His Chosen Bride (Love Inspired Historical)

by Rhonda Gibson

  He rocked back on his boot heels. “I wouldn’t say that.”

  An excited gleam filled her face and eyes. “You have it?”

  Levi laughed. “I do, but if you want to read it you have to help me juggle these brides today.” He hooked a thumb over his shoulder.

  Millie stood quietly looking at the ground. He wondered what she was thinking, but didn’t have time to ask. She still seemed a little dazed by the kiss they’d shared.

  Hannah squealed like a newborn pig. “Seriously, you have it? I’ve wanted to read it ever since I read about it in the papers. Of course, I’ll help you.” She turned to Millie and asked, “Have you ever read Mr. Stevenson’s book Treasure Island?”

  Millie shook her head no.

  “I have a copy. I’ll loan it to you, but I want it back. He’s one of my favorite authors.” A laugh bubbled up in her throat. “My favorite author changes from day to day, but he really is good. I loved Treasure Island.”

  Levi enjoyed reading Stevenson, too, and was just lucky that someone had come through Austin last month with a copy to sell. Carolyn Moore, at the general store, had nabbed it up for the schoolteacher, Mr. Richards, but when Levi had seen it, he’d talked her into selling it to him.

  “I hope you don’t mind if I join you, but I heard you talking about books and, well, I thought I might join in.”

  Levi looked to his left and saw that it was Anna Mae Leland who had joined them. Of the three mail-order brides, she was the quietest. He smiled at her. “Not at all, we were just discussing the works of Robert Louis Stevenson.”

  “Have any of you read Prince Otto?” she asked, smiling at Hannah and Millie.

  Hannah was the first to answer. “I have. I borrowed a copy from a friend. It was good, but I preferred the action of Treasure Island.”

  “I have to agree with Hannah. The action in Treasure Island was more interesting than the romance in Prince Otto.” Levi smiled at the ladies.

  “What about you, Millie?” Anna Mae asked.

  Millie shook her head no, once more. “I haven’t read a lot of fiction.”

  Hannah laughed. “That’s okay. Do you still study art books?”

  Levi listened to the ladies as they talked. His gaze scanned the crowds of people, and he realized his mother had invited almost the whole town.

  He scooted closer to Millie and eased the book into her bag. No one seemed to notice as he stepped back into his spot. Millie’s puzzled look captured his attention. She looked from him to the bag as if to ask what he was doing. Levi simply winked at her. He’d loan Hannah the book but wanted to ensure she’d help him with the ladies.

  Millie jerked her gaze from his face and seemed to focus on Hannah and Anna Mae’s conversation. He wondered what the trip home would be like. Levi didn’t have long to worry about it because Susanna Marsh and Emily Rodgers joined them.

  For a brief moment he wondered what Susanna Marsh was doing at the ranch. He’d thought she wouldn’t be there. Levi felt sure his mother had something to do with Susanna’s sudden arrival. He decided not to worry about it and just try to get through the evening.

  He nodded in all the right places and answered their questions about his favorite authors and books he’d read. He was very aware that Millie watched him and grinned as each mail-order bride tried to gain his attention by asking a new question or making a comment about how they had so much in common. It seemed that she’d forgotten about the kiss and now enjoyed being there.

  He loved books, but at the moment he’d rather be alone with Millie, talking about her art and planning the next project they would do together. What was wrong with him? He had three women who had come to Granite to marry him, and here he was mooning over a woman who came to Granite to tell him she didn’t want him at all.

  “If you will excuse us, Millie and I are going to go put this gift away so that she doesn’t have to continue holding it.” Hannah grinned at him and turned Millie toward the gift table that stood on the other side of the lawn.

  If the mail-order brides saw the grin, none of them acted like it. He heard Hannah’s giggle and thought to himself, if that woman didn’t hurry back soon and rescue him from the brides, she wasn’t getting her hands on his copy of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

  Chapter Eleven

  Millie couldn’t get Levi’s kiss out of her mind. She tried to focus on what Hannah said, but couldn’t. Her gaze kept returning to him. She made a quick involuntary appraisal of his features. An undeniable bond was building between them. Every time she wrenched herself away from the ridiculous preoccupation of his face, something pulled her attention back to him.

