She nodded, those pretty pink lips pursed in worry.
“Wolves,” he said, saying the first thing that came to mind. It wasn’t a lie, at least. They’d been spotted in the valley recently, although they were more troublesome to ranchers than they were to a small farmer like himself.
Rebecca’s eyes widened.
“You needn’t worry about them. They want chickens and cattle, not children. But given that we’d like to keep our chickens and our milk cow, I’ve taken to going out at night to keep an eye on things.” And he certainly had kept watch for wolves, on his way to and from the Coopers’ ranch.
Rebecca leaned forward. “Did you see any?”
“I haven’t, thankfully. Although I have heard them.”
She clasped her hands tighter. “I’m glad I’ve slept through that. I’d likely never sleep again if I heard that howling in the dead of night.”
Her words teased a memory from the back of his mind. It was one he hadn’t thought of in so long, and it made him smile.
Rebecca gave a nervous laugh. “May I ask what it is about wolves that is making you smile?”
He laughed and covered her hands with his. “When I was about eight or nine years old, Edward had taken my little set of toy soldiers to school. An older boy took them, and I was so angry that I was determined to get him back. So I paid a friend in licorice candies to come stand under our bedroom window at night and howl like a wolf. It scared Edward so badly that he went running for our parents.” Levi grinned at the memory. No one had ever found out who had done the howling and why, although his parents had easily figured out that the sound had come from a human.
Rebecca laughed too. “I can’t say I ever did anything like that to Eleanor. But she did plenty to torment me, being the younger sister.” She regaled him with a story involving a rag doll and a muddy creek bank, and Levi could almost picture a little, pig-tailed Rebecca stomping her foot with her hands on her hips when she discovered her ruined doll.
“It’s funny, isn’t it?” she said. “How your sibling can test your patience so much as children, but become your dearest friend as an adult.”
Levi’s throat closed, and he nodded.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought up something so sensitive.” Rebecca pulled a hand from beneath his and rested it on top.
“It’s all right. I like reliving the memories I have of Edward.” It ached, but it soothed his soul at the same time. He thought he could sit here like this all day with Rebecca, reminiscing and getting to know more about her childhood. But the weariness gnawed at his bones, and he still had work to do outside before he could steal a few hours of precious rest. “I ought to get to work.”
“Of course.” Rebecca flashed him a sweet smile before removing her hands from his and standing. “The boys are eager to help. Gwynnie has likely already milked the cow.”
An unexpected dose of pride filled Levi’s chest. He might not have been the father these children knew, but he’d been the one to teach them about everything that needed doing around a farm. “Then I’d best get out there.”
The day stretched on, and Levi found himself looking often to the south. Had he imagined what he’d heard on his ride home? It seemed impossible. The sounds were much too clear. It could have been an animal, of course, but deep down in his gut, he knew that was untrue.
He pulled off his hat and ruffled his hair as he blinked into the early spring sun. Nothing was amiss right now, as far as he could see. The children played around the house, Rebecca sung a sweet song as she baked inside, and he’d managed to sleep for a couple of hours before beginning to repair part of the corral fence.
Back in town, Marshal Hunt had told him that he’d pass the possibility of Prather’s presence by the county sheriff. Levi had come here on a mission—alone—and that was how he’d intended to accomplish what needed doing. But now that the local lawmen knew who he was and the danger that sat out here in this valley, perhaps it might not be such a bad idea to pay a visit to the sheriff directly. He could round up a few of his deputies, andwith them as back-up, maybe Levi could finally put an end to the months of waiting.
He tried to imagine what it would be like, living here with his new family without the worry of Prather weighing on his mind. All he’d have to do would be to farm, feed his family, and watch the sunset with his beautiful wife. He smiled at the idea of Rebecca leaning against his shoulder as the sun went down, his arm wrapped around her, and their conversation light and pleasant.
It was a nice thought, until he remembered that he would still have his work. And that work didn’t include nights spent at home or pleasant evenings watching children play in the yard.
For the first time ever, Levi resented the job that kept him in enough funds to operate this farm. The job that he’d always loved, that he’d thrived in doing.
He tapped his hat against his leg, wondering what in the world had come over him.
