Levi (Prairie Grooms, Book Five) (15 page)

bring up the jewelry box, or would she have to point it out to him? Did she dare confront him before the opened trunk, or play it safe and say nothing? So many questions!

She followed him into the house, up the stairs, and into the bedroom. Levi went to the trunk and reached into his pants pocket. “Uh-oh,” he muttered to himself.

“What's wrong?”

“I think I may have lost the key… no… wait a minute,” he said as he patted his shirt pocket. “Here it is.”

It was now or never. “You locked your trunk?”

He looked at her. “Yes, I've got something in there I really need to tend to. It's a good thing I found the key or we wouldn’t be able to get the tablecloth.”

“Perhaps you'd better pay attention to where you keep it,” she suggested, nodding her head at the key in his hand, praying hers wouldn’t shake and give her away.

“I agree with you, and put the life of my pants in your capable hands.”

“You what?”

“I've got a hole in my pocket. I’m too used to putting things in it, but don’t dare until they’re mended. You can mend them, can’t you?”

“Oh, is that all?”

“I'm forever losing things when I wear this particular pair, but they're my favorite work pants.”

“I'll see what I can do this evening after dinner. You
do
have needle and thread?”

“Of course, but don't ask me to use them.”

“What? Your mother didn't teach you how to sew as well?”

“Cook, yes. Sew, no.”

“I’m afraid my mending skills aren’t any better than yours.”

“That may be true, but you’re a woman; your instinct for this sort of thing is bound to be better. Now, about that the tablecloth.” He unlocked the trunk and opened it. “I know it's in here somewhere.”

Fina ignored his sewing jest, and together they knelt in front of the trunk. She did her best to remain calm as Levi began to remove items. “Here, hold this,” he said as he handed her the folded suit.

“You wore this in Boston.” It was not a question.

“Yes, I did. It's been a long time since I've worn that suit.”

She looked at him. “How long?”

“Since my mother died.” He turned back to the trunk and began to remove boxes. He took out the hatbox and the one containing the gloves. Fina watched in nervous anticipation as he removed more boxes until, finally, he removed the one that sat atop the jewelry box. “Here it is!” He pulled off lid to show her the tablecloth.

“Beautiful,” she said and reached out a hand to touch it. Against her will, her eyes gravitated back to the jewelry box.

Levi caught the look and smiled. “Pretty, isn't it?”

She stared at him and swallowed hard. “Very,” came out a croak.

“Something wrong?”

Fina shook her head. “Nothing,” she squeaked.

Levi reached in and took the jewelry box out of the trunk. “It was my mother's.” He looked at her. “And her mother's before her. I'd be honored if you would accept it as a gift, and then one day give it to our daughter.”

Fina felt as though she might faint. “What?”

“The kitchen table I made to pass down to our children, and then their children, and so on. I just hope they don't mind the color red. Be that as it may, I know you won't paint over this, will you?” he asked in a worried tone.

She shook her head but failed to keep her mouth from hanging open when he gave it to her. Her hands shook as she took it. “It's so lovely.”

“It even has a key,” he said and pointed to the lock. “See?”

Fina swallowed hard. “Is there… anything in it?” she asked, her last word coming out a high chirp.

Levi laughed. “Yeah, as a matter of fact there is. I guess I better take care of it.”

Her head snapped up. “What… What's in it?”

He looked at the box, then leaned toward her and gazed into her eyes. “Why don’t you tell me, Mrs. Stone?”

Fina fought the urge to bolt. But then, why shouldn't she trust him? He’d not given her any indication he would harm her. Her lower lip trembled as she returned his gaze. “Where did you get it?”

Levi shook his head. “I knew you looked.”

“Levi, I'm so sorry,” she choked. “I'm horrible for doing it! Can you forgive me?”

“Forgive you for what?”

“For looking in your trunk!”

“Fella, when a wife can't look in her husband's trunk or any of his other things after they first marry, then what does that tell you?”

Her tears fell. “That… that there's no trust between them?”

“Beautiful, if I didn't want you looking in my trunk then I would've locked it before-hand, not after.”

“Then why did you lock it?”

Because I forgot to take the money to the bank where it would be safe. I was too wrapped up with our wedding and getting ready for it.”

“But… where did the money come from?”

He shrugged. “It's a wedding present from Mr. Van Cleet. I wanted to surprise you with it.”

