“Talk to her, Mr. Colter. Please.”
Levi stared at the pleading eyes of the girl. He gnashed his teeth. If nothing else, he could at least talk to Grace and convince her not to storm off again. His lips softened from having them set in a tight line, and he nodded.
“All right. I’ll go out there, but I doubt I’ll be able to talk any sense into your sister. Like you said, she can be rather stubborn.”
Rose grabbed his arm, and shoved him toward the door. “You’ll be better at convincing her to stay than me or Andy.” She smiled brightly.
Levi tore his eyes away from the adamant girl, and faced the cabin door. He inhaled a deep breath, and reached for the latch. Facing that cougar earlier had been far easier, and less nerve-wracking, than going outside to confront Grace Jennings. Rose gave him a final push to the back, and he stumbled outside. The cabin door closed with an ominous creak behind him.
Grace looked up from where she was pacing a short distance away. She stopped, her eyes wide. There was a firm set to her lips.
“I told those two to hurry up,” she snapped, her voice higher than usual. “Are they almost ready to go?”
Levi strode toward her, keeping his eyes on her in the same way he would keep his eyes on a threatening predatory animal. Grace’s chest moved up and down in rapid succession the closer he came, and the rosy flush to her cheeks was still there. Her eyes darted from him to the cabin door.
Levi stopped a few feet from her. “Don’t run off again, Grace. I’m getting a bit weary of chasing you around the mountain.”
Grace’s eyes blazed instantly. “No one is asking you to chase after me. You’ve known that I intended to leave, and today’s as good a day as any. The snow is melted, and the skies are clear.” She glanced heavenward.
“Yesterday, you asked me not to turn you in,” Levi continued in an even voice.
Grace’s forehead scrunched. “And I thank you for that,” she stammered. “But that has nothing to do with now. I need to take Rose and Andy off this mountain. We can’t stay here, and impose on you any longer.”
Levi ran a hand along his jaw. The subtle scent of her hair drifted to his nose, more pronounced than earlier today, when he’d held her close. An odd flutter started in the pit of his stomach, and moved outward toward his chest and extremities. His eyes locked on her soft lips, which had felt so good against his mouth. He curled his toes inside his moccasins to keep from stepping closer.
“Grace, don’t make any harebrained decisions,” he said in a low voice. “I’ll take you off this mountain, if you want, but don’t storm off again without a plan. It nearly got you and the kids killed once already.” His eyes locked with hers.
“I have a plan, and I’m not making a harebrained decision,” she shot back firmly. “We've troubled you enough. You don't want us underfoot, and this way your life can get back to normal.” Grace adjusted her crutch beneath her arm, and hopped backward a step.
Levi advanced on her, and leaned forward. His gaze remained on hers. Uncertainty flashed in her eyes, mixed with a hint of stubbornness and annoyance.
“You seem to think that you know all about me,” he drawled slowly. His eyes roamed her face. Her chin was raised slightly, allowing the sun to settle on the smooth skin along her flushed cheeks, skin he’d touched a short while ago. Skin he yearned to touch again. The tips of his fingers tingled from the memory, and he curled them into tight fists at his side. His heart ignited in his chest. Grace shook her head, nearly imperceptibly. Her lips parted, but before she could speak, he elaborated.
“Since we first met, you’ve made false assumptions about me, Grace. You judged me without giving me the benefit of the doubt, and thought nothing but the worst of me.”
She straightened, and her mouth tightened in that line that meant she’d gotten her back up.
“Pardon me for not trusting you, Levi,” she hissed. “I haven’t had very many good experiences with men in the past, as you found out yesterday.”
Levi backed away. She was right about that, but dammit, hadn’t he proved that she could trust him?
“I ain’t good at talking to most folks, and certainly not to women,” he confessed. “But maybe I like having you and the kids around, and there’s no need for you to rush off without thinking things through.”
Grace sniggered. “What are you saying, Levi? You can’t be seriously considering what my sister said.”
