She started to say something, but he shook his head and went on.
“You are the strongest, bravest, most beautiful woman I know. So don’t get mad at me for wantin’ to help you, Valentine. See, I been thinkin’ I might have brought my own brand of trouble down on your head. I killed two fellas who were chasin’ me—”
“You never did say what happened.”
“No. But you took me in and patched me up, no questions asked.” He held her gaze with his.
Finally, he shook his head and looked away, his words coming slowly. “Val, those two men saw I won big at the faro tables in Ft. Smith. They followed me over into Indian Territory. It was them or me.” He nodded toward his leg. “Well, as you can see, I won the day, and I kept my money. And now, they’re layin’ out there between here and Fort Smith with the snow fallin’ on ’em. I don’t like killin’, but I protect what’s mine. Some men think they’re entitled to whatever they can take.”
He gave her a hard look, wanting her to understand.
She nodded. “Yes. That’s the way it is with my—Mr. Jacobs, Levi. He’s…ruthless. Savage. Papa told me stories—things I’d been too young to know when Maman had been living. After she passed, I believe Papa had fears that Mr. Jacobs would come for me. He told me—everything.”
Levi nodded. “I ain’t gonna let him hurt you, Val. That, I promise.”
But Valentine’s eyes were sad. “I know you’ll do your best. But…if he can’t be stopped—I don’t want you to blame yourself.”
“You have a little faith, Valentine Rose.”
A small smile played at her mouth. “I’ll try. I’m not sure I have any faith left.”
“That’s because you don’t know me.”
****
A week later, Levi was in the barn mucking out the stalls on an unseasonably warm day. The snow had nearly completely melted with only patches remaining, in the shadows where sunlight couldn’t reach.
He kept his rifle nearby, his gunbelt strapped around his waist. His leg was holding up considerably well, and he’d promised Val he would only work until lunchtime, so as not to overdo it. He could finish the job the next day, if need be.
The unmistakable jingle of horses’ reins and the creak of an ungreased axle sounded from outside, in front of the small cabin.
Levi picked up the rifle and cautiously peered out the barn door. An older man and a young couple had drawn the wagon to a halt. The woman held a baby in her arms, a worried look on her face.
“Hello?” the older man called. The younger man jumped down lithely and ran up the front steps to knock on the door.
Levi walked out into the open from the bar. “Can I help you folks?”
“My baby!” the woman called, turning toward him. “She’s sick. She’s got a fever—”
Just then, the front door opened and Valentine stood drying her hands on a dishtowel. “Bring her inside.”
“Thank God!” the woman said, handing the bundled baby to her husband who hurried to her side. The older man moved to help the woman down from the wagon.
“Come on in,” Levi said, walking toward them.
****
Once inside, the woman, who’d introduced herself as Marta Keller, and her husband, Otto, stood beside the entryway to the bedroom as Valentine examined the baby.
The older man, Abel, was Otto’s father. Levi motioned for him to sit on the couch, and he did, both of them feeling at odds during this trial.
“How long has she been ill?” Levi asked.
“Since yesterday morning. We kept a steady pace all night. I need to see to the team—”
“I’ll help you, Mr. Keller.”
“Thanks—I’m plumb wore out, too. Been so worried about little Eva—don’t know what I’d do if we lost her.”
Levi gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. Valentine’s a good doctor.”
“That’s why we kept driving on.”
The two men headed outside for the wagon, and after Abel pulled it near the barn they unhitched the team.
“She started fussing and felt over-warm,” Abel said as he and Levi led the team inside the barn. “By the middle of the afternoon, she was burning up.” The older man took off his hat and wiped his brow. “I’m scared for that little girl.”
“Mr. Keller, she’s in good hands.”
He nodded. “That’s what the lady in the mercantile at Vian said. There’s no doctor around these parts anymore, but she said to come this way and ask for Miss Valentine Reneau, a quarter-mile from where the road forked. So—well, here we are.”
