“Won’t mind what?” Levi asked.
“If I return to town with you and Millie,” Susanna answered.
Millie felt him look at her and saw disappointment in his eyes. Was he disappointed because they wouldn’t be returning alone? Or because she’d answered for him instead of letting him have the final say?
“That will be fine,” Levi answered. “If you ladies are ready, I’d like to get started back before it gets too dark.”
Susanna nodded. “Thank you. I need to get my bags from the house. I’ll be living in town from now on.” She turned and headed around to the front of the house.
Millie shrugged and followed. Levi fell into step beside her. She whispered out of the side of her mouth, “I’m sorry, Levi. I didn’t know what else to say. It was your mother’s idea.”
He sighed. “I’m sure it was.”
She felt the warmth of his hand in the small of her back before he said, “Hold on a moment, I almost forgot something.”
When Millie stopped, he reached into her bag and pulled out the copy of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. “I promised Hannah she could read it, even though she didn’t uphold her end of the bargain.” He winked before turning to leave.
She watched him return to the backyard with the book and then proceeded to follow Susanna. Levi Westland was a very interesting and handsome man. Millie couldn’t help but like him—as a friend only, of course.
Susanna stood on the front porch with several large cases and a couple of boxes. Millie wondered what Levi would think about packing and unpacking Mrs. Marsh. She giggled. The trip back would be interesting.
Chapter Twelve
Levi listened to Susanna all the way back to town. She told him how excited she was to be able to have the Sewing Room and if he chose her as a wife, it would be another business he could add to his already growing collection. He noticed Millie sat quietly on the other side of Susanna.
He’d hoped to sit beside Millie, but Susanna had been faster. Or maybe Millie had hung back saying goodbye to Hannah so that the mail-order bride could sit by him. Thankfully, Susanna’s rosewater had evaporated some and wasn’t as overpowering as normal.
“I’m staying at the Sewing Room now,” Susanna happily informed him as they came into town. “I’m not ready to open for business yet but can live there while I make more dresses to sell.”
He set the brake in front of the store and hopped down from the wagon. First, he helped Susanna down and then hurried to the other side to assist Millie. She was already halfway down so he slipped his hands around her narrow waist and assisted her the rest of the way.
A little squeal escaped her throat before her feet touched the ground. “Levi Westland, don’t you ever do that again. You scared ten years off my life,” Millie scolded.
He leaned forward and whispered in her ear, “Oh good. Now you are closer to my age and we can get married.” Levi had the satisfaction of seeing her blue eyes grow wide in the dimming light.
Susanna was already at the door. “Millie, come in and see what I’ve already done to the place.” She lit a lantern from inside the door and led them inside.
If the widow had noticed their interaction beside the wagon, she didn’t show it. Levi followed Millie. Shadows flickered about the empty room.
“I’ve converted the storage room into a bedroom,” Susanna said as she opened a door off to the side. “See?”
Levi looked over Millie’s shoulder. The light scent of lavender wafted up to him. The room was bare except a small cot and chest. A kerosene lamp sat on the floor beside the cot.
“What do you think? I know it’s not much to look at now, but it’s a start,” Susanna said behind them.
Millie looked about the empty space. “I think you can make something wonderful out of this. Have you thought about ordering a few store-bought dresses to get your business started?”
“I have, but they cost so much I just can’t afford them right now.” Susanna stood with her hands in front of her. Now she looked a little uncomfortable. It was obvious there was no place for them to sit and she had nothing more to show them.
Millie offered a soft smile. “It takes time to get a business started. Congratulations again on buying your building.” She turned to him. “I think I’ll walk to the boardinghouse.”
He saw the look in her eyes. She expected him to protest. Levi knew it was a test of his will not to tell her what to do. “All right.”
With her head held high, Millie walked to the door. “Thank you for showing me your new store, Susanna. I’ll be buying dresses from you before either of us knows it,” Millie said and then left.
Levi started to follow Millie out the door.
