by Ford, Linda;
She edged around the corner of the house and stared. Levi Powers and Toby sat side by side, an open Bible between them. Mr. Phelps faced them. All three wore intent expressions.
Levi spoke. “It doesn’t matter what we think or feel. It’s what God’s Word says that matters.”
The other two nodded.
“And we just read where God says as far as the east is from the west He has removed our sins from us.”
More nodding.
“If God says it, that settles it for me,” Mr. Phelps said.
“Me, too,” Toby echoed.
Glory backed away. So this was what kept Toby from the saloon. That was a good thing. So why did it feel like he’d betrayed her?
She returned to Pal and led him from the yard. Only someone selfish and petty would resent that her friend was being helped. And yet she did. In fact, her throat was tight. As if she wanted to cry.
She… Glory Hamilton… did not cry. Not when Pa rode away without a backward look. Not when Toby found what he needed from Levi. And not because she ached to be able to believe Levi was who he said he was… that she could trust his words.
Chomping down on her teeth until they hurt, she pushed away her foolish thoughts. She was glad for Toby.
And if she wanted to trust anyone, it would be God.
Chapter 5
From the doorway where Glory stood drying the heavy pot Joanna used to cook porridge in, she could see the comings and goings on the ferry. Another busy day of people flocking to the gold fields of the British territories, to some mysterious place called the Kootenais.
She and her sisters had planned to find Pa and join him there until they saw the opportunity to make a good living by running a stopping house. Mandy had wanted to push on and join Pa. But Joanna and Glory outvoted her.
Glory liked it here. Perhaps they would stay for a long time. She thought of the land she hoped to purchase.
A big black horse riding toward the ferry caught her attention. Levi’s horse. She’d recognize it anywhere. Just as she’d recognize the man riding it. The relaxed yet watchful way he sat his horse. His proud posture. The fringed leather vest so out of place for a preacher. Rawhide Kid seemed a more fitting title.
He rode his horse to the ferry and crossed the river.
Toby appeared at her side.
“Where is he going?” she asked.
“Didn’t say.”
“Just rode off without a word?”
Toby continued to look at Levi. “Said he felt an urge to cross the river and see if anyone needed his help.”
They watched until Levi rode out of sight on the far side of the river.
Glory shifted her gaze to Toby and for some inexplicable reason was annoyed. “I wonder if he’s off looking for people to help. More likely to help himself to their things. Have you forgotten the Rawhide Kid? He could be a fake. Remember?”
Toby took his time turning to face her. “He knows about God.”
Glory’s eyes narrowed, and her heart squeezed hard. Toby was her friend. Yet he was choosing to believe Levi over Glory. “You believe him?”
Toby gave the merest shrug.
Glory’s insides tightened until she wondered something didn’t snap. “I thought you were my friend.”
“I am. What does believing Levi have to do with being your friend?”
She couldn’t answer because nothing made sense. “Forget it.” She spun away and headed for her shop.
In minutes she had saddled Pal and rode out of town to her horses. At least horses were loyal to anyone who treated them right.
Recognizing she was too upset to work with the animals at the moment, she plunked down in her favorite spot, her back to a tree, and looked out at the wide, green valley below. She never grew tired of the view, and slowly her thoughts calmed.
Why had she gotten so upset? It wasn’t like she needed Toby’s friendship. She had learned many years ago not to get too attached to friends.
Nor did she resent the time he spent with Levi. She was glad his association with the man kept him out of the saloon.
Deep inside the truth sought acceptance. She was—
No. She didn’t ache for Levi to show her the same kindness and attention. She didn’t long for friendship from him. No way. That was silly nonsense. Why would she pin her hopes on a man? Any man. She’d learned the folly of such at a young age.
She sprang to her feet and returned to her horses. As she fed them and petted them, her good humor returned. This was who she was and where she belonged. Nothing else mattered. Silly to let other things upset her for even a moment.
Pal and Blue Boy worked perfectly together. They were ready and there was no time like the present. She’d do it today. Excitement filled her insides with rolling whitecaps like those blown up on the river by a strong westerly wind.
She rode Pal and led Blue Boy until she reached the beginning of the street running down to the ferry. “This is it, boys.” She pulled them to a halt, clambered from the saddle, and put one foot on the back of each horse, finding perfect balance before she flicked the reins for them to go forward.
She was in complete control. The feeling was powerful, pulsing through her veins in sweet victory. She held the reins in one hand and punched the air with her free hand. “Whaahoo,” she called.
Several men crossing the street stopped to stare, the surprise on their faces fueling her excitement. Two more men crowded through the door of the hardware store at the same time, anxious to see.
“Look, Ma,” a young boy called. His mother stared, one hand holding her son firmly at her side.
Glory rode down the street, grinning so widely her cheeks hurt. She reined in before she reached the stopping house, preferring not to have Joanna see her, then turned and rode back through town.
A familiar figure stood in front of the general store. Joanna. Glory’s heart thudded against her chest. Wasn’t Joanna supposed to be home cooking up something? Instead, she gave Glory a look full of reproach.