Levi didn’t know what he’d expected, but it sure didn’t make him comfortable to learn that Valentine had such a widespread reputation. There was no way of keeping her identity under wraps—not with everyone in Vian being as familiar with her as they seemed to be.
“I ’spect there’ll be another fella come along before in a bit,” Abel went on. “There was another gentleman there in the mercantile—real interested in locating Miss Reneau, too.”
Levi’s breath caught. “Did he say who he was?”
Abel began to brush one of the horses. “Let’s see…I believe his name was Ellis. Yes—that’s right. He came here from Mississippi. He’s a landowner there, he said—re-made his fortune after the war.” His voice turned cool. “Said he did it by switching sides—one side was much the same as t’other, when it came to profiteering.”
“Did he say why he was looking for Val—uh, Miss Reneau?”
Abel laughed. “You ain’t got a thing to worry about, young feller. This Mr. Ellis, why—he’s old enough to be Miss Reneau’s father.”
CHAPTER SIX
That night after supper, Levi took Valentine’s hand. “Can I talk to you?”
“Of course—”
They’d left Otto and Marta Keller in Valentine’s bedroom with the baby as Abel stoked the fire in the front room.
“Walk out to the barn with me,” Levi said, once they were on the porch.
“Levi, what’s going on?”
But she walked beside him, and he reached to take her fingers in the darkness. Once they entered the barn, Levi found the lantern and lit it with a sure hand.
The lantern flared to life as he slowly walked toward the back of the barn, away from the draft.
“Levi—”
He turned to face her. “Valentine, listen to me. This afternoon, Abel told me that they’d run into someone else lookin’ for you, and that he should be here soon, as well.”
Valentine’s face blanched in the lantern light. “Did he say who it was?”
“No. Just told me I didn’t need to worry—that this man was old enough to be your—your father. Calls himself Mr. Ellis, now.”
“Oh, dear God!” Valentine put her hands up to her face. A look of utter hopelessness filled her eyes. “You’ve got to get away from here, Levi. He’ll kill you.”
Levi swore, setting the lantern down carefully beside one of the unoccupied stalls. He reached for Valentine, pulling her into his arms.
“Valentine Rose, you listen to me. I am never gonna leave you. You think I’d get on Cali and ride out of here, really? Leave you to that crazy son of a bitch? No, girl. This is you and me, together—come what may.”
“It’s not your fight, Levi!”
“The hell it’s not!”
He pulled her to him, his mouth closing over hers like wildfire—hot, sweet, and breath-stealing.
She melted against him, her arms going around his neck, her lips melding with his.
His hands speared through her hair, holding the silken tresses as though they were the finest glassware. The soft silkiness overcame him, and he rubbed a lock of it between a thumb and forefinger, as his tongue ravished her mouth.
“Levi…” she moaned against his lips. “He’s crazy—”
“He ain’t any crazier than I am, Val. An’ I’ve got good reason—a reason he doesn’t have.”
The low light from the lantern surro
unded them in an orange glow. It seemed to set flame to Valentine’s hair, and cast a surreal light on her exotic features.
“I never thought I’d say it, but—I’m in love with you, Valentine Rose.” Levi’s words came out in a hoarse, tender whisper. “I will always be here—to protect you, to guard you, to love you. I ain’t goin’ nowhere.”
Valentine shook her head. “No, Levi—I’m—you know I’m not white. Not Negro. Just in between. I…love you, too…but it can’t be. It’s not right.”
He bent, and put his lips to hers once more, kissing the words of protest into quiet submission. “Yes. Valentine, nothing’s ever been more right.”
“But—my father! He’ll—”
“—get his ass shot off if he doesn’t leave when we ask him to go.”
Valentine’s lips curved upward at his serious words.
“Let me love you, Val. Let me be your man—your protector…”
She nodded, as if mesmerized by his quiet words. “Yes.”
