Levi (Prairie Grooms, Book Five) (8 page)

Fina shook her head. “Heavens no! I'm cooking for the first time tonight. I'm sure I'll be a wreck after that!”

Wilfred laughed. “Don't you worry none. You'll get plenty of practice in, and then, over time, be just as good a cook as anyone.”

“Anyone?” asked Mrs. Dunnigan as she scrunched her face up at him.

Wilfred cleared his throat. “Er… except you, dear.”

Fina and Apple tried not to laugh as they both turned back to the fabric table. “You should try to sew a dress,” suggested Apple. “Lena said she was going to try and, since you live so close to each other, you could practice together.”

“You have a point,” said Fina. “But today I'm not going to worry about fabric or sewing. I have something else in mind to buy.”

“Like what?”

Fina felt a tingle of excitement go up her spine. “I'm getting some paint and brushes today.”

Apple smiled and gave a little clap of her hands. “That's wonderful! What are you going to paint first?”

“I haven't the foggiest idea, but it will be grand!”

“I hear Harvey Brown needs his barn painted,” suggested Wilfred.

Fina giggled. “It's not that kind of painting. I mean to paint something on a canvas.”

“Ahhh, I see,” he said. “How big a canvas ya got?”

Fina stilled. Good heavens: she hadn’t thought about obtaining a canvas. “I'm afraid I don't.”

“Well ya gotta have somethin’ to paint on, don't ya?”

“You're quite right, sir. I do. Do you carry such a thing?”

“Nope.”

Fina closed her eyes and let out a tiny sigh. “Then why did you bring it up?”

“Because if you had a canvas, I was gonna ask where ya got it.”

Fina fought against a groan and smiled instead. “I'm afraid I haven't anything of the kind. Since you haven't a canvas, do you have paint or brushes?”

“We got a few of those, but not much. I can order some from Oregon City, if ya like.”

“You have some brushes and paint, don't you, sister?” asked Apple.

“Yes, but it's not enough to last me for long. I'll need more.”

Wilfred went behind the counter, reached under it, and took out a catalog. “I've seen paint and brushes in here. What might ya be needin’?”

Fina went to the counter and stared at the catalog. “What does it have in there?”

Wilfred thumbed through the pages until he found what he was looking for. He turned the catalog around, so she could see it better, and pointed at a small section with art supplies. “Will these do?”

Fina studied the page. “Oh, my; yes! Could you order them today?”

“Yep. As soon as Willy gets here with the stage, I’ll send the order out with him.”

“That would be wonderful,” she told him. “In the meantime, I can just use what I have.”

“I've got some paint in the back I can sell ya,” offered Wilfred with a smile.

“What colors?”

“Red.”

“That's it? You only have one color?”

“Take it or leave it; that's all I got.”

“I'll take it. I can mix it with what I have.”

“But, Fina,” began Apple, “you don't have any canvas. What are you going to paint on?”

Fina looked at her sister and smiled. “Whatever I can find.”

Eight

Levi knocked on the door of Doc’s patient room and entered. Harrison stood next to Cutty’s bed, while Fina's cousin, Imogene, sat in a chair on the other side, a book in her hand. “Howdy, Harrison,” he said.

“Why, Levi, what brings you to town? I thought you and your new bride would remain ensconced at your place for several days, at least, considering you just got married.”

“Trust me, I would love to be
ensconced,
as you say, but I needed a few things in town. May I speak with you?”

“Of course. What about?”

“In addition to your generous wedding present, I'd like to purchase some additional stock.”

“I'd be happy to oblige you,” said Harrison. “Please, let's step into the parlor and you can tell me what you have in mind.”

“Good,” said Imogene. “I can get back to reading.”

“Yes,” rasped Cutty. “I want to know what happens next!”

“What are you reading today?” asked Levi.

“One of Honoria’s penny dreadfuls,” said Imogene. “I always thought her a silly thing for reading them, but now I have to admit I rather like the horrible things.”

“Like them?” coughed Cutty in shock. “You belong on the stage!”

Imogene blushed. “Well, they’re much better when read with a bit of flair.”

Levi and Harrison laughed, and then left the room. Once they reached the parlor, Levi turned to him. “If I didn't know any better, I'd say your cousin has a spark in her eye for Cutty.”

“I'm inclined to agree with you,” said Harrison. “Cutty does much better when she comes to visit him. He'll be back to his old self in no time.”

“Is it just me, or did Cutty have his few remaining hairs combed?”

“Not only was his hair combed, but I do believe the man actually bathed.”

“No kidding?” Levi let out a low whistle. “Love really is in the air.”

“Yes, I believe you’re right; though he still needs a good shave.”

“Well, well,” mused Levi. “Who would have ever thought?”