  As she studied Levi across the yard, Millie relived the kiss. She could almost smell the sweet scent of wood and earth that made up the essence of Levi. Her heart began to hammer in her chest. Her fingers reached up to touch her lips. She could still feel the warmth of his mouth against hers. His strong arms had held her tight but comfortably so.

  Millie mentally shook herself. She tried to reason out why she felt charmed by Levi. The kiss had taken her by surprise. That had to be the reason she continued to dwell on it. And it had been her first kiss. Did kissing always leave one feeling breathless and dazed?

  Hannah’s urgent voice pulled her from her musings. “Millie? Millie.”

  She jerked her gaze from Levi and the three brides who surrounded him to Hannah. “I’m sorry, I was distracted. What did you say?”

  “I asked if you wanted to go inside and get the book now or wait until you and Levi are about to leave? But it occurs to me that you might be more interested in staying out here and guarding him.” Hannah arched her eyebrows and looked in Levi’s direction.

  Millie felt like a schoolgirl who’d just gotten caught passing a note. Heat filled her face, and she lowered her eyes.

  “You like him,” Hannah accused in a soft whisper.

  Millie raised her head. “Not in the way you are suggesting.” She looked to where the women circled about Levi like buzzards around a fresh kill. Millie realized how unkind that thought sounded toward the brides. “I just feel sorry for him, that’s all.”

  Hannah picked up a cookie from the dessert table that they stood beside. “Why would you feel sorry for Levi? He’s successful and has three women who want to marry him. What more could a man want?”

  “His freedom and a mother who isn’t a meddler.” Millie realized she’d spoken her thought out loud and clasped a hand over her mouth. “I shouldn’t have said that since it really is none of my business.” She looked about, praying no one else had heard her, especially Levi’s mother or brother.

  Hannah smiled at her and placed her arm around Millie’s waist. Her whispered voice filled Millie’s ears. “I know from your perspective that it looks like Bonnie is a cold woman who is trying to force Levi into marriage. But I know her, Millie, and she really just wants what’s best for her boys.” She hugged Millie and then released her to reach for another cookie.

  Millie wanted to argue, but she really didn’t know Bonnie. For that matter, she really didn’t know Levi, either. Her gaze moved back to where he stood with the three brides. No, she didn’t really know him, but she did know that she’d enjoyed his kiss, and that was dangerous.

  It was time he chose a wife and stopped kissing her. She looked to Hannah, who was studying her as if she were a student who needed directions. “What kind of cookies are you are gobbling down?”

  Startled, Hannah looked at the half-eaten cookie in her hand. “This one is oatmeal raisin.”

  “Well, scoot over. I want to try one and then I want to go get that book you are so keen on.” Millie smiled to let Hannah know she was teasing. Outside of being her teacher, Hannah really didn’t know Millie, either. And yet, they felt like old friends.

  Hannah laughed and moved to the side so Millie could grab a couple of cookies. “I think you will like this book, Millie.”

  Millie nodded her agreement. “I’m sure I will, too.” She felt
as if someone was watching them and turned around to look.

  Bonnie Westland stood with a group of women. She lifted a hand and waved to Millie. Maybe Hannah was right. Maybe she was letting her feelings for her own mother cloud her judgment of Levi’s mother.

  Millie waved back and then looped her arm in Hannah’s. “Are you going to show me that book or not?” It was time to put Levi, his mother and the mail-order brides from her mind and get to know Hannah better.

  As they walked toward the house, Millie glanced over her shoulder and discovered Levi watching her. Warmth filled her lips once more as if he had kissed her from where he stood. Millie turned back around and silently prayed that whatever emotions she was feeling about Levi and his kisses would go away.

  * * *

  Levi had never been so ready for one man to open his birthday presents as he was right now. The brides had talked to him about everything from armadillos to zippers. They had a topic for everything under the sun and he was tired of giving his opinion on all of them.