Susanna’s voice stopped him. “Levi, can I ask you a question?”
The question ran through his mind: What would she ask? The only way to find out was to consent, so he nodded. Levi really wished Millie hadn’t left so quickly.
“I hope you don’t think this is improper, but I would like to know what my chances are of becoming your wife.” Susanna walked closer to him.
The smell of roses filled the air between them. He wasn’t sure how to answer her, so asked for clarification. “What do you mean?”
She sighed. “If you had to choose a wife right here, right now, who would you choose?”
“I’m not sure. I really haven’t spent enough time with Emily and Anna Mae.” That was a true enough answer without hurting her feelings.
“What about me? Have you spent enough time with me to know if I am possible wife material?”
He hedged. “I think you will make some man a good wife someday.” Levi inched closer to the door. He didn’t want to hurt her feelings and say he wouldn’t be marrying her.
“But not you.”
Levi sighed. He’d been doing that a lot today. “Tell me, Susanna. What do you want in a husband?”
* * *
Millie held her breath as she waited for Susanna’s answer. She’d stopped just outside the store door when she’d heard Susanna ask Levi if she could ask him a question. Millie knew she was prying in their business but couldn’t seem to stop herself from listening. Pressing her ear against the wall, she wondered why Susanna hadn’t answered.
Susanna finally answered. “I want a man like my Robert. Strong, confident and who will love me unconditionally.”
The sound of boots crossing the room filled Millie’s ears. Thankfully, Levi stopped before exiting the store. She eased back to the corner of the building. If she listened real close, Millie thought she might hear his reply.
Levi said in a low voice, “Then no, you aren’t the bride for me. You see, Susanna, I can’t love unconditionally. I’m not sure I can love at all.”
The screen door shut behind him. Millie ducked back into the darkness of the building. Poor Susanna. Levi’s words must have cut her to the core. She heard him click his tongue and send the horses to the livery.
Millie crept to the window and looked inside. Susanna stood staring at the closed door. The lantern lit her face enough for Millie to see that the widow was smiling.
As she hurried to the boardinghouse, Millie kept asking herself, why had Susanna been smiling? Did she not want to marry Levi? Or had she gotten pleasure from hearing the sorrow in his voice?
The bell jingled over the door as she stepped inside. Beth came from the sitting room. “I’m glad you are home. How was your day? Did Daniel like his gift? Where is Levi?”
“Let her in here, Beth. The rest of us want to know, too,” Mrs. Englebright called.
Millie and Beth shared a laugh. She laid her bag on the entry table and then walked past Beth to the sitting room. Mrs. Englebright was in her usual seat by the fireplace and Mr. Lupin sat on the footstool. Mark was playing with two wooden cars under the piano. She walked over to the sofa and sank into the soft cushions.
“Hello, everyone. Let me answer Beth’s questions first and then if you have any you want to ask, I’ll be happy to ans
wer them, as well.”
Both Mrs. Englebright and Mr. Lupin nodded. Beth sat down beside her on the sofa.
“My day was long but fun. Daniel loved his gift, as did everyone else, and Levi took the wagon back to the livery.”
Mrs. Englebright asked, “What do you mean as did everyone else?”
Millie told them about the party and the orders she and Levi had taken for more pictures. She noticed that Mr. Lupin was taking notes in his reporter’s pad and wondered if the party would make tomorrow’s news. Millie also told the ladies about Susanna Marsh buying the Sewing Room.
“I hate to see the Duffeys leave, but I’m glad someone will be opening the Sewing Room back up.” Mrs. Englebright yawned and stood. “I’m tired. I think I’ll call it a night.”
The bell over the front door sounded, and Beth walked to the door to see who had entered. She called good-night to Levi and then came back into the room. “Mark, it’s time we get ready for bed, too.”
“Aw, Ma.” Mark came out from under the piano.
“Don’t sass me, young man.” Beth took the little boy’s hand and pulled him toward the door.
