by Caryl McAdoo
As though the increase had little or no consequence, Levi gave a nod. “No news about statehood?”
“Nothing solid. Always lots of talk, but so far, that’s about it.”
Rose noticed the change in Levi’s face when the man mentioned Nick Ward. His eyes had steeled of their own accord, and his jaw tightened. A far away look told her that if things were different, he’d light out that very hour, off to track the killer down.
She would hate for him to look like that at her, or worse, have him cold-trailing her with malice in his heart.
Once outside, she caught his hand again. “That’s the bad man Charley dreamed about, isn’t it?”
“One and the same.”
“Well, now.” She squeezed his hand. “So where do we go from here?”
“Haygood said the man with the headright for sale ran a mercantile.” With his free hand, he pointed toward town. “It isn’t too far that way.”
“Good, I need to spend some of my mustang money.”
He laughed. “You have money?”
She bumped him with her shoulder. “Yes, unless you were teasing when you said I got a cut from that herd we sold to Code Brown.”
“Oh, yes, that mustang money. I’d almost forgot.”
She backed up and pulled on his hand. He stopped. “What?”
“Should we go get Charley?”
“Thought you said he got grumpy and growly if he didn’t get his nap out.”
“He does.”
“If you’re talking about shopping, there’s a general store not far from the boarding house. We can take him there on the way to supper.”
She let him pull her back in the direction he’d been heading. “Why are you interested in buying a headright? I know you’ve been in Texas long enough to apply for one of your own, haven’t you?”
He laughed. “Yes, ma’am. Actually, I have several, but that first one wasn’t a full headright.”
“Then why are you looking to buy another one?”
“Uncle Henry and I have been buying them up for years now.”
She glanced at him, amazed that he was more than just a good-looking, brave Texas Ranger. Who would have guessed that Levi Baylor was such a visionary?
“And what are you and Uncle Henry planning to do with all this land?”
“Run cattle; neither one of us much likes sod busting, not that we aren’t good at farming. We’ve both made a lot of money from cotton.” He shook his head. “But without slaves, you can’t have too many acres of lint. Neither one of us ever wanted to own another person.”
“I can certainly understand that. I hated being Bold Eagle’s property.”
He pointed toward a free standing, two-story with a big covered porch full of trade goods. “This is it.”
She left him at the door and went exploring. She’d discovered that she loved shopping. She never had the opportunity as a child then married a tightwad husband who kept such an unyielding hold on his purse strings.
Coaxing any coin—even for necessities—from Charles Nightengale became practically impossible. And he had to have had plenty set back, too, as much as he worked and never spent a penny he didn’t have to.
Though not a gambler, she’d bet her mustang money without a second thought that Levi would buy her whatever she wanted, not that she’d ever even think about taking advantage of the man.
While she browsed, a dark cloud settled over her soul. Why had she thought about her husband? Her hand went to her tummy.
Was the baby heaven-sent to clear the way for her and Levi?
Oh, Lord don’t be disgusted with my heart.
The Good Book said children were gifts from God. Her baby coming in mid-summer could be such a blessing. The thought brought a ray of hope to her soul and pushed the darkness to the recesses.
She’d not borrow trouble. She chuckled to herself; she’d be rich if she had a nickel for every time she’d told herself that.
A chalkboard caught her eye, then she found an easy reader that would be perfect for Laura and Charley when his time came. She gathered the school stuff then went to find Levi.
She found him visiting with who she figured was the proprietor and eased up next to him. “Hey, there.”
He looked over at her. “That all you found?”
“So far, should I keep shopping?”
The man nodded. “By all means, your husband here is trying to rob me, so I best make a dime somehow off you good folks.” He laughed and cleared a spot on his counter. “Here, ma’am, set your items down right here. I sure want you to have both hands to browse the merchandise.”
She started to correct the man, but didn’t have the heart. Instead, she scooted in tight to Levi and put on her best airs as she sat down her finds. “Why, sir, I cannot fathom Captain Baylor robbing anyone.”
The guy leaned back. “You’re Levi Baylor, the ranger?”
She smiled. “Yes, he is, and no, he’s not eight feet tall and older than dirt.”
“I’d heard you were in town, but…” He extended his hand. “Sorry for any misunderstanding. I didn’t mean to –”
“No problem.” Levi gripped the man’s hand. “So what were you really wanting for that headright?”
The man pulled his lips into a crooked, smirky grin that looked like knowing who he was dealing with would definitely increase his price. “Twenty gold, or thirty script, seeing as how it’s for you, sir.”
“Sixteen coin and you throw in the lady’s goods.”
“Oh, wait, let me get back to shopping then.”
“Uh, no.” The man cackled a little nervous laugh. “The goods would be extra.”
She started to go find something else but decided she wanted to hear exactly how the transaction went down.
“All due respect, Captain, but that’s less than a dime an acre; I’ll take nineteen, six bits.”
Levi pulled the sack from his duster’s pocket, retrieved a ten-dollar gold coin then six silver dollars from his vest pocket. He nodded toward the money. “Deal?”
The man studied the coins. “I could go eighteen, four bits.”
Levi looked at her. “You ready?”