“Marry me, Val—”
“No.” She shook her head, looking down.
“Yes.” Levi’s words were more forceful. He tipped her chin up.
She looked at him as if he’d gone mad. “You know we can’t.”
“Why not? Your mother and father married.”
“It—it killed Papa. Maman was not…accepted.”
“He was weak, Val. I promise you—it won’t kill me. We’ll go somewhere—”
“Maybe back to New Orleans?”
There was a hopeful note in her voice he could not discourage. He smiled.
“There are several places we could go, sweetheart. But yes, if you want to go there, we’ll go.”
“There’s still so much intolerance…”
He pulled her close into his arms again. “Yes, there is—but there are good places, too. Places where we could fit in and belong.”
“Levi—you need to be sure. It’ll be hard—I saw how it was for my parents…” She laid her head against his shoulder. “I like my little place right here.” Her voice was quiet and sad.
“If you want to stay here, that’s what we’ll do. And stop fretting about me bein’ happy. My happiness is wherever you are.”
She pulled away, looking into his eyes. “Levi, could you truly be content here? On my little spread?”
He fought back the trouble that threatened to enter his thoughts. “I will if we can get this all settled. But Valentine, we’re never gonna be able to find peace if we have to look over our shoulders. So, let’s see if we can’t get rid of your old man once and for all, and make sure we don’t have any trouble over those two owlhoots I shot—and, just maybe, this place can be a good home for us.”
She nodded. “Oh, I hope—Papa brought me here after Maman passed. It was here that he tried to teach me all he knew. And it was said by many that my father knew all there was about healing.” She smiled. “We used to laugh about that—for surely, no one will ever be able to learn all the secrets of healing in one lifetime. But it was nice the people believed so highly of him.”
“He must have been quite a man,” Levi said, enjoying the dancing lights in Valentine’s amber eyes.
“He was. He was—wonderful. You would have gotten on well with him, Levi.”
“I’m sure I would’ve.”
Valentine’s brows pinched together. “I’m going to ask the Kellers to stay a day or two. Hopefully, my…Mister Jacobs will show up while they’re here.”
“May not make any difference,” Levi muttered.
“Maybe not, but we need everything in our favor—and having other people around may keep him from doing something insane.”
“Honey, we have to make him show his colors as soon as possible.”
She nodded. “Yes, I know. But I don’t want to send the Kellers away just yet anyhow.” She looked down, her face shadowed with worry. “There’s a chance their baby may have measles.”
****
It was a long, weary night for everyone. When red blotches began to appear on Baby Eva’s tender skin, Valentine’s worst fears were realized. But she had to remain calm, for the sake of Eva’s parents and grandfather.
When she confirmed that Eva did, indeed, have a case of the measles, Marta burst into tears. Otto tried to comfort her, but she shrugged him off angrily.
“This was your idea to come west, Otto Keller! If we had stayed in Chicago, there might have been a proper hospital or a specialist—but here we are, trapped on this godforsaken prairie with no medical facilities and a—” She broke off, her mouth hanging agape at her own thoughtless words and accusations.
Abel thumped the little rough-hewn kitchen table resoundingly with his palms as he rose swiftly. “You hush, Marta!” His deep-set eyes blazed blue fire at her. “You’ve been worried sick like my son and I have been over Eva—but that don’t give you call to say whatever comes to your mind. Miss Valentine is as good a doc as any you’d find back home. And it makes no difference if Eva’s in a hospital bed or in that one—” he jerked his head toward the hallway, “—in yonder! Truth be told, it was my idea to head out here. I’d thought it would be good for—for you and Otto.”
“My God…I’ve lost one child already…how can I bear to lose another—” Marta’s shoulders shook as she began to sob.
Valentine moved quickly to stand beside her, and Marta turned into Valentine’s ready embrace.
“There, there,” Valentine comforted. “We’re going to do all we can to see that Eva recovers. I promise you, I’ll do my very best.”
