Brides of Idaho (15 page)

She didn’t know what to believe.

Mandy tossed aside the blanket and scrambled to her feet. “Is little Emmy okay?”

“Slept all night. No fever.”

“Good. Then if you and I know what’s good for us, we better get back and help Joanna.”

Glory needed no more excuse to head for the door. She barely glanced at Levi, not trusting herself to hide her confusion and uncertainty.

Outside, she and Mandy strolled toward the stopping house.

“I heard you and Levi talking all night.” Mandy nudged Glory and giggled. “Seems you’ve changed your mind about the man.”

“We were talking about horses. He knows a lot about horses for a preacher.” She forced suspicion into her voice.

“Well, he rides. I would hope he knows something about the animal under his saddle.” She moved far enough away to be out of reach. “I heard you talking about trust. I guess you’re learning how to trust a man instead of shoving him into a naughty corner along with Pa. Where, I might point out, he doesn’t belong, just as lots of the men don’t. I like Levi. He’s a good man.”

“You’re so willing to trust every man that you scare me.”

Mandy stopped and stared. “I am not.”

“Always ready to give Pa an excuse for leaving.”

Mandy snorted and stomped onward. “At least I don’t run from every man like he was poison.”

“I just find it hard to trust all the words that come from a man’s mouth.”

Mandy, several steps ahead, turned to face her. “Now there’s a sudden revelation.” She wrinkled her nose in mocking.

Glory laughed. “Guess I’m pretty obvious, aren’t I?”

L
evi got the children up, helped them put on their clothes that had dried overnight, and made a simple breakfast from the supplies Joanna sent over. He’d make a point of going by later in the day and paying her for them. After watching Emmy carefully for an hour or more, he came to the conclusion she had recovered from her illness the night before.

What a night it had been. He’d cracked open his heart to Glory, tentatively sharing things with her, knowing he must maintain strict boundaries and yet finding such sweet solace in telling her of his childhood.

She told story after story of the horses she’d worked with—abused, mishandled, neglected. Levi wondered if she realized how much she revealed of herself when she told about earning an animal’s trust, the way the animals tested her. He guessed she would have stopped talking if she had.

He watched Jack and Emmy play at the table. Seems they could amuse themselves quietly if they had to. Could he persuade someone else to watch them while he crossed the river to go look for their father? He knew one person he would trust to have consideration for their feelings—Glory. While he waited for her to open the shop, he tended to dishes and generally made the place livable. He heard her at the shop door. “Come on, kids. We’re going out.”

Jack dashed to the door as eager as a young kitten to be outside. Levi carried Emmy.

Already the sun had dried the tiny pasture next to the shop where Billy Bob and Pal grazed. He edged around to the front of the shop.

Glory had stepped inside and didn’t noticed his approach until his boots thumped on the step. She spun around, and when she saw it was him, her expression went from welcome to caution.

He had business to attend to. For a moment he diverted himself as he put Emmy on her feet. He focused on that in order not to think of the gentle hours of last night. He removed his hat and turned it round and round in his hands. “How much is the rent on this place?”

She hesitated. He could practically see her thoughts churning. “I’d let you stay for free, but I need money to buy more oats for my horses.”

“I can afford it,” Levi assured her. He had funds left from the amount he had set aside for living on. He didn’t intend to dip into the money he’d earmarked for starting a permanent work here—money he’d use as he felt the Lord direct.

“Two dollars for the month.”

“Two dollars?” he sputtered. “You sure?” It was far less than he knew she could reasonably ask.

“You ever known me to lie?”

He correctly read the challenge in her voice. “No, ma’am. Not once. Didn’t mean to imply otherwise. Promise you won’t challenge me to a shootout at high noon.”

Glory rolled her eyes to let him know just what she thought of his foolishness, noticed the worried look on the children’s faces, and leaned close to whisper, “He’s just being silly.”

Emmy shrugged one shoulder. “I knew that. Sort of.”

Levi whispered to the children as well. “I was just being cautious. She’s not the sort you want to fool around with.”

Emmy giggled.

Jack took a minute to decide if they were joshing or serious, but when he saw the pleased look on Levi’s face at making Emmy laugh, he chuckled.

Glory tossed her hands skyward and let out a groan. “I can see I’ll get nothing but silliness from the three of you.” But she grinned, ruffled Jack’s hair, and squeezed Emmy’s shoulder.

Levi met her look and held it. He didn’t free her from his intensity as he leaned back on his heels and studied her.

She shifted her eyes past his shoulder, but her gaze returned as if she couldn’t look away.

“This room will be just the place for us until I find their pa.”

“Yup,” she said. “Might teach you a few important lessons.”

“Like what?” She sounded almighty pleased about something, and he suspected it wasn’t about last night.

She half turned away. “Things like nightmares, silly fears, foods that gag certain people, and… things like saying something then taking it back. You don’t get to do that with kids.”

So they were back to the start. He caught her shoulder and spun her about to face him. “Glory, I didn’t mean to hurt you. I don’t plan to hurt you again.” Why then did he allow an evening of quiet talk, sharing memories and experiences, and why above all was he so stupidly happy to rent a room from her? A room sharing a wall with her business where she would show up every morning?

“I wasn’t talking about me.”

“Yes, I think you were.” But he had already gone over the line and he must stop right there and retreat. He pulled two dollars from his pocket and handed it to her.

She hesitated as if reconsidering.

“Take it.”

She grabbed the money and stuffed it in her pocket.

He grinned, knowing she fought a desire to tell him to pack his bags and leave. She might have except for the children. He didn’t doubt she cared about them. She understood how it felt to be waiting for their pa, afraid, uncertain, and with no place to belong.

Just thinking of it made his insides twist like he’d swallowed a bitter drink. Though it was as much on Glory’s behalf as the children’s. “I need some help,” he murmured.

