His Chosen Bride (Love Inspired Historical)

by Rhonda Gibson

  “I’ve missed your smile, Millie.”

  She felt a lurch of excitement. Had she imagined Levi’s voice? No, there he was, right in front of her. He leaned casually against the railing at the foot of the stairs. Millie folded her hands together and let them hang in front of her dress, fighting not to wrap them around his shoulders.

  “Levi.” She spoke his name eagerly. She’d not heard him enter the front door. “When did you get home?”

  “Just arrived a few minutes ago. I wasn’t fit for mixed company so decided to go on up to my room to get cleaned up before coming into the sitting room.” In his boots, tan shirt and denim jeans, Levi presented the appearance of a hardworking cowboy. He studied her thoughtfully for a moment.

  Was it her imagination, or did he seem just as happy to see her? His dimples flashed as his grin deepened. A lock of damp hair fell across his forehead. Her hand itched to smooth it back into place. Instead, she took a step closer to him and brushed a piece of lint from his shirtsleeve, allowing her hand to rest a moment on his arm. She needed to touch him, to feel that he was really here.

  She inhaled his clean, earthy scent. “I’m glad you’re back.” She withdrew her hand and immediately felt the loss.

  Levi pushed away from the railing. “It’s nice to be back. Were you headed upstairs?” he asked, moving to the side to allow her to pass.

  Realizing that she was staring at him as if he were a painting by her favorite artist, Millie felt heat fill her cheeks. “Yes, thank you.” She swept past him, wishing she didn’t sound so breathless.

  The light treads of his boots on the stairs behind her made Millie hope that Levi was as reluctant as she to end their time together. “Did you finish the branding?” She turned at the pinnacle of the stairs and waited for him to join her.

  He stopped on the top step, and they were eye level. Her appreciative eyes traveled over his features, drinking in his nearness. She wished she had the nerve to outline the touches of humor around his mouth and near his eyes. There was inherent strength in his face, bronzed by the wind and sun. He had the arresting dress and confident walk of a businessman and the muscles and tanned face of a ranch hand. And he stared back at her with the same interest she knew he saw mirrored in her own features.

  “Just this afternoon.”

  “I’m sorry. What?” She tried to comprehend what he’d just said.

  The beginnings of a smile tipped the corners of his mouth. “I do believe you have missed me, Miss Millie Hamilton.” At her look of confusion, he explained. “You asked me if we finished the branding.”

  She shook her head as she remembered. “Oh, yeah. I did, didn’t I?”

  “You did.” He moved closer to her, and she stepped back, allowing him to join her on the landing.

  “Now that I’ve washed the grime off I’m ready to get back to my workshop.” Levi rolled his shoulders as if to get kinks out of the muscles.

  Shouldn’t he be going downstairs instead of up? Had he missed her as much as she’d missed him? Did he feel that close connection that had drawn her to him the instant she saw him? She took a quick breath of utter astonishment. What was happening to her?

  “While you were gone, I managed to get another drawing done.” She didn’t bother to tell him that the hummingbird had taken longer than she’d planned because her thoughts had kept drifting to him. “I’ll give it to you tomorrow morning at breakfast.”

  He bent his neck from side to side and rolled his right shoulder once more. Grayish smudges laced the skin under his eyes. “Good. I’m looking forward to seeing it.”

  Millie realized she didn’t want to leave him but also that she had no reason to stand on the landing any longer. “Well, if you will excuse me, I’ll continue on to my room.”

  He nodded, also looking as if he’d like to prolong her leaving.

  “Good night, then.” She turned away.

  In a low voice he called, “Millie?”

  Her pulse pounded in her ears. It was amazing how much she’d missed the sound of his husky voice. Millie twisted her head to look in his direction. “Yes?”

  “After breakfast, would you like to see my shop?”

  She saw the longing to spend more time with her in the probing intensity of his gaze. Millie offered him a smile. “I’d love, too. Besides, I do believe you owe me a few carving lessons.”