“Anytime.”
He covered his money with one hand. “Sorry we couldn’t do business.” Held the other at the edge of the counter and pulled the coins slowly off into it.
“Wait, seventeen even.”
“Including her goods?”
The man agreed, though it appeared to pain him considerable.
Levi retrieved another dollar and placed all the coins back on the counter. “Deal.”
Wallace let his chair fall away from the wall then marked his place and looked up. Laura smiled at him. “You through reading? I sure do love hearin’ the scriptures.”
“Oh, for now. I’ll read more later. It’s wild. I never knew the Bible had so many stories in it, did you?”
“Some. Ma used to read to us every Sunday.” She situated Lacey on her other breast careful to keep herself covered; he should have looked away, but didn’t. “Miss Sassy’s done started teaching me to read. She say I be a natural. So, I be plannin’ on readin’ the Good Book to my little Lacey here one day.”
Hopefully, it would help her grammar. “I got you something while you and the baby were napping.”
“Really? You shouldn’t go blowing yer dollars on me and her.”
“It wasn’t much, and we’ll need it.” He stepped to the side and pointed toward the far corner.
She followed his gaze then squealed. “That’s ‘bout the cutest thing I ever did see. A baby-sized bed! Well, if that don’t take the whole cake.”
“The man at the general store called it a cradle.” He stood, gently placed the Bible on the table next to his chair, then walked to the side of her bed. “I got a couple of real soft little blankets just her size, too. Figured a buffalo robe would be too heavy on her.”
“Oh, Wallace, you just be way too good to us.” Tears welled in her eyes; she looked dow
n, blinked, then cleared her throat. “Captain Baylor still thinking we be leaving once morning comes?”
“Last I heard.”
She handed him the baby then scooted to the side of the bed. “I best walk some, Miss Evie say the more I be movin’ about, the quicker I’ll be healin’.”
He and Lacey retreated to his chair, while Laura eased out the door. He studied the baby’s tiny face while she seemingly explored his. She reached out her miniature hand toward him.
In all his time on God’s earth, he never dreamed one tiny little girl could make such a huge difference. Even if his feelings for her mother were lust like Amnon had for Tamar, marrying Laura and being Lacey’s daddy would make everything all right.
He looked toward the ceiling, wouldn’t it?
He closed his eyes and tried to picture what little Wallace would look like, but the only image produced was Charley. Not that having a little wild man of his own would be a bad thing. Still looking up, he thought on it. Maybe You made us for each other.
Was she made for him? What about Rebecca? A light breeze chilled his cheek, and he snuggled the baby a bit closer then reached over and retrieved the soft little blanket.
He draped it over her ears. He’d heard somewhere about babies needing to keep their ears covered for some reason, though he couldn’t recall what it was. Maybe folks were concerned about what they might hear.
For the longest, he’d dreamed of meeting Levi’s Bitty Beck and sweeping her off her feet. Laura wanted him. Would Rebecca even give him a second look?
The baby wiggled. He shook his head. One thing he knew for sure, he loved this little one. Now, he had two people he loved enough to live for – or die for. Lacey Rose and Levi Baylor. Not that he’d ever admit it to the man, but in Levi he found the big brother he’d never had or the really young daddy he’d never known.
Him being on the road that day so long ago, when Henry Buckmeyer and Levi Baylor rode up on their way to meet Sam Houston. He leaned in close to Lacey and whispered. “Used to say that was the best day of my life, but now I think your birthday was the best.”
The door eased opened and Laura walked in rather slow and still looking somewhat pregnant. He figured her big stomach would disappear once the baby came out of it, but he figured all wrong. She smiled. “Were Lacey Rose good for ya?” She slipped back in bed.
He stood and handed her the baby. “Good as gold.”
“She’s that sure ‘nuff.”
He took her hand. “Laura, I’ve been thinking.”
She looked into his eyes. She loved the touch of his fingers against her own, his skin next to hers. She waited to hear, but he didn’t say anything else. “Well, what were you thinking on?”
“See, Captain and Rose are wanting to get back on the road, hoping to get home before the bad rains set in.” He tilted his head a little to the right. “But if you and Lacey want to stay here for a while longer.” He shrugged, then barely grimaced. “Well, we don’t have to go on. Not now, especially if you don’t think you or the baby is really not up to being back in that wagon all day every day.”
She put her hand over his. He was so sweet, so honorable. She’d love nothing better than to lay in this bed with him fussing over her and the baby for a month of Sundays, but the look on his face told her that weren’t really what he wanted. She studied him, looked deep into his eyes while she figured out exactly what to say.
“Sarge, right after I were stolen, while they were on the move, one of the Comanche wives had herself a papoose. We only stopped for maybe an hour, two at the most. She popped that young ‘un out, the others helps a bit, then off we go again. An’ we womens was all walking, too.”
“Really?”
“Yes, sir. Seen it with my very own peepers. Lacey Rose is small sure ‘nough, but she be tough as rawhide. And I’s been mending right nice. Miss Evie say I’s built for having babies. Say the next one will be right easy, now I been through it and know what to do.”
He nodded. “Thought I’d offer. I don’t want anything happen to Lacey.”
