She picked up her sticky bun and grinned. “Well, I have to give my mother and Beth credit for my thinking about them.” Millie took a big bite from the pastry and chewed.
As far as he knew, Millie hadn’t contacted her family so how had her mother influenced her? “Why give your mother the credit?” he finally asked after it became obvious she wasn’t going to volunteer the information.
Millie laid the sticky bun down and took a sip of her milk. “Mother always said that drawing was a waste of time, but I love it. I thought that if I do something nice, like give the children puzzles or something else related to art, that maybe she would see that it holds value for me and those around me. So it is because of her that I hope I’ve found a way to give joy to others.”
Levi leaned back in his chair and studied her pretty face. He could see that Millie held respect and love for her mother. But he also saw her resentment due to her mother’s desire to control her.
Would Millie ever overcome those feelings of needing to protect herself from others? Would she ever be able to trust him? Or anyone else for that matter?
Chapter Ten
It was almost time for Daniel’s birthday party and Levi was excited about his gift. He’d spent the past week working on it and just hoped that Millie would like what he’d done with her drawing.
Levi covered Millie’s eyes with his hands.
He heard the joy in her voice as she asked, “Is this really necessary?”
“It is if I want to surprise you, and I do, so yes, it is necessary.” He gently walked behind her into the sitting room where the other boarders waited.
He’d hung the horse’s head above the fireplace and hung a cloth over it, obscuring it from everyone’s view. Levi turned Millie so that she faced the fireplace.
“About time you two got here,” Mrs. Englebright complained. “I’ve been tempted to peek.”
Levi ignored her outburst, but grinned. “Keep your eyes tightly shut,” he ordered Millie. Then, when he had her positioned in front of the painting, he pulled his hands away and said, “You may open your eyes.”
Millie gasped. Not sure if it was a good gasp or a bad gasp, Levi stepped around her so he could see her face. Her hands were now covering her mouth and her eyes had grown as wide as one of his saw blades.
Unable to wait, Levi blurted out, “Well? What do you think?”
She lowered her hands slowly and said, “Oh, Levi. It’s beautiful.”
He looked up at the framed picture. Was it beautiful? He wasn’t sure he’d call it a work of beauty. To him, it looked rustic and bold. The pine varnish he’d rubbed over the surface did give it a nice shine.
“I have to agree. That is the most beautiful picture I’ve ever seen,” Mrs. Englebright stated, staring up at it.
Mr. Lupin stepped up to the frame and touched the smooth edge. “It’s all made out of wood, too.”
Levi looked to Beth. She stood staring at the picture as if she’d never seen anything like it. Which, now that he thought about it, she probably hadn’t. “You are going to have to make something like that for the main entry, Levi. It’s wonderful.”
A laugh of pure joy burst from his chest. He clapped his hands once. “Millie gets most of the credit. It’s her drawing. I simply put it to wood.”
Her wide eyes turned to stare at him. In a small voice, Millie asked, “Can you teach me how to make pictures like that? It’s a real work of art.” She clasped her hands in front of the brown dress she wore.
“If you want to learn, I’m sure I can.” Her blue eyes lit up and she turned them back to the picture. “But Millie, it took me almost two weeks to make that one.”
She continued to look up at the picture. “I know. But you’ll get faster as you make more and I’ll work hard to learn.”
His heart leaped in his chest. If he was going to teach Millie how to make wooden pictures, then they’d be spending lots of time together. Over the past month, the two of them had spent time together, but they’d been surrounded by people. It would be only him and her for the lessons.
That meant he might be able to get her to trust him enough to marry him. Levi reminded himself it would be a marriage of convenience so that his mother would let Daniel keep the ranch. He refused to fall in love or give any woman his heart.
Levi’s gaze moved to Millie once more. She was laughing with Beth about something, and both spoke to each other in low tones. Soft blue eyes sought him out, and she smiled. He basked in the shared moment. Silently, he prayed. Lord, don’t let me fall in love with this woman. Help me to harden my heart because I fear she could easily shatter it into a million pieces and I can’t go through that hurt again.
