Levi (Prairie Grooms, Book Five)

by Morgan, Kit

  “With all this talk of outlaws and the trouble they’ve caused,” said Fina. “I certainly do hope that when Apple marries, she’s not living miles from town out on the prairie.”

  “You mean like Constance and Ryder?” asked Lena.

  “Constance is made of much stronger stuff than our sister,” said Fina.” Just look at what she was able to do when the need called for it.”

  “I take it your little sister doesn't have as much gumption as the rest of you?” asked Levi.

  “It's not so much that, Mr. Stone,” Lena explained. “Apple is so… well, she's just so innocent. The thought of anyone intentionally harming another, is a concept she cannot for the life of her fathom.”

  “I understand,” he told her. “But I'm sure the Lord will see fit to send her the right man as her husband.”

  “I certainly hope so, Mr. Stone,” said Lena. “I really do.”

  Thirteen

  “I have to go to town today,” Apple announced as she entered the kitchen.

  “Again?” asked Colin. “One would think you didn't want to spend time here. You've requested to go to town every day.”

  “Colin, it's not as bad as all that,” said Belle as she set his breakfast before him. “Can't you see she's just restless?”

  “If I was that restless, I’d never get any work done.”

  Apple pouted as she went to the table and sat. “But I like going to town,” she explained. “And besides, Cousin Imogene says Mr. Cutty is well enough to come to the hotel and have tea with us.”

  “Is he, now?” said Colin with a smile. “So ol’ Cutty is up and about, eh? Someone should tell Ryder.”

  “If Seth knows,” began Belle, “then I'm sure he'll get word to Ryder that Cutty is feeling better.”

  “All good news, to be sure,” said Colin. “But the ranch won't run itself. How are we to get any work done when Harrison and I keep using up our time to take you to town, young lady?”

  Apple took on an innocent air. “Cousin Imogene is the one who wanted to go to town; I was just going to tag along.”

  “I'm curious,” Colin began, his brow furrowed in thought. “How did the words, ‘I have to go to town today,’ suddenly become, ‘I'm just tagging along’?”

  “I, ah … er…” Apple stammered. “Well, a girl needs to get out now and then, don’t you think?”

  Colin shook his head in resignation. “I'm afraid I can't oblige you. You'll have to ask Jefferson.”

  “Really?” Apple asked, her eyes bright.

  “He's the only one available to escort you and Imogene today. But if he says no, then you'll have to accept it.”

  Apple stood. “I'll ask him and I know he'll say yes!” She hurried through the kitchen and out the back door.

  Colin cringed as the door slammed shut. “Has someone lit a fire under that girl recently?”

  “She's lonely, Colin,” explained Belle. “That's all. With her sisters and cousins all married now, and Imogene so often in town reading to Cutty, she has no one to talk to.”

  “No one? What about you?”

  “Now, you know this is the first day I’ve felt halfway decent,” she told him and put a hand on her belly. “But who knows how long it will last? She respects the fact I'm tired and sick because of the baby, and doesn't want to bother me. Give me another month or two and I'll feel much better, but for now…”

  “Yes, yes, for now she has no one to talk to except Sadie who, of course, is busy with Honoria and Harrison.”

  “And Edith and Jefferson have kept to themselves, after spending so much time helping Chase and Lena get settled,” she added. “So now do you understand why Apple wants to go to town so often?”

  Colin sighed. “I suppose if I were a pretty young girl like Apple, and I was going to town… to…” His tone suddenly went flat. “You don’t think she's going to town because of a man, do you?”

  “A man? Colin Cooke, whatever gave you that idea?”

  “It could happen,” he said. “One never knows with my cousins, especially this batch.”

  “You worry too much,” Belle said and poured him a cup of coffee.

  “I'm afraid I'll have to agree with you on that score. But I can't help it; it's in my nature, you see. By the way, shouldn’t you be resting?”

  “If I did, you wouldn't get your breakfast,” Belle pointed out as she poured herself a cup. She then joined him at the table and began to eat.

  “How long do you think you'll keep that down?” Colin asked with a grimace.