“Me, neither.” She wanted to add as long as you’re with her, nothing will neither, but didn’t. Even though it scared her heart to let him go on, she wanted him to go ahead and meet Rebecca.
Hopefully, she’d already found her a feller to love and wouldn’t give Laura’s ranger a second glance ‘cept as her brother’s best friend. She prayed Wallace Rusk would see without no doubts that it were her and Lacey what he really wanted all along, not some dream girl he’d never laid eyes on.
Chapter
Twenty-Three
The next morning came, and like Levi wanted, he got his little troupe on the road. Now with one more dear little soul. He loved Charley’s reaction to Lacey; he faked indifference, but couldn’t take his eyes off the baby.
Levi thought Laura was going to have a heart attack when the boy stuck his finger in her mouth. After chastisements from both his mother and Laura, his little partner stalked off mumbling about worthless girls.
He eased the gray up next to Rose, who rode Wallace’s gelding. “How’s every little thing this fine morning?”
“Good. I’d so much rather ride than drive the mules.”
“Well, I prefer your company over Rusk’s any day.”
For a while she rode in silence, then after Charley and the filly trotted past then looped back riding one of his usual circles, she turned toward Levi. “What day is it?”
“Friday, November twenty-second. Why?”
“Oh, I was just wondering. Have they set a day for Thanksgiving this year?”
“Aunt Sue always liked the last Thursday in November. But no, I haven’t heard anything about President Houston wanting a different day.”
She laughed. “I remember one year, we had two Thanksgivings, one in November and another in December.”
“Really, how come?”
“Mama insisted on the last Thursday in November, and Daddy claimed that it had been changed to December 14, so we had our turkey in November and a ham in December. The brothers and I thought it was great, getting an extra holiday.”
“I never heard about a December Thanksgiving. Pretty much everyone I know celebrates in November.”
“Think we could make it home in six days?”
He did the mental math. “Might be pushing it a little hard.”
“Just a thought.” She looked back at the wagon. “We probably should take it easy for Laura and Lacey’s sakes.”
He had to agree, but making it home for Thanksgiving, that would be something. He tried to remember the last holiday he’d spent at home. He backtracked all the way to ’35. Had it been that long since he’d stuck his feet under Auntie’s dinner table and ate one of her holiday feasts? That was too long.
He looked at Rose. Without her there sharing it, he wouldn’t have much to be thankful for. A wave of nausea washed over him. He didn’t want her to spend Thanksgiving with her husband. How misguided was that?
She cocked her head and grinned. “What?”
“Oh, I was just remembering. I haven’t been home for a holiday since ’35.”
“Really?”
“Yes, but it also dawned on me that being there without you wouldn’t mean much.”
Rose loved it when he talked like that, even if she knew full well that she shouldn’t. Charles never said anything nice. Well, anyways not after she walked the aisle and said I do. Maybe his disillusionment started once he found out she couldn’t cook like her mother or had never taken much interest in gardening.
She studied Levi until his look turned quizzical. “You do know that I’m not much of a cook, don’t you?”
He laughed. “Cooking’s overrated.”
“Really now?” She liked that answer, really, really liked it. “What about gardening and house cleaning and washing? How do you rate them?”
“I once went a month in the same clothes.” He laughed. “Wallace was plenty ripe. Guess I must have been, too.”
&nbs
p; Wow, she never knew there was such a man. She hoped Charley could grow up to be like Levi. “So, you’re saying you don’t care about any of that?”
“I’m a big boy. I know how to do it all if needs be. Aunt Sue is all the mother I’ve ever needed. I expect you’ll be all the wife I’ll ever want.”
She caught her breath and held his words in her heart.
Oh, God, let it be so.
Once she could breathe again, she returned to the practicality of a union with this amazing man. “Well, who’s going to do the cooking then? You?”
“We can hire someone.”
“You do know you are flat out making me love you more and more and more. How is it you know all the perfect things to say? So you mean it, really? Like a maid or something?”
“Sure, why not?”
She started to mention money, but knew for a fact that he wore a belt full of coins, and – “Wait a minute. You’re not planning on tracking down that Ward guy, are you? I don’t want you out bounty hunting. I’d cook before I’d want that.”
He laughed really loud. “No, not planning to. I’ve had my fill of hunting men. I’m way past ready to settle down and raise a family. Especially since I’ve found you.”
Her hand went to her belly. If she only knew for certain what the future held. If she could count on spending the rest of her life with Levi, everything would be so absolutely perfect. “Me, too, way past ready.”
She didn’t bring up Charles Nightengale, and neither did he. Or how he might impact the love she had for this ranger, or his love for her. No mention of the unspoken solutions she thought of most every waking moment.
Dreams she hoped would somehow come true. Nothing her husband might do—besides set her free—was worthy of giving any of it voice. But how could she even ask? Charles deserved better. Didn’t he?
That day proved to be a good one. Wallace never did want his gelding back, and Charley thought it really made him a manly ranger to stand guard duty over baby Lacey.
So he, the baby, and Laura took a nice long afternoon nap. That evening, while she ate the meal Laura had whipped up, a plan started taking shape.
