Her eyes shifted back to Levi’s face. There was nothing repulsive about him, nothing frightening or anything she needed to fear from him. He still wore a surprised look on his face, and he shifted weight from one foot to the other.
“It’s a good thing you were minding Miss Grace.” Levi shot a stern look at Andy, cutting off eye contact with her. “A cougar will go after prey that’s small and easy to kill. That cat was after the mule, but once it saw Miss Grace on the ground, it went for her.” He knelt to the boy’s eye level, and reached for his arm. “He might have come for you, if you had gone out there.”
“A cougar?” Andy’s eyes widened in a mixture of awe and fear. Rose gasped. She grabbed her sister’s arm.
“I’m all right,” Grace said quickly, darting a hasty glance at Levi. Butterflies churned in her stomach when his gaze met hers. She blinked, and shook off the sensations inside her. Why did a simple glance from this man make her feel all jumbled up inside?
“Did you shoot it?” Andy’s eager question ended her thoughts.
Levi tousled the boy’s hair, and he raised himself to his full height. He smiled indulgently.
“It can’t hurt you, or Miss Grace, or anyone else, anymore,” he confirmed. “How about you and I go out there and get it out of the corral and skinned, so the horse and mule can settle down. And,” he added, “it’s time you called me Levi, not Mr. Colter.”
Andy’s face beamed. His eyes lit up like the sun on a bright summer’s day. Grace stared at the little boy. The adoration in his eyes for the rough woodsman was plain as day to see. Her heart fluttered, looking at the starving eyes of this child – starving for a man’s attention. He needed a father figure.
She blinked away the burning sensation in the back of her eyes. Did she have a similar look when she gazed at Levi? She nearly laughed out loud. She wasn’t starving for a man’s attention. Quite the opposite. Then why did it feel as if Levi had stolen her heart, just as he’d stolen the heart of a little boy, and he wasn’t even trying?
“Can I go with Levi, Miss Grace?” Andy stared at her with a hopeful look on his face.
Grace blinked again, and shook her head slightly to get rid of the silly notions swirling around in her mind.
“Of course,” she stammered. Levi’s gaze on her was like a hot ember, igniting her insides. What was happening to her?
Levi nodded, and his lips twitched in a quick smile just before he turned and nudged the boy outside in front of him. Before he stepped fully out of the cabin, he glanced over his shoulder and made eye contact with her again.
“I brought some pheasants. The boy and I’ll get them cleaned and de-feathered, and you’ll have something better to cook than dried venison.”
Before she could answer, he stepped out of view, and closed the cabin door behind him. Grace expelled a long breath of air. It was true what she’d told him. She was becoming too dependent on Levi, and it had to stop. She’d always looked out for herself. She couldn’t stay. Not now. Not after what had happened.
That impulsive kiss scared her more as the minutes passed, and she certainly didn’t want Levi to get the wrong idea. She had nothing to give him. Rose tugged her arm away, which Grace still gripped firmly.
“I’m sorry,” she stammered. She released her sister’s arm, and hopped to the side.
“Are you all right?” Rose’s soft voice was laced with hesitation. She stared up at Grace, her eyes filled with concern. “You’re still shaking. Standing in the way of that cougar must have been terrifying.”
Grace blinked. The cougar was the furthest thing from her mind. Rose laughed softly. “It’s a good thing Mr. Colter was nearby. I couldn’t bear the thought of something happening to you.”
Grace pulled her sister into a tight embrace. “Nothing is going to happen to me,” she said firmly. “We just found each other again. We’re going to be a family from now on.”
Rose leaned away from her. “We’re going to be a family, with Mr. Colter and Andy?” she asked. “Perhaps he’ll move to the city with us.” Her eyes widened with hope.
Grace stared at her sister. She shook her head, and laughed quickly to cover her surprise.
“Mr. Colter doesn’t want us underfoot anymore, Rose. We can’t stay here, and he certainly doesn’t want to move to the city.”