“Wha… what's it for?”

“There's something I've always wanted to do all my life and gave it up to come out West.”

“What's that?”

He smiled. “I've always wanted to go abroad. I had some money saved when Cyrus asked me to come west and work for him. I knew then that I had to make a choice, and decided going west would be just as big an adventure as, say, Paris.”

“Paris!”

“We’ll use it for our children, eh?”

That was it. She lost it.

“Fella! What's wrong?” he asked as she blubbered next to him.

“I’m an idiot! That's what's wrong!” she managed through her tears.

Levi took her in his arms to calm her. “What are you talking about? I don't care if you went through my trunk and saw the money.”

“It's not that,” she said. I… I didn't trust you enough and… even thought that…”

He looked at her. “You thought what?”

She sniffed back her tears and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “I thought you might be an outlaw, hiding what you stole!”

He let go of her and sat back on his heels. “You want?!”

Fina buried her face in her hands and let out another wail.

Levi's jaw dropped as he gawked at her and then, unable to help himself, he laughed.

“How can you laugh at a time like this?” Fina cried into her hands. “I thought the worst possible things of you!”

Levi tried to calm down, and failed miserably. He slapped his leg with his hand. “Fella! You beautiful, wonderful woman! For the rest of my life I will never have a boring day, so long as I'm married to you!”

She brought her face out of her hands and stared at him. “What did you say?”

“Come here, beautiful,” he said as her reached out and took her in his arms. He kissed the top of her head. “I can see how you might think the worst, considering you don't know me very well, but…” He gently pushed her away from him so he could look in her eyes. “Do you think you know me now, at least enough to know that I'm no outlaw?”

She nodded and swallowed hard. “Does… does this mean I’ve lost the game?”

He laughed again and pulled her into his arms once more. “Fella, darling, I’d say you just won.”

Fifteen

The next day, Apple was more determined than ever to get to town. If she could just talk to Mr. Van Cleet again, she knew she'd be able to find out more information about Levi and his mysterious trunk. And if not Mr. Van Cleet, she'd ask other people around town to see what they knew.

She put on a pink calico day dress, ran a brush through her blonde locks and, not bothering to pin her hair up, ran downstairs. Colin and Harrison were just heading out the kitchen’s back door to the barn. “It will take every man we have to move the stock today, brother,” Harrison told Colin. “I hope you got your beauty rest last night.”

“I did, but I don't think Belle can say the same.”

“Too bad. I remember when Sadie went through the same business. I’m certainly glad I'm not a woman.”

“That makes two of us.”

Apple stepped into the kitchen and, disheartened by their words, plopped down into a chair at the table. Harrison turned. “Good morning, Apple. You're up early.”

She gave him a weak smile, stood, and went to the stove. “I have a lot of things planned today.”

“Glad to hear it,” said Colin. “Busy girls are better girls, they say.”

“Who says?” she asked, and reached for the coffee pot.

“I suppose I just did,” Colin said with a smile.

She poured herself a cup, then went back to the table and sat. “Are the two of you going to be busy all day?”

“I'm afraid so, dearest,” said Harrison. “Everyone, including Jefferson, will be helping us move the stock, so no trips to town today, understood?”

Apple forced a smile. “I'll be sewing anyway.”

“Good, you’ll have plenty to keep you busy then,” he said. “We’ll see you at dinner.”

“You mean you're not even coming back for luncheon?” she asked.

“Not today, sweet pea,” said Colin. “This is going to be an all-day job.”

“Oh,” said Apple as she poured cream into her coffee. “Right; well, don't work yourselves silly.”

“We'll try not to,” said Harrison. With that, he and Colin went out the door.

Apple let out a heavy sigh and put her chin in her hands. “Now what am I going to do?” she mumbled to herself.

It was then she got an idea.

Apple sat up, her eyes bright. “Of course! Why didn't I think of this before?” She clapped her hands at her own ingenuity, got up, and raced upstairs to her room.

* * *

“Did you do the mending, beautiful?” Levi asked as Fina came downstairs to breakfast.

She went to him, put her hands in his hair, bent his face down and kissed him. “Yes,” she breathed, once she broke the kiss. She then kissed him again. He took her wrists and wrapped her arms around his waist, then enfolded her in his own. “Well, good morning to you, too, Mrs. Stone. You slept well, I take it?”