  He released a long, audible breath. His lips tilted up in a smile. “Good. I’ll see you in the morning.” He turned to leave.

  Millie stood in the hallway long after he’d left. What was it about Levi that she couldn’t resist? So, she’d missed him. Greatly. But that didn’t really mean anything, she thought, trying to be rational. She’d miss Mr. Lupin, too, if he were to leave for a few days.

  Her inner voice taunted, Would you really? She answered herself truthfully. No, I don’t think so.

  Chapter Fifteen

  The next morning, Levi felt almost human again. Roping, branding and herding calves weren’t his favorite things to do, but he had enjoyed his time with the cowhands and Daniel.

  Thankfully, Daniel had decided they were going to sleep on the range until the branding job was done. He’d dreaded spending time with Anna Mae and Emily, but with the men out on the range, he hadn’t had to say more than two words to either of them.

  Last night when he’d seen and heard Millie leaving the sitting room, he’d been thrilled. It seemed strange to Levi now to realize that the boardinghouse hadn’t really felt like a home until she’d moved in.

  He glanced across the table at her.

  She sipped from her coffee mug, but her eyes were on him. Millie lowered her cup. “Are you ready, Levi?”

  He popped the last of his bacon in his mouth, washed it down with coffee and then nodded. “Sure am.” Truth be told, he couldn’t wait to spend time with her and would have skipped breakfast if she had suggested it.

  “Where you going?” Mark asked, looking up from the drawing he’d been working on.

  “Levi invited me to come see his workshop.” Millie stood and carried her cup to where Beth had gathered their breakfast dishes. “Would you like for me to stay and help you with these, Beth?” she asked, slipping her plate in the hot water.

  “No, I can do it,” Beth answered and then yawned.

  Millie shook her head. “You look tired. I’ll stay and help. With my two extra hands it won’t take but a moment.” She picked up a dishcloth.

  Mrs. Englebright stood. “Nonsense. You two head on out. I’ll help Beth get this mess cleaned up.” She took the cloth from Millie and gave her a gentle shove in Levi’s direction.

  Levi laughed. “Looks like we are being booted out.” He grabbed Millie’s hand. “Let’s leave peaceably.”

  “I’m looking forward to seeing where you spend most of your day when you’re in town.” She quickened her steps to keep up with him.

  Levi released her hand and held the front door open. “I haven’t been there in a few days and am looking forward to going back to work.” He followed her as she walked down the front walk.

  Millie studied his features as he held the gate open for her. “When you are on the ranch, do you miss being in town?” she asked, passing by him once more.

  “It’s strange, but, yes, and when I’m in town I often miss the ranch.” He fell into step beside her.

  Millie tilted her head to look at him sideways as they walked. “Have you ever thought about living on the ranch and coming into town every day? Or do you prefer living in town and going out to the ranch?”

  “I’ve thought about living out there, but with the ranch being two hours’ ride away, it just isn’t feasible.” He removed his hat and pushed the hair off his forehead. “Besides, none of the mail-order brides want to live on the ranch.”

  There it was again. That sorrow in his voice, that sound of despair. Millie reached out and touched his arm. “Does it matter that they want to live in town? What about your feelings and where you want to live?” There was a ne
w acceptance between them. Last night seemed to have moved them closer to an understanding. At least she felt that way.

  Levi laid his hand over hers. “It matters, Millie. I don’t want to force anyone to live where they don’t want to.” The ease with which he touched her assured her they were in perfect accord.

  That he would willingly give up his own happiness for a woman he didn’t love shook Millie to her roots. Levi wasn’t going to demand that his future wife live on the ranch. He wasn’t going to insist he get his way. Was it possible that men and women could be married without one of them always getting his or her way?

  “Marriage isn’t about always getting your way. Compromise is required,” Levi answered her unspoken question as if he’d read her mind or he’d also pondered the inner workings of matrimonial bliss.

  “Did your parents have a good marriage?” Millie asked. They stepped upon the boardwalk on Main Street.

