The Cowboy's City Girl (15 page)

“That's sad. Maybe here you can learn to have fun again.” Maybe he'd make sure she did. Like time spent on the swing or exploring wildflowers. But there were so many other enjoyments he'd like to introduce her to. And he could start right now.

He grabbed her hand and broke into a trot, pulling her along with him. He had to slow down when they reached the trees, but as they navigated the narrow path he did not release her hand. They reached the river. “One of the things me and my brothers liked to do was skip rocks.”

“How do you do that?”

He chuckled at the bewildered look on her face. “You choose a flat rock.” He picked up a suitable one. “And hold it like this then throw it to the water.” His rock skipped twice before it sank. He found another rock and handed it to her. “You try it.”

She threw the rock and it sank immediately.

“Try again.”

She tried again and the rock again sank.

“You need to throw it sort of sideways. Like this.” He reached around her and guided her hand. She fit perfectly in his arms, her shoulders just below his chin. Her hair tickled his nose, the scent of roses filled his senses. He might have fallen in the sun-warmed water in a nearby pool left in the eddy of some overhanging trees for the way everything else melted away.

He tried to remember what he was supposed to be doing.

Showing her how to skip rocks. Yes.

He eased her arm back, then propelled it forward quickly. “Release the rock now.”

She did and it skipped once. “I did it!” She turned about in his arms to grin triumphantly at him.

His arms circled her.

Her eyes darkened and her smile faded.

They looked into each other's eyes. He let her see all his hopes and dreams and wishes for her. And if some of them were his own...

He blinked, not wanting her to see his own longings.

A smile unlike any he'd ever seen before—full of sweetness and longing, trust and caution, and things he couldn't, wouldn't, identify—filled her eyes and gently curved her lips.

“Levi.” His name was so sweet on her lips that he couldn't think.

A crow flew overhead, cawing harshly. The sound jerked Levi to his senses and he forced his unwilling arms to release her. He must remember that he was a half-breed, and she was a city girl whose plans were bigger than a ranch in Montana.

“Try it on your own now.” He chose a flat rock and handed it to her.

She plucked it from his palm, her eyes on his.

He read the hurt and uncertainty in her gaze but he could do nothing to erase it. She deserved so much more than he could ever offer her.

She lowered her gaze and tossed the rock. It sank. She crossed her arms over her chest. “I'm no good at this sort of thing.” She shook her head when he handed her another rock.

He skipped it himself. But no bouncing rock would ease the regret that stole away the pleasure of the moment.

“Can you let me know the next time someone goes to town? I need to send a note to my aunt.” She continued to stare at the rippling water.

She couldn't make it any plainer that she was anxious to make other arrangements. “Of course.” He might wish no one would go for several weeks but what would it change?

Chapter Thirteen

B
eatrice returned to the house. Maisie assured her there was plenty of food left over from the picnic to provide supper. “Take the rest of the afternoon off and play with Dolly. The poor child has been moping about the place since you left.”

Beatrice fell on her knees before the child. “Did you think I had left?”

Dolly nodded, her eyes full of unshed tears.

Beatrice folded the child into her arms. “I'm sorry. I would never leave you. I only went out for walk.”

Dolly's tears wet Beatrice's neck as she rocked the child back and forth. Oh, if only she could ease the pain this child carried. She got to her feet and took Dolly's hand. “Let's go outside for a while.”

Maisie smiled her approval as they left the house.

Beatrice looked around. She must avoid Levi at all costs after that scene at the river. She rubbed her arm with her free hand, trying to erase the feel of Levi's arms about her. The way he'd held her had made her feel so safe...so hungry for more. She hadn't meant to turn to him, or at least, she hadn't realized how quickly her excitement over skipping a rock would change to something more. Something erupting from the depths of her being, something so unexpected, so vast, she had called out to Levi like a drowning woman would call out for help.

He'd only been interested in showing her how to skip rocks.

It had taken several minutes for her to compose herself.

She wasn't sure her composure could bear seeing him face-to-face at the moment.

To her relief, he led his horse from the barn and rode away.

To her sorrow, he didn't so much as glance toward the house.

It was for the best. Now she could relax and devote her attention to Dolly. She led the child past the barn and up the hill. “Shall we pick flowers and take them to Maisie?”

Dolly nodded and they spent several minutes making a bouquet of wildflowers.

Their arms were full but Beatrice didn't care to return to the house yet. She didn't belong here and it seemed fitting to sit on the hillside and look at the ranch from a distance.

Dolly sat beside her and pressed her head to Beatrice's arm. Beatrice lay the bouquets on the ground beside them and wrapped her arms around the child and simply held her, knowing no other way to offer comfort to a five-year-old child.

Dolly began to speak in her quiet whisper and Beatrice held very still, afraid anything she said or did would make the child stop talking.

“Mama said we would have so many flowers when we found our new place. She said we would have a nice home and maybe even a baby brother or sister.”