  Everyone sat about the yard on blankets and quilts while Daniel stood beside a table opening gifts. Hannah sat at his right with a pad of paper and a pencil jotting down gifts and putting the name of the giver beside it. He was sure she’d be handing out thank-you notes next Sunday morning at church.

  Daniel handed Hannah a light blue shirt that he’d just opened. “Thank you, Mrs. Marsh.” He looked toward their blanket and nodded.

  “You’re welcome.” She called back and then in a lower voice said to Levi, “It took me a couple of days, but I managed to get it finished before today.”

  Susanna sat on Levi’s right and Anna Mae on his left. “It’s very nice,” he offered. Thankfully, Susanna hadn’t been insistent on his attention. She’d simply joined in the conversation where she could.

  Next, Daniel opened a book of poetry. He thanked Miss Leland and Miss Rodgers for the book. Both ladies told him he was welcome, and Daniel moved on to the next gifts.

  Levi looked for Emily in the direction he’d heard her voice come from. He found her sitting on a quilt a little away from them with Millie. The two ladies seemed to be in deep conversation.

  Millie’s light blond hair and Emily’s brown were so close together that they almost looked like one person. He knew Emily enjoyed cooking and was the oldest of twelve and that Millie hadn’t shown an interest in cooking and was an only child. So what had they found in common?

  Did it matter? Not really. Still, they seemed so different and yet of the three brides, Emily was the one he’d choose, if it came down to it. She loved to cook, seemed humble in her dealings with others and had a sense of humor. He’d noticed several times throughout the day, various children had spent time with her and enjoyed her company.

  His gaze moved to Millie. If she would marry him, he’d forget all about the other brides, including Emily. Millie seemed to bring sunshine with her when she entered a room. He loved her creative side and when he’d kissed her, it had been a wonderful feeling of warmth and... Levi stopped his thoughts there. No, it wasn’t love. It wasn’t a special attachment. He wouldn’t allow it to be.

  He returned his attention to Daniel and the opening of gifts. Daniel thanked each person as he made his way through the massive pile. Levi knew his brother was embarrassed with all the attention he was receiving and wondered, not for the first time, why his mother had insisted on giving him a birthday party. After all, he was thirty-four years old; if he had been turning thirty-five or forty it would have made sense.

  Thinking of his mother, Levi scanned the crowd for her. She sat between her friends, Bertha and Opal. A smile brightened her face as she looked in his direction. He saw the love of a mother in her eyes.

  A gasp sounded throughout the crowd, and Levi looked back to see what Daniel had just opened. His brother held the picture he and Millie had created. “Levi and Millie, this is great.”

  Levi knew the moment Daniel remembered seeing something like it when they were in Austin several years ago. Daniel stared at the picture with a wide grin on his face.

  Levi turned to look at Millie once more and saw the scowl on her face. What was it that had upset her?

  Daniel recaptured his attention when he said, “Thank you both.”

  He nodded and Millie offered a soft “you’re welcome.” Levi glanced once more at Millie. The look on her face said she wasn’t happy with him. But what could she be unhappy about? That he’d put her name on the card, too?

  “Millie helped you make that?” Anna Mae’s soft voice asked. She seemed to be looking between him and Millie.

  Levi nodded. “Yes, she drew the horse head and showed me how to make it stand out on the board.”

  A soft smile graced Anna Mae’s lips. “I like it. Do you think she could draw a hummingbird?” she asked.

  “I’m sure she can. Millie is very talented.” Levi realized he might have been too quick to praise Millie. “But you’ll have to ask her to be sure.”

  “Thank you, I believe I will. That really is beautiful.”

  Before he could respond further, Daniel opened the last gift and then announced that cake and punch were being served. He indicated everyone should go to the tables and help themselves.

  Levi pushed up from the blanket. He wanted to talk to Millie, but saw that others were already headed her way. Anna Mae stood also and was walking toward Millie.

  A gentle throat-clearing drew his attention to Susanna. She held up her hand, silently asking for assistance to stand. Once Susanna was standing beside him she asked in a quiet voice, “Levi, is there something between you and Millie that the rest of us should know about?”

