The Reluctant Bride (The Ladies Club of Laramie Book 4)

by Everly West

  A knock at the door scattered her thoughts.

  "Come in." She turned to see Mary entering the room with a tray laden with breakfast.

  "Mary! Are you working here again? I'm so happy to see you." Eva rushed to Mary's side and as soon as the young woman set the tray on the table, Eva pulled her into a heartfelt embrace.

  "Oh, it's so good to see you working again. What happened? Did Levi let you come back?" Eva bombarded the woman with her questions.

  "Yes, he allowed Charley to stay through the end of this week. He said he felt it only fair that I should be allowed to do the same," Mary explained.

  "Oh, that is such good news." Eva was genuinely happy for the young mother-to-be.

  "And there's more." Mary rushed to close the bedroom door and then returned to pour Eva's coffee into the gold rimmed porcelain cup. "Mr. Copper has arranged for Charley and me to get married," the woman gushed.

  "Married? Oh, that is so exciting. I'm so happy for you, Mary. Now you and your baby will be cared for." Eva couldn't be happier for the sweet young woman. If not for the circumstances of their birth, Eva could be in this woman's shoes, especially after knowing how it felt to want someone you loved so much.

  Loved?

  Stunned, Eva sat stock still wondering when her feelings for Levi changed to something much deeper than friendship. She feared it was a lot longer than she wanted to admit at this moment.

  "You can't tell anyone. Not just yet." Eva heard Mary say.

  Eva sipped the hot coffee to give her time to refocus her thoughts before she spoke. "Can't tell who about what?"

  Mary grinned from ear to ear. "Mr. Copper has arranged for me and Charley to get married tonight after the town meeting. Mr. Copper thought if no one knew when the wedding was, then I wouldn't have to worry about people counting back the months when my baby is born."

  Eva was not surprised at Levi's gesture of kindness. Not at all. She knew him to be a caring and generous man. She was surprised he hadn't mentioned any of this to her, but then again, he had been called away unexpectedly last night when the fire broke out in the kitchen.

  "Well, I hope I am invited to the wedding," she teased Mary.

  "Of course, you are invited. I'm certain Mr. Copper was going to tell you, but I think the fire in the kitchen last night worried everyone.”

  “I’m so happy for you, Mary.” Eva said. “See, I told you Mr. Copper would be your champion, now didn’t I?”

  “And there is more. He said he has a new idea and he wants to hire me and Charley as a married couple to work in this new business called nursery care? Have you ever heard of such? Charley and I can work together and live together and raise our baby together. I just can’t believe my good fortune.”

  Eva was so pleased to see Mary so happy, and to know that Levi was responsible for all of it made her even more happy.

  “Please say you'll join us. It wouldn't be the same without you there, Eva," Mary begged.

  "Of course, I'll come. I wouldn't miss it for the world. Now, you have a lot to do before the big event. I can take care of my own dishes." Eva stood and ushered Mary to the door. "You go on. I'll see you at your wedding."

  Mary curtsied and then hugged Eva. "I'm sorry to be so forward, ma'am. I don't know what came over me."

  Eva hugged the excited young woman back. "Don't you dare apologize for being happy, Mary."

  "Thank you," Mary gushed before leaving Eva alone to think. She was so grateful to Levi for helping Mary and Charley to create a happy life for their child. And knowing they would help get Levi’s plans for nursery care for working people to fruition did her heart good.

  Perhaps, after tonight, after the meeting and the wedding, she and Levi could get back to where they were last night before they were interrupted by the fire.

  She smiled to herself as she cleared her dishes. If Levi’s kisses were any indication of his change of heart, he was seeing her as a woman instead of a friend and she hoped after the town hall meeting they could pick up where they’d left off.

  Eva hurried to her dressing room to prepare for the big event. She had to get her hair done and she needed to go by her parents’ house to get some of the things she had left behind. She hoped there wouldn't be a confrontation in the process.

  She didn't know when Levi would return so she penned a note and left it standing against his pillow on the bed.