  Levi nodded. “I believe so. Pa was a tough man but Mother was his match in every way.” He patted her hand. “If I have to get married, I’m praying my wife will be my equal in every way, also.”

  Millie nodded, not sure what to say. She wanted to say she’d marry him but didn’t dare. No man in his right mind would agree to marry an arsonist. Millie knew deep down in her heart that Levi wouldn’t be a controlling husband, and she envied his future bride.

  “Here it is.” Levi released her hand and turned to open a door.

  She blinked. They’d walked all the way to his store and she hadn’t even noticed. Her thoughts had been so wrapped up in his future. A future she had no business thinking about.

  He held the door open for her. His shop wasn’t very large, but furniture of all kinds sat along the walls and on workbenches in various stages of completion. There was a strong but not unpleasant odor of lacquer thinner and wood polish. “Did you make all this?” she asked, running her hand over the back of a rocking chair.

  “Sure did.” He pulled his key from the lock and dropped it into his pocket.

  Millie admired the workmanship that he’d put into each piece. She could imagine each item in his house. Some woman was going to be very blessed on the day she married Levi Westland. In dazed exasperation, Millie wished she could be that woman, but once again she reminded herself it wasn’t meant to be.

  She followed him through a doorway into his workshop. Millie saw her drawings tacked on the back wall above a waist-high countertop. A high-back chair sat under it and she climbed into the seat. Pieces of shavings littered the area, but her attention was captured by the discarded attempts to get the drawings on the wood. She picked up one of the pieces and ran her hand over the markings.

  “Levi, these are almost as beautiful as the finished one you gave Daniel.” She put all the awe and respect she could into her voice.

  “Those are just scrap pieces. I will probably use them as kindling this winter.” He stood beside her with his arm stretched across the back of her seat. With his free hand he started to toss one of the pieces into the wood box.

  She placed a restraining hand on his arm. “Wait.” She rescued the piece from his hand. “There has to be a use for these pieces, Levi. Look at them.” She held one up between them. Her artist mind could not see destroying anything with such potential. She studied it a moment. “May I have these?” She tilted her head to look up at him.

  He shrugged dismissively. “If you think you can find some use for them you’re welcome to them.”

  The main entrance door opened, and Amos called out.

  “Back here, Amos,” Levi instructed. He dropped his arm from her chair and helped her down.

  “Boss, you’re not gonna believe this, but you got three more orders on them there pictures while you were gone.” His smile was eager and alive with affection for Levi and delight at the news he brought.

  “You’re pulling my leg,” Levi teased.

  “No, sir. I sure ain’t.” He pulled a slip of paper from his shirt pocket, pushing his overall strap out of the way. “Look at this. One is for a raccoon and old Ms. Reinholt wants a sunflower.” He paused a moment, his look wavering between excitement and doubt. “The flower might be a hard ’un, for you, boss, it being womany and all.” He looked back at his paper, his dark eyebrows slanted in a frown. “And the last one is for a mountain lion.” His expressive face changed and became almost somber. “Oh, boss. That’s the one I want to see. I hope you work on it first.”

  Levi’s laughter was infectious, and Millie found herself responding with a light chuckle. He caught her by the elbow and pulled her in front of him. “If we can talk this beauty into drawing the pictures first, then we just might get those made in the next few weeks.”

  Millie watched Amos’s eyes widen. “You are the artist, miss?”

  A flush of pride filled her. Millie knew that young Amos appreciated the work she’d done and nodded.

  The look in his eyes turned to wonderment. “The good Lord sure did load you up with talent, miss.”

  Millie’s heart sang with delight. Someone recognized her talent. After all the years of battling over her “little hobby” as her mother called it, Millie finally felt like someone was taking her art seriously. She took a deep breath but could barely get her voice above a whisper. “Thank you, Amos. Your words mean a lot to me.”

  He shifted from foot to foot, apparently uncomfortable and finally turned and fled.

  “And speaking of your talent, Miss Hamilton,” Levi drawled, “I owe you some money.”

