Bertha returned with their glasses and took their orders before Emily answered. “Yes, she’s even paying the first three months’ rent until we can get jobs and can pay it ourselves.”
The scowl deepened on Levi’s face.
Millie hurried to ask another question before Levi could express what a meddling mother he had. “So what kinds of jobs are you looking for?”
Anna Mae lowered her tea glass and looked Levi straight in the eye as if daring him to disapprove. “I am going to approach the school board about the teaching position that has recently become available.” At his nod of approval, her pretty face softened. “You don’t mind?”
“Of course I don’t mind. You love teaching—at least that’s what I got from the letter you sent.”
His dimples made an appearance, and Millie could see she wasn’t the only one affected by them. Both Anna Mae and Emily blushed as if his smile were only for them.
Anna Mae sighed. “I’m glad.” She leaned forward slightly, looking deeply into his eyes.
The uncomfortable look on Levi’s face prompted Millie to ask, “What about you, Emily? What will you look for in a job?”
“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” Emily said, “I only know how to cook, clean and garden. When you have eleven brothers and sisters, there’s not much time for anything else.”
Bertha arrived with four plates of scrambled eggs, sausage and hot biscuits. “You might ask Violet Atwood if she needs help. She runs the bakery.” She set the food down and waited to see if they needed anything else.
Millie looked at Levi. Didn’t he own the bakery, too? She remembered Beth mentioning that she didn’t know what she’d have done if Levi hadn’t helped her out and that Violet felt the same way. Could Violet Atwood be the same Violet that Beth spoke of? If he did and if she was, Levi didn’t own up to it. He simply tucked into his eggs.
“Thank you, Mrs. Steward,” Emily answered with a big grin.
“Please, call me, Bertha.” She looked the table over. “Do you folks need anything else?”
Again Millie answered for all of them. “This looks great. Thank you, Bertha.”
“Welcome. If you need anything else, just give me a call.” She turned and left their table.
“If you acquire the job at the bakery and I obtain the teaching job, we’ll be able to stay in town longer than three months,” Anna Mae said as she buttered her biscuit.
Emily nodded. “I’ll go over to see Mrs. Atwood this afternoon.” Joy filled Emily’s eyes and voice.
“Just think, Levi, with us living in town you won’t have to ride all that way out to the ranch to visit us anymore,” Anna Mae said.
Millie hurried to finish her meal. Had he been visiting the ranch on a regular basis? Was she just a third wheel sitting at the table? She no longer felt comfortable with the brides and Levi.
When she looked up, he asked, “Are you ready to go?”
Both the other brides looked at them. The expressions on their faces said they suspected more than friendship might be conspiring between herself and Levi. She stumbled over the words. “Yes, I was just getting ready to leave. I’ll have to hurry if I’m to make it to work on time.”
“I’m ready, also.” He turned his attention to Anna Mae and Emily. “Ladies, I’ll take care of your meal. It was nice seeing you today.”
“Thank you,” echoed from both women. Disappointment filled their voices.
Millie allowed him to take her elbow and walk to the front of the restaurant. “What are you doing?” she hissed out the side of her mouth.
“Escaping.”
Millie looked back over her shoulder. Emily smiled and gave her a quick wave. Anna Mae wasn’t paying them any attention at all; she was eating.
Maybe since they were moving to town, Anna Mae didn’t see her as a threat. After all, the schoolteacher had been the one to point out that they would be seeing more of Levi now. For some unknown reason, Millie sensed that Emily would be happy if Levi chose Anna Mae over her.
Did it bother him that they were in town? Or would he reconsider and agree to see each of them more? Levi had looked a little panic-stricken when Anna Mae had pointed out that he could spend more time with them now.
The sad truth of the matter was that Millie didn’t like this new development. Not because she wanted to marry Levi—she didn’t. But because that meant he would be getting married soon and their friendship would have to end. Wives didn’t usually cotton to their husbands having other women as best friends.
