by Everly West
Levi walked to where his wife sat and pulled her from her chair. "I know you have always been made to feel like you have no voice, but I am here to tell you that you do. It would give me great pleasure if you would join me in the running of my business."
Eva's eyes rounded in shock. "Run your business? Levi, what do I know about running a hotel?"
He smiled down at her. "Not the hotel perhaps, but I have been thinking about starting a new business. I don’t know if you can even call it a business because I don’t know if it is a profitable venture just yet, but I would like to talk to you about the possibility of creating a place to make it easier for these working families—something new that would allow people like Mary, who have no extended family members or close friends, to have a child and still be able to work outside her home to make a living."
"What kind of business would this be?" He could tell Eva was hanging on his every word.
"It's a paid nursery of sorts." He had been thinking about this for quite some time. He had seen the needs of his employees and others less fortunate. He just needed a woman's perspective to get the ball rolling.
"A paid nursery? How would that work?" Eva’s face frowned in confusion, but he could see the interest spark in her eyes.
"Some of the women in my employment are widowed or, like in Mary's case, have fallen on hard times. Many of these women have children with no family to help care for them while they make a living.
"If these women had a trustworthy place to leave their children during their working hours, they would be less distracted worrying about their children's welfare. And the children would have a safe, clean place to play and nap and good food to eat. I think it would be a winning proposition for everyone."
Levi realized his enthusiasm for this project was leaking out from his words. Embarrassed, he turned back to Eva to see her eyes shining with unshed tears.
"Oh, Levi. I think that is a wonderful idea. The most wonderful idea anyone has ever thought of. What made you even think about something like this? It isn't as if you have children—"
Levi watched Eva's expression change. "Do you? Have children?" she asked.
He grinned. "No, Eva. I do not have children. You forget I was one of those children who had no mother to care for them. She left me and my father when I was but a tiny babe. And my father, well, most days he could barely get out of his bed from a drunken stupor. When he died, I was left to fend for myself. I didn't even have the benefit of a sibling to suffer with."
Eva placed her hand on his arm. "I'm so sorry you had such a rough time of it growing up, Levi. And I'm even more sorry my father added to your pain. I think this plan of yours is brilliant and I am both honored and touched that you would ask me to help you. When do we start?"
"How about right now?" Levi suggested. "What we will need to do first is find a place where the children can stay throughout the day—or sleep at night, since some of my female staff works during the night. A hotel is a twenty-four hour, seven days a week business. It takes staff around the clock to see to the needs of my guests.”
"And it would need to be located away from busy streets so the children can play safely. And sleep without fear. We need a place with a kitchen so someone can cook food for them," Eva added.
"Yes, that's an excellent idea." Levi smiled at Eva's excitement.
"Oh Levi, this is such a wonderful thing to do for our community. Perhaps I can enlist the help of some of the Ladies Club of Laramie members and their mothers. I'm certain some of my friends would love to help and they are always looking for a good cause to support. We can put our heads together and come up with a plan that is not too costly to start nor too costly for mothers to afford."
Eva threw her arms around him and hugged him. His arms involuntarily caught her around the waist and held her in place.
She pulled back and he saw the surprise in her eyes. He started to let her go, but when her eyes dropped to his lips, a jolt of white hot desire pulsed through his body leaving him no other choice.
He leaned his head down to hers, and when she didn't move away, he kissed her.
Chapter 10
Eva stood in Levi's arms and realized the moment their friendship became something more.
Her impulse to hug her pretend husband was just that—an impulse. She was so happy he trusted her with such an important project. No one else had ever bothered to ask her what she thought. Especially not her father.
She had learned long ago to keep her opinions to herself. Her mother had once told her that a good wife was meant to be seen and not heard. Thank goodness Levi didn't believe that nonsense.
When Levi's arms pulled her closer to him, she wasn't exactly surprised. And when her eyes drifted south to his mouth, the sudden urge to know what it felt like to kiss him again was overwhelming. She waited for him to decide what they would do. Eva was not disappointed.
Levi leaned his head down to hers, capturing her lips with his. The soft brush of his beard and mustache left a tingling trail against her skin. She took a step closer, fusing their two bodies into one.
He deepened their kiss and Eva's knees threatened to abandon her. Both of his arms circled around her and held her tight as if he would never let her go. She could admit to herself that she half hoped that were true.
His hand snaked up her back and stroked the base of her neck. She tilted her head back to give him even more access to her mouth. He took what she offered.
His lips blazed a trail from her mouth to her neck, where he nipped and tongued his way across her shoulder. She really needed to sit down, but she didn't want to leave the sizzling confines of his strong arms holding her to him.
"Eva, this probably isn't the place for this. A member of my staff could walk in at any moment," he whispered against her lips.
His words washed over her, cooling her passion just enough for rational thought to return. But when he followed his words of caution with another searing kiss, his tongue penetrating her mouth, ravaging it thoroughly, she realized she really didn't care who walked in. He was her husband.
