prayer that she’d like it, he lifted the quilt.
“Levi!” Her mouth fell open and her eyes brightened. “Is that— Did you— When . . .?”
A joyful warmth filled him from head to toe. He’d worked so hard on this table, squeezing in hours between chores and staking out the ranch to the south. He wasn’t sure he’d get it finished in time, but after a couple of late nights, he’d pounded in the last nail.
“I’m glad you like it. It doesn’t have chairs yet, but those will come.” He set the quilt aside and met her eyes, which glowed honey brown in the fading light. “Happy birthday, Rebecca.”
She drew her lower lip between her teeth, and Levi thought he saw the hint of tears at the corners of her eyes. She blinked, and they were gone. “Thank you,” she said as she stepped forward beside him, grazing her fingers over the smooth wood. She looked up at him then. “You truly surprised me. I thought you were out here . . . Honestly, I didn’t know why you were out here so much. I suppose I assumed you wanted time away from us.”
Guilt ate at the corners of Levi’s heart. “I’m sorry if I made you feel that way. This has all been quite a change for me.”
She nodded, laying her hands flat on the table. “I understand. I haven’t told you lately how grateful I am for everything you’ve done for us. You needn’t have offered to provide for us, or to marry me. But you did, and I can’t express how thankful I am.”
He could tell she meant the words to be a kindness, but yet they hollowed him out. How could he tell her that he had done everything out of more than just kindness or sympathy? What he felt for her ran deeper than either of those emotions. “You’re welcome,” he said stiffly, clasping his hands behind his back.
She turned then, one hand still resting on the table while she eyed him as if she were trying to figure out a puzzle.
And that’s when he realized he’d done it again. He’d pulled away. Stifling a groan, he dropped his hands back to his sides. “I’m sorry.”
She watched him, apparently even more confused.
Levi shook his head. He’d have to come clean about what he’d overheard in town.