His Chosen Bride (Love Inspired Historical)

by Rhonda Gibson

  Grabbing her sketch pad, Millie decided to try drawing the horse head Levi had asked for. She reached for her charcoal. If she could get the picture like she wanted, Millie would redo the drawing in pencil.

  Although sketching usually soothed her, tonight it didn’t. She managed to create a fair-looking horse head, but not because her concentration was on the drawing. No, she was still focused on Levi.

  Levi was like no other man Millie knew. When he entered a room, Levi didn’t come in talking or whistling like her father had. He seemed to take in what was going on before speaking. His eyes seemed to dance with some hidden joy every time she looked at him. Tonight he’d smelled strongly of fresh-cut wood. Millie laid the charcoal down and leaned back in her chair.

  She closed her eyes and inhaled. He must have spent a lot of time in his workshop today to carry the scent for so long.

  It was true that she didn’t have a lot of men to compare Levi to. Millie’s sheltered life, until she’d started on this adventure, had kept her from most men. But, on the trip to Lubbock she’d met several men and they’d smelled of light mint or very bad body odor. She’d also met a few businessmen who had put some type of toilet water on that blended with their body odors, which was almost as bad as the foul-smelling men.

  The only other man she’d been as close to as she’d been to Levi tonight had been her father. He, too, carried a light sawdust smell and the scent that was unique to him, nothing like the earthy scent that attracted her to Levi.

  A yawn slipped from her lips. Millie stood and stretched—maybe now she could sleep. Comparing Levi to her father had taken some of the attraction she’d felt for Levi from her. She giggled at the thought, doused the light and returned to her bed.

  As she lay in the dark, loneliness enveloped her. The desire to return home and see her parents hit with a suddenness that almost made her cry. She missed the warmth of her mother’s hug, if not her bossiness. Millie would love to see her papa again and snuggle in one of his fierce hugs. Millie drifted to sleep with the thought that maybe she should return to Cottonwood Springs.

  * * *

  Birds singing and the sound of hammering pulled Millie from a deep sleep. She lay in bed for several minutes as she came awake. When she’d lived at home she often woke to the sound of hammering because their house was close to the sawmill where her father worked.

  A smile touched her lips. Papa was forever fixing or building something for Mother. She pushed the covers back.

  Millie splashed cold water on her face and quickly finished her morning routine. She wore a soft green dress and pulled her hair up into a ponytail, securing it with a bit of green ribbon. Millie looped her room key through another green ribbon and tied it around her neck. She tucked it into the front of her dress and then picked up her mirror.

  As she looked into the hand mirror, Millie wondered what Levi saw when he looked at her. Did he see someone he could spend the rest of his life with?

  Levi would be a kind husband, she thought. Millie saw the dreamy expression on her face and in her eyes.

  But what if he was bossy like her mother? What if he changed from the nice guy she knew now to the demanding person her mother had become?

  Millie marched over to the washbasin; it was time to snap out of those thoughts. She filled both hands with cold water and tossed it into her own face. No! She would not fall in love with Levi Westland or any man. The danger in it was too great, and she would not be ruled by another. Ever!

  Had her mother always been bossy? And if so, had her papa known it when he married her, or was it something she’d revealed after the marriage? Did it really matter?

  Millie spun on her booted heels and scooped up her sketch pad and other art supplies before dashing down the stairs. She hurried out the front door and down the short steps. The cool morning air felt crisp against her face as she pressed onward toward the woods. There she would be able to focus on her art and not on the man.

  She pressed deeper into the woods, looking for the log where she’d sat the first morning she’d come here. Millie felt the peace of the trees and sighed. She flipped to the picture of the horse head and then gently pulled it out.

  As she redrew the horse head, Millie began to think of other ways Levi could frame the picture. What if she made it look like a puzzle?

  First, she worked on the flat drawing, and then she redrew it and gave it more dimensions. A smile grew on her face as the horse’s head began to look as if it stood off the page.

  She was so consumed with the art piece, the morning sped by. Millie looked up into the sky and saw that she needed to hurry if she was going to make her appointment this morning and then get back to the boardinghouse to work.