  Her question took him by surprise. “I don’t think so. Why do you ask?”

  For a brief moment, Levi realized he was seeing the true Susanna Marsh. Her clear blue eyes looked into his. “Because I came here to get married, but if your heart is already spoken for...”

  Levi interrupted her. “No, my heart is still my own.” He smiled to take the sting out of the words.

  Another soft clearing of the throat snagged his attention. He turned to find Millie, Emily, Anna Mae and half the town of Granite standing behind him. From the looks on most of their faces, they’d overheard his conversation with Susanna.

  Millie spoke first. “Levi, it seems we have a lot of people who want pictures similar to our gift to Daniel.”

  He looked at the crowd that stood in front of them and felt Susanna slip her hand into the crook of his arm.

  “I will be happy to take orders for whatever you’d like us to make,” he said, “but Millie has to agree to sketch it first. I’m no artist and she is.”

  Martin Crow stood behind his wife. “What would such a thing cost a man?” he asked, looking unhappy at the possibility of a new expense.

  Levi gently untangled his arm from Susanna’s. “Tell Millie what you’d like, see if she can draw it and I’ll figure out the expense.”

  He had to do some fast calculations but came up with an affordable price that would pay for the supplies and Millie’s time. Millie grinned across at him. Levi assumed she was no longer angry with him for putting her name on the card.

  * * *

  For the rest of the afternoon, Millie talked to various families and friends about the pictures they’d like for her to sketch and give to Levi so that he could make the wooden pictures for their homes. Hannah supplied Millie with a piece of paper and a pencil to list who wanted what. So far she had orders for a hummingbird, four dogs, three cats, a tulip, a rose, and an eagle. She’d promised to look at the family’s dogs and cats to capture their images.

  Millie still wasn’t pleased that Levi had put her name on the birthday card with his. Levi had made them look like a couple. But thanks to Susanna’s question, they now resembled business partners.

  “Looks like you have your work cut out for you,” Susanna said as she sat down beside Millie.

  “I agree,” Millie answered, looking over the list once more. She looked
up and caught Susanna studying her. “You did a nice job on Daniel’s shirt.”

  “Thank you. Now that I’ve bought the Sewing Room, I can make clothes faster. Mrs. Duffey sold me her sewing machine.”

  She twisted her hands in her lap.

  “You really bought the Sewing Room?” Millie asked.

  A nervous smile touched Susanna’s lips. “I did. Mr. Duffey gave me the keys today.”

  “How exciting.” Millie gave her a big hug. “I’m so happy for you.”

  Even as she rejoiced in Susanna’s happiness, Millie wondered how the widow had been able to come up with the money. Had Levi helped her?

  “Thank you.”

  Millie released Susanna and began gathering up her things. The sun was slipping down, and Levi had mentioned that he was about ready to leave. Other families from town had already packed up and headed back.

  She both looked forward to the ride back to the boardinghouse and dreaded it. So much had happened today. He’d kissed her and they’d become solid business partners. Millie wasn’t sure how comfortable she felt with Levi now that things had changed between them.

  “Would you mind if I ride back to town with you?” Susanna asked, picking up her own blanket and folding it. “Mrs. Westland said I should see if Levi will take me home so that none of the ranch hands will have to take another trip to town, but I thought I’d ask you instead. She really wasn’t pleased that I had asked Mr. Tucker to bring me out this morning.”

  Did she mind? Millie wasn’t sure. On one hand, she wanted to be alone with Levi so they could talk about the pictures, but on the other hand she still felt nervous since he’d kissed her. Would he kiss her again if they were alone?

  She realized she hadn’t answered Susanna. “Of course not. I’m sure it will be fine with Levi, too.”

  “Oh, are you sure he won’t mind? I didn’t realize you came together. I just thought you’d arrived at the same time.”

  Millie couldn’t help but hear the disappointment in Susanna’s voice. Was she disappointed that Levi had driven her to the ranch? Or disappointed that he would be with them on the return back to town?