Rose’s forehead wrinkled. “Why not? He seems like a nice man. Why would he want to live all alone in the mountains?” Her eyes lit up when she smiled. She reached for Grace’s hand, and gave it a squeeze. “I’m not a little girl anymore, Grace. I can tell that he’s smitten with you. I bet he’ll ask you to marry him, and take you to the city. Then we can all live as a family.”
Grace gaped at her sister. Rose certainly wasn’t a little girl anymore, and that’s why she needed to be protected from men like Harlan Randall, but she clearly harbored unrealistic little girl fantasies. Her heart somersaulted in her chest at her sister’s words. Levi was hardly smitten with her. Especially not after what she’d told him the day before about herself. No man wanted a soiled woman, and definitely not a crippled one to boot.
She cleared her throat, and looked Rose in the eye. “Mr. Colter has been nice to us, Rosie, but he likes to live alone. I’m sure we’re a burden to him, and it’s time we give him back his cabin and his privacy.”
Rose’s lips tightened in a firm line, and her eyes narrowed. “I don’t believe that at all. I’ve seen how he looks at you. And Andy’s taken to him, too. Mr. Colter might want you to think we’re a burden, but he enjoys your cooking and company. I’m sure of it.” She cocked her head to the side, and her eyes narrowed even more, as if she were deep in thought. “Want me to ask him?”
Grace grabbed Rose’s arm in alarm. She leaned toward her sister “Absolutely not,” she whispered, tossing her head over her shoulder toward the door, as if Levi would appear at that moment.
Rose continued to scrutinize her. “So, we’re going to leave?”
Grace inhaled a deep breath, and sighed. “We have no choice. I promised you a better life somewhere. We certainly can’t stay here in the mountains.” She shot her sister a reassuring smile.
“Grace, I know they won’t let me stay with you. I don’t want to keep running, afraid that we’ll get caught and I get sent back to the orphanage.” Rose gripped tightly to her sister’s hand. “And you’ve sacrificed so much for me already. Don’t you want to settle somewhere and get married?”
Grace studied her sister’s face. Rose glanced at her with worry in her eyes. Grace plastered a wide smile on her face.
“It’s too late for me to marry. We’ll settle down together, and make our own home, until you’re of age.”
“Why won’t you let that couple adopt me that was interested in me?” Rose’s eyes widened. “They seemed like nice people. You’ve looked out for me all your life, Grace. It’s time you found some happiness, too. If you lived nearby, we’d see each other all the time.”
Grace tensed. It was too late for her, but not for Rose. How could she make her sister understand? Grace leaned toward her, glaring. “I will not allow those people to adopt you. They’re bad people, Rosie. I’m trying to protect you.”
Rose shook her head. “Protect me from what?”
Grace’s pulse increased. Maybe her sister was old enough to understand the truth. Should she tell her? Perhaps it was the only way to make Rose see that she was in danger.
“Come and sit down, Rosie, and I’ll tell you why I took you away.”
Rose followed her to the chairs at the table, and they both sat. Grace held tight to her sister’s hands, and told her everything, from the day she’d been adopted, to killing a man who’d mistreated her, and how she’d seized her chance and run away. Rose wrapped her arms around her sister’s neck, and they both sobbed. Minutes passed before they pulled away from each other.
“I’m so sorry, Grace.” Rose sniffed as tears ran down her cheeks. “You’ve always been the one to carry the burden.” She glanced at Grace’s leg.
“But you’re wrong that it’s too late for you to be happy. Mr. Colter is a good man. He’ll protect you.”
Grace laughed softly to cover up the rising panic inside her, even as a heavy weight had lifted from her shoulders. Telling her little sister about her ordeal had been difficult, but Rose now understood that she needed to be wary of Harlan. She should have told her sooner. Rose was smart, and seemed to see things better than Grace had given her credit for. The thought that Levi would protect her made her insides flutter with both excitement and dread.
She harbored feelings for a man, feelings that frightened her more than anything. It was true what she’d told Rose. Levi was a loner. He would never leave his mountain cabin, nor return her feelings.
He’d made her a crutch, but most likely he’d done it so she wouldn’t be a bigger burden to him than she was already. After today’s incident, he probably couldn’t wait to get rid of her. He may have offered his protection for the time being, but he was surely counting the days when he’d have his cabin all to himself again, and wouldn’t have to look out for a cripple and a couple of children any longer.