  "Levi, I'm looking forward to playing my part as your wife this evening at the town meeting when you announce your candidacy. I have a ton of things to do today, so I will see you tonight. Your wife, Eva.

  She hoped Levi's kisses meant he was thinking of her as more than a friend too.

  * * *

  Levi had hoped to return to Eva as soon as he was satisfied the fire was out, but he ended up working through most of the night helping to clean up after the fire, setting the kitchen to rights so his hotel guests would have a suitable breakfast.

  When he finally returned to his suite mid-morning, Eva was gone and in her place was a note with a curious message. He knew what she meant when she said she would play the part of his wife at tonight's town meeting, but she signed it "your wife, Eva". Not Eva. Was she trying to tell him something? He wondered what would have happened between them last night if he hadn't been called away by the fire? Perhaps his Eva was thinking of him more like a husband instead of a friend. He hoped so.

  He needed a bath. He smelled of burnt grease and charred wood. The fire wasn't as bad as he first thought when he entered the chaos last night. He was glad to know someone on staff had the foresight to call for the fire wagon when they did. Otherwise, it may have been a lot worse.

  Levi shucked his dirty white shirt and rang the bell for Harvey. Five minutes later, Harvey appeared in the doorway.

  "Yes, Mr. Copper?" his manservant asked from the doorway.

  "I could use a hot bath, Harvey. Sooner rather than later." Levi raked his dirty hands through his dirty hair.

  "I'll have staff draw up your bath immediately." The stoic man turned to go, but Levi stopped him.

  "Harvey, will you see to it my new suit arrives from the tailor before my meeting tonight? I want to look my best in front of the citizens of Laramie."

  "The suit arrived thirty minutes ago. It is hanging in your armoire."

  "Thanks as always, Harvey. I don't know how I would manage without your help."

  Harvey almost smiled and bowed. "Thank you, sir. As always, it is my pleasure." The man turned on his heels and walked out, leaving Levi to his thoughts.

  He was both anxious and excited about the meeting. He wasn't looking forward to another public meeting with Eva's father, but so be it. It wasn't his fault the pompous ass was a sore loser. He just hoped the man didn't make a scene and embarrass Eva any further.

  Soon, his bath water was ready, and he wasted no time in jumping in. He soaked chin deep in the luxurious suds and tried to relax. He had his speech ready. He had Governor Moonlite's support, and Eva would be by his side. Everything was falling into place just as he had hoped.

  A half hour later, the once-hot water now tepid, Levi decided it was time to get moving. It was nearly one o'clock and he had much to do before he left for the town meeting.

  He sent a note to Will asking him to meet him at his office before the town hall meeting. He wanted to have his friend prepare the marriage certificate for Charley and Mary. And after the meeting, Will would marry the couple.

  He spent the next three hours in his office going over his accounts for the week. Business was good. He hoped it continued so he could get the first nursery care house operating. He wanted to use it as an example of how progressive Wyoming Territory could be for working families with small children, and he could kill two birds with Charley and Mary working at the home. She could cook and wash, Charley could manage the repairs and supervision of the general household. Together, they would make a good team—and a good family for the little one on the way. A much better solution than turning them all out o
n the street to figure it all out on their own.

  A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. “Hey, Levi. You wanted to see me?” Will stuck his head inside his office door.

  “Yes, Will. Please come in. I wanted to speak with you about marrying two of my employees. It seems they are ready to start a family and are in need of a marriage certificate.”

  Will stepped in his office and left the door open to the deserted hallway. He took his usual seat in front of Levi’s desk.

  “I’m glad to see your marriage to Eva is going well, that is if the kiss you two shared the other day is any indicated.”

  “Yes, it’s going.” Levi hesitated to admit more for fear of placing a Jonah on his marriage.

  “Have you told her truth?” Will’s knowing look said he already knew the answer.

  “No, I was planning on telling her tonight, after the town hall meeting, but—”

  “But?” Will prompted.

  “I overheard a conversation this morning between Eva and her friends that has me second guessing whether or not she has feelings for me.”

