Chapter 4
CHAPTER 4
L evi wondered at his wisdom for inviting Rachel to the barn. The rush of heat washing over him was the reminder of his draw to her when they were in high school.
His heart softened when he saw the light in Madeline’s eyes. He was raising Madeline alone. She needed a woman’s guidance in areas foreign to him. His mother helped, but the ranch, his father’s illness and matchmaking kept her busy.
As a teacher, Rachel would have noticed that Madeline had trouble writing her name. He saw the concern in Rachel’s eyes when her gaze had dropped to the lettering in the name Madeline had written in the corner of each picture. Madeline’s penmanship was flawless—better than his at age thirty, but she still couldn’t grasp the direction of some letters. She struggled with reading, though she loved looking at books and having Levi read to her.
At Madeline’s school in San Francisco, her teacher had suggested she have her eyes tested and that he hire a tutor. To get advice on the direction he should take, he talked to a school counselor at her new school in Sweet Mountain.
He had thought to discuss Madeline’s writing challenge with Rachel, but she hadn’t mentioned what she planned to do while she stayed in Sweet Mountain. Disappointment filled him as he realized her stay could be temporary.
Maybe that was the right decision. When he didn’t let his thoughts of her take over, he still considered her Jonathan’s kid sister.
In high school, he’d been drawn to her. The way she looked at him, he suspected she felt the same way. It took work, but he ignored what he felt toward her. Dating her would have made things awkward between him and Jonathan.
As they walked to the barn, Madeline grabbed his hand, but still held Rachel’s. He smiled down at Madeline, then glanced at Rachel. That was a mistake. Every time he did, he was struck by how she had blossomed into an attractive woman. Why did he think of her as a girl? She was anything but. He didn’t want anything to interfere with his friendship with her brother.
Why was he thinking about dating Rachel? He ran a tech company, and he was raising his friends’ daughter. He didn’t have time to date.
Inside the barn, Madeline excitedly dragged Rachel to the stall where her horse, Buttercup, munched hay. When the horse saw Madeline, she ignored her feed and moved to the stall door where she nosed Madeline’s outstretched hand.
“Oh, my, she is a beautiful horse,” Rachel whispered on an exhaled breath. She held out a hand to Buttercup, who nosed it gently.
“She’s looking for a treat.” Madeline giggled, then lifted her gaze to Levi’s. “May I give her an apple?”
“Sure.” Levi stepped to the bin filled with apples and scooped up one. He handed it to Madeline. “Now remember how to hold it.”
“I will,” Madeline said, becoming more serious. She held her hand flat.
“I can see why you named her Buttercup. She has a very pretty coat.” Rachel stroked the horse’s muzzle.
“I didn’t name her.” Madeline’s mouth tipped. “That was her name when I got her, but I like it.”
“So do I.” Rachel grinned at her.
“I’ll leave you two with Buttercup while I take care of a few things.” Levi smiled, then moved toward the back of the barn .
He wasn’t sure what he’d do. His brothers would have finished everything by now, but considering his feelings for Rachel, putting distance between them was wise.
After Rachel left, he’d talk to his mother about the dinner invitations she extended, especially to women. He understood she was ready to expand the family, but he had to consider Madeline and the trust her parents had placed in him. He didn’t have room for a wife in his life. Because of his father’s stroke and with two of his brothers away at college, he would stay where he was needed.
After checking the horses, he made his way back to Buttercup’s stall, where Rachel and Madeline talked to the horse. With all this attention, the horse had to be in heaven.
“You made Buttercup’s evening,” he said with a laugh and moved next to them.
“She’s made mine.” Rachel flashed him a smile that was even more dazzling than when they’d been in high school.
He took a breath to control his hammering heart.
The years away from Sweet Mountain and Rachel subdued the feelings he’d struggled to control in high school. All those feelings came rushing back when he’d seen her in church this morning.
Judging from the surprised look on her face, she hadn’t known he was in town. Maybe the town scuttlebutt hadn’t caught up with his move back home, or maybe she wasn’t interested. She’d only returned to Sweet Mountain a few days ago.
“How about we say good night to Buttercup and then come see her first thing tomorrow morning?” Levi looked at Madeline.