Kissing him had been the biggest mistake she’d made in a long time. She’d finally figured out what had prompted her to do it. She’d wanted to feel, just once, what it was like to be held in the arms of someone who wouldn’t take advantage of her, or wanted something in return. She’d longed to feel safe, if only for a moment.
You’ve looked out for yourself for so long, it sure felt nice to have someone look out for you. That’s why you kissed him.
Grace stood, and leaned on her crutch. She hobbled to the hearth, and held the poker in the coals, stirring the fire back to life.
“I’ll have no more talk about this,” she said in a firm voice. She turned to face Rose, who still sat at the table with a worried look in her eyes. It was time to get off this mountain. By now, the orphan train would have moved out of the area.
“It’s time we leave,” Grace added for emphasis.
Rose frowned. “You’re just running away because you know I’m right,” she accused.
“Right about what?” Grace challenged, her own eyes narrowed. Her mouth had gone dry, and her pulse throbbed at her temple.
“That Mr. Colter is sweet on you. He would never treat you like those other men, and you know it.” Rose stood from the table. She leaned forward, one hand on her hip. Grace nearly laughed at her little sister’s sass, but responded in anger to cover up her hope at the truth of her sister’s words.
“You have no idea what you’re talking about, Rose Jennings, and it would serve you well to stop talking about things you don’t understand.”
Rose advanced on her, and raised her voice. “I understand more than you think, Grace, and right now, I know that you’re being as stubborn as that mule outside.” Her arm shot in the direction of the door, just as it opened with a loud creak, and Levi filled the frame. He stopped in his tracks, and glanced from Rose to Grace.
“Stubborn about what?” he asked, and took a hesitant step inside. Andy slid past him, holding up several de-feathered birds dangling from a string.
Grace shot a warning glance at her sister, who smiled in triumph. Before she could tell Rose to be quiet, her little sister boldly stepped up to Levi.
“Grace is stubborn because she won’t admit that she deserves to be happy, and that she’s as smitten with you as you are with her, and that you should marry her.”
Chapter Thirteen
Levi stared at Rose, his mind momentarily blank. His ears rang with the words the girl had directed at him.
Marry Grace?
The words sounded like a foreign language to him, something he had to mentally translate before it made any sense.
He blinked while his mind returned from its foggy haze. He lifted his eyes away from the girl staring expectantly up at him, to the woman several feet away, looking more terrified than when she’d confronted that cougar earlier.
Grace’s eyes flew to Levi. Her cheeks had taken on a flushed and rosy hue, as if it were hot inside the cabin. Their eyes met and held for several seconds before she tore her gaze away, and advanced on her sister as quickly as her lame leg allowed. She grabbed Rose by the arm, giving it a firm squeeze.
“My sister is out of line, Mr. Colter,” Grace stammered. “And I apologize. In fact, we were just discussing packing our things and leaving. We’ve taken up enough of your time and hospitality.”
Grace released Rose’s arm, wheeled around, and hobbled toward the bed to retrieve her coat and meager belongings. Her shoulders slumped while she had her back turned, and her arm came up to wipe at something on her face. She straightened, but her arm still trembled, even beneath the coat she’d folded over it.
She turned, and faced her sister and Andy. Her chest heaved, as if she’d come to some kind of decision. Keeping her eyes away from Levi, Grace walked toward the door, and pulled it open. She glanced over her shoulder at Rose and the boy, taking obvious care not to look anywhere else.
“Gather your things. It’s still early. I’d like to be at least half-way off this mountain by sundown. I’ll be waiting outside.”
Levi ran a hand over his jaw. He blinked, and stared after the slight woman as she marched out the door, her crutch thumping heavily on the wooden floor. It took another second or two for his feet to move toward the two kids that stood in front of him. They were apparently too stunned to move themselves, and unsure of what to do. Rose’s mouth dropped and she stared at the door when it slammed shut. Andy gaped, wide-eyed, his eyes darting from Levi to Rose, to the door, then back to Levi.
