The Cowboy's City Girl. Linda Ford

      “It’s time to prepare supper.”

      She swallowed back her rising panic. If only Aunt Opal was here to tell her what to do. I can do this. I must do it. I have to be able to support myself if I’m to avoid my father’s plans. Hoping she portrayed more confidence than she felt, she got to her feet and hurried to the cupboard.

      “Levi brought in potatoes and chops before the rain started.”

      A few simple words and Beatrice felt like she’d stepped off the deep end of a wharf. I can do this, she repeated.

      A few minutes later she was ready to change her mind. She knew to scrub the potatoes and put them to boil, but when she looked at the basin holding the chops she had to push back a desire to gag. What was one to do with them? Fry them? She could do that. Aunt Opal had taught her that much.

      Hoping Maisie might make a suggestion, Beatrice turned toward the table.

      Maisie’s head was against the back of the chair, her eyes closed, her mouth open. She’d fallen asleep.

      That left Beatrice to manage on her own.

      She would not give either Levi or his stepmother reason to suggest she return to town.

      * * *

      Levi took the horses to the barn, where he groomed and fed them, all the while wondering if everything was all right in the house. Beatrice hadn’t looked any sturdier after she’d changed her clothes. If he was to describe her to his brothers, he’d say she was beautiful but fragile, and something about the way her eyes flashed gold and the way she tilted her head gave him cause to wonder if she was as strong as she obviously wanted him to believe. So far, he’d seen no evidence of strength. She’d already fainted once. Was it something she did often?

      He paused in his task and glanced in the direction of the house, his nerves twitching with apprehension. If she fainted again, he could see Maisie ignoring the need to rest her leg and rushing to look after Beatrice.

      He better go to the house and make sure that didn’t happen.

      He hurriedly finished taking care of the horses and left the barn.

      A horse and swaying rider crossed the yard in the general direction of the barn.

      He groaned. His cousin Charlie often hit the bottle too hard and the way he tipped half off his horse informed Levi that this was one of those days. He made it to Charlie’s side in time to prevent him from crashing to the ground. He staggered under the weight of his cousin but thankfully stayed upright.

      “Hi,” Charlie slurred.

      “Charlie, it’s men like you who give us half-breeds a bad reputation. Stay away from the liquor and get a job.” He took the bottle from Charlie and poured its contents out on the ground.

      His cousin tried to grab the bottle before the alcohol watered the grass but he could barely stand. “It’s mine. Give it back.”

      Levi tossed the empty bottle into the bushes. “You’ve had enough.” Way too many times, he and his family had tried to help Charlie. Pa had even hired him on several occasions. But Charlie ended up wandering away, leaving a job undone and searching instead for something he thought he’d find in a bottle.

      Charlie lurched to one side, then caught Levi’s arm to steady himself.

      Levi glanced toward the house. The rain had stopped, allowing anyone who happened to glance out the kitchen window a full view. If Beatrice saw them would she not think the same as so many people did? Drunk half-breed.

      His jaw muscles tightened. He couldn’t help what she saw or what she thought. He wasn’t like Charlie but not many would choose to believe that.

      Charlie was kin, but even if he hadn’t been, Levi would not have left him in his present state. He led him and the horse to the barn and turned the horse loose to tend to later. He took Charlie to the water trough and ducked his head underwater twice. It wasn’t like he could get much wetter. He must have ridden throughout the storm that had now passed over. “Maybe that will sober you up.”

      Charlie sputtered his protests.

      “Let’s go to the bunkhouse.” None of the cowboys was around to protest Charlie’s presence. They made it to the meager quarters and Levi found a change of clothes for his cousin, who was beginning to sober up. Maybe Levi could persuade the man to sign on again. Pa wouldn’t object and Levi could keep him busy with odd jobs.

      Levi took a good hard look at Charlie. “I guess you’ll do.”

      Charlie grinned somewhat crookedly. “For what?”

      “For coming to the house for supper.”

      Charlie’s grin widened. “Aunt Maisie is always happy to see me.”

      Levi grunted. “She doesn’t care for you showing up drunk.”

      “I’s okay now.” Charlie held out his arms and walked across the bunkhouse.

      Levi had to admit he did an admirable job of walking a straight line considering he couldn’t stay upright less than an hour ago. “Let’s go, then.” He judged that Beatrice had had plenty of time to prepare a meal and his growling stomach informed him it was time to eat.

      They strode toward the house, avoiding the puddles in the yard. Hot water filled the basin on the outside stand, so they washed up then stepped inside.

      Charlie ground to a halt as he saw Maisie resting in her chair. Seeing her there relieved a degree of Levi’s worry.

      “What happened to you?” Charlie asked.

      Maisie reached out welcoming hands to Charlie as she explained her accident. Levi followed and they both kissed her on the cheek.

      “This lovely young lady has come to help me so I can rest my leg. Beatrice, this is Levi’s cousin, Charlie.”

      Charlie turned to meet Beatrice. His mouth dropped open.

      Levi thought it must take a great deal of effort but Charlie managed to close his mouth and swallow loudly. “Pleased to meet you.” He didn’t offer a hand, perhaps wondering if she would object to him touching her.

      Levi allowed himself a little self-satisfaction. Not only had he touched her, but he’d also held her in his arms. He could have told Charlie she was as light as a newborn colt but smelled like a whole field of wild roses. Of course, both times she’d not been in a position to object to being held by him. Something he must bear in mind before he got too cocky about it.

      “You’re the prettiest girl Levi ever brought here,” Charlie blurted out.

      Levi pressed the heel of his hand to his forehead. “Charlie, you’re going to make her think I have a habit of bringing girls to the ranch.”

      Charlie struggled to find something to say.

      Levi held his breath as he wondered what his cousin would drop into the conversation to further embarrass Levi.

      Finally, Charlie got his words out. “Only Helen. No one else.”

      Helen. The only reminder of how others viewed him that he needed. “Sit down, Charlie.”

      Beatrice scurried past him to set another place at the table.

      “Yes, please sit down,” Maisie said.

      Beatrice placed the serving dishes on the table and sat across from Levi and Charlie. Maisie sat at one end of the table. The other end remained empty. No one ever sat in Big Sam’s place when he was absent.

      “Levi, would you ask the blessing?” Maisie said. She reached for Levi’s hand on one side and Beatrice’s on her other.

      With his head tipped, Levi watched Beatrice. Would she take Charlie’s hand?

      Beatrice stared at Charlie. Neither she nor Charlie reached for the other. He wasn’t sure who to be annoyed with.