Noah Read Free Page B

and tilted his head way
back to look at Levi. After a moment, he tugged on the leg of the man’s trousers.
    Levi dropped onto his haunches with a smile.
“What is it, little man?”
    “Is it true you came to take Uncle Noah to find
a wife?”
    Levi’s smile fell and he looked up, ‘guilty as
charged’ written all over his face.
    Noah looked from Emma to Jonah, who both
avoided his gaze, and back at Levi.
    A wife?
    “A wife?” he repeated, this time aloud.
    Levi scooped up the boy and laughed loudly.
“Well, I actually came to see if he was interested in taking over a ranch of
his own.”
    That piqued Noah’s interest and he raised a
brow.
    “And, it might…” Levi paused, “…come with a
wife,” he added with a sheepish, but toothy grin.
    Noah’s jaw dropped.
    “Let’s all sit down,” Emma suggested. “We can
discuss this while we eat.”
    He was well aware that his sister-in-law knew
he wouldn’t be able to turn down her cooking and, as luck would have it, she’d
made his favorite…steak, fresh-picked corn, and buttery biscuits. Noah salivated
as swirls of steam rose from the large pot of her delicious bacon-infused beans
and drifted beneath his nose. She must have thought he’d be more keen to go
along with whatever scheme she and his brother had cooked up with a full belly.
    She was probably right.
    As hungry as he was, he wasn’t sure he wanted
to hear what Levi had to say—especially if it involved another marriage for
convenience’s sake. He turned to walk away.
    “I have blackberry custards,” Emma tempted.
    He stopped.
    “With cream,” she added.
    She’d gotten him. His weakness.
    Reluctantly, he slid into a chair at the far
side of the table nearest the door. Emma sat down next to him, a satisfied grin
on her face.
    “So, Levi,” Noah asked as soon as grace had
been said, “what’s this about a ranch?” He might as well get it out in the open
rather than skirt around it through an uncomfortable supper.
    His cousin set down the biscuit he’d already
raised nearly to his mouth. “It’s one of the largest in Laramie.”
    “Wyoming Territory?”
    Levi nodded.
    He proceeded to recount the misfortune of how the
ranch owner had gotten himself shot, leaving his only daughter to run their prospective
fortune.
    “And this marshal is just going to get away
with killing a man in cold blood?” Noah asked incredulously.
    “Not if Kate has anything to say about
it—though there’s not enough proof to have the man arrested,” Levi said with an
appreciative chuckle. “She’s one of the most determined females I have ever
met.”
    “What do you know about the man?” Jonah asked,
now leaning forward in his chair.
    “More than I want to,” Levi responded
emphatically. “He’s been causing havoc in that town since before the railroad
arrived there.” Levi leaned against the table. “Eight men, brawling in the
street, had the nerve to disregard his warning to stop and five of them were
shot dead as a repercussion.”
    “Is he a gunslinger?” Max asked, his eyes wide
and focused on Levi.
    “What happened to the other three?” Gil
followed quickly with his question. “Did he chase ‘em down and kill them too?”
    The twins both sat on the edges of their seats,
leaning against the table like their father.
    Emma shot a horrified look at her children,
then at Levi.
    “’Fraid not. Only one of those men still lives
in Laramie though. The others upped and left with their families. Hey, did you
know that I’m a twin too,” Levi said as if letting them in on some special
secret.
    “Really?” Both of the boys’ eyes grew wide and
their grins spread across their faces.
    “Where’s your brother?”
    Before Levi could answer them, Emma placed her
hand on Levi’s arm, concern etched on her features. Then she turned to look at
Jonah. “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.”
    “I’ll tell you after supper,” Levi whispered to
the children.
    “My brother can hold his own, my