It was at that moment a knock sounded on the door just before it opened. Eva turned in embarrassed mortification to see Levi's friend, Will, standing in the open doorway grinning from ear-to-ear.
"Good morning, Levi. Mrs. Copper. I see the marriage is going well."
Eva heard the emphasis on the word Mrs. and knew what he was thinking. It wasn't as if her reputation would be intact when she left Laramie. After all, she would be a divorced woman in the eyes of the community, but Will knew she did not have the benefit of a real marriage certificate. What must he think of her? Did she care? She realized she didn’t, not as long as he kept her secret.
"Will, what are you doing here so early this morning? Aren't you supposed to have a—" Eva heard Levi's words stop short as if he didn't want to finish his sentence. Now, she was curious.
"Don't you have a what?" she asked. When neither man spoke, she asked again. "What is going on between you two?"
Will spoke up. "I think Levi is just trying to save your sensibilities, Eva. He doesn't want you to know that I'm an impossible reprobate and I may or may not have a woman waiting for me at this hour."
Embarrassed, Eva felt the heat in her face. "I'm sorry. I—it was none of my business and I shouldn't have asked. If you gentlemen will excuse me, I have a great deal to do today. There are places to look at and people to talk to. Oh, this is all so exciting. Thank you, Levi. For—everything. You are a true friend. I will always be grateful to you for seeing me as a person and not just a brainless piece of fluff."
She leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. It was a chaste kiss for the benefit of their company, but when his eyes met hers, the spark between them flared again. Levi was right. This was not the time nor the place for whatever was blossoming between them.
Heat pooled deep in her core. She needed time and space away from Levi to give herself time to think. He was her friend and he had sacrificed much on her behalf
.
She turned away from Levi and nodded to his friend. "Will, it was good to see you again so soon after the wedding. I hope that wedding certificate you provided will fool even the most perceptive noses, for I fear we will have need to produce it sooner rather than later if my father has any say in the matter."
Will bowed to her and cut a quick look to Levi before he replied to her comment. "I can assure you, Eva, that certificate will convince even the most suspicious of minds."
She smiled at the men and left them in Levi's office. It was already mid-morning and she had so much to do today. She would enlist the help of some of her friends in the Ladies Club of Laramie to make a list of all the things they would need to develop Levi's dream project of child care.
Eva had never felt so alive in all her born days. The drudgery of sitting, hour after hour, learning her French and tatting useless doilies were behind her. Levi had given her a task. A purpose. A reason for existing.
Thoughts of Levi led her to a place she wasn't certain she was ready to go, but the memory of his lips, his arms, his body against her skin, made her want things from him—things a person did not expect from a friend. But they were things a woman would expect of her husband.
She smiled to herself as she descended the third floor to the grand lobby and made her way to the back halls to the room of the club meeting.
In the eyes of the citizens of Laramie, Wyoming, Levi Copper was her husband. And she was his wife. It gave her great satisfaction to know that, for now, Levi belonged to her, even if it was just pretend. She realized there might just be some truth in those books she had read as a young girl. Sometimes, pretending could lead to something very, very real.
* * *
Levi sat in his office going over his accounting books. He tried time and time again to reconcile yesterday's cash receipts, but he couldn't get the sight of Eva's swollen and thoroughly kissed lips out of his mind.
The arrival of his friend hadn't helped the matter. Not in the least.
"Looks like things are going well in the marriage department. Have you told her the truth yet?" Will had asked him before his friend left for Cheyenne for a murder trial. He had almost let that slip in front of Eva. Will had covered it over with his comment, but he needed to tell Eva as soon as he was certain she would stay. And after this morning's kiss, maybe she was leaning in that direction.
Levi's thoughts drifted to Eva's participation in this morning's kiss and it surprised the hell out of him. And nearly unmanned him. He had imagined many times in the past what it would feel like to hold her, kiss her in a way that was so much more than friends. But not even his wildest imaginings could compare to the reality of their kiss.
He stiffened just thinking about how her skin felt beneath his fingers. Could her feelings for him be blossoming into something more than friendship? He hoped with all his heart it could be true. He had been in love with Eva for years. Was it possible she saw him as her equal? That he had proven himself worthy of her love in return?
A knock at the door scattered his hopeful thoughts. "Come in."
The door opened to reveal his bartender, Charley Wilson, nervously anticipating this meeting with his boss.
"Charley. Come in. Sit down. It seems we have a serious matter to discuss." Levi stood and walked around his desk to shake the man's hand. "Would you like something to drink? I know it's a little early, but considering the nature of our business, I think the hour can be overlooked."
The man shook his head and remained quiet.
"Well, let's get to it then. Tell me what has happened between you and Mary and what you and she intend to do about it." Levi returned to his chair behind his desk and waited for Charley to say what he wanted to say.
"Mr. Copper, I know what we did is against your rules. It's just that...things just kinda got outta control a time or two."
"I see. And are you saying you are not in love with Mary?"
"No, sir. I ain't sayin' that. I'm just sayin' I wasn't plannin' on gettin' married right now. I mean, I barely can afford my room down at the boarding house, what would I do with a wife and kid? It's all unexpected. And more than I can adjust to at the moment."