Was that where he’d led this conversation? Rose’s words of courting, and the whole notion of marriage, still rang in his ears. Was that what he wanted? Grace for his wife? The thought of her leaving, fending for herself somewhere in a nameless town, scraping out a living to support her sister and the boy, left him with a bitter taste in his mouth.
Levi reached for her hand before he had time to think about his actions. He wrapped his fingers around her wrist when she tried to pull away.
“You’re making assumptions about me again, Grace,” he murmured, leaning close to her. It was a mistake. The soft scent of her left him nearly dizzy with a want he couldn’t describe. The urge to pull her into his arms became stronger. Only the knowledge that he’d scare her away if he followed through with what he wanted to do, kept him from acting on his thoughts.
As if he’d been struck by lightning, it became clear to him what he wanted. Rose Jennings was right. He was smitten with Grace, enough that he could see a future with her as his wife, where he could keep her safe and provide for her.
The mule brayed somewhere from the paddock. Levi’s lips twitched in a smile. Grace was as stubborn as that ornery beast. If he told her what was going through his mind, she’d balk even more, of that he was certain. He had to tread lightly, and buy some time.
Hell. He needed to think about it some more, too. The feelings swirling around inside him for this woman had snuck up on him out of nowhere, but they had been building with each day in the short time he’d known Grace.
“Rose and Andy would rather stay here,” he said slowly. “Why don’t you come back to the cabin, and take a day to think about what to do? Rather than running blindly down the mountain without any provisions, let me help you decide where you want to go. Who knows? Maybe your sister is smarter than both of us put together.”
Her eyes widened with disbelief. “You live alone, Levi. You don’t want a ready-made family, and a woman with more baggage than that mule of yours could carry. Don’t allow my sister to put silly notions in your head.”
Levi laughed, just before his face turned serious again. “Maybe those notions were already in my head, and I just didn’t say it. Maybe I’m done living alone, and a wife is just what I need.” He released her hand, and stepped away from her, although it was the last thing he wanted to do at the moment. Grace gaped at him, her mouth slightly open.
“Stay one more night, Grace, and in the morning, I’ll take you and the kids off this mountain. Once we’re in the valley, you can decide what you want to do.”
With those words, he turned and headed back to the cabin. Two faces were pressed to the window panes from inside, but quickly disappeared from view when he approached. With each step he took, his hopes increased that Rose’s intuition had been correct. He hadn’t cornered Grace into a decision. He’d given her free rein. It would be up to her, and he’d surely spend a sleepless night, wondering what tomorrow would bring, and whether he’d lost his mind, or his heart.
Chapter Fourteen
Grace adjusted her seat on the mule’s back, holding firm to the saddle horn with one hand. She didn’t need to guide the animal. It followed dutifully behind Levi’s gelding along the steep and narrow trail down the mountain. She glanced over her shoulder, and offered a hasty smile to her sister, who rested her head against her back.
Rose peered up at her, but didn’t return the smile. She hadn’t said much since they’d left the cabin that morning. No one had spoken much since their departure just after dawn. Grace pressed her lips together in a firm line. Everyone seemed to be angry
with her decision.
Levi had led his horse along an almost imperceptible trail for the better part of the day. Andy was the only one who hadn’t stopped talking. The boy sat in front of Levi, and kept up a constant chatter, asking him questions about the plants and animals they encountered along the way, about hunting, and life in the mountains. Levi answered them all patiently.
Grace’s chest tightened. Andy was bonding with the woodsman, and Levi had even brought Rose out of her shell, judging by her little sister’s behavior yesterday. She gritted her teeth.
You made the right decision about leaving.
Those words kept swirling around in her mind, but why did it seem as if she was lying to herself? She’d done what Levi had suggested yesterday, and had returned to the cabin, rather than insist that they leave immediately. Rose had smiled brightly at her when she’d walked back into the room, and shot her a smug look. Grace had frowned.