Marta sniffled. “I know you will—I’m just heartbroken, still, over losing Sam…” She began to recover herself and stood apart from Valentine.
“Sam…he died two years ago. He—he was always sickly from the time he was born. He only lasted six months—and it was about this time of year that we lost him.” She gave a watery smile. “I guess that’s one reason I’m so weepy—and so thoughtless.”
“Who wouldn’t be sad?” Valentine asked. “Any mother or father would. You know, I had two little brothers that passed. I was just three when Pierre died, but I still remember how heartbroken Maman and Papa were. My other brother passed with Maman, during childbirth.”
“Oh, Valentine—”
Valentine gave Marta’s shoulder a gentle squeeze. “Come, let me make us some hot tea—”
Marta nodded. “I want to look in on Eva…”
“Of course.”
“I’ll check her fever—”
Valentine moved away to put water on for tea and for coffee, too. She knew Levi was partial to his strong black coffee, and she imagined the other two men would appreciate some, as well. Tea would settle Marta’s nerves some, she hoped.
The men sat in brooding silence around the table as Valentine set about making biscuits for breakfast.
“How long ’til breakfast, Miss Reneau?” Otto asked quietly. “I was wonderin’ if I’d have time to see to the animals.”
“I’ll help you, son,” Abel said, his eagerness to get out of the small house undisguised.
“I’ll show you where everything is,” Levi said, standing.
“Well, you’ll all be done in plenty of time with the three of you pitching in,” Valentine said lightly. “These biscuits won’t take more than twenty-five minutes.”
Otto turned miserable eyes to her. “I don’t know if I can eat a thing, ma’am. I’m just so worried about Eva.”
“Mr. Keller, you need to eat to keep up your strength. And I make pretty darn good biscuits.”
Otto nodded. Levi started for the door, and Abel followed close behind.
As they walked out, Levi reached to pull the door shut behind them.
“Hey…”
Valentine turned.
He gave her a quick wink. “I don’t think I told you how beautiful you are today.”
“Please,” she said, rolling her eyes, but she couldn’t keep the smile from her lips.
Levi laughed. “See you in a few minutes
, sweet Valentine.”
He shut the door behind him, and Valentine gave a low laugh. Happy times had been rare the past few months. It was good to have someone in her life who made her laugh.
But her smile faded as the sound of a jingling harness reached her ears, followed shortly by the creak of carriage wheels.
She watched through the kitchen window, mesmerized, as an elegant carriage pulled to a halt. The driver was a fancy-dressed Negro. Two other scowling, hard-faced white men rode beside the conveyance. But it was the passenger who rode inside the carriage that made Valentine’s breath catch in her throat; made her lungs forget to work.
As the big man stepped down from the plush interior, closing the door behind him, the look in his gray eyes was flat and dead. He had no emotion inside him. She’d seen that look before. It meant danger; a kind of ruthlessness that had no regard for the care of any other living creature, or for life, itself. No pity, no compassion, and no love of anything, other than money and power.
Her father had finally found her.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Levi put a quick finger to his lips, glancing outside through a widened space in the front of the barn between two boards.
Damn it! This had to be the bastard Valentine had feared would find her. By the arrogant set of his jaw as he stepped down from the carriage, Levi knew this man respected nothing, and no one.
He was used to taking whatever he wanted; it was easy to see, in his haughty stance and stare, his snobbish demeanor…and why did he need those two strong-arms with him, anyhow?
“Can either of you use those guns you carry?” Levi whispered.
“Yes—but that’s the fellow I told you about—Mr. Ellis—the one we ran into yesterday in Vian,” Abel replied after taking a quick look through the widened space.
“No—listen to me. This man could be Valentine’s real father—a man who mistreated her mother, and now, wants to kidnap Valentine.”
Dark Trail Rising: Four Tales of the Old West Page 14