  The drawing wasn’t perfect. It still, to her way of thinking, needed a lot of work, but it was a good start. She quickly organized her supplies, tucked them under her arm and started back toward the road.

  A twig snapped somewhere off to her left, reminding her of Levi’s advice about mountain lions. Had she been foolish to ignore his warning? Millie scooped up her skirts and hurried from the woods.

  At the road she felt breathless and silly. A nervous giggle filled her. Nothing had followed her out of the woods. She began walking to the boardinghouse. Her stomach growled, reminding her she’d skipped breakfast.

  That, too, felt foolish now. She should have gone on in with the others. It wasn’t Levi’s fault she’d had a restless night. She’d just have to be careful around him. He was a nice man and made a wonderful friend.

  Still, she wouldn’t give him or any man control over her life. At that moment, Millie began to build a wall around her heart to keep love and dreams of a future with Levi out. She didn’t need a bossy man as a husband, but she might not mind having Levi for a friend.

  * * *

  The smell of roses entered the furniture shop, announcing the arrival of Susanna Marsh. He’d known she would be coming around sooner or later—Levi had been praying it would be later. He laid his hammer down and stood to greet her.

  “Good morning, Mrs. Marsh. How are you today?” Levi picked up a damp rag and wiped the dust from his hands.

  She looked about the store before answering him. “I’m well, Levi.” Susanna batted her eyelashes at him. “I thought we agreed you’d call me by my given name.”

  He ignored her and asked, “What can I do for you today?” Levi put the cloth back down before looking at her again.

  A smile graced her face. She attempted to turn the smile into a pout. “I’m glad you asked. Mrs. Moore over at the general store refuses to advance me a line of credit without your approval.” She resumed batting her eyelashes again and asked in a sticky-sweet voice, “Would you mind walking over to the store with me?”

  So that was the excuse she’d found to spend time with him. “I’ll be happy to, but didn’t my mother set up an account for you when you came to town?”

  “No, we were instructed to come straight to the ranch. This is the first time I’ve been in your fine town since I arrived over two weeks ago. Well, except last Sunday and then I didn’t get to explore the businesses.” Her blue eyes roved over the various pieces of furniture before returning to him. “Can we go now? I’d really like to take care of my purchases.”

  Levi walked to the door that connected his workshop and the store. He called into the other room, “Amos, I need you up front.”

  The teenager arrived carrying a broom. His gaze ran over Susanna. “What do you need? I’m almost done back there.”

  He’d discovered Amos was a hard worker who enjoyed feeling responsible. So he’d taken to speaking to him like a man instead of a sixteen-year-old boy. “Mrs. Marsh and I have an errand to run. Please keep an eye on the store.”

  “Be happy to. I was going to sweep up here next anyway.”

  “Good. I won’t be gone long.” He took Susanna’s arm and gently steered her toward the exit. “I’ll be over at the general store if you need me.” He released her and opened the d
oor.

  Susanna latched on to his arm as soon as they were out of the store. She looked up at him and did the eyelash thing again.

  Levi didn’t want to be unkind, but he didn’t care for her behavior. “Mrs. Marsh, please stop doing that with your eyes. It’s a little unnerving.” He slipped his arm from hers. “I know you are trying to convince me that you want me to marry you, but I’ll be honest. The easiest way to do that is to be yourself.” The pout returned to her lips, and he sighed. “I’m sorry if that hurt your feelings.”

  She stopped walking and moved to the shade of one of the buildings. Levi had no choice but to follow. What game was she going to play now? He’d not had a lot of experience with women. Lucille had been his first crush and he’d never taken the time to court anyone else. He really didn’t know what to expect.

  “I’m sorry, too. Other than my husband, I’ve never tried to get close to another man. When I was sixteen, batting my eyes and smiling a lot worked. I guess I’m getting too old to play those kinds of games.” She laid a hand on his forearm. “Can we start over?”

  He nodded. “That sounds like a fine idea.” Levi extended his arm to her and began walking down the boardwalk again. “I’m curious—what did you do yesterday?”