“We’re leaving tomorrow,” Grace had said firmly. She’d avoided looking at Levi when she spoke. “Mr. Colter offered to help us get off the mountain. It’ll be safer than leaving on our own.”
Rose had opened her mouth to speak, but Grace had raised her hand to ward off any further protests. Levi’s eyes on her had been like a lead weight. She hadn’t wanted to look at him, to confirm what Rose had said was true, that Levi might be smitten with her. She’d already seen glimpses of it when he’d urged her not to leave in haste. His reaction had been her fault. Kissing him had given him false notions. Wasn’t that how all men thought?
Grace waged a silent battle in her head. She was being unfair to judge him that way. She’d initiated that kiss. And, dammit, it had left her weak in the knees in the end. He’d done nothing threatening, or tried to take it any further.
She’d spent a sleepless night, thinking about everything that had transpired, starting with Levi saving her life from that cougar attack. She’d always relied on herself, and what she’d said to him after her impulsive kiss had been the truth. She was starting to depend on him too much, just like she’d told him. No matter how good it felt to not have to shoulder the burden of taking care of herself - and now Rose and Andy - alone, it couldn’t continue. It didn’t matter that she harbored feeling for this man. From all her past experiences, a man wasn’t to be trusted. At least that’s what she’d tried to tell herself all night.
She’d already allowed crazy notions and feelings for Levi to cloud her judgment that she and Rose needed to move on. Those feelings scared her even more than if she’d had to keep her guard up around him. The tender way in which he’d held her, and the warm look of caring in his eyes after he’d shot that cougar, left her breathless, confused, and longing for something she couldn’t have.
Her eyes rested on Levi’s back. He sat his horse with confidence and ease, guiding the animal along the safest route. His tattered shirt did little to hide his broad shoulders and lean muscles. His physical strength belied his gentle and kind nature.
Grace mentally shook her head to clear her mind. What he’d said the day before kept swirling in her thoughts as she tried to make sense of it. Had he really proposed marriage to her yesterday? Without saying the words outright? It had been Rose’s silly idea that had made him talk that way, no doubt. The more his words echoed in her head, the more confusing they became.
Perhaps she’d just been putting false meaning into what he’d said, because deep down, it’s what she wanted. She shook her head. It was a harebrained idea to even consider marriage. They barely knew each other, and Levi had admitted that he was a loner and liked it that way.
Living at his cabin in the mountains might have its advantages, though. It would surely keep Harlan from finding her. He would never think to look for her this far from a town. Grace mentally shook her head as she continued to wage war with herself. This wasn’t the right kind of life for Rose. She should be in a city, with people, where she could interact with other young girls her age, and meet a nice man someday.
No. Leaving was the right decision, and once they were off the mountain, she’d thank Levi for all his help and hospitality, and then tell him goodbye.
“You two tired, or can you go on a few more miles?”
Levi’s question startled Grace from her thoughts, and she straightened in the saddle. He hadn’t spoken in hours. She blinked, and focused on him. He’d twisted in the saddle, looking straight at her, and her heart jumped. There was no anger or animosity on his face. His midnight blue eyes locked on her, and had surely softened the moment their gazes connected.
Grace forced air into her lungs. Her muscles tensed. Her eyes darted to his mouth, which formed a hint of a smile. Memories of his soft kiss from the day before made her lips tingle. She held back one of the many curse words she’d heard frequently in the Colorado bordello. No. She couldn’t allow these feelings and reactions to this man to interfere with the plans she’d made for so long.
“Does that mean you’re all right with continuing on?” Levi’s brows rose.
Grace stared blankly at him. Her one hand gripped the saddle horn more firmly, while the other wrapped around the reins.
“What?”
“You shook your head.” Levi brought his horse to a stop. The mule stopped, too, bumping into the gelding’s rump.
Grace raised her chin. “Rose and I are fine to continue on,” she said. “The quicker we’re off the mountain, the better. I assume we won’t be completely out of the mountains today.”
Levi’s chest heaved visibly. His eyes clouded with, what she could only describe as, disappointment. Her chest tightened, and a twinge of guilt hit her.
