Chapter Sixteen
ALL AFTERNOON AND ALLthe next day, she felt his eyes on her.
Rebecca tried not to think about it, but it was impossible. As much as she attempted to distract herself with caring for Roger or cooking supper or washing the bed covers, all she could think about was the fact that Levi had a job she’d known nothing about.
And not just any job. He could have been a secret gold panner, or seasonal traveling salesman. Neither of those would have bothered her nearly as much as finding out he did something as dangerous as being a U.S. Marshal.
What exactly did that work consist of? She had visions of such men riding alone on horseback, through rough territory, hunting outlaws and escorting prisoners. How could Levi do such a job as a farmer? It made no sense at all, unless it had something to do with why he spent so much time traversing the edges of the property at all hours.
And then there was that mysterious telegram.
All she could discern from that missive was that someone or something was where he expected it to be. That was all. There must be more to it, and the harder Rebecca scrubbed at the sheets, the more she wanted to know. And the more she wanted to know, the angrier she grew.
If he was doing such dangerous work, shouldn’t she know? What if the danger followed him home? She shuddered at the thought of some terrifying outlaw showing up at their door. Perhaps that was why he’d kept it from her. He knew it would scare her, especially after the mere mention of wayward men and wild animals had caused her to second guess everything the first day they’d arrived at this farm.
The thoughts swirled around and around. She nearly scrubbed a hole into the sheets and had beaten the potatoes into a fine mush.
She couldn’t wait any longer, Rebecca decided after hanging the laundry to dry. She dropped the basket beside the door and stalked inside. She had to have answers. Now.
Thankfully, the children, with the exception of Roger, were playing outside. Rebecca stomped in, heedless to the dirt on the bottom of her shoes—and then she stopped short.
Levi was rewrapping Roger’s bandage, and the little boy was laughing over something he’d said. Levi grinned at him, and Rebecca’s heart twinged. He’d grown to be so caring of the children. He was everything she wanted.
She twisted her hands together as Levi finished. Please let him have an answer I can believe. More than anything, she wanted the anger to fade. She wanted to believe he was as good a man as she’d thought he was.
“Mama!” Roger had hopped up and was walking toward her, looking as strong as ever. “Levi says I need to ask you if I can go outside. Can I? Please?”
Rebecca bent to kiss the top of his head, closing her eyes and thanking God for keeping her baby safe. “You may, so long as you don’t play too rough. Don’t let Johnnie or Emmy climb on you, either.”
Roger nodded, as serious as ever, before turning to run out the door.
Rebecca thought her heart might burst from seeing him healthy. “Thank you,” she said, trying to keep the tears of joy from seeping through her voice. She didn’t dare look at Levi, not when she felt so vulnerable.
“I’d do anything for that boy.” His voice was low and quiet. “For any of those children. And for you.”
Rebecca closed her eyes. He couldn’t say things like that to her. Not right now, when she needed to hear the truth she’d come for.
“Do you want me to explain?” he asked after a moment had passed and she hadn’t spoken.
Rebecca nodded, finally taking a breath and opening her eyes. If she kept her mind on what she needed to hear, she’d be able to decide whether he was worthy of her trust—or not.
“All right. Would you like to sit?”
She arched her eyebrows. “Is the story that long?”
His laugh was a low rumble, and Rebecca hated how attractive it sounded. “I suppose not.” He paused, running a hand over his jaw. “I don’t know where to start.”
Rebecca straightened her spine. “How about explaining why you kept this from me?”
He nodded quickly. “For your safety, and for the safety of the children. I thought it best that none of you could accidentally give it away and put yourselves in danger.”
“Give it away to whom?” Rebecca extended her arms, indicating that they lived on acres of land with hardly another soul in sight.
He took a deep breath. “Alexander Prather and men who may be working for him.”
“I don’t know who that is.”
“I’m glad you don’t. He’s the most vile of men, and he’s been a fugitive for three years. He escaped prison and took up right where he left off. I’ll spare you the details.”
Rebecca’s face paled as she realized there must be a reason for Levi to worry about her running into that man here. She was glad not to hear the particulars of what this man had done; her imagination could summon enough horrors on its own. “Go on,” she said, her voice tight.
Levi dropped his hands to his hips and looked down, as if he was drawing up the courage to continue. “My bosses had reason to believe Prather was in this valley. It was a coincidence that my brother had bought land here, so I asked for the case, knowing I could help Edward while I brought Prather to justice.”
“And have you?” Rebecca asked, although she knew that if he had, he wouldn’t have worried so much about keeping his work from her.
“No. Not yet.” His mouth twisted in disappointment. “I know where he is, though, and I’ve laid eyes on him. And . . .”
Rebecca’s skin prickled as she waited for him to continue.
“I fear he’s laid eyes on me too.”
“You mean in the trees, that day we took a picnic by the creek.”
Levi hesitated, and then nodded. “There was another time, too, when I was out riding . . . watching, I mean. I’ve been keeping an eye on the place where Prather’s holed up. He’s at the Coopers’ ranch, just to the south of here.”
Rebecca dug her fingers into her skirts. It unnerved her to know that a man like that was their neighbor.
“There was another time . . .” He spoke as if it pained him to say the words. “When we were in town. Do you remember hearing that gunshot?”
She froze. “Did he shoot at you?”
He didn’t have to answer. His expression told her what she needed to know.
“I’m going to the county sheriff tomorrow. I want to get this over with, and he’ll likely provide me with some men to help. I’ll feel better once Prather is back behind bars where he belongs.”
And then what?Rebecca didn’t voice that question. It was better to focus on what was happening right here and now. And she had a much more pressing question to ask. “What happens if he comes here?”
Levi began to step forward, as if he wished to reassure her, but paused. Rebecca didn’t know if she wanted him to or not. All of this was so very confusing.
“I don’t expect him to. I believe he would have by now if that was his intention. I imagine he’s hoping I’ll give up waiting him out.”
Rebecca took a breath, feeling at least a little relieved. Months had passed since that incident in town. Surely the man Levi was seeking would have acted by now if he intended to harm them.
“Is there anything else?” she asked.
“No,” he said. “And I promise that I’ll tell you if there is anything new to report.” He paused, ruffling his hair up and back and again. “Rebecca, I’m sorry I wasn’t honest with you about this in the beginning. I only had the safety of you and your children in mind, but it was a mistake. I . . . I hope you’ll forgive me.”
He spoke so sincerely that her heart warmed. She wanted to say yes so badly, to tell him that she understood, to throw herself into his arms and have everything be all right. But she also knew it was wiser to allow herself to think about it and to see what happened as they moved forward.
“I do forgive you,” she said. “But I don’t know yet that I can trust you.”
He pressed his lips together, clearly disappointed, but he nodded. “I understand. But I’ll make you another promise. I’ll prove to you that I’m worthy of your trust.”
“I hope you do,” she said, wishing his words to life with every beat of her heart.