Rose seemed to recover first. She took a tentative step closer to him, and tilted her head up, her eyes round.
“You are sweet on my sister, aren’t you, Mr. Colter?”
Levi gave a nervous chuckle to cover up his surprise at the girl’s forward question. He ran his hand along his whiskered jaw. He’d already convinced himself all morning that he was smitten with Grace Jennings. That kiss she’d initiated a short time ago only solidified those stirrings. Perspiration formed on his forehead and along the back of his neck. Those feelings were more foreign to him than anything he’d ever experienced, and he was at a complete loss as to how to proceed, or how to respond.
“I want to see that something good happens to my sister, for once,” Rose continued. “If you marry her, she can finally stop moving from place to place, and we can all be happy, can’t we?” Her eyes widened with a hopeful glare directed straight at him.
Levi shifted weight from one foot to the other. He raked his fingers through his hair, and cleared his throat.
“Rose, it’s a bit more complicated than what you make it out to be. I can’t just marry your sister.”
“Why not?” Andy chimed in. “Then we can stay here, and you can teach me how to hunt and fish, and throw a knife.”
Levi shook his head, and laughed. He glanced over his shoulder, as if Grace would walk back through the door and help him out of this predicament. He had no clear answer for these kids. To them, it all seemed to be simple. The thought of marriage, whether to Grace or anyone else, had never crossed his mind.
Come to think of it, thoughts and ideas he’d never had before had bounced around inside his head with greater frequency the more time he’d spent in Grace’s company. His mind jumbled like a churning river with thoughts of liking his solitary existence, which mixed with the idea that he enjoyed the company of these kids and the woman who made his heart beat faster with her smile and soft eyes.
When he’d held Grace in his arms a short while ago, ideas of sharing his life with another person, of a place he could come home to each night, delicious meals, and sharing kisses and tender moments had all passed through his head. He’d dismissed them at the time, but now, Rose’s question brought them back full force.
“You should go and talk to her,” Rose urged, waving a finger at the door. “Convince her not to leave, and that you want to court her. After that, you can talk
about marriage.”
Levi’s eyebrows shot up. “Court her?” He took a step back from Rose, as if he was suddenly confronting a ferocious predator. She nodded vigorously, and smiled.
“Yes. Court her. That’s how a man makes his intentions of marriage known to a lady. Don’t you know anything, Mr. Colter?”
Levi shook his head again. “I ain’t never courted anyone. I wouldn’t even know how.”
Rose’s smile widened. “But you want to court my sister, right? Maybe I can help with a few suggestions.”
The girl moved toward him, and Levi backed up. He’d been cornered but good this time.
“I didn’t say I wanted to court your sister,” he retorted quickly. Damn that girl, for putting silly thoughts in his head.
Rose reached for his hand. Her small fingers wrapped around his palm, and she squeezed. Imploring brown eyes stared up at him. “Please, Mr. Colter. Go out there and talk to her. Andy and I don’t want to keep running, and I know that Grace doesn’t want to, either. She’s being pig-headed, just like you. If you only try and convince her that you want to get to know her, that you’re sweet on her, you’ll both see that I’m right.”
Levi stared down at her, frowning. How much did a young girl like Rose know about relationships between a man and a woman? He nearly laughed.
Probably more than you do, Colter.
“And how would you know about all this?” he echoed his thoughts.
Rose shot him a smug look. “I’ve seen enough boys make starry eyes at girls, and seen them courting. Why, I’ve even caught a few of them sparking a time or two. I suspect it’s not much different with grown-ups.” She giggled. “I’ve seen you make eyes at Grace when you didn’t think anyone was looking, Mr. Colter. In fact, you’re practically courting her already, bringing her gifts and such.”
Levi pulled his hand away. Was the crutch he’d made for Grace, so she had something better to use for support, a sign that he was courting her?
“She’s pacing around outside like a wet hen that’s got her feathers ruffled,” Andy said, peering through the glass in the window. “She’s liable to walk off and leave us if we don’t go out there soon.”
In His Arms: Blemished Brides Book 3 Page 10