“All right.” Madeline stroked the horse’s nose. “Good night. Sweet dreams.”
Her childlike innocence made Levi’s chest tighten. She’d been through a lot with losing her parents. She’d struggled when she had to leave her home and move into his penthouse overlooking the Bay. It hadn’t been easy. His faith gave him strength and Madeline the peace she needed to adjust to the change.
Then his father suffered a stroke. Levi sought God’s guidance and made the decision that the ranch would be the best place for him and Madeline, and for his family. Sweet Mountain, his family and the animals would give Madeline the stability she needed to grow into a woman who would cherish life, love God and fulfill the plans her parents had for her.
Because of Levi’s faith, God had given him the strength to live in a city that didn’t share his values. When God opened the doors for him to start his own company, he placed God first as he built his business.
Gaining custody of Madeline helped him evaluate his priorities. He didn’t need to live in San Francisco to run his company. Raising Madeline was more important than running a business. God had blessed him beyond his wildest dreams. He could walk away from his company and not miss what he’d been given. He’d accomplished what he wanted. Madeline was his priority now.
That was the request he set before God. If he stepped back, God would direct his path, then he’d walk in it.
When he, Rachel and Madeline returned to the house, the place was quiet. His parents sat in the living room—his mother knitting a sweater while his father stared out the window.
Levi took in the scene of his father sitting quietly in his chair, his heart breaking. Though the man seemed detached, Levi knew his father well—his mind would be working, thinking of ways to improve the ranch’s operation. Levi looked forward to the day when he could communicate his ideas. He drew a breath. That day would come. His mother sat patiently at her husband’s side, her belief in his recovery never wavering.
“Did you show Rachel the horses?” Naomi looked at Madeline over the top of her reading glasses.
“We showed her some, but there are a lot of horses in that barn,” Madeline exclaimed, which made everyone laugh.
Madeline blushed and looked confused.
“Oh, honey.” The way Rachel looked down at Madeline and squeezed the girl’s shoulders made Levi swallow hard. She’d just met Madeline and already her eyes shone with affection. “You said something so cute and very true when you said there were a lot of horses in the barn.” Rachel gave her a tender look. “That’s why we laughed.”
Madeline contemplated the explanation, then smiled. “Oh, yeah, but that’s because there are.”
Everyone laughed again.
“And you’re right.” Rachel gave her another squeeze.
Madeline leaned into Rachel.
Levi’s stomach dropped. Madeline liked and trusted Rachel. She offered the womanly touch that this little girl needed.
Madeline was still adjusting to the loss of her parents. The social worker had told Levi she would need special guidance, which Levi knew, but hearing the social worker explain the guidance the little girl needed helped him realize these were in areas foreign to him.
That was one of the reasons he’d accepted his parents’ invitation to return home until Madeline was more settled, and his father was better. Rachel seemed to provide the bond that the little girl needed.
A muscle worked in Levi’s jaw. He couldn’t expect Rachel to fill the void in Madeline’s life. He hadn’t discussed anything with Rachel, and he didn’t know her plans.
His and Madeline’s future was in God’s hands. He’d wait until he knew what God had in store.
“Thank you for a lovely evening.” Rachel looked from Naomi and Felix to Madeline, then to Levi.
One look into those golden eyes and Levi found it hard to breathe. He exhaled roughly which made his mother look at him funny. He was a grown man running a successful company. He was acting like a high school kid who’d just discovered girls.
He’d just discovered Rachel in a way he hadn’t imagined.
“Are you leaving?” Disappointment filled Madeline’s eyes, and she bounced on her toes.
“For tonight.” Rachel looked down at her with sincere affection. She looked as if she’d say more, but what could she say? That she’d see her again soon? Saying that could make things awkward. She hadn’t been invited back.
Levi would fix that .
“She’ll be back.” Levi grinned at the girl.
That brought Rachel’s head up.
“When?” Madeline’s gaze at Levi was probing.
“Tell you what. Tomorrow, you and I will call her, and we’ll make plans.” He looked over Madeline’s head to Rachel.
The surprise in her eyes made him smile as he remembered that as a child she was always excited when Jonathan would tell her to expect something special.