* * *
The next morning, Millie dressed in one of her prettiest dress. It was a dark green with lace about the neck and cuffs on the sleeves. She wore her cream-colored shawl over it.
Daniel Westland’s birthday party was going to be an all-day event. Levi instructed Beth to close the restaurant and take the day off. He’d invited her and Mark to come with them to the ranch, but Beth had declined. Though she did agree to close the restaurant, as she wanted to take Mark on a picnic down by the river.
As Millie pulled her hair up into a ponytail, she wondered if it was time to take on a more fashionable hairstyle. She stared at her reflection for several long minutes. Unlike the three brides on the ranch, she was no beauty. Her blond hair didn’t shine like Susanna’s, her eyes didn’t hold a mysterious look within their depths like Emily’s, and she wasn’t as tall or graceful as Anna Mae.
Millie knew the other brides would outshine her no matter what she did with her hair. Not that she was competing with them. She tied the matching green ribbon around the band that held her hair in place. Lastly, Millie splashed a small amount of her favorite scented water on her neck. The aroma of lavender soothed her nerves.
She reached for the bag Beth had given her for her art supplies. She slid her sketch pad inside and then left the room. Millie didn’t want to go to Daniel’s party. She wanted to go sketch in silence in the woods, but she’d promised Hannah she’d be there.
“About ready?” Levi asked as she stepped off the last stair.
Millie nodded. He held Daniel’s present wrapped in brown paper. The words Happy Birthday, Big Brother were scrawled across the top. He’d tied the paper down with a piece of twine. She also noticed that he had a book in his other hand.
Beth and Mark stood off to the side.
“Are you sure you don’t want to go?” Millie asked, wishing with all her might that Beth would change her mind.
Mark wrapped his small arms around his mother’s waist. “We’re going on a picnic, and I get to skip rocks on the water,” he said, hugging her tight.
Beth laughed and hugged him back. “I’m sure. Today is a day for just Mark and me to spend together.” She released the little boy and grinned. “You two have fun.”
Millie followed Levi out to the wagon, where he put the present and book behind the seat. She ignored Beth’s teasing look. Beth and Mrs. Englebright still held hopes of her and Levi getting married, even though Millie had told them both numerous times that she and Levi were just friends.
When Levi held out his hand to help her up, Millie placed hers within it. His strong fingers closed around hers, and for a brief moment Millie allowed herself to enjoy his touch. Once seated, she placed her bag at her feet and straightened her skirt.
Levi was quiet as he guided the team out of town and down the dirt road that would lead to the Westland ranch. Did he regret her coming? Was he dreading seeing the brides? Or looking forward to it?
She cut her eyes and tried to see his face. He seemed focused on driving. Was he as uncomfortable around her this morning as she was around him? Did he regret saying last night that he’d teach her to make wooden wall art?
To calm herself, Millie pulled her sketch pad and a piece of charcoal from her bag. She looked about for something to draw. Everything was still bare from winter
—only small shoots of green filled the landscape, so she decided to use her imagination and work on an Iris flower. They were her favorite and she wondered if they grew here in Texas.
The wagon seemed to hit every rock and pothole, but Millie decided to make the best of the situation. She focused all her attention on the revealing of the flower. Soon an image was beginning to spring from the paper.
Levi spoke beside her. “Your drawings are really very good. I can almost smell that flower.” He offered her a grin, and his dimples flashed before he turned his attention back to the road.
“Thank you.” Millie continued working on the petals. After several minutes of silence she asked, “Are you all right today?”
He sighed. “Yes, I’m just dreading being on the ranch again.”
“Why?” Millie felt sure she knew but wanted to hear him talk. The sound of his voice reminded her of satin paints, strong and yet soothing as they spread across a page. What a silly thought. She grinned at her own musings.