  “As long as I can. I don't know how Sadie survived this.”

  “Women have babies every day, my dear. I'm sure you'll survive it admirably.” He kissed her on the cheek, and then went back to eating his breakfast.

  Just then, Apple came running into the kitchen through the back door. “Jefferson said he'd take us!” She hurried past them and disappeared around the corner into the hall.

  Colin and Bell listened to her light footsteps as they ascended the stairs; two at a time, from the sounds of it. “I do hope the man she marries is good with a rope,” said Colin.

  “Why?” asked Belle.

  “Because the only way he's going to slow that girl down is if he can lasso her and tie her to something.”

  Belle gawked at him, snorted, and then laughed. She knew as well as Colin that he was right.

  * * *

  Apple paced before her window as she waited for Jefferson to hitch up the horses. She’d spent hours going over every possible reason why Levi Stone would have in his possession such a huge amount of cash, and why he kept it in a trunk in his bedroom. She had the good list, and the bad list, of what might've put the money in Levi's hands. The only problem, (at least in her mind) was that she may have thought of things Fina hadn't which, of course, (again in her mind) would leave Fina at a disadvantage. After all, wouldn’t it be better if Fina knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that it was safe to ask Levi about it? If Levi was guilty of doing something bad, and Fina inquired, he might hurt her. Granted, Fina didn't live as far out of town as Constance and Ryder did, but she was still far enough away that, if something should happen, no one would hear her call for help.

  Apple stilled at the thought, then spun to the window. “I wish he would hurry,” she whispered as she watched Jefferson stroll into the barn. Apple turned and looked at the door. Thank heavens Imogene wanted to go to town and read to Mr. Cutty again. Who would have ever thought her staunch cousin’s compassion would help Apple solve a mystery of this magnitude! Why, it was better than an adventure novel!

  Except for one thing…

  Apple swallowed hard and gazed out the window again. She feared the sort of adventure this could turn into, and prayed her sister would be kept safe.

  The minutes dragged by until Imogene knocked on her bedroom door. “Are you ready?” she asked as she opened the door. “Jefferson has prepared the wagon.”

  “Yes, let's go,” Apple said as she pushed past her.

  “Good heavens, child; slow down. There's nothing in town that you need that badly!”

  Apple turned to her. “Perhaps not the way you see it. But I do have an urgent need to get to town!”

  Imogene shook her head in resignation. “How your mother put up with you and your sisters for as long as she did, I’ll never know. If you had been my daughter, I’d have raised you much differently. By the way, what is this urgent need of yours?”

  Apple slowed as she descended the stairs, lest Imogene become more suspicious of her behavior. She didn't want her cousin asking questions, and had to remind herself to be wary, or she might put Fina in danger.

  She stopped on the stairs and turned to her cousin. “Thread! I must have some red thread! Sadie and Belle are both teaching me to sew, and Fina painted her kitchen table the most wondrous red you’ve ever seen!”

  Imogene stared at her. “Oh dear, I do hope her husband was able to take it like a gentleman.”

  “He, well … he did look a little ups
et when Harrison and I left the other day, but I'm sure he's over it by now.”

  “How much red paint did Fina have left?” asked Imogene.

  Apple smiled. “Enough to paint the cupboard and the sideboard, would be my guess.”

  Imogene chuckled. “Whatever is that man going to do when she gets her hands on more paint?”

  Apple laughed. “I can only imagine, dear cousin; but I want to be there when she does. In the meantime, I’m making her a red tablecloth and napkins to go with her table.”

  “Why would you give her red napkins when the table’s already red?”

  “Hmmm, you’re quite right. Then I shall get blue thread and cloth to make my napkins.”

  Imogene chuckled again. “Dear child, between you and your sisters, you’re going to drive that poor man… what is the term the Americans use… plum loco?”

  Apple laughed. “I've no doubt we will, cousin. Now, let's hurry to town. The sooner I get what I need, the sooner I can make something to dress Mr. Stone's table.”

  The women went downstairs. Once outside, Jefferson helped them climbed onto the wagon seat. Apple sighed in relief, scooting over to make room for him as he climbed up next to her. Fina’s secret was still safe.