Beatrice waited, wondering if Dolly would say more. She was no expert on dealing with grief, especially in a child, but she sensed Dolly needed to talk about what happened instead of keeping it all inside. Maybe then she would begin to talk aloud.

Just when she wondered if the child was done, Dolly spoke again.

“Papa got sick and we had to stop. I asked if this was our new home but Mama said we weren't there yet. Then Mama got sick.” Dolly shuddered. “I tooked care of her.”

Beatrice had helped Aunt Opal with the sick and wondered how a child would manage.

“I guess they died.”

Beatrice had to stop her arms from tightening too much. She'd assumed, everyone had, that the child knew her parents were dead. Even Dolly had said they were gone. But did she understand the finality of death? She pulled Dolly to her lap and caught her chin so their eyes connected.

“Your mama and papa are buried in the churchyard in Granite Creek. I'll take you there when we go to town, if you like.”

Dolly nodded again. She lowered her gaze. “When are we going?”

“As soon as Maisie is well enough that she doesn't need my help every day.”

“Okay.” The little girl continued to search Beatrice's eyes. “Can I stay with you?”

A lump the size of a horse lodged in her throat. “I wish you could, but you have an aunt. Do you remember her?”

Dolly shook her head. Tears gushed silently from her eyes.

With a groan from the bottom of her heart, Beatrice hugged the child close. “Oh, my sweet child.” At a loss as to how to comfort her, Beatrice rocked back and forth. After a bit she began to sing, as much for her sake as Dolly's. But after a few minutes, the little girl relaxed in her arms.

Beatrice stopped singing.

“Sing some more,” Dolly said. “I like it.”

So Beatrice sang, grateful she could offer this one thing. And she prayed for Dolly.
Please may her aunt be kind and loving and fill this child's life with joy
.

A horse crested a nearby hill and pulled to a stop.

It was Levi and she watched him, wishing things could be different, but that would mean she would be a different person. If only that was possible. She'd been born a Doyle, her family rich, but Beatrice herself was of no value.

She bowed her head over Dolly's and let her tears flow.

* * *

Beatrice woke in early morning silence the next day with an aching heart. She'd grown too fond of Levi. How could she have let this happen? She'd felt so safe in his arms and had silently asked for more. But nothing had changed between them. He still guarded his heart. And she still didn't fit into ranch life.

Would he ever believe he was fearfully and wonderfully made?

Dolly lay beside her, Smoky curled up at her side.

Was it her imagination or did the child seem more relaxed since they'd talked? The pain in Beatrice's heart was not imagined as she thought of life without Dolly.

As she dressed, she acknowledged she would never be the same woman who had left Chicago a few weeks ago. But who would she be and where would she go?

Whatever and wherever the good Lord led her, she would do her best to prove she could handle the situation. She would pen a note to Aunt Opal this afternoon and ask if there was any position available for her yet. If not, she would assist Aunt Opal until she found one.

Her resolve in place, she headed for the kitchen to prepare breakfast.

Big Sam carried Maisie to her chair. “She says she feels completely better and I checked her wound. There's no sign of infection.” He kissed Maisie on the nose. “You continue to be a good girl.”

Maisie chuckled.

“I'll have a quick look around before breakfast.” He strode from the room. Levi had already gone out. They were both anxious about any mischief the intruders might perpetrate.

Maisie sighed. “It's nice to be cared for so faithfully but I'm getting a little weary of it. As soon as Big Sam leaves after breakfast, I want you to look at my wound and give your honest assessment. I think it should be getting better enough I can start to move around.”

“I don't want to be accused of aiding and abetting,” Beatrice protested. “Big Sam would never forgive me.”

“Pshaw. You leave him to me.”

Beatrice shrugged and turned back to the stove. She'd have a look at the wound but she wouldn't go against Big Sam's opinion.

Big Sam stomped on the step, spoke to someone. She recognized Levi's voice. Tension flooded through her.

Would he remember how she'd leaned into his arms and practically begged for a kiss? More than that...she'd ached for his acceptance. She kept her back to the men as they took their places at the table.

Beatrice finished serving the meal, then sat down. Big Sam reached for her hand on one side, Maisie reached for Dolly's and Beatrice and Dolly clasped hands. She stole a glance at Levi. He had his head bowed.

She wasn't disappointed that he didn't look at her. Nor was she disappointed when he left the house with a barely there goodbye. At least he gave Dolly a hug. Big Sam paused to kiss Maisie before he left.

Beatrice set her attention on the dish pan and the dirty dishes so she could hide from Maisie the way her mouth pulled down in sadness and confusion.

“They're gone. Now look at my wound.”

Beatrice hesitated. “Big Sam won't be happy.”

“Leave him to me.”

Levi wouldn't be happy, either. He'd hold Beatrice responsible if anything happened to Maisie.

“Beatrice, please.”

She sighed. She could hardly disobey Maisie and she went to the woman's side, waited for her to shift so Beatrice could discreetly look at the wound.

