Page 75 of The Prospector's Only Prospect
Marigold opened the door, and Nettie ran out. “Levi!”
His face lit up. He caught her in a big hug. Harley joined them, and Levi hugged him along with his sister. When he noticed everyone smiling at them, he grew self-conscious and rolled his eyes.
“I guess they missed me.”
Yes.Theyhad missedhim. Marigold bit her lips at how transparent they were. Dear Lord, she loved them so much.
Levi pulled away and said, “Guess what I brought you?” He pushed his hand into his pocket and came up with paper-wrapped lemon drops.
Nettie gasped. “Yes, please!”
“Ess, peas!” Harley waited patiently while his big brother unwrapped one and gave it a crunch exactly the way Virgil did.
Marigold had to cover her heart before it expired and went straight to heaven. Could they be any more endearing?
Levi held out his hand to her. “Would you like one, Marigold?”
“Oh, you!” She couldn’t help it. She ignored the candy and pulled him into a big hug, hearing a little, “Gack,” as she squeezed him. “I missed you.”
“It was only a few days,” he mumbled into her shoulder, seeming to have grown in that short time. His arms closed around her in a quick return of her embrace. He was blushing with pleasure when he drew back. “You want a lemon drop, Pa? I used the pocket money you gave me.”
“You save it for yourself, but it was nice of you to think of your sister and brother. It’s good to have you back.” He yanked him close and hugged him.
Hugged him.
It was awkward and quick, and she caught a glimpse of Levi’s shocked face. They both stepped back almost before it happened and looked anywhere but at each other.
Levi’s cap was crooked. He lifted it and smoothed his hair before he replaced it.
Virgil looked to Stoney and Emmett. “Good trip? All went well?”
“It did, but…” Emmett’s expression darkened. “We got a copy of the proposed constitution for the State of Jefferson. Vote is September twenty-fourth.”
Marigold took from his dismayed tone that voting rights were limited to white men. She stifled a sigh.
“You’ll help us read it?” Stoney asked Marigold.
“Of course. I have to check my baking at the cookhouse, though, and I want the children out of the cold.” Nettie was pressed to Marigold’s side, using her as a windbreak. Harley had gone to Virgil, who had him tucked beneath the open edge of his jacket. “Levi, are you staying to help the men unload?”
“Yes, but wait, Marigold. You got a parcel!”
“Oh?”
He hurried up to the front of the wagon and retrieved her carpetbag from beneath the bench. She’d loaned it to him, and the sides were swollen with more than his spare set of clothes. It looked like a snake that had swallowed a shipping tin. “I put it in here so it wouldn’t get lost.”
“Thank you.” Marigold accepted the bag. “Goodness, it’s heavy.”
“It’s from Pearl. It says ‘Happy Birthday,’” Levi informed her.
“It’s your birthday?” Nettie looked up with wonder.
“Two weeks ago,” Marigold dismissed. “Long past.”
Virgil turned from looking into the back of the wagon. “Why didn’t you say something?”
He had to ask? They hadn’t been speaking.
“It’s not worth fussing over.” Not when it was such a stark reminder that she wasn’t anywhere near where she had imagined she would be at twenty-seven. “Yeller, may I have two tins of milk and a jar of peaches? We’ll have a treat later to celebrate Levi arriving home safe and sound.”