“And how is the
air
in your sphere of being?” Harrison asked.

“It's coming along. One can’t expect it to bloom overnight. Especially when the flower is, as we say, closed up.”

“I trust her petals will not be closed for long,” Harrison told him with a wink.

“Not if I can help it. Now, to business…”

* * *

“The dread pirate then tied her to the ship's mast and put his knife to her throat!” cried Imogene.

Cutty coughed as she read to him the final chapter of the penny dreadful. Ever since the woman first showed up at his bedside, he felt annoyed at her presence. But his fear of boredom won out over any irritation the woman caused. Besides, listening to her read Honoria Cooke’s old adventure novels kept boredom at bay quite nicely.

“Now, Miss Pennie Winkle, will you marry me?” Imogene recited with a dramatic wave of her hand. “Or do I make you walk the plank?” She turned the page of the small book, looked at it in horror, and gasped.

“What? What happens next?” demanded Cutty. “Don't just stare at the dang blasted page! Tell me!”

“Well, I would if I could, but the next few pages are missing.”

Now it was Cutty’s turn to look horrified. “No!”

“Yes!”

“Tell me it isn't so!”

She flipped the book over so he could see the missing pages. “It's a horrible travesty to be sure, a disaster beyond compare!”

Cutty’s expression fell into disappointment as he stared at the torn pages. “But I
gotta

know what happens to Miss Pennie Winkle!”

Imogene closed the book and set it on her lap with a heavy sigh. “I'm afraid, dear sir, that we shall never know.”

“Dagnabbit! I gotta know!”

“Well, if you really insist, I could always make up an ending.”

He stared at her in disbelief. “You could?”

“My dear sir, while in India, we wiled away many an hour telling such stories. The only difference is that the stories we told were
true
.”

Cutty sneered. “You’re joshin’ me.”

“I most certainly am not!”

Cutty sat up a little straighter in the bed and glared at her. “I don't believe ya.”

“Which would you rather hear? Stories from these made up penny dreadfuls, or the
real
thing?” she asked in an ominous tone.

He snorted. “Well, if you can top what happens to Miss Pennie Winkle, I'll give ya a whole dollar.”

“An entire dollar? My, my, that’s a very rich offer, I must say. Tell me,” she said as she leaned toward him in her chair. “Would you like to hear the story of how I bagged a tiger?”

“Bagged a tiger?” he sputtered.

“Oh, Cousin,” a voice groaned from the doorway, “not the tiger story.”

They looked up to find Fina standing on the threshold. “Felicina, my dear, do come in,” said Imogene.

“Before she tells you anything,” Fina said to Cutty. “She really did bag the tiger, but my sisters and I have heard several different versions of how it happened.”

“Don't spoil it for the man,” scolded Imogene. “Besides, aren’t there four different gospels? He'll get the truth and nothing but the truth! If Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John can all share the same story in their own way, then why can’t my story be told like that?”

“I'm sure he’ll appreciate listening to it, no matter which version you choose, Cousin.

By the way, have you seen my husband?”

“I believe he and Harrison went into the parlor to discuss some business.”

“Really? I didn't see them when I came into the house. I came to see what Levi wanted from the mercantile.”

“I’m afraid I can't help you. You'll just have to go look for him.”

Fina shrugged and turned toward the door. “Apple is down at the hotel, visiting Eloise. She told me to tell you.”

“Thank you. As soon as I'm done making a believer out of this fine gentleman, I shall join her for tea.”

“You calling me a gentleman?” asked Cutty in disbelief, and then suddenly sobered. “Wait a minute, believe what?”

Imogene ignored him. “Of course, only a true gentleman would sit and listen to such a tale as I'm about to tell.”

Fina rolled her eyes, shook her head, and left poor Cutty in the hands of Cousin Imogene. She was heading to the front door just as Grandma Waller came down the stairs. “Oh, excuse me,” said Fina. “But have you seen my husband and Harrison?”

“I think they went down to the livery. How are you doing this morning, child? Did you… have a nice night?”

Fina blushed. “As well as can be expected,” she said, not knowing what else to say.

“Well
,
now,” said Grandma with a smile. “Isn't that nice? Have you thought about what you're going to cook that man for supper?”

Her eyes widened in panic. “I'm afraid not.”

“Well, well,” said Grandma with a grin. “Let's step into the kitchen and I’ll give you a few pointers, while your husband tends to his business.”

Fina sighed in relief. “Oh, Grandma Waller, would you?”

Grandma laughed. “You wouldn't be the first bride I’ve helped out. Come on, I'll show you one of the easiest things to make for dinner.”