Millie swallowed hard. His best friend? Maybe she was getting too close to Levi. Her feelings for him had certainly grown stronger. Were they feelings of friendship or love?
Both. She let out a long, audible breath of pure frustration. What was she going to do?
Emotions churned within her like sour milk into butter. Her gut ached at the thought that she and Levi might soon lose the delicate relationship they had just begun to develop. Could she continue to be his friend and still keep her heart safe?
Chapter Sixteen
“Do you know the difference between most of us and Job?”
Millie sat forward, eager to hear the minister answer his own question. This Sunday morning service was even better than normal. She enjoyed the preacher’s explanation on Job and all the things he’d had to go through. She’d never heard it quite like this before, but it struck a chord in her heart and she knew the pastor was right. Now she waited eagerly for his next words. “The difference is the next verse in our text. Six little words. ‘In all this Job sinned not.’”
Millie leaned back in her seat, her mind a crazy mixture of hope and fear. Job. Now there was a man who had lost everything and then been given it back at the end.
She’d wondered if she’d lose everything and go to prison once she confessed to Eliza that she was the arsonist who had burned down her house. Oh, there was a difference between her and Job all right. Job hadn’t sinned.
She had. Then sinned again when she’d tried to cover it up. Sorrow gripped her heart.
The pastor’s next words caught her attention once more. “Oh, what peace restoration brings. To make things right with God, to settle problems with our brothers and sisters. God restored to Job everything he’d take away and even more. Why don’t you ask God to help you, to forgive you so that you can be in full fellowship with Him and others? Let’s bow for prayer.”
Millie felt hot tears flood her closed eyelids. How wonderful it would be not to have Eliza’s house fire hanging over her head. To not be fearful that someone would find out before she was ready to tell.
“Father,” she whispered, “I promise I will tell Eliza the first moment I can. Please restore my fellowship with You and help me to be brave when the time comes.”
A peace slipped quietly into her heart, and her soul calmed. She knew she’d have to make things right with Eliza, and whatever happened after that she’d leave in God’s hands. Millie knew that she wouldn’t be able to tell Levi what she’d done, at least not yet.
But since the brides had arrived in town, Millie hadn’t had a chance to visit with Levi alone anyway. It seemed that Anna Mae or Emily was always with them.
Millie quickly gathered her things and left the church a little lighter of heart. She swung the picnic basket she carried and hurried to the woods. During her last visit to the woods, Millie had found a small stream that trickled slowly along and wanted to explore the banks a little better. Her mind went to the sketches she could make there.
Just this morning, Mr. Welsh, the town barber, had asked her if she and Levi could make him a wooden picture like Daniel’s. She’d assured him they could. He wanted what he called a largemouth bass. Millie knew that was a fish and hoped to see some while at the water’s edge.
* * *
Through the open church window, Levi watched Millie head across the green grass back to town. Since he’d arrived earlier than her and been cornered by the brides to sit with them, he’d missed sitting with
her during the service.
Levi moved down the aisle as fast as the crowd would allow, then through the back door, quickly shaking the preacher’s hand. He’d been dodging the mail-order brides all week and just wanted a little alone time with Millie.
He sprinted after her. “Millie!” Levi prayed he wasn’t going to draw attention from his mother, Anna Mae or Emily.
She stopped and turned to face him. The smile he’d expected wasn’t there, but she waited for him.
As soon as he was close enough to talk to her in a normal voice, he said, “I hope I’m not disturbing you, but I was wondering if you’d like to take a ride in the country with me this afternoon.”
She tilted her pretty blond head and looked up at him. “Do you know what a bigmouth bass looks like?”
Her question took Levi by surprise. Was she calling him a bigmouth? Or a fish? Or did she really want to know what a bigmouth bass looked like? And if so, why? Figuring he’d better play it safe, he simply nodded.
“Can you show me one?” Millie stood with both fists on her hips. A wicker basket swung from her wrist. Her curious blue eyes studied his face.