Glory faltered. The horses felt it and broke their pace, setting her off balance. She struggled to hold her footing. “Pal, Blue Boy, it’s okay.”
Suddenly Levi stood directly in front of the horses and grabbed each by the bridle.
“Let them go.” Glory stood atop motionless horses, feeling slightly foolish. She was supposed to ride from town without a hitch.
“Get down.” His eyes blazed brittle blue. His words, though low, had the power of a gunshot.
“No. Release my horses.”
“Glory, get down before you hurt yourself.”
Anger flared through her, burning away every rational thought. She dropped to the ground in one swift motion and flung to his side. “You ought to mind your own business.”
“And you ought to behave yourself.” His voice dropped even lower. “Did you see the look on your sister’s face? You scared her. She cares about you. Do you think it’s fair to worry her like this?”
She did silent, vicious battle with her eyes. He had no right to interfere. But then she hadn’t intended for Joanna to see. Yes, she would hear about it eventually, but after it was over and done and Glory could laugh and say there’d been no risk involved.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Joanna striding toward her. She yanked Pal’s bridle from Levi’s hand, but he refused to release Blue Boy. Knowing if she didn’t make tracks she’d have to face Joanna, she headed down the street. Like a shamed dog with her tail between her legs.
He kept stride with her, bringing Blue Boy along.
“You humiliated me in public. I’ll never forgive you for that.”
Levi held his tongue because the words wanting to burst from his mouth would not be God-honoring. He wanted to tear her apart for such a foolish act. When the horses had faltered and it looked like she would fall, he’d stopped thinking and acted on sheer instinct. All he wanted was to keep her from getting hurt.
And for that she vowed she would never forgive him.
A whirlwind of emotions swept through him. Relief she was on the ground walking on two sound legs. Though he wasn’t sure his legs were so sound. His knees were strangely wobbly. He recognized it as the aftereffects of his scare. “Are you crazy or something? You could have been killed.”
She made a most unladylike sound. “I was in complete control.”
“Of everything, I suppose. People who might inadvertently step into the street and startle the horses, or some sudden noise. Sure you were in control. I suppose you were in control of the shock it gave Joanna, too.”
She glared at him. “She wasn’t supposed to be there.”
“That makes no sense. How would it worry her less if she hadn’t seen it?”
“What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.”
“Your shenanigans only give her cause to worry all the more when she can’t see what you’re up to. Don’t you stop to give a thought to those who care about you? Don’t you care about yourself?” He dropped back, too upset to continue walking with her. “I’m going to check on Mr. Phelps.”
She pulled to a halt in front of the man’s yard facing him, anger and defiance wreathing her face.
He stared at her as truth surfaced. He’d worried she might do something lawless like Matt had. But that was not the risk she faced. Her defiance would lead her to put herself in danger with no regard for the consequences. “Why are you so determined to prove nothing matters to you?”
She glared at him, her eyes flashing. “Because it doesn’t.” She blinked as if realizing what she’d said. “I am not foolish.”
He grabbed her by the shoulders and gave a little shake. “You are indeed foolish if you think you don’t matter to anyone. Or nothing you do matters to them.”
Her gaze bored into his, probing, testing, wanting. Then she scowled. “What do you know about it?”
“I know this. I care what happens to you. I care about you.”
Disbelief filled her eyes.
He saw an argument about to start. He didn’t care to have his confession debated and pulled her close, tipped her chin up, and silenced her with a good, solid kiss. Her lips siffened with what he presumed was shock. He knew he should stop, back away, behave like a gentleman, but he allowed himself a moment more of sweet tasting then pulled away. “Never argue with a man when he says he cares about you.”
She stared.
He turned away to hide his smile. If he had to guess, he’d say it was the first time in her life Glory had been rendered speechless.
Levi hummed as he waved good-bye to Mr. Phelps. He’d spent a pleasant half hour visiting and now headed back to town.
When he saw the ferry, he remembered what he’d found on the other side… what had bothered him since he returned.
Two children, a boy and a girl, sitting by the side of the road.
“Waitin’ for our pa,” the boy said. “He said he’d be back for us.”
Levi had hunkered down beside the pair. “How long have you been waiting?” He thought they’d say an hour, maybe most of the day. But what they said shot through him like a bullet.
“Been three days now,” the boy said, and the little girl sobbed quietly.
“Maybe you should wait back in town. I could take care of you until he gets back.”
The little girl’s eyes widened with hope, but her brother shook his head. “I promised Pa I’d stay here.”
He gave them the biscuits and jerky he had with him and refilled their water canteens then headed back to town. “The offer is open if you change your mind.” It troubled him to leave them there, but he didn’t want to forceably remove them. How would he explain dragging two screaming children into town?
Perhaps their father had returned by now. God, keep them safe. Bring their father back to them. Guide me as to what I should do.
He spent the day visiting various people. But his thoughts returned over and over to Glory and the kiss he’d stolen. He went back to the stopping house more eagerly than usual. He could hardly wait to see her at the evening meal. See if her cheeks flushed when she saw him.