Levi could tell the man was truly distraught and he felt sorry for him. "Charley, you had to know that when you and Mary crossed the line, that there might be consequences for the two of you. You do know how babies are conceived, right?"
"Yes, sir. I know. Mary and I just wanted someone to turn to when the days got too hard. And, like I said, things kinda got out of hand."
Levi grimaced. "Yeah, I heard. A time or two you said."
"Yes, sir." Charley nodded. His face showed his resignation since he too knew the rules of employment.
"What will you do without this job, Charley You know I've already had to dismiss Mary," Levi reminded his bartender.
"Yes, sir. I know. She came to me crying and I didn't know what to say to her. I didn't have any money to give her to live on. She said you gave her some money and promised to give her some fine references. I guess I'm hoping you will do the same for me."
Levi could see the tears of desperation forming in the man's tired eyes. What would become of him and Mary? And what about the poor innocent child caught in the middle of this mess?
"Charley, I have a question for you. Do you have any feelings at all for Mary?"
The man didn't hesitate. "Yes, sir. I care a lot for Mary."
"And could those feelings blossom into love over time?" Levi asked.
"I suppose they could. I ain't never been in love before, Mr. Copper, but I'd say my feelings for Mary might be love. I ain't had much experience with love to be truthful. My ma died when I was a young pup. My dad worked hisself into an early grave, so love ain't something I'm comfortable with, but I do care for Mary. A lot."
"Can you see yourself living with Mary and that baby of yours?" Levi asked.
"Well, sure, Mr. Copper. I mean, I can see it, but I can't see how it can happen. I don't make enough money and since Mary don't have no job no more, and when the baby comes..." the man's words trailed off.
"What if there could be some changes in your life that could help? Would you be open to them?" Levi wanted to help that little baby grow up somewhere besides the streets of Laramie like he’d had to do.
"Like what kinda changes? Don't see nothing swooping down outta the sky and landing on my shoulder anytime soon, sir." Charley tempered his sarcasm with a word of respect. Levi liked that about Charley. He was a good man. He just needed a leg up. Everyone did at some point in their life.
"I've got a couple of ideas. That is, if you trust my judgment. Do you trust me, Charley?"
"Yes, sir. Mr. Copper. I trust you more than most," the man assured him.
"Good. I'm gonna let you finish out this week at your regular shift. Then, I’m gonna have a job for you and Mary but it’s gonna be a few weeks before I can set my plan into motion. The money I gave Mary should be plenty to see you through.”
“A job for me? And Mary?” Charley stuttered.
“Yes. Come to my office after the town hall meeting tomorrow night. I hope to have some news for you both by then. In the meantime, try not to worry."
"Yes, sir, Mr. Copper. And, thank you for being such a kind gentleman."
Levi stood and clapped the man on the shoulder. "Now, you get back to work."
Charley let himself out and left Levi alone with his thoughts.
He wanted to help Charley and Mary. They were good, hard-working honest people and they deserved a hand up, but mostly, Levi wanted to help that little baby they were bringing into this world. He—or she—deserved better than a worn-out single mother and growing up in the gutter.
Tonight was the deadline to declare his intentions to run for the Territorial congressional seat. Governor Moonlite had promised to put his support behind Levi's candidacy, and until now, Levi thought that was enough. Now he wasn't so certain.
What he needed to give the people of Wyoming Territory
was something they could hang their hats on and not just a bunch of empty promises or grandiose ideas that benefited only the few that could afford to donate to a politician's campaign.
What these people needed was something that benefited them directly. The working man. And woman. Something that could help families with small children still make a decent living. They needed child care and he was going to make it happen. He and Eva.
Thoughts of Eva pulled him back to this morning's kiss. Something had changed for his new bride. Something that tipped the scales in his favor, and this evening, when he had Eva all to himself, he planned to tell her the truth about their marriage.
He worked on his ledger until he heard the chatter of women across the hall. He knew the women of the Ladies Club of Laramie were meeting on Monday of this week. He knew he would find Eva in their midst and he was hoping she would speak to the ladies about championing his idea of a nursery school.
He heard the clatter of women’s shoes on the worn wooden hall floor. He sat back in his chair and picked out conversations among the group. He knew he was eavesdropping but they were in a public place. He doubted anything they said was more personal than who wore what to the dance on Saturday.
“He heard a female voice speaking to the group. The din of female voices quieted to hear what was said. “Did you hear about Cora and August? And Kelly? Where did they go, do you think? The young woman asked.
Someone else answered. It was Eva’s voice. “I heard Cora ran away with August Moonlite and Kelly simply disappeared.”
Another female voice spoke up. “I think we all know she is sweet on the sheepherder, what’s his name?”
No one seemed to know. Levi leaned back in his chair and openly listened to the conversation.
Another of the young women spoke up. “Why would they do that?”
“They are sick to death of having their parents tell them what to do and when to do and whom to do it with. You know, like all of us are, don’t you agree?” He heard Eva offer by way of explanation.