He shrugged to hide his confusion. “Well, we’d have to go fishing and even then I can’t guarantee that I’ll catch one.” She seemed disappointed at his words. Levi rushed on. “But I can try.”
She smiled with approval. “All right then. I’ll go with you, but you have to go fishing. Deal?”
His mood suddenly buoyant, he shook the hand she extended. “Deal.” If she’d asked him to howl at the moon he would have done his best imitation of a wolf.
He knew she had no idea her presence gave him such joy. “All right, but you have to tell me why I am fishing for bigmouth bass.”
Levi glanced over his shoulder and saw his mother looking about for him. Fairly certain she hadn’t spotted them yet, he turned back to Millie. “I’ll go get a wagon and meet you on the edge of town in ten minutes.”
She looked at him uncertainly, but then came to a decision and nodded, sending his confidence spiraling upward.
Levi hurried to the livery. The last thing he wanted was to spend another boring Sunday afternoon with his mother and the mail-order brides. Snow snorted in his direction as he entered the barn.
“Sorry, ol’ fella. I’m taking the mare today. She pulls a wagon better than you.” He already had the mare by the halter and was leading her to the side of the livery where the wagon he’d rented before morning services waited.
What was Millie going on about bigmouth bass for? He didn’t mind fishing but hadn’t put a pole in the wagon. Where would he find the equipment he’d need to fish? He didn’t dare chance running into his mother and the brides at the boardinghouse.
Amos came around the livery with a fishing pole swung over his shoulder. “Miss Millie said I’d find you here.” He panted.
Levi stared. “Millie sent you?” he asked, dumbfounded.
“Yep, said you’d need a fishing pole and asked if I had one you could borrow. I told her sure and she told me to bring it here as fast as I could.” He handed the pole to Levi. “She also said that if I kept it a secret, you’d pay me.” The youth grinned like an ornery mule right before he bit you. Every tooth in his head showed.
Levi laughed. Millie Hamilton was quite a woman. “She was right.” He dug in his pocket and handed Amos his payment. “I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t mention this to anyone.”
“You got it, boss. See you in the morning.” Amos turned to leave but stopped short. “Oh, and be careful with that pole. It was my pa’s.”
“I will, Amos,” Levi promised.
Amos nodded and then left.
Levi put the pole in the bed of the wagon and then hitched up the mare. He took the back roads to the edge of town. A grin split his lips as he realized he was acting much like he had when he had been a boy dodging his mother so he could get out of some chore.
Millie stood in a grove of trees waiting for him. Levi jumped down, took the basket and then helped her up. He looked about to make sure they were still alone.
“I take it we are hiding from your mother?” she asked, scooting over on the seat to make room for him.
He grinned at her. “How did you guess?”
“Oh, after you took off, Amos came running toward me and said Mrs. Westland wanted to know if I knew where you were. I kind of pulled a sneaky on her.” Pink filled her cheeks.
Levi set the mare into motion. “What did you do?”
“Well, I asked Amos if he had a fishing pole you could use. When he said yes, I asked him if he would take it to you first and then go find your mother and tell her I said yes, I did know where you were.”
Levi groaned. “Then he’s going to tell her where we are now.”
Millie shook her head. “No, he isn’t. I also told him to tell her that I said you were at the livery, but not to tell her anything else he knew. I’m banking on the fact that she will hurry to the livery but you will be long gone and so will Amos.”
“But how is he going to explain why it took so long to get back to her?” Levi couldn’t wrap his mind around the fact that Millie might have outwitted his mother.
“Oh, that’s easy. If she asks, Amos is to tell her he went to make sure you were still there.” A smile split her lips and the pink ran high in her cheeks.
Levi tossed his head back and laughed with joy. Together, he and Millie had saved him from another Sunday afternoon spent in the sitting room at the boardinghouse answering endless questions. Millie’s giggle blended with his laughter, and they headed down the road.