  * * *

  When they got to town, Apple did her best to act nonchalant and keep an eye out for Cyrus Van Cleet. She knew he had to have some type of information she could wheedle out of him. After all, Levi worked for the man.

  “One hour, ladies,” Jefferson announced. “Then we’re heading back to the ranch. If you need me, I’ll be in the hotel, visiting with Edith’s sister, Sally.”

  “Why didn’t Edith come with us today?” asked Apple.

  Jefferson pressed his lips together and smiled. “’Cause she’s tired of coming to town so much.”

  Apple swallowed hard and turned toward the mercantile. “Oh.”

  “I’m heading to the Wallers’,” announced Imogene. “Here, you’ll need some money to purchase your fabric and thread.” She tucked the book she’d brought under her arm then reached into her reticule. She pulled out some coins and handed them to Apple. “When you’re done, come to the hotel. If we hurry, we’ll have time for tea before we have to go home.”

  Apple nodded, took the money, and the two of them headed down the street. When they reached the bank, Apple stopped. “I think I’ll run back to the hotel and see if Mrs. Upton has made some of her wonderful apple tarts. If not, and I ask nicely, perhaps she’ll make some and have them ready by the time we have our tea.”

  “You can ask, but I doubt she’ll be able to do it. Run along now, dear. And take care of your business.”

  Apple smiled, turned, and began to head back the other way. She glanced around, noted no one was about, and picked up her pace. If she hurried, she could speak with Mrs. Upton, then stop by the bank and speak with Mr. Van Cleet, (if he was there, that is) then go to the mercantile and get what she needed to make napkins for Fina and Levi’s table.

  She entered the hotel, to find Seth behind the desk. “Hello,” she greeted.

  “Well, hello, Apple. What brings you to town?”

  “Cousin Imogene is reading to your friend, and he’s joining us for tea today. That is, if we hurry. We only have an hour.”

  “Cutty’s coming to the hotel, to have tea with you?”

  “Yes, sir; I’m going to ask Mrs. Upton to make apple tarts.”

  “You won’t have to; she already did.” He studied her, his face screwed up in disbelief. “Cutty?”

  “Yes, and as she’s already made what I was going to request, I’ll be on my way. See you in a bit!” She turned and headed back out the door.

  “Cutty?!” Seth called after her, his voice still laced with disbelief. Apparently, Cutty had never gone to tea before.

  She hurried back the way she came and stopped when she reached the bank. She glanced this way and that to make sure no one saw her, and slipped inside. Mr. Van Cleet stood behind a tall counter, looked up, and smiled at her. “Hello there. What can I do for you?”

  “Mr. Van Cleet, how are you?”

  “Fine, just fine. You ah … want to make a deposit?”

  “No, no, nothing like that. But if I did … how would I go about it?”

  He came out from behind the counter and smiled. “It’s really quite simple. You fill out a paper, giving me some information, then hand me your gold or silver.”

  “Oh, but I don’t have any gold or silver.”

  “Well, there are other forms of currency.”

  “Like what?” Fina didn’t say if the money she found was gold, silver, or otherwise. But didn’t “cash” mean paper tender?

  “Bank notes work, if issued by a bank in good standing.”

  “Do you issue bank notes?”

  “Yes; why do you ask?”

  “I’m not familiar with how things work in your country, that’s all.”

  “Ah, I see. Well then, let me educate you, my dear.” He motioned her to follow him behind the counter.

  Apple couldn’t believe her luck! He looked like he was going to give her a tour of the bank! She could ask all sorts of questions now! “Er, doesn’t my sister’s new husband work for you?”

  “You mean Levi? Yes, he does. But I gave him a few days off as a wedding present,” he told her with a wink.

  “Of course, how nice,” she agreed. “Mr. Van Cleet, where do people keep their money if they don’t keep it in a bank?”

  “All sorts of places. Under a mattress, buried out in the barn, in a box …”

  “What about a trunk?”

  He stared at her. “That would work, too, I suppose. But a bank is much safer than any of those.”