  “Mainly, I walked around town, relaxed and thought about what I’d do if you chose Emily or Anna Mae.” She stared off in the opposite direction from him as if her confession had embarrassed her.

  “I see. And what are you going to do if I choose one of them?” he asked, also feeling the embarrassment of the conversation.

  She looked at him and grinned. “Well, I’m not real sure, but Millie and I discussed the possibility of me opening a dress shop. Mr. and Mrs. Duffey, they own the Sewing Room—oh, you probably already know that. Anyway, they are willing to sell it to me. Mrs. Duffey’s mother is ill and they plan on moving back to—” she paused and waved her hand “—oh, wherever it is she lives.”

  “Millie talked to you about this?” Why hadn’t Millie told him that she’d talked to Susanna about opening a dress shop?

  “Uh-huh. The other night when we were walking to the hotel. I think I have enough money to put a down payment on the Sewing Room, but I will need to ask the bank for a loan for the rest of the money.” She looked straight ahead, deep in thought.

  Levi stopped in front of the general store. He held the door open for her and then followed Susanna into the store. His gaze moved about the establishment until it landed on Carolyn Moore sitting at a small table with Millie. A pot of tea sat between them.

  “Carolyn! I’ve brought Levi back with me,” Susanna called, looking behind the counter and not at the back of the store, where the women sat.

  Levi grinned and gently turned Susanna in the direction of the two women.

  “Oh, I didn’t see you back here.” She walked toward the women.

  He followed. “I see you have taken over the checker table.”

  “Yes, Pa and Wilson drove to Austin today so I took over Pa’s table.” Carolyn pushed herself up from her chair. “Do you have everything you need, Susanna?”

  Carolyn and Susanna walked back to the front counter. Levi turned to look at Millie. She hadn’t said anything since he’d arrived. He’d seen the surprised expression on her face when they’d entered, but now she looked relaxed and unconcerned.

  “I believe so.” Susanna turned to Millie. “Did you see all the material and supplies I am getting?”

  Millie stood. “No, I didn’t know you’d been in this morning,” she confessed, joining the other ladies at the counter.

  As he watched the two women discuss Susanna’s purchases, Levi found himself comparing them. Susanna’s hair was blond like Millie’s, but it didn’t have the same shine. Her blue eyes were paler than Millie’s and missed a certain sparkle. They were about the same height and build, but there was something about Millie that drew him like a logger to a favored tree.

  Susanna chose that moment to look over her shoulder and smile at him. She was very pretty, but compared to Millie she didn’t appeal to him.

  “Thanks for the tea, Carolyn. I need to get over to the boardinghouse. Beth is waiting for me.” Millie waved bye and then left.

  Levi knew without thinking about it that if he couldn’t marry Millie, he wouldn’t be marrying Susanna, either. Susanna was nice, but she wasn’t the bride for him.

  * * *

  Levi stood behind the bakery eating a slice of lemon pound cake and sipping on a cup of coffee. His view was the woods where he’d first seen Millie’s sketch of the butterfly. He missed Millie and their quiet talks.

  It had been three days since he’d run into her at the general store. They had morning and evening meals together at the boardinghouse, but other than that, Millie didn’t spend much time with him or the other boarders. She seemed to have buried herself in her art.

  He didn’t know if she was avoiding him or simply preoccupied with the drawing he’d requested. Either way, Levi knew he missed her. He’d hoped to develop their friendship so that he could approach her about a marriage of convenience.

  As he stared at the trees, Levi thought he saw movement. He lowered his coffee cup, not sure what would emerge from the woods. He’d warned Millie of mountain lions and wondered if one had come closer to town than normal.

  Relief flooded him as he saw Millie emerge from the tree line. He could tell by the sketch pad in her hands that she’d been there drawing. Had she gone back to the log deep in the woods? Or had she heeded his warning and stayed within the edge of the trees and not ventured too far?

  When she looked up and smiled in his direction, all his questions vanished. Maybe she wasn’t avoiding him after all. Levi raised his hand and waved, almost dropping the cake.