“Where are we going?” Millie asked once they quit laughing.
“To the ranch. We have several fishing holes there.”
Millie looked about them. “I can’t believe you are going to the ranch while your mother is searching for you in town.” Her expression was one of disbelief, but her beautiful blue eyes danced merrily, and a hint of humor tilted the corner of her mouth.
“Desperate times call for desperate measures. Sometimes a man has to run for his life.”
“That sure is the truth.” Millie knew too well about desperation and running.
“Where were you headed when I stopped you?” Levi guided the buggy around a muddy spot in the road. Deep ruts had kept the water from draining, and Thursday’s rain still sat in the low areas.
Millie played with the folds of her dress. “There is a spring in the woods.”
“You went that deep into the woods?” Levi tried to keep his voice calm. If she was talking about the stream he thought she was, Millie had ventured way too far into the woods. Hadn’t she heard him when he’d told her about the mountain lions?
She met his gaze. “Yes, and I didn’t run into any mountain lions, rattlesnakes or black bears.”
The challenge in her eyes said he had no business telling her where she could go or what she could do. Levi remembered his father once telling him and Daniel, “Boys, when it comes to a woman pick your battles carefully.” This was one time he intended to do just that.
“I’m glad.” He turned his attention back on the little brown horse’s back. “Why am I fishing for a bigmouth bass?”
Millie laid her hand on his arm. Heat filled the spot where she touched him. “Thank you for not scolding me. I’ll be careful in the woods. I promise. As for why you are fishing, well, Mr. Welsh asked if we could make him a picture using a bigmouth bass. I told him sure, but I have no idea what one looks like.”
Levi laughed. “I see. Well, let’s hope we find one or I might have to get out one of my fishing books and show you.”
“You have a fishing book?” She removed her hand from his arm.
He missed her nearness, but today he just felt happy, and spending time with Millie gave him so much joy that Levi laughed again. “Yes, doesn’t everyone?”
Millie grinned. “No, I don’t think I have that one on my bookshelf.” She looked up at the sky. “Levi, are those dark clouds coming this way?”
>
Dark clouds were coming in fast. Spring storms were not uncommon in Texas, but they could be deadly. He estimated they were a good hour still from the ranch. “It looks that way.”
Her voice became small as she stated, “In New Mexico, we can see clouds like that but not get one drop of rain.”
“I wish that were true here.” Levi slapped the reins over the mare’s back to get her going a little faster. “We might be able to avoid getting wet if we head for the house.”
Lightning flashed across the sky, and a few seconds later thunder rocked the atmosphere. Millie jumped. “We hardly ever see lightning like that.” She eased closer to him on the bench.
Levi raised his arm over her shoulders and hugged her close. “You don’t have to worry. We’ll find shelter soon.” He prayed it was the truth.
Millie remained silent, but her hands clenched so tight he could see the nails biting into her palms. Lightning and thunder chased each other across the skies and with each boom, she quaked a little harder.
Once, when the lightning touched a tree near them, she cried out, then nervously bit her lip. He’d never met anyone who feared storms and wasn’t sure how to comfort her.
“Sing with me, Millie.”
“What?” He could barely hear her voice above the noise of the storm.
“Sing with me.” At her look of disbelief, he explained. “It will calm the horse so that she doesn’t bolt.” He hoped she didn’t know horses or she’d recognize right off that the mare was too old to bolt and had weathered much worse storms than this. But if he could get her mind off the storm, he could calm her fears. He waited for her to nod.
He began in a robust voice, “On Jordon’s stormy bank I stand and cast a wistful eye.” She joined him, singing harmony, her voice shaking, but they finished the song and started on another. “I will arise and go toward heaven.” She laid her head against his arm— whether to hear him better or for comfort, he wasn’t sure, but it felt good and right.
They arrived at the ranch as the first drops of rain hit the ground. A burst of lightning lit up the front yard. Millie squealed.
His Chosen Bride (Love Inspired Historical) Page 17