  “Then why do people keep all their money in, say, a trunk?”

  “Because they’re uneducated, that’s why. Let me show you.” He went to the back of the room, and motioned to a huge safe. “Colossal, isn’t it?”

  Apple gasped. “It’s huge! You could fit a person inside!”

  “You could, but I wouldn’t recommend it.”

  She gawked at him, shocked that Levi would feel his money was safer at home. The safe was magnificent, and wide open. Though some money and small bags of gold were there, it wasn’t much. The townsfolk of Clear Creek, like Levi, must still keep their money at home. Either that or they just didn’t have any. “The door is so thick and heavy,” she commented as she continued to stare.

  “Which is why you wouldn’t want to get stuck in there; once locked in, you’d suffocate.”

  “Oh, dear; that would be horrible!”

  “I quite agree.”

  “I don’t understand,” she muttered, still puzzled over the fact that Levi kept his money at home.

  “What was that?” Mr. Van Cleet asked.

  “Oh, nothing; I was just wondering why people don’t use your bank.”

  “They use it, but they still use other means of keeping their money safe.”

  “What means?”

  “A loaded shotgun, for one,” he said with a smile.

  Apple blinked at him a few times. Answers! She had to find answers! “But, I don’t understand why anyone would keep a large sum of money in their bedroom rather than in your safe.”

  “I don’t understand, either, but people are strange that way.”

  Apple fiddled with a stray curl and twisted it around a finger, her usual habit when nervous or excited. “Do people around here do that? Keep a lot of money in their house instead of the bank?”

  “Didn’t we establish that already? Not to mention that it would be very bad to get in this safe?”

  She smiled. “Did we?”

  “If you’re worried about your money, bring it to me, I’ll put it in ‘old faithful’ here and your worries will be over.” He gave the safe a respectful pat for emphasis.

  “Oh, I couldn’t do that, Mr. Van Cleet.”

  He gave her a quizzical look. “Why not?”

  “I don’t have any money.”

&n
bsp; “Don’t have any money? Then why all the questions?”

  “Curiosity?” she said and shrugged.

  He sighed and nodded. “You’re young enough to still be full of the stuff. Curiosity is how a young person learns about the world. What else are you curious about, young lady?”

  Apple froze. Should she ask him? But what if it made Mr. Van Cleet think Levi was involved with the outlaws when he wasn’t? Smiling, she did the only thing she could think of, and shook her head.

  “Then I’ll bid you a good day, I’ve got work to do, you know. I’m manning the bank while Levi adjusts to married life.”

  Apple suddenly had an idea. “Mr. Van Cleet, how long has Levi worked for you?”

  “Oh, about a year or so, I guess.”

  “Does he like working in the bank?”

  “Wouldn’t still be here if he didn’t.”

  “What if he had a lot of money tucked away? Would he still work for you?”

  Mr. Van Cleet studied her. “Are you afraid he can’t provide for your sister?”

  “Oh no! He’ll take care of her, I’m sure of it. But if, say, he did have a lot of money, and was perfectly capable of taking care of my sister, would he still work here?”

  “Levi is my employee, but he’s also my friend. If he wanted to still work here, and it wasn’t taking a job from someone who really needed it, I’d let him.”

  Apple looked at the floor. Mr. Van Cleet obviously didn’t know about Levi’s mysterious trunk money; otherwise, wouldn’t he have said something by now? “Thank you for showing me your bank, sir.”

  “You’re welcome, Miss Sayer. “And you’re welcome to come again, anytime.”

  She smiled at him as she left. She was no closer to solving this mystery than when Fina first told her. What was she going to do? How on earth was she going to help her sister?

  Apple let out a heavy sigh as she headed for the mercantile. Maybe Mr. or Mrs. Dunnigan could shed some light and give her something, anything that would help Fina decide what to do. For all Apple knew, Levi had poor Fina trapped in his evil clutches, ignoring her whimpers and cries for mercy. Her hand flew to her mouth at the thought. “Don’t worry, Fina! I’ll save you!” With that, she hurried down the street to Dunnigan’s Mercantile.