Gwynnie wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and nodded. “Of course, Mama.” But one look at Johnnie as the children followed her to the kitchen, and she was trying to cover her laughter all over again.
“That boy has a way with capturing life on the page,” Levi said. His stomach hurt from laughing so hard, but it felt as if he’d dropped an enormous weight in the process.
Rebecca cringed but smiled. “I don’t know about that . . . The exaggeration was impressive.”
“I don’t frown that much, do I?” Levi knew the answer even as he said the question out loud. “Please don’t answer that. Can supper wait a moment? I have something I’d like to show you.”
Rebecca glanced from him toward the children. “I suppose. Gwynnie seems to have it all in hand.”
“Good.” He handed Rebecca her coat, and as soon as she’d buttoned it up, he held out his hand.
She took it, and he led her outside. The frozen ground crunched beneath their feet, and the only sounds were the cow lowing and the far-off trickle of Silver Creek breaking through the ice. It was nearly sunset and getting colder, but inside the barn the temperature was much more comfortable.
Levi let go of Rebecca’s hand and crossed to where an old quilt lay draped over his latest creation in the corner.
“What is that?” she asked.
With a smile and a fervent prayer that she’d like it, he lifted the quilt.
“Levi!” Her mouth fell open and her eyes brightened. “Is that— Did you— When . . .?”
A joyful warmth filled him from head to toe. He’d worked so hard on this table, squeezing in hours between chores and staking out the ranch to the south. He wasn’t sure he’d get it finished in time, but after a couple of late nights, he’d pounded in the last nail.
“I’m glad you like it. It doesn’t have chairs yet, but those will come.” He set the quilt aside and met her eyes, which glowed honey brown in the fading light. “Happy birthday, Rebecca.”
She drew her lower lip between her teeth, and Levi thought he saw the hint of tears at the corners of her eyes. She blinked, and they were gone. “Thank you,” she said as she stepped forward beside him, grazing her fingers over the smooth wood. She looked up at him then. “You truly surprised me. I thought you were out here . . . Honestly, I didn’t know why you were out here so much. I suppose I assumed you wanted time away from us.”
Guilt ate at the corners of Levi’s heart. “I’m sorry if I made you feel that way. This has all been quite a change for me.”
She nodded, laying her hands flat on the table. “I understand. I haven’t told you lately how grateful I am for everything you’ve done for us. You needn’t have offered to provide for us, or to marry me. But you did, and I can’t express how thankful I am.”
He could tell she meant the words to be a kindness, but yet they hollowed him out. How could he tell her that he had done everything out of more than just kindness or sympathy? What he felt for her ran deeper than either of those emotions. “You’re welcome,” he said stiffly, clasping his hands behind his back.
She turned then, one hand still resting on the table while she eyed him as if she were trying to figure out a puzzle.
And that’s when he realized he’d done it again. He’d pulled away. Stifling a groan, he dropped his hands back to his sides. “I’m sorry.”
She watched him, apparently even more confused.
Levi shook his head. He’d have to come clean about what he’d overheard in town.
Chapter Twelve
“I DO THIS, I KNOW Ido,” Levi said. The words sounded as if he were forcing them through a strainer. “Pull away. Act . . . distant.”