Millie stood. “I’m ready to head to bed, too.”
Mr. Lupin turned the lamp down and followed the rest of them out of the room. Beth stopped and locked the front door before heading to her and Mark’s rooms. Millie pulled her bag over her shoulder and proceeded upstairs.
Mr. Lupin stopped her. “Miss Millie, I was wondering if you’d like to go on a picnic with me tomorrow afternoon.”
At first Millie didn’t know what to say, but reason entered her mind and she answered, “I’m sorry, Mr. Lupin. I really need to get started on these drawings.” She patted the bag that held her sketch pad and the paper with her list in it.
He nodded. “I see. Well, you can’t blame a man for trying.” Then he turned and opened the door to his room.
Millie shook her head and entered her room. First she’d been proposed to, then she’d been kissed, then she’d witnessed Susanna’s odd behavior, and now she’d been invited on an outing by a fellow male boarder. She flopped back on her bed and let her hands hang over the edge. What a day.
* * *
Levi paced his room. He’d meant to go see everyone when he returned to the boardinghouse, but after speaking with Susanna, he just didn’t have the desire to face them all. She’d made it very plain what the brides were looking for: unconditional love.
He couldn’t give that. Unconditional love meant that he’d love her no matter what happened. Levi groaned as he pulled his boots off. He couldn’t even promise pretend love.
His proposal to Millie had been a flop. He didn’t think she was looking for love. Maybe if he gave her more time she’d reconsider his proposal. What he needed was a friend, someone he could talk to about anything. Levi walked to his window and opened it. The sound of the swing squeaking caught his attention.
The wind wasn’t up so the porch swing shouldn’t be moving. Curiosity got the better of him and he padded out his door and down the stairs to the front. Careful not to ring the bell over the door, Levi eased outside to see if anyone was on the porch.
Moonlight washed the porch revealing Millie. Her legs were pulled up under her and the swing gently swayed. “It’s just me, Levi. You might want to oil this thing in the morning.”
“I take it I’m not your first visitor?” He sat down on the swing and gave it a gentle push.
She giggled. “No, Beth and Mr. Lupin have both been out to investigate.” Millie laid her head back and her hair fell across the railing.
It resembled liquid honey. The desire to reach out and touch it tickled Levi’s fingertips. He didn’t think she’d take kindly to that so he casually rested his arm along the back of the bench. “Can’t sleep?” he asked.
“It was a little warm in my room tonight so I came out for some fresh air.” She pulled her legs out from under her and leaned forward.
Her hair spilled over his arm. It reminded him of a silk material he’d touched once as a kid. He missed its softness almost immediately. “You don’t have to leave on my account.”
Millie swung her legs to the other side and pulled them back up. “I wasn’t. Since you are out here, I thought I’d sit where I can face you.” She turned her body slightly and did just that.
With her hair flowing about her, Millie looked younger. The ponytail she always wore seemed to add age to her heart-shaped face. She was young enough to want love but didn’t seem to crave it like some women her age did. Levi didn’t know if she was more mature than most or if she just simply didn’t know what she wanted yet.
“You seem to have a question on your lips, Levi.” She smiled, and her whole face seemed to light up in the moonlight.
He laughed softly. “I suppose I do.”
“Is it a question I can answer?” Fine eyebrows arched upward. He wondered if she’d learned that trick from Hannah.
“Do all women want love when they marry?”
Millie played with the ribbon on her housedress. “I suppose not all of them do.”
“What about you? Do you want to fall in love and get married?” He held his breath as he waited for her answer.
She cleared her throat. “If you had asked me that question last summer, I would have said yes. But not anymore.”
He looked up at the moon. The stars tried to compete with its light, but failed miserably tonight. Had a boy hurt her? He wanted to ask but didn’t.