“I believe you know why,” he countered without looking from the back of the horse.
“The brides and your mother?”
“The brides. Mother isn’t going to be pressuring today—she’ll let the brides do that for her.”
“Well, Susanna has settled down. I think she’s more interested in her dress shop than you,” Millie teased as she added shadowing to the edges of one petal.
“I believe you are right. When I asked if she’d like to ride out with us, she declined, but there are still two other brides. And if she does decide to come out later without her cloth and needle to distract her, who knows how Susanna will act today.” Levi’s voice had lost all hints of amusement.
“You could just choose one and get it over with,” she commented.
“I can’t. They want a real husband, a family and love. I can’t give them love.” He pulled the wagon to a stop.
Levi set the brake and tied the reins to it. Then he turned to her. He took the charcoal and paper from her hands and lap and set them to the side.
Her mouth went dry and her palms suddenly felt sweaty. “What are you doing?” Please don’t let him say what I think he’s about to say, she silently prayed.
Taking both her hands in his, Levi inhaled and then asked, “Millie, will you marry me? I know you don’t want a real husband or family. Like me, you don’t want or need love. It could be a marriage of convenience. I can never love you like a husband does a wife, but if you will have me, I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to make you happy. We’d be perfect for each other.”
It was tempting. But she didn’t want to be controlled even if they had a marriage in name only. And what if Levi found out that she was an arsonist? He’d hate her and yet be tied to her. What would the town think of him if they found out she’d burned down Eliza Kelly’s house and then ran away from taking the responsibility of doing so? The words I can’t forced their way out of her throat.
Why did this have to be so hard? She liked Levi but Millie knew she couldn’t marry him. Not now, not ever. She was an arsonist on the run and the fear of anyone ever controlling her again was too risky to say yes. Still, a part of Millie wanted to.
He released her hands. “I promise. I’ll never boss you around like your mother did. Does that make any difference?” Levi’s green eyes searched hers. He seemed to want this so badly.
Millie shook her head. She knew Levi meant what he said, but she didn’t trust that he could keep his word. There had been times late at night when she’d heard her mother apologize to her papa for the way she’d behaved, but then in a couple of days she’d gone right back to being her old controlling self.
Disappointment filled her as the words left her lips. “Levi, choose one of the other ladies. They all seem very nice and they all seem to like you.” She didn’t know why, but she hated the idea of him marrying one of the mail-order brides.
It was his turn to shake his head. “I can’t right now.” He picked up the reins and started the horse moving forward again. “I suppose I’ll have to get to know them better.”
She heard the disappointment in his voice. Levi said he couldn’t offer love. Would one of the other ladies be able to accept that? He was right in the fact that most women wanted love and a family. Millie knew deep down she wanted that, too, but there was too much that held her back: fear and the knowledge that she had burned down Eliza’s house and then been a coward and ran.
Bitterness ate at her. Could she really go back and face the people of Cottonwood Springs? Millie swallowed, knowing she’d have to do so eventually. As for trusting Levi, she couldn’t.
* * *
Levi pulled in front of the house. It had been too soon to ask Millie to marry him. The rest of their trip to the ranch had been quiet and tense. She’d seemed sad, but it could have just been his wishful thinking.
The sound of laughter floated to them from the back of the house. He jumped from the wagon, walked around it and then helped her down. He held her around the waist a little longer than he should have but Levi enjoyed the feel of her warmth in his arms.
Once Millie’s feet were on the ground, Levi released her. He handed her the bag she’d brought and watched as she slipped it over her shoulder.
“Would you mind taking Daniel’s birthday present and the book while I take care of the horse and wagon?” he asked, needing to put a little space between them.
Millie did as he asked and took the package and book but didn’t make eye contact. She kept her gaze down and turned toward the sound of the party.
Ol’ Jeb stepped forward. “I’ll take care of your horse and wagon, Levi.”