  She followed him to his desk and watched in humble silence as he counted out her share of profit from what he had sold. He folded the money into her hand. Tears filled her eyes.

  “Is that correct?” He seemed concerned over her mood.

  All she could manage was a nod. How could she explain what it meant to receive payment for doing something she loved? It was the same each time. Satisfaction, contentment and joy all rolled up into one.

  Several hours later, Millie and Levi exited his shop. She was thrilled to have spent the morning with him. Levi was a true artist when it came to woodwork. He’d shown her how he transferred the drawings she gave him into wooden pictures.

  Millie had never drawn a raccoon or a mountain lion but thanks to the book Levi had given her, she had pictures of them and knew what they looked like.

  “Thank you for sharing your morning with me, Levi. I had no idea you were so gifted.” She brushed sawdust off her light tan dress. The shavings blended with the material and she wasn’t sure she’d removed them all. Millie decided she’d change before going to work today.

  “Daniel would say I’m anything but gifted.” Levi laughed, taking her elbow and walking with her.

  “Then he would be wrong.” Millie spoke with a strong suggestion of reproach.

  A few days ago, thinking someone didn’t believe Levi could be talented would have made her fighting mad. But today she realized that just because someone else didn’t believe in your ability to do what you loved didn’t mean you weren’t talented.

  “That’s very kind of you to say so, but I wouldn’t let on to Daniel that you know he’s been wrong before,” Levi teased, and the warmth and richness of his voice thrilled her.

  They walked toward the general store. Millie planned to buy Mark a few lemon drops. The little boy had been disappointed that he’d had to go to school instead of going with them to the store. Candy would cheer him right up.

  A wagon pulled up in front just as they arrived in front of the general store. Anna Mae and Emily waved from the seat. Levi groaned.

  “Good morning, Millie, Levi,” Emily said as she climbed down from the wagon.

  Millie stepped forward to greet them. “What a surprise to see you two.”

  Levi helped Anna Mae down. He quickly released her and stepped back to stand beside Millie. “Where is your driver?” he asked. “Surely my mother wouldn’t have allowed you to come all this way without an escort.”

  “We sent him home last night,” Anna
Mae answered. She reached into the back of the wagon and pulled out a straw basket.

  Emily walked over to Millie. “Yesterday, Anna Mae and I decided we wanted to come to town. Mr. Jeb drove us in and then rode his horse home, leaving us the wagon to use.”

  “Are you staying at the hotel?” Millie asked.

  Emily smiled. “Yes, but if all goes well Anna Mae and I will be moving into the Nelsons’ house in a few hours.”

  Levi asked, “Is that house for sale?”

  “No,” Anna Mae said, moving her basket from one arm to the other. “We are going to be what’s called ‘renters.’”

  Aware that they were getting attention from the good town people, Millie asked, “Would you all like to get something to eat?” She indicated they go to The Eating House, which sat next door to the general store.

  “Lunch is on me, ladies.” Levi led them to the restaurant. He held the door open as the women paraded past him.

  “Welcome,” Bertha Steward said as she came toward them. “Table for four?”

  Millie took on the role of hostess. “Yes, please,” she answered for all of them. They followed Bertha to a table in the back.

  “We’re still serving breakfast if you are interested.” Bertha handed each of them a menu, took their drink orders and then headed to the kitchen.

  “I didn’t realize the Nelsons were renting their house out,” Levi said, laying his menu on the table.

  Emily looked up from the menu and explained. “Mr. Nelson mentioned to your mother a few days ago that he and his wife planned to move to Austin but that he wanted to keep the house here. She suggested we rent it from him since both Anna Mae and me want to live in town.”

  “That’s Anna Mae and I,” Anna Mae corrected softly.

  “Anna Mae and I,” Emily repeated like a dutiful student, and then she returned to studying her menu.

  Millie shared a grin with Levi. Only he wasn’t smiling. His forehead was pinched in a frown.

  “My mother suggested you move to town?” he asked.