  “The only way you are going to know if she has feelings for you and wants to stay married to you once she finds out you lied about the marriage being legal instead of the fake one she wanted is to ask her and putting it off any longer is a dangerous move, my friend. If she finds out she lied to her, she will never trust another word out of your mouth.”

  “I know. I’m going to tell her tonight regardless of the consequences. She deserves the truth. I can only hope she will understand that we ended up in the place we were meant to be—together.”

  A creak of a floor board outside in the hallway pulled him up short. “Who’s there?” he called out. When no one answered, Will got up from his seat and searched the hallway.

  “Empty. Just a rusty old building groaning.”

  Levi nodded in agreement, but a prickly feeling crawled up the back of his neck as if warning him something was amiss.

  “See you at the meeting, Levi.” Will waved his hand and disappeared down the hall.

  “Yep, see you at the meeting.”

  Soon, it was time to leave for the meeting. He hoped Eva's father wasn't planning to attend at all tonight, but he doubted the pompous ass would miss an opportunity to be seen and heard. He was an ass and one could never predict what the man would say. Or do.

  Levi left thirty minutes before the meeting was to start and walked the three blocks to the town hall building. There was already quite the crowd milling around outside.

  "Good evening, Mr. Copper. Glad to see a businessman instead of a blowhard politician throw his hat into the ring for the territorial congressional seat for a change," a man called out from somewhere in the crowd. Levi smiled in that direction and nodded his thanks.

  He made his way into the crowded hallway and into the auditorium. Seats were filling up quickly. He scanned the room for Eva. He didn't see her, but he did see her parents. Thank goodness they hadn't seen him yet. He turned in the other direction and made his way down the outside aisle, stopping to shake hands with the people along the way.

  He caught the eye of Governor Moonlite who was standing on the raised stage by the podium. He motioned for Levi to join him. The second Levi stepped up the side steps and rose above the crowd, Eva's father spotted him and made a beeline in his direction.

  "Hello, Governor. It's nice to see you again."

  The shrewd politician studied Levi and was about to say something when Eva's father pushed his way into the conversation.

  "Well, what have we here? A sow's ear trying to pretend he's a silk purse?" Henri Delacroix's voice sounded whiney and nasally. Levi's irritation rose a notch, but he ignored the man's comment. Instead, he greeted him. "Mr. Delacroix."

  The governor nodded to Eva's father. "Hello, Henri. Have you decided to announce your candidacy tonight too?"

  Henri turned toward the man and smirked. "I would consider running for the position if only to keep this con artist from stealing it away from an honest candidate."

  "Are you saying Mr. Copper here cannot be trusted? Why, I hear he is very well liked in this community. And, I've heard tell he's quite the shrewd businessman."

  Henri's upper lip curled up in contempt. "As I said, he's a con artist. A trait he learned from that degenerate father of his.”

  Levi knew what the governor was doing, and he wished he would stop. The governor was deliberately baiting Henri into an angry outburst and he was using Levi as bait.

  Levi also noticed a small number of people openly listening to the exchange, and as much as he disliked Eva's father, he would prefer not to be the other half of a public spectacle.

  But Governor Moonlite was the kind of man who saw a weakness and went for it and he didn’t like Henri Delacroix.

  "I'm curious, Delacroix. Why do you keep saying Levi here is a con artist? Did he pull the wool over your eyes? Is that why you are so bitter? Has he stolen something from you?"

  Levi leaned in. "Governor, people are starting to notice. I would rather not start my campaign on a sour note."

  "Of course, not. Levi, but I would like Henri here to state his reasons for opposing you. After all, we don't want the citizens of Laramie to think that you are not the best candidate for the position."

  Levi didn't like where this was going. Not that he wasn't confident that he was the best candidate, but Eva's father had a way of twisting the truth to suit his own purpose.

  Governor Moonlite pushed. "Henri, if there's something you would like to say, I suggest you say it. Otherwise, declare your candidacy for the seat or sit down."

  "Yes, I have something to say. I call this degenerate a con artist because he conned my daughter into marrying him. He lied to her and tricked her into marrying him."