Fina stifled a giggle and followed Grandma into the kitchen. She'd been so focused on, and excited about, ordering art supplies that she'd forgotten all about having to cook dinner that night. If only Grandma could come to her rescue every night, life would be so much easier. But life on the prairie was anything but easy.

* * *

Levi was kind enough to stay in town longer than planned and let Fina have tea with her sister and cousins, while he and Harrison discussed livestock. All too soon, however, their tea came to an end, and it was time for her to go.

“I do hope you'll be able to come to town again soon,” said Apple as she hugged her. “Better yet, come to the ranch and we can spend all day together.”

“Maybe you could come to my house and visit with Lena and me,” suggested Fina.

“That would be wonderful!” Apple said brightly. “Then I can see what it's like to be married!”

“Oh, dear,” said Fina. “I don't know much about that. Unless you consider poorly done laundry, burnt biscuits, and who knows what other disasters I can accomplish, a good representation of married life.”

Apple giggled. “Oh, Fina; stop being so silly.”

“I'm not silly. On the contrary; I'm being realistic.”

Apple giggled again, ignoring her statement, and watched as Levi came around the side of the Triple C’s wagon. After they’d finished their tea, Apple and Fina came outside to enjoy the fresh air until it was time to leave. It wasn't long before Levi and Harrison emerged from the livery stable. “Are you ready, ladies?” asked Levi.

“Yes, of course,” said Fina.

“Come along then, Apple,” said Harrison. “We'd best get home and see what trouble the rest of the family has gotten into.”

Apple hugged Fina one last time. “I’m going to miss you, sister, oh so terribly.”

Fina gazed at her with concern. “Are you lonely out at the Triple C?”

Apple swallowed and shook her head. “Me? Lonely? Of course not.”

Fina studied her. “Liar.”

“I would never tell a lie,” Apple stated in all seriousness.

“Then I shall believe you, and leave you in the good hands of our cousin.”

Apple smiled, nodded, and then turned to Harrison. He helped her up onto the wagon seat, and then jumped up himself. “It’s too late now, but if I can spare one of the men tomorrow, I’ll have him bring those steers to you,” he called down. “If not, I’ll bring them myself.”

“That would be fine,” Levi told him. He turned to Fina. “Ready, beautiful?”

Fina heard Apple gasp at the endearment, then giggle. She looked up at her sister's smiling face then back at Levi. “Yes, I'm ready.”

“Then, shall we?” he asked as he motioned to their wagon behind the Triple C's.

“Of course,” she said as she took one last look at Apple. Harrison tipped his hat to her, gave his horses a slap of the reins, and they were off. A sudden pang of loneliness dropped into her heart, and Fina wished Apple was going home with her, rather than back to the Triple C. At least she knew that Apple was well taken care of, and that plenty of people were around to keep her company. “Wait a minute,” she muttered to herself.

“Something wrong?” asked Levi.

“Only Apple left with Harrison. What about Cousin Imogene?”

Levi looked at the hotel, then back to his wife. “You're right. Didn't they come to town together?”

“I assume so.” She, too, looked at the hotel. “You don't suppose my cousin is staying in town because of that man, do you?”

Levi shrugged. “What if she is?”

“Imogene? Stay in town because of a …
man
?”

“Don’t sound so shocked. I'm certain it wouldn’t be the first time a woman went to such lengths to be near a man.”

Fina's mouth dropped open. “Cousin
Imogene
? I don't believe it.”

Levi laughed. “It's my guess that there are a lot of things you don't believe.” She gawked at him, and he raised a single eyebrow to affirm his thought.

She wasn't about to go for it. “We'd best get back to the house.”

He lowered his brow and stared at her. “What? You're not going to counter anything I just said?”

“Of course not, why should I?”

He put his hands on his hips. “Well, how do you like that? I throw out the perfect opportunity for you to start an argument, and you don't take it.”

She looked up at him and smiled. “That's one point for me, then, Mr. Stone.” She offered him her hand so he could help her up.

He gave her a mock glare. “Okay, I’ll concede. You’ve gained one point. But the day isn't over yet. In fact, it's barely lunch time, and I'm just dying to know what you're going to make for my midday meal.”

“Dying, dear sir, may be the operative word. Are you sure you don't want to dine in town?”

“I'm a brave man, Mrs. Stone. I'll take my chances with you.”

“Remember those words,” she said and fought against a giggle. “In fact, perhaps I should have them in writing.”

He laughed, helped her up to the wagon seat, then went around and climbed up himself.

“You really think your cooking is going to be that bad, eh?”

He flicked the reins. Fina gripped the seat as the wagon lurched forward. “It will be a surprise for the both of us, I'm sure.”

“Well, I suppose since we both know you can't cook, no points will be scored until after lunch.”

“I quite agree.”

“However, I am looking forward to dessert.”