“We’ll make it as far as the foothills,” he said slowly. “But I think I know where we can spend the night.”
“Then let’s continue,” Grace urged.
Levi nodded. His eyes lingered on her before he shifted his upper body to look forward again. His horse stepped out, and the mule followed after some nudging from her.
Grace closed her eyes when they suddenly stung and pooled with moisture. Why was this happening? She had finally found her sister, and all the years of planning, and dreaming of making a life with Rose, and putting everything that had happened behind her, was quickly changing because of this one man who had asked for nothing from her in return for his help and protection.
She sniffed, and wiped her hand across her face. Horses whinnied somewhere in the distance, and the mule brayed in response. Grace’s eyes flew open. Her heart sank to her stomach with sudden dread. Rose shifted behind her, and sat up straighter.
Levi’s horse continued down the trail. If there were riders nearby, he didn’t seem to be alarmed. Grace’s head darted around, as they moved out of the densely wooded area into a clearing.
“Look, Grace,” Rose said, her voice filled with awe and excitement. Her finger pointed into the distance.
Among the foothills below them stood a modest-looking farmhouse. A large barn with several corrals attached stood off a short distance from the house. Nearly a dozen horses dotted the green slopes along the back of the property. One horse in particular, a gray, was more noticeable than the others. The animal had sensed their presence, and galloped away from the main band, whinnying shrilly.
Grace pulled on the mule’s reins, but the animal refused to slow down. It continued to follow Levi’s gelding. Anger quickly replaced the fear that had flooded her limbs a second ago.
“Where are you taking us, Levi?” she called, still fumbling with the reins to get the ornery beast to do as she asked.
Levi turned in the saddle, but didn’t stop his mount.
“Rather than setting up camp out in the open, I was going to ask a friend if we could bed down in their barn for the night,” he said. “Figured it would be more comfortable for you and the kids.”
Grace mumbled a curse at the mule. No matter how hard she pulled, the animal wouldn’t slow. She yanked on the left rein to try and turn its head to the side, but the mule pulled back harder.
“S
top your horse, Levi,” she ordered, fear and panic mixing with her rising anger. Levi had betrayed her.
He obliged instantly, reining his horse to a halt, and the mule finally stopped as well. Grace narrowed her eyes on the man she’d started to trust.
“You tricked us,” she accused. “You never meant to take us off the mountain, did you?” Grace’s pulse pounded in her ears.
“What are you talking about?” Levi wheeled his horse around on the narrow path, and pulled the gelding to a stop next to the mule, facing her. “You’re doing it again, Grace. Making false assumptions about me.” A spark of annoyance ignited in his eyes.
Grace lifted her chin, and met his stare. “You never told us you were bringing us to meet up with friends of yours.”
She continued to fumble with the mule’s reins. If only the beast would listen to her. The thought that she’d let her guard down, and wanted to believe this man more than anything, even harbored feelings for him, filled her with renewed panic, and an urge to flee. She shifted her eyes away from Levi. The honest look in his gaze, along with the annoyance that she’d jumped to conclusions again, put a lump in her throat.
“I’m not meeting up with friends,” he shot back. His hand reached out, and he grabbed for the reins, and her hand. His fingers closed over hers, the warmth from his touch sending a flame straight up her arm. “Would you stop thinking the worst of me for once?”
She lifted her eyes to meet his intense glare.
“If I thought for even a second that taking you and the kids to my friend, Cade’s place would put you in any danger, we wouldn’t be here.”
“I think we can trust Levi, Grace” Rose whispered over her shoulder.
Andy’s eyes darted from one person to the next. He looked clearly confused. Grace gritted her teeth. Levi was right, dammit, but old habits were hard to break. She’d looked out for herself for too long, been used and hurt by too many men. Added to her inner turmoil were her feelings for this man, and her fear of those feelings. He didn’t deserve her accusations, because she did trust him.
In His Arms: Blemished Brides Book 3 Page 11