  Levi looked around and saw every eye on their little trio. His stomach lurched.

  Governor Moonlite's lip parted in a smile of sorts, but Levi could see there was no humor it.

  “I hear your daughter is lovely, Henri, but to call Levi here a con artist because your daughter married him might be construed as slander. I'd watch myself if I were you, Delacroix. Do you have any proof he conned your daughter?” The governor pushed sensing Henri’s weakness.

  Henri's rage was apparent and several people standing close by took a step back. "I can say with certainty that Levi Copper is the son of a con artist who died in a drunken stupor. And I can also say with equal certainty that the fruit never falls far from the tree. Read into it what you will."

  "Father, I think you have said enough. As always, your misjudgment of people does you a disservice.”

  Levi turned to see his beautiful wife standing beside him. She slipped her hand into his and stood close as a sign of solidarity. She turned toward the crowd, every eye on the scene unfolding in front of them.

  "I want everyone here to know that Levi Copper is a good and honorable man. He did not con me into marrying him. I asked him to marry me."

  A collective gasp sucked the air out of the room leaving Levi's stunned breath hanging in mid-air.

  Chapter 13

  Eva had arrived at the meeting knowing there might be a confrontation with her parents, most likely her father. She had no idea it would be in front of the entire town of Laramie.

  When she stepped inside the room, it was painfully obvious her father was berating Levi in front of the whole town and she was not going to let that happen, especially since it was obvious her husband was taking the high road and not defending himself. Besides, he had nothing to apologize for.

  She pushed her way through the crowd. As soon as people recognized her, they stepped back making room for her much like Moses did when he parted the waters of the Red Sea. Eva wasn't comfortable with all the attention, but she couldn't allow Levi to weather this storm alone.

  She nodded to first one person and then another until she reached the steps of the stage. A gentleman standing close took her hand and helped her up the steep stairs. Her nervousne
ss made her stomach turn over, but she swallowed a couple of times to keep the contents of her stomach from rising and embarrassing her further.

  Quick steps brought her to Levi's side and without thinking she pulled his hand into hers. Then, she turned to face her father's anger. Her words were out before she knew it and by the collective gasp of the crowd, she knew her life would never be the same after tonight.

  Her father's hands were clenched at his side. Eva recognized the rage on his red mottled face and braced for his toxic words when he opened his mouth to speak.

  "Eva. You don’t know what you are talking about because you don’t know the whole story. You are too naïve to know he's playing you. You may think this was your idea, but I can spot a rotten apple when I see—"

  "Stop it, Father. You are embarrassing us all in front of our friends and neighbors." Eva turned toward the crowd to speak so everyone could hear what she had to say. She didn't need to ask for quiet. A person could hear a pin drop in the quietness of the room.

  "I'm not the naïve, brainless fool my father makes me out to be. I know Levi Copper. He and I have been best of friends since I was twelve when he came to my rescue one day after school. Two bullies pushed me down in the dirt leaving me with a bruised ego and a scraped knee. Levi ran them off and then he helped me up, dusted me off, and walked me home that day, despite being berated and called the worst names by my father. "

  She turned and shot a look of accusation in her father's direction. Then, she turned back to the audience who hung on her every word. "Ever since that day, I knew I could trust Levi Copper. He is a man of honor, despite his father’s imperfections. I don't think a child should be held accountable for the sins of their parents. Do you?"

  A soft murmur rolled through the crowd. She could see heads nodding in agreement.

  "I knew of my father's plans to pawn me off on the governor's son in an arranged marriage to gain Governor Moonlite's support for my father's political aspirations. I learned of his plans the evening of the Quincy party, so I took matters into my own hands and circumvented those plans by asking my best friend to marry me. Levi graciously agreed to my bizarre plan and we were married this past Sunday. It was a beautiful ceremony with just us two, one witness and the man who married us." She kept her comments vague. She knew her reputation would be ruined the moment the truth about her fake marriage was revealed, and she wasn’t ready to give up her position as Levi’s wife. Not just yet, anyway.