Levi looked from Millie to Jeb. Jeb had been on the ranch as long as Levi could remember. He was a nice old man who had been a good friend of his father’s.
He was a man of few words, but Jeb pressed, “Your ma put us men to work, watching for guests.” The sound of another wagon coming up the road and Cole, the ranch foreman, strolling from the barn confirmed Jeb’s words.
“Thanks, Jeb. Appreciate it.”
Jeb tipped his hat once and then pulled the horse and wagon toward the barn. For a moment, Levi watched the activity taking place in the front yard. It seemed each of the ranch men were taking turns, pulling horses and wagons into the barn and corrals.
Levi turned to walk with Millie, but she’d already gone without him. He tucked his hands into his pockets and kicked a rock. She was several feet away but didn’t look back.
Before she could round the corner, Levi ran and caught up with her. He grabbed her arm and pulled her to a stop. “I just need to talk to you for a minute before we face the rest of them.”
Millie looked down at his hand on her arm.
He released her. “Sorry, I just didn’t want to call out and draw unwanted attention.”
Her eyes softened, and she offered him a wobbly grin. “It’s all right. What did you want to talk about?”
Levi took her hand and pulled her away from the main walkway and to the side of the house, where he felt sure they wouldn’t be disturbed. When they were in the shade, Levi released her hand. “I’m sorry if my proposal made you uncomfortable. I’d like to pretend it didn’t happen and just be friends. Is that possible?” He searched her heart-shaped face.
Millie smiled up at him. “I’d like that.”
He turned to go, but her soft hand fell on his forearm. “Levi?”
There was something in her voice that made him hope she’d changed her mind about marrying him. Levi turned back around. “Yes?”
“I really am sorry I can’t marry you. I’m sure you will make a wonderful husband for one of the mail-order brides.” She played with the cord on the present.
He took the book and present from her and set them on the ground at their feet. Levi then reached forward and lifted her chin so that she could look at his face. Tears rimmed her pretty blue eyes. His hands moved to cup her cheeks.
Whatever he’d meant to say flew from his mind as h
e leaned forward and captured her lips with his. Levi didn’t question his actions, just knew that if she wouldn’t marry him, he at least wanted to kiss her one time.
She didn’t pull back or struggle. He gently lowered his hands and pulled her into his arms. The kiss deepened and yet neither of them pulled away. It was like nothing he’d ever experienced before, like coming off the range on a cold winter’s day to the warmth of home.
Levi knew he had to stop kissing her. He lifted his hands back to her cheeks and then moved back slowly. His mouth released hers. He missed her closeness immediately.
Wide eyes searched his face. “Why did you do that?” she asked.
It was time to hide his feelings. Feelings he didn’t understand. Levi grinned at her. “Doesn’t everyone seal their friendship with a kiss?” He rubbed her cheeks with his thumbs, then released her face.
When she didn’t answer, he forced a chuckle. “Come on, we don’t want to keep everyone waiting.” He picked up the book and present.
She didn’t move, just continued staring at him as if she was in shock. Had that been her first kiss? Or had it affected her the way it had him?
Levi handed her the present and then moved to her side. He placed his hand in the small of her back and gently steered her toward the party. Levi took them back the way they’d come, and as soon as they rounded the corner, Hannah hurried to Millie.
“I’m so glad you could make it.” Hannah turned her smile on him. “Hello, Levi. I believe your mother and the ladies are waiting for you over there.” A teasing twinkle filled her eyes.
He looked to where she pointed and saw his mother with the three brides. They didn’t rush to his side so he turned his attention back to Hannah.
Hiding the book behind his back, Levi said, “I wanted to ask you if you’ve read Robert Louis Stevenson’s book, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?”
Hannah laughed. “That book just came out last year. It will probably be another year or two before it gets out this far.”
His Chosen Bride (Love Inspired Historical) Page 12