“It's looking very good.”

“Are the edges mended together? No open areas?”

“Yes and no.” She answered several more questions.

“Good, then it's safe to get up. Otherwise I'm going to get as stiff as a board.”

Beatrice admired her for taking her time and moving cautiously. After she returned to her chair, Maisie had Beatrice check the wound again to see if there was any sign of bleeding. There wasn't.

“Good. That means it's okay for me to be up a little bit.”

Beatrice wondered how long she meant to keep her activity a secret from her husband. Her question was answered at the noon meal.

Maisie smiled across table. “I got up and walked around this morning.”

“What?” Big Sam roared and came to his feet.

Levi looked at Beatrice then, his brow raised in disbelief as if to ask how she could have let it happen. How she could be so bold as to challenge his pa and put his mother in danger.

Big Sam turned to Beatrice. “Why didn't you stop her?”

Maisie laughed softly. “Do you really think she could?”

Big Sam settled back in his chair. “No, but I do expect you to listen to me.”

“If I listened to you I would be in this chair for a year. I didn't do anything foolish. I had Beatrice look at my wound both before and after I was up. She assures me there was no change. I promise I will take it easy, but Sam, I will not let you turn me into an invalid.”

Maisie gave Levi an equally penetrating look. “Nor you, either, son.”

Both men looked a little sheepish.

“Now then, that's settled.” Maisie seemed quite pleased with herself.

Beatrice contemplated the event as she did the dishes. Had Maisie always been so confident in confronting Big Sam?

After dinner, Maisie got up again and insisted on helping with some of the work. Beatrice would not be needed much longer at the ranch.

“Let's go outside,” she said to Dolly and took her hand. They both faced an uncertain future.

* * *

Levi had to stay away from home. He was thinking of Beatrice far too often and far too long. The fact the intruders had done nothing for the past few days provided the perfect excuse.

“Pa, I think I should have a look around and see if I can spot these fellas. I might take along my bedroll in case I end up too far to return.”

Big Sam had given him a moment's hard study. “For a week you would hardly leave the place. I had to send Charlie to check on the line cabins to the north. Now you want to go. Might this have anything to do with the way Beatrice jerks her gaze away from you so fast?” He didn't give Levi a chance to answer. “Son, you can't keep running from your feelings.”

Levi swallowed back a hot reply. “Didn't I say I was going to look for those men that have been causing trouble?”

“Yup, you did. Go ahead. Don't stay away too long.”

“I won't.” But even as he said it he knew he would find an excuse to stay away.

He rode to the west, searching both the landscape and the ground in front of him for any clues. He saw nothing. He stopped at a little hollow not more than five miles from the ranch buildings and found evidence of a campfire. The grass was flattened where men had sat. Horse droppings nearby indicated they'd been there long enough for the horse to graze.

He hunkered down and studied the place. Why would they leave this obvious sign of a camp when they'd been so careful to hide their tracks until now? He stood up and carefully studied his surroundings. Nothing to indicate the intruders. Were they deliberately taunting him? But who? And why?

Leading Scout, he climbed from the hollow and circled the area, carefully looking for clues. For about ten yards, he followed a trail but then it disappeared on rocks. He swung to Scout's back and rode in the direction the trail had taken. Not a sign. It was like they had vanished.

It was like they'd been trained like Levi and his brothers on how to hide their tracks.

The sun dipped toward the west. He pulled to a halt and considered his options. Pa wouldn't expect him back. But what if this was a trick to get Levi away from the buildings?

Most of the cowboys were away from the ranch, though Pa had ordered a man to keep watch at night. But if Pa rode away to take care of something, the women would be alone and unguarded.

What if Beatrice wandered down to the river, or up the hill to look for flowers?

Who would make sure she was safe?

He galloped toward home.

Pa stood at the barn door as he approached.

Levi ignored the knowing smile on his face. “Saw a sign of where they camped but no sign of the men.”

Pa grunted. “The men haven't seen anyone hanging about. Could be they were just passing through and bored with themselves. If there's nothing in another week, I'll relax the guard.”

Levi wanted to ask him to keep a guard posted until Beatrice returned to Granite Creek, but his throat tightened so much he feared his voice would give away his worry. Now that Maisie was getting up, it wouldn't be long until Beatrice left.

Then he could forget her and return to his normal life.

He closed his eyes for a moment as he led Scout into the barn. His life would never be normal again. He grabbed the saddle and flopped it to the stand with more force than it required.

Big Sam had followed him inside. “No need to beat up your saddle because you're in a knot.”

“I'm not in a knot.” If only he could make himself believe it.

“Levi, you've been running from your feelings ever since Helen died. I know her drowning was tragic and we all feel bad, but, son, life does go on. It's okay to let yourself care about someone else. I loved your ma but I sure am happy to be able to love Maisie.” Pa grinned widely. “You can love again, too, son.” He slapped Levi on the back and stood back, as if pleased with himself for setting Levi straight on matters of the heart.