She gazed up at him, adoration and desire in her eyes. “How could I not, when I was wrapped in your arms all night?”

“You could have waited the full six days you had left, you know.”

“I know, but I didn't want to. I wanted you then, and I want you now.”

“Whoa, there, Fella,” he said with a wide grin. “I knew loving you was going to be great, but I didn't think I'd create such a monster.”

“A monster? You're calling me a monster?”

He kissed her on the forehead. “No, you’re too beautiful to be a monster. If anything, I've been a monster, teasing you as much as I have.”

She smiled. “Actually… I rather liked it.”

He laughed. “Well, aren’t you full of surprises? And here, I thought I was being too hard on you.”

“Never,” she said and noticed that the jewelry box sat on the kitchen table. “What is that doing down here?”

“Ah, yes; I'm going to run to town and put this in the bank. I should've done it days ago, but was…” he leaned toward her… “preoccupied.”

She slapped at his arm. “I believe we both were.”

“We'll go right after breakfast, all right?”

“All right.” He kissed her then. It was a good thing he hadn’t started breakfast yet.

* * *

Apple rode into town, using a cow trail instead of the main road. Jefferson had told her about it, even drove it one day to show it to her. She knew that it was a roundabout way to get to Clear Creek, but she was also less likely to run into anyone who’d demand she turn Juliet around and go straight home. But then, who would she run into? Surely no one would protest her initiative to saddle the mare and go to town alone, would they? Besides, she needed more thread.

Apple whistled as she rode, and urged Juliet into a canter. It was a warm day, and she took great joy in the way the wind whipped through her hair and sun shining down upon her. It gave her a wonderful sense of freedom to ride across the prairie like this, and if it weren't for her current mission, she'd consider riding Juliet the rest of the day. But an invigorating ride was not why she was out here. She was on her way to town to get the information she needed, and give to her sister. Time was of the essence. Who knew what danger Fina might be in by now?

The rest of her ride was uneventful, and she arrived in town unscathed. By following the cow trail, she could ride to the back of the bank, tether Juliet, then run inside and speak with Mr. Van Cleet without anyone seeing her.

Once she arrived at her destination, she tethered the horse as she planned, then went to a door at the back of what she guessed was the bank building. It was locked. “Blast! Now I’ll have to use the front door.”

She was hoping not to, as she didn't want anyone to see her, but what was she to do? She went to the side of the building and, feeling like some spy, crept along it until she reached the front. She glanced quickly about, and then jumped up onto the boardwalk with a squeak of excitement. This was better than any of Miss Penny Winkle's adventures!

She went to the front door of the bank. Locked. “That's odd,” she said with a cock of her head. “Why is the bank not open?”

Disappointed, she stepped to the edge of the boardwalk. There were a few people across the street, but no one paid her any attention as they went about their business. She looked down the street to the mercantile, then up and across to the sheriff’s office and livery stable. No action there, either. She sighed and was about to turn to leave, when something caught her eye. Something
shiny
.

Like a moth to a flame, Apple gravitated to the middle of the street. “A key,” she stated as she bent down and picked it up. “Somebody must have dropped it; but who?” Her eyes brightened as she turned back to the bank. “I wonder…”

Apple glanced around and hurried back to the boardwalk. Could it be that Mr. Van Cleet left on an errand and dropped his key? She
did
find it right in front of the building. But then if that were the case, shouldn't she wait from him to come back?

Mr. Mulligan’s whistling caught her attention, and she turned as he came down the boardwalk toward the saloon. “Morning, Miss Sayer,” he greeted.

“Good morning,” she said with a nervous smile. “Have you seen Mr. Van Cleet?”

“Can’t say that I have, but he's got to be around here somewhere. He's the one that has to open the bank. Why don’t you wait for him? I'm sure he'll be along shortly.”

“Thank you; I’ll do that.” She watched Mr. Mulligan saunter off to the saloon. No one was looking and no one else was about. Should she?

Apple nodded to herself. “I have to, for Fina’s sake.” She spun to the door and inserted the key into the lock. It fit! She quickly turned it, opened the door, and slipped inside.

Once there, she fell against the door to close it, and tried to calm herself. “I'm a criminal!” she said with a dramatic sigh. Her eyes darted around the room. “Hello? Mr. Van Cleet? I found your key out in the street.”