“Expect a call from us tomorrow.” Madeline gave Rachel a firm nod.
“I look forward to it.” She smiled broadly at the little girl before giving Levi a hesitant look.
He felt his mother’s inquisitive stare but ignored it.
“If you’ll give me your number and let me know when would be a good time to call you.” Levi pulled his phone from his pocket.
Rachel recited the number.
“I’ll be home most of the day,” she said, her tone reminding Levi that her voice had a sweetness he found hard to resist. “And I never go anywhere without my phone, so anytime would be fine,” she continued, making him concentrate so that the sound of her voice didn’t distract him from hearing what she said.
“All right. We’ll call you when Madeline gets home from school. Say at about four o’clock?” Levi lifted a brow.
Madeline looked at her, too.
“I’ll make sure I’m available.” Rachel flashed the smile that had been dazzling even when she was five. “Thank you again for a wonderful evening.” She smiled at everyone and gave Madeline a quick squeeze.
“I’ll get your jacket and walk you out.” Levi turned away and was glad the tension in his chest eased.
“I want to go.” Madeline rushed after him.
“Okay. I’ll get your jacket.” Levi grinned at her, then strode toward the guest closet, where he pulled three jackets from their hangers.
Rachel reached for hers .
“I’ll help you.” Smiling, he looked straight into her eyes and held the jacket for her.
With a tentative smile, she turned. Sliding the jacket into place, he tried not to notice the delicate bone structure beneath the fabric.
Growing up, she’d been a bundle of energy as she struggled to keep up with him and Jonathan. He’d never thought of her as slight. Though tall with a narrow frame, she still exuded energy.
“Thank you,” she murmured and turned to him.
He nodded. He stepped away from her, but that still didn’t alleviate the heavy pounding in his chest. He helped Madeline with her jacket, then slipped on his own. Opening the door, he followed Rachel and Madeline to the front porch.
It was a clear night. Stars filled the sky—another thing he’d missed while he lived in San Francisco—the city lights dimmed the starlight.
When Rachel pressed the remote for her car, he opened the door and ignored the surprise in her eyes.
“I’ll talk to you at four tomorrow,” he said. She climbed behind the steering wheel, and he closed the door. He guided Madeline from the car.
“’Bye, Miss Rachel.” Madeline waved frantically.
Levi caught a glimpse of a hand flash in front of the driver’s window. The headlights moved over them as she backed into the driveway. She tapped her horn and drove down the gravel lane to the main road. Levi waited until her car disappeared from view.
“Ready for bed?” Levi turned to Madeline.
“I guess.” Madeline lifted a shoulder. “I like Miss Rachel. She’s nice.”
“She is nice,” he said though he thought that was an understatement. He guided Madeline into the house where he hung up their coats. “Let’s say good night to Grandma Naomi and Grandpa Felix.”
Madeline’s face brightened as she skipped to Naomi.
“Rachel is a nice girl.” Naomi hugged the girl and looked over Madeline’s head to Levi .
“That’s what I said.” Madeline leaned away from her, her eyes wide. “Except I didn’t say she was a girl.”
“You’re right.” Naomi smiled at her then leveled a more firm look at Levi. “She’s a nice young lady.”
“I’ll say what I said to Madeline. She is nice.” Levi gave his mother a straight look. He didn’t need her help in the relationship department. He looked at Madeline. “Say good night to Grandpa Felix.”
Madeline skipped to Felix and hugged him before rushing to Levi and taking his hand.
“See you in the morning.” Levi turned away though he felt his mother watching him.
Upstairs, he helped Madeline get ready for bed, say her prayers, then read her a story. He was surprised when she fell asleep after a few pages.
In his room, he moved to the window and stared out at the sky before turning back to the table in the corner where he’d left his laptop and his Bible. Memories of when he, Jonathan and Rachel were growing up filled his mind, followed by their time in high school. The sensations he’d felt when he’d seen her at church this morning rolled through him. He hadn’t seen her in years, and his reaction surprised him while making him feel defensive. Everything about her sparkled—her eyes, her smile. She was as welcoming as a sunrise.
Shaking his head, he sat at the table and opened his Bible. Getting into the Word was the only way he could take his mind off Rachel Bonneville.