  She returned his wave and her smile grew. When Millie got close enough, she said, “I was just coming to your shop to show you the drawing.”

  “So it’s finished then?”

  A giggle escaped her. “I think so. But you can be the judge.” Millie began to open the sketch pad, but she had too much stuff in her hands.

  “Let’s go inside the bakery and sit down.” Levi shoved the rest of his cake in his mouth and took her arm. He swallowed the sweet bread and then said, “I can’t wait to see what you’ve come up with.”

  They walked around the shop and entered the bakery. Levi inhaled the sugary fragrance of pastries and fresh coffee. He never tired of coming here and thankfully, since he owned it as well as a couple of other stores in town, no one protested when he dropped by to grab a goodie or two. Once more, Levi was thankful his father had left both him and Daniel a nice size trust fund. The ranch belonged to their mother, but thanks to the trust funds, he and his brother didn’t need the ranch to survive.

  * * *

  There wasn’t a lot of seating in the small building, but since it was midmorning, they were able to get a table by the window. “Can I order you anything?” Levi asked after he made sure Millie was seated.

  She looked to the counter where cakes, cookies and various breads were displayed. Her stomach growled and her cheeks turned pink. “I wouldn’t mind trying one of those sticky buns and a glass of milk,” Millie admitted.

  “Coming right up.”

  Levi hurried to the counter and gave Violet Millie’s order. He set his empty coffee mug down while he waited.

  Violet Atwood was an older woman whose husband had passed away ten years earlier. Levi had bought the building for her to open the bakery so she’d have some income. When Levi had begun buying buildings in Granite, he’d never dreamed he’d be helping both Violet and Beth when they needed assistance most.

  “How did you enjoy the lemon cake?” she asked, placing a rather large sticky bun on a small plate.

  “Like all your desserts, it was delicious.”

  “Good, I’m glad you enjoyed it. Would you like for me to freshen up your coffee?” Violet asked as she poured Millie’s glass of milk.

  “Thank you. I’ll take this to th
e table and be right back for it.”

  A frown marred Millie’s face when he returned to the table. He noted she was staring down at the drawing. Levi set the plate and glass of milk in front of her. She seemed so deep in thought that she didn’t notice him.

  Levi returned for the steaming cup of coffee. He called to the older woman, who was bent over a hot oven. “Thanks, Violet.”

  “You’re welcome, Levi. Holler if you need anything else.”

  He returned to Millie and sat across from her.

  She still focused on the picture. “Maybe I shouldn’t show this to you after all. I’m not sure I have it just right.”

  Levi laughed and reached for the sketch pad. “Ready or not, I’m looking,” he said, pulling the paper to him.

  Her sketches were amazing. She’d drawn a line down the center of the page to separate the two drawings. One was a flat drawing that looked just like a real horse’s head. The second stood out on the page, looking much like one of Mark’s puzzles.

  Millie’s voice shook. “Well? What do you think?”

  “These are wonderful, Millie.” He couldn’t pull his eyes from the paper. “How did you make this one stand out like that?”

  “It’s hard to explain. I was thinking about Mark’s puzzles and thought it would be really nice if I could make a horse head that you could piece together.” She still sounded unsure of her work.

  Levi looked up at her. “I think I can duplicate it in wood. You’ll have to tell me what you think when it’s complete.”

  Millie nodded happily. “I’ve been thinking that if you can do this with wood, wouldn’t it be nice if we could make these a little smaller and give each one of the children at church a puzzle similar to this at Christmas?”

  “What a thoughtful idea. We have several families in the area whose children would benefit from puzzles.” Levi looked down at the horse head. “Can you make other animals?”

  Excitement filled her voice. “I’m going to try. I was thinking cats, dogs and maybe horses on a smaller scale for the kid’s puzzles. Not just their heads but their whole bodies.”

  The joy in her voice made him smile. “Let’s see if I can do the horse head and then we’ll move on to those things. I think it’s wonderful that you are thinking about the children’s Christmas, Millie.”