Apple came away from the door, searched the small lobby area, then went to the counter and tried to peek over it. Realizing she was too short, she went around it instead. “Hello?” There was a short hallway beyond the safe, and a small desk area to her left. “Oh, my goodness!” she exclaimed as she turned toward the safe. How did she not notice it before? The mammoth thing was wide open.

Apple took a few steps forward and studied the contents. Everything was just as it was the day Mr. Van Cleet showed it to her, except for one thing. Levi's jewelry box sat on a low shelf. Apple gasped.

It was then she heard a click, and the bank door opened.

Apple dove to the floor.

“Hello?” a male voice called.

Apple heard the man take a step, and then another. She quickly crawled along the floor to the small desk, as his booted feet drew closer. She slid underneath the desk, squeezed into the corner, and tried to become as small as possible.

“Where is everybody?” the man asked. He then chuckled, whoever he was. “This will be the easiest job I've ever done!”

Apple covered her mouth with both hands to keep from crying out.
He was an outlaw!
What else could he be? And he was there to
rob
the bank! She knew she should've relocked the door after she entered!

“Let's see here, where to start?” he said to himself as he came around the counter. “Well, will ye look at that; wide open and just waiting for me! This is my lucky day.”

Apple's heart felt like it was about to explode, and her breath caught in her throat. She was alone in the bank with an outlaw determined to rob it! And she was the one who’d made it easy for him by not locking the door! Now what was she going to do?

She gulped and, ever so carefully, peeked under the desk from her hiding spot. She saw a pair of legs standing in front of the safe. She watched as he took several steps toward it and bent over. If he turned, even just a little, he'd see her. And if he did, then what? Apple licked her dry lips. She was going to have to make a run for it. What else could she do? At least it would be better than waiting to be discovered by the bandit.

She carefully stood as the man produced a black sack from beneath his jacket and reached into the safe. Apple shook her head against a sudden bout of dizziness.

No! You will not swoon, Apple!
she thought to herself.
You're the only one standing between this nasty man and the money he's stealing from the poor people of Clear Creek!
For some reason, that bolstered her courage.

Apple crept around the desk as the outlaw, his back to her, filled his sack. Apple bit her lip. All it would take was one good shove…

* * *

Chase led the sheriff's horse out of the livery stable and down the street. He tethered the horse at the hitching post and went inside the sheriff’s office. “Mornin’ Harlan,” he greeted.

Sheriff Hughes stood up from behind his desk. “You done already?”

“Yeah, your horse only threw one shoe, and the others look fine. They should work fine for awhile.”

“Good to hear. What do I owe ya?”

“The usual.”

Harlan began to reach into his shirt pocket, when Apple stumbled through the door.

“Sheriff Hughes!” she cried. “I… I… caught… out…”

“Tarnation, girl,” the sheriff snapped. “Slow down, will ya?”

“But… but there's a man… at the bank,” she screeched.

“What man? You mean Cyrus? I don’t think he came into town today, on account he’s sick. Levi was supposed to meet up with …”

“No!” she interrupted. “The one I just caught
robbing the bank
!”

“You did,
what
?”
Sheriff Hughes shouted and headed for the door.

Chase followed on his heels. “You stay here, Apple. Don't move,” he ordered, his voice stern.

She nodded, hands shaking, and leaned against the desk for support. What she'd done was a very brave, yet-- now that she thought on it-- stupid thing to do. She’d pushed the outlaw headfirst into the safe and shut the door on him. True, he wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. But if they didn't get him out quickly, he wouldn't be going anywhere at all. Then it suddenly dawned on her what Sheriff Hughes said.
Mr. Van Cleet didn’t come into town because he was sick.
Good Lord! She came away from the desk, ran for the door and raced across the street. “Sheriff Hughes!” she shouted as she ran into the bank.

Chase grabbed her. “What do you think you're doing? You get back across that street right now or, so help me, I’ll tan your hide!”

“But I… I locked him in the safe!”

“Yes, you said …
what?!

“I locked him in the safe!” she repeated.

“Good Lord!” Chase looked to the sheriff. “What are we gonna do?”

“Is Levi still in town?” the sheriff asked.

“Levi?” said Apple. “Why would Levi be in town?”

“It's Thursday. He brought your sisters to town so they could go to the sewing circle.”