She clattered into the dining room and crowded in next to Mandy. “Sorry I’m late,” she murmured.
Levi had seen her earlier peeling potatoes and doing the other chores that seemed to be her responsibility, Toby assisting her. The boy had stopped going to the saloon. Not something Bull appreciated, but Levi was pleased.
He stood to say the blessing as had become his habit then sat and waited for Glory to glance his way. She made a great show of being busy with passing the food. He grinned. Avoiding him proved more than an angry glare would have, and he turned his attention to the man on his right to answer a number of questions.
“Could you please pass me the salt?” the man on his left asked.
As Levi turned to do so, he looked toward Glory and caught her watching him, her expression serious, guarded. Yet the hunger in her eyes made him forget what he was doing until the man spoke again.
“The salt, please.”
He passed the salt and directed his attention to his plate. Suddenly the impact of what he’d done hit him. What was he thinking? He had no business telling Glory he cared. His task required all his time and attention. And he silently repeated the vow he had made to God. I’ll devote myself to working for You while You work on Matt in prison. Keep him safe. Bring him to repentance.
After the meal, he joined the others outside, but he listened to Glory cleaning up the meal inside. She usually left the house after the chores and disappeared until dark. He’d watched her. Saw she carried a Bible. Guessed she found a quiet place to read it, and he rejoiced in the fact. He didn’t like to interrupt her reading, but tonight he would follow her and apologize for kissing her. Not that he was sorry. But he had no business.
He knew the moment she slipped from the house even though he didn’t hear her or see her. His heart tracked her as she crossed the yard and ducked into a thicket of trees. Giving her a moment to settle, Levi excused himself from the knot of men visiting and sauntered away, choosing an indirect route. As he neared the trees, he called softly, “Glory, I need to speak to you.” Then he hastened forward before she could escape.
She sat with her back against a tree, the dappled light making it difficult to read her expression. “Can’t a person enjoy some peace and quiet without you interrupting?” And she turned her attention to the Bible in her lap, pointedly ignoring him.
There wasn’t room to lean against the same tree, and she made it clear she didn’t welcome closeness, so he chose the next tree over and sat down, his legs sprawled out in front of him. He took in a deep, satisfying breath. “I won’t keep you. I only want to apologize. I shouldn’t have kissed you. Or said those things.”
“You’re taking it all back?”
He considered his answer a moment and could find nothing better to say than, “Seems the best thing to do.”
“Not surprised.” She spoke so quietly he wondered if he’d misunderstood her.
“What do you mean? It isn’t like I’ve done this before.”
She shrugged, looked as if she didn’t intend to answer then sighed. “Not you. Others have though.”
“Others?” He didn’t want to think other men had stolen kisses. Or worse, been given them. “How many beaus are we talking about?”
She gave him a scowl fit to dry up the river. “Not beaus. I got no use for that nonsense.”
“Then who?”
“My pa. Not that it’s any of your business, but he’s a great one for saying something then changing his mind.”
Levi digested the information. It appears it was her father who disappointed her. “What did he do?”
A heavy sigh pushed past her lips. “It was what he didn’t do.”
“All right. What didn’t he do?”
She slowly turned and fixed him with a look full of defiance but also laced with regret and longing.
He ached to be able to comfort her, but he didn’t have the right
. Would never have the right.
“He couldn’t be bothered to be a father. It interfered with his plans.”
He held her gaze, reading past the anger to the pain. “I’m sorry. However, I am not your pa. Nor do I wish to hurt you. I care about you, but I don’t have the right.” He gathered his feet beneath him and stood. “I will never have the right.” He strode away, not daring a backward glance. He had set his face to the plow and would not look back.
The next day he would again cross the river on the ferry and ride to where he’d last seen the children, hoping they were gone—safely with their father. Hoping they had not been bothered by someone with less than noble intentions.
The morning couldn’t come too soon for him.
Chapter 6
Glory forced herself not to toss and turn, knowing it would bring questions from Joanna and Mandy. Instead, she curled on the far side of the bed she shared with her younger sister and stared into the darkness.
Of course Levi didn’t mean what he said. Why had she expected he would? She was no more than twelve when she realized words were easily given and just as easily taken back.
Her Pa had taught her well. Every year—sometimes several times in a year—he’d promised he’d stay with the girls this time. And every time he rode out of their lives, most times without warning or good-bye.
She’d lost track of the number of times they’d been thrust upon the care of others until they rebelled. Joanna was sixteen, almost seventeen, when they’d convinced her they could manage on their own. As a trio, they’d tried to keep up with Pa, depending on him to give them a home. But they got tired of that real quick. Seems the more he saw of them, the more he wanted to move on. Still, they tried to stay close. After all, he was their pa. They learned to manage on their own, hunting, fishing, cooking, cleaning, tending children… whatever it took to survive.
She firmly pushed regrets to the back of her mind. That was the past and there was no benefit in moaning about what might have been. They now had their own successful business. It should have been enough for all of them and it was, but besides helping run the stopping house, Glory wanted to take care of abused or neglected horses, nursing them back to health.