Free Levi (Prairie Grooms, Book Five) by Kit Morgan Page A

hooked through his, she let the jangle of the harness and the slow, steady sound of hoof beats rule her senses.
    When they reached town, she sat up; disappointed the ride was over. But the thought of getting a few art supplies quickly consumed her, and she became alert and ready to tackle the mercantile.
    Levi brought the wagon to a halt, set the brake, and then turned to her. “I hate to tell you this,” he said as he gazed at their entwined arms, “but we'd best get our supplies then head on home. I've got work to do and I'm sure you'd like to practice cooking today.”
    Fina frowned. “Cooking? Do you really think I'm that brave?”
    “I hope so. I'd like to have something for dinner.”
    “Even if I burn it?”
    “How burned are we talking, here?”
    “It could be bad,” she said, then pressed her lips firmly together.
    “As in, I'm going to have to bury my dinner in a shallow, un-marked grave behind the barn?”
    “Well, I hope it's not that bad, but you never know.”
    “Fina!”
    Fina and Levi looked up to see Apple coming out of the mercantile. “Well, look who's here,” Levi said with a smile.
    Apple hurried down the mercantile steps to the wagon. “What are you two doing in town?”
    “We've come to get a few things,” said Levi as he jumped down. “Is Harrison or Colin with you?”
    “Harrison,” said Apple. “He's over at Doc Waller's talking with that Cutty chap.” She looked at Fina. “Belle is trying to teach me how to sew, and let me come into town to pick out some fabric for a dress.”
    “I commend you,” said Fina. “Or, should I say, Belle. She should get a medal.”
    Apple rolled her eyes at her sister. “You can practice, too; then we won't be so embarrassed when we attend the ladies’ sewing circle.”
    Levi reached up and helped Fina