“Levi, when I was sixteen I wanted Joe Ferguson to notice me so bad that I even flirted with other men to catch his attention, but then one night I overheard my parents talking. My mother had already warned his mother that he was not to try to get too close to me. And that explained why he didn’t. She told Papa she had bigger plans for me. It was then I realized how much she controlled my life.” Millie stopped talking. She seemed to have realized she’d revealed more of herself than she’d meant to.
His gaze searched hers. “Did you really love Joe?” Levi asked, not liking the idea of Millie being in love with the boy.
A sad smile graced her lips. “I don’t think so. I realized that I wasn’t as upset about Joe as I was about my mother taking over something that should have been my decision, something big.”
Levi nodded. Now he truly understood why Millie hated her mother’s controlling ways. “Did you ever confront her?”
Shock filled her features. “No.”
“Why not? You don’t seem to have trouble confronting people now.”
Millie sighed. “She’s my mother, Levi. I respect her.” The ribbons found their way into her hands and attention again.
Levi reached over and tucked her hair behind her ear so he could see her face and eyes. “You know, I believe you can respect someone and still be honest with them when they hurt you.” Levi pushed off the swing. It squeaked as he walked to the door.
The swing swayed and squeaked again. “Levi?”
He stopped and turned toward her. “Yes?”
Millie walked over to him. She reached up and put both hands on his cheeks. She stood on her tiptoes and then slowly her lips came into contact with his. It was a brief kiss that spoke volumes of warmth and caring to Levi.
When she released him, Millie said, “I’m sure there is someone out there who doesn’t expect you to love them unconditionally. You just have to keep looking for her.” She slipped around him and went inside.
Was she talking about herself? His mind couldn’t wrap around anything right now; all he could think of was the soft scent of lavender and the warmth of her soft lips on his.
He smiled.
Millie Hamilton might not know it yet, but Levi felt certain she was the woman for him. They could be best of friends without losing their hearts to each other—at least that was his prayer as he entered the boardinghouse.
Chapter Thirteen
Levi wasn’t surprised at all to discover that Millie had skipped breakfast the next morning. She was probably embarrasse
d that she’d kissed him. That kiss had kept him up most of the night trying to figure out how to get Millie to admit that they were good enough friends they could get married and live happily ever after without falling in love.
He picked up his Bible and headed off to church. Sunday was his favorite day of the week, mainly because nothing much was expected of him. Levi hoped Millie was already there so he could sit by her.
“Good morning, Levi.” Jonah Richards fell into step beside him.
Levi returned the schoolteacher’s greeting. “How are you this morning, Jonah?”
There seemed to be a lively bounce in Jonah’s steps. “I’m good. Very good.” He grinned at Levi. “I’m moving back to Boston as soon as the school year is out.”
They had never been close friends, but Levi could honestly say he was going to miss the schoolteacher. “That’s bad news for Granite and its children.”
“Nice of you to say, but I’m sure another teacher will come along soon.”
That was true enough. Levi’s thoughts went to Anna Mae. He was sure she’d like to offer her teaching services to the town of Granite. Levi made a mental note to mention it to her, should he see the mail-order brides today.
They entered the church just as the first song began. Levi looked about the small church but saw no sign of Millie. Disappointed, he took a seat in the back beside Jonah.
From this vantage point, he could see everyone. Two of the brides and his mother sat on the right hand side of the pulpit. He didn’t see Susanna in the church. His gaze moved to the left and he saw Beth, Mark, Mrs. Englebright and Mr. Lupin sitting in their usual places.
Had Susanna and Millie made plans to meet during the services? Levi didn’t think so. Was Millie still avoiding him because of their shared kiss? Again, he didn’t think so. She’d initiated the kiss, not him.
He spent the remainder of the service trying to stay focused on the minister’s message. He found it hard to do as his mind wandered off. Where was Millie? Where was Susanna? Why were the ladies absent from services? Was Millie off sketching someplace instead of attending services? If so, could he marry a woman who put off Sunday mornings to draw? The questions jumbled in his mind like sawdust on a damp floor.
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