Chapter Thirteen
LEVI RUBBED THE EXHAUSTIONfrom his face and lifted the binoculars again. The beginnings of spring had arrived, but a strong chill still nipped the air, making his fingers and nose go numb.
It was nearing six o’clock in the morning, although the sky still clung to the dark. He had to make his way home, another night spent uselessly watching the ranch house that Prather seemed determined never to leave again.
The only thing that consoled Levi was the fact that Prather clearly hadn’t left for good while he wasn’t watching. Regular visitors, scowling and rough around the edges, still came to and from the house.
Levi shook his head as he put the binoculars away. Either Prather was paying the Coopers handsomely for their hospitality, or he’d given them no choice in the matter. Neither was a particularly good option for the couple.
He stifled a yawn as the horse meandered along the creek. At least the snow was gone—for now. The mountains were fickle, and Levi knew it could snow again at any time until summer had well and truly arrived. He was halfway home, envisioning a warm breakfast and a catnap once the livestock was fed, when he heard the loud snap of branch.
Wide awake now, Levi halted the horse. Pistol at the ready, he glanced around quickly, and then more slowly, grateful to the growing light. He held his breath, straining to hear anything that sounded out of place.
Another branch snapped, and then a rustling sound came from the trees somewhere behind him. Heart in his throat, Levi raised the revolver and waited. Whoever was there had the advantage, but he wouldn’t go down unaware.
“Come out of there and face me,” he shouted.
But the trees remained still and silent. A minute passed, and then another.
He carefully let out a frustrated breath. Levi knew he had two choices: turn for home and hope for the best, or move forward into the trees and see what was there.
Deciding that being shot from the front was preferable to being shot from behind, he nudged his horse toward the trees. The new day’s sunlight hadn’t yet penetrated the sturdy evergreens and leafless cottonwoods.
Levi moved slowly, but it didn’t matter.
No one was there.
He lowered the pistol and bit back a curse. He should have felt relief. No one had shot at him, after all. But he couldn’t shake the feeling that someone had been in these trees, watching him.
He crossed through to the opposite side, emerging into the valley. To the south, the land rose in a hill, blocking the view of anyone who might have been riding in that direction.
Levi pressed his lips together and turned back toward home. He was on his own property now, and there was no reason to hide himself. He made good time, and arrived at the house just as Rebecca was setting aside a plate of hearty bread, butter, and blackberry preserves for him.
“You had an early morning,” she said as the children scurried around them, attending to the chores she’d laid out for them. If one could call Johnnie blowing dust from the dustpan into Emmy’s face doing chores, that was.
Rebecca crossed the room, yanked the dustpan from Johnnie’s hand, and pointed at the corner where the children’s beds were. It was a silent direction to sit alone as a punishment. She set the dustpan down and returned her attention to Levi.
“I did,” he said carefully. He’d slipped out of bed soon after midnight, which was, he supposed, morning.
She searched his face, as if she were waiting for further explanation. When he gave her none, she bit down on her lip and pointed toward the plate. “I set aside some breakfast, if you’re hungry.”
He was ravenous.
As he ate, the children finished with their chores, and Rebecca sent them outside to play—including Johnnie, who first received a stern talking-to. Levi had just taken his last bite of bread when she sat down in the chair opposite his at their new table.
She clasped her hands on the table, her eyes on him. Levi had the distinct sensation that he was about to be subject to the same kind of talking-to that Johnnie had just received.
Perhaps it was best to address her concerns head-on.
“You awoke last night and wondered where I’d gotten off to, I take it,” he said, leaning back in his chair.
She nodded, those pretty pink lips pursed in worry.
“Wolves,” he said, saying the first thing that came to mind. It wasn’t a lie, at least. They’d been spotted in the valley recently, although they were more troublesome to ranchers than they were to a small farmer like himself.
Rebecca’s eyes widened.
“You needn’t worry about them. They want chickens and cattle, not children. But given that we’d like to keep our chickens and our milk cow, I’ve taken to going out at night to keep an eye on things.” And he certainly had kept watch for wolves, on his way to and from the Coopers’ ranch.
Rebecca leaned forward. “Did you see any?”
“I haven’t, thankfully. Although I have heard them.”
She clasped her hands tighter. “I’m glad I’ve slept through that. I’d likely never sleep again if I heard that howling in the dead of night.”
Her words teased a memory from the back of his mind. It was one he hadn’t thought of in so long, and it made him smile.
Rebecca gave a nervous laugh. “May I ask what it is about wolves that is making you smile?”
He laughed and covered her hands with his. “When I was about eight or nine years old, Edward had taken my little set of toy soldiers to school. An older boy took them, and I was so angry that I was determined to get him back. So I paid a friend in licorice candies to come stand under our bedroom window at night and howl like a wolf. It scared Edward so badly that he went running for our parents.” Levi grinned at the memory. No one had ever found out who had done the howling and why, although his parents had easily figured out that the sound had come from a human.
Rebecca laughed too. “I can’t say I ever did anything like that to Eleanor. But she did plenty to torment me, being the younger sister.” She regaled him with a story involving a rag doll and a muddy creek bank, and Levi could almost picture a little, pig-tailed Rebecca stomping her foot with her hands on her hips when she discovered her ruined doll.
“It’s funny, isn’t it?” she said. “How your sibling can test your patience so much as children, but become your dearest friend as an adult.”
Levi’s throat closed, and he nodded.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought up something so sensitive.” Rebecca pulled a hand from beneath his and rested it on top.
“It’s all right. I like reliving the memories I have of Edward.” It ached, but it soothed his soul at the same time. He thought he could sit here like this all day with Rebecca, reminiscing and getting to know more about her childhood. But the weariness gnawed at his bones, and he still had work to do outside before he could steal a few hours of precious rest. “I ought to get to work.”
“Of course.” Rebecca flashed him a sweet smile before removing her hands from his and standing. “The boys are eager to help. Gwynnie has likely already milked the cow.”
An unexpected dose of pride filled Levi’s chest. He might not have been the father these children knew, but he’d been the one to teach them about everything that needed doing around a farm. “Then I’d best get out there.”
The day stretched on, and Levi found himself looking often to the south. Had he imagined what he’d heard on his ride home? It seemed impossible. The sounds were much too clear. It could have been an animal, of course, but deep down in his gut, he knew that was untrue.
He pulled off his hat and ruffled his hair as he blinked into the early spring sun. Nothing was amiss right now, as far as he could see. The children played around the house, Rebecca sung a sweet song as she baked inside, and he’d managed to sleep for a couple of hours before beginning to repair part of the corral fence.
Back in town, Marshal Hunt had told him that he’d pass the possibility of Prather’s presence by the county sheriff. Levi had come here on a mission—alone—and that was how he’d intended to accomplish what needed doing. But now that the local lawmen knew who he was and the danger that sat out here in this valley, perhaps it might not be such a bad idea to pay a visit to the sheriff directly. He could round up a few of his deputies, and with them as back-up, maybe Levi could finally put an end to the months of waiting.
He tried to imagine what it would be like, living here with his new family without the worry of Prather weighing on his mind. All he’d have to do would be to farm, feed his family, and watch the sunset with his beautiful wife. He smiled at the idea of Rebecca leaning against his shoulder as the sun went down, his arm wrapped around her, and their conversation light and pleasant.
It was a nice thought, until he remembered that he would still have his work. And that work didn’t include nights spent at home or pleasant evenings watching children play in the yard.
For the first time ever, Levi resented the job that kept him in enough funds to operate this farm. The job that he’d always loved, that he’d thrived in doing.
He tapped his hat against his leg, wondering what in the world had come over him.