Glory chuckled softly. “I’m sure you’ll manage just fine, Mr. Preacher Man.” She turned her back. “I need to attend to my chores.”

She’d misunderstood him. Thought he meant with looking after the children. It was sort of what he meant, and he decided to push the idea and grabbed her arm. “Have mercy on three poor souls.”

She froze in place, one hand extended toward her worktable, her head half-turned toward the window.

A snap of silent power blazed up his arm and pooled in his heart like he’d barely missed being struck by a bolt of lightning. He’d touched her before, several times last night, but this time was different. This time it was daylight. There was no crisis with the children to excuse his touch. He pulled back and forced his tone to remain teasing. “You wouldn’t leave us to manage on our own, would you?”

The children watched in confusion.

Glory blinked, seemed to shake herself. Her gaze went only as far as the children, and she seemed to struggle to remember their presence. Then she grinned down at them. “Do you think he’s being silly again?”

They nodded, still not quite sure what to make of it. Emmy looked up from under her thick eyelashes. “Maybe he could use some help. He can’t cook.”

Levi couldn’t believe his ears. “I haven’t let you starve.”

Emmy sighed. “’Preciate your kindness and all, but I’m getting a mite tired of hard biscuits and jerky.”

“Shush, Emmy,” Jack warned.

Glory tipped her head back and laughed.

Levi shoved his hat back on his head to hide his confusion. He thought he was doing just fine at looking after the children even though he was admittedly inexperienced.

“Where’s my pa? Why didn’t he come back for us?” Emmy choked out the words.

He reached out to pull them close. “Something must have happened to detain him. I’m sure we’ll hear from him soon. Likely he’s on his way back for you right now.”

Glory nudged him aside. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep or have to take back.”

Her words stung. “I didn’t.”

“Yes, you did. You can’t know if he’ll come back or not.”

Emmy wailed louder. “I want my pa.”

Glory knelt before the pair. “I can’t say what happened to your pa. Seems you’ll have to wait and find out. But right now you have a safe, warm place to stay.”

He was surprised she didn’t tell them to buck up. Not that he had anything to offer them but words of assurance he based on nothing more than hope and goodwill.

Emmy scrubbed at her eyes with her fists. “How long has your pa been gone?” she asked Glory.

Glory’s expression hardened. “He’s been in and out of my life since I was Jack’s age.”

“Don’t it bother you?”

Levi watched, wondering how she would answer. Would she admit it did, made her wary, defensive?

She leaned forward, bringing herself to eye level with the children. “I can’t say it doesn’t bother me, but that’s just how it is. I can’t change anything.”

Emmy nodded. “I guess not.” She sucked in air. “I’ll be okay.”

Glory lifted her face toward Levi, a look of admiration on her face at the child’s sudden acceptance of the facts.

Levi wanted to protest. Do something to prove to them all they could trust a man. A father. He addressed Glory. “Tell you what. If you would watch the children for me, I’ll go and find their pa.”

Glory took two steps away and looked at Levi with eyes darkened with suspicion.

“I’ll be back. I promise.”

“How can I look after them? I’ve got my work.” She waved an arm around the little shop. “My horses.” A vague wave to indicate some place beyond town. “My chores at the stopping house.”

“They’re right here. You can keep an eye on them as you work. Take them with you the rest of the time. Just spend the night here so they aren’t alone.”

Two pairs of big brown eyes begged her to do it, far more effectively than any words he could utter.

She sighed. Gave him a look of warning.

He read her loud and clear.
You better not run out on this.

“I’ll be back unless I’m dead. You can count on it. In fact”—he opened the notebook she kept on her worktable, tore out a page, and wrote on it—“I will carry this in my pocket just in case.” He handed the note to her.

She read aloud, her voice growing incredulous by the end. “‘In case of my demise, please return my body to Miss Glory Hamilton at Bonners Ferry. Inform her of the circumstances of my death and tell her I tried to get back.’ It doesn’t matter to me. I just don’t want to see the children building false hope.” With a flick of her wrist, she tossed the note at him.

He caught it and stuck it in his pocket.

She gave him a look fit to crispy-fry bacon. “I’ll watch them. You go find a missing father.”

“Which one. Theirs or yours?” He didn’t know what possessed him to say such a thing, but now that he had, he waited to see her reaction.

She pulled the two children to her side. “I don’t need a father. They do.” Her eyes challenged him to think otherwise.

Wisely, he held his tongue, but as he crossed on the ferry, he prayed not only to find Mr. Templeton but also Mr. Hamilton. He’d demand both men return and face their children.

“If anyone can find Pa, Mr. Powers can,” Emmy insisted as Glory prepared her for bed.

“I’m just saying don’t get your hopes too high.”

“Mr. Powers told us to pray. He said God listens to even little girls.”

Glory closed her eyes for a moment. She used to believe it without question, but her prayers for her pa to come back and take care of them had never been truly answered. Now she was trying to learn to trust God all over. Right now her fervent prayer was for God to provide a way for her to buy the land where she was keeping her horses.

Jack sat on the edge of the bed, waiting for Glory to read them a story and tuck them in. “I remember Pa saying sometimes it’s hard to trust when it seems things are going wrong, but that’s when we need to trust the hardest.”

Glory glanced at the boy. Where did such a young person get such wisdom? Did he suspect Levi would not return with the hoped-for, prayed-for result? Was he preparing himself for the worst? “Trust is indeed hardest when we need it worst.” And when she needed it most she’d let it go. No more. Levi was right. God’s promises weren’t subject to change.

She tucked the children in and listened to their breathing grow deep as she sat at the table and read from the Bible. But her thoughts kept drifting. Would Levi be able to find their father? Would he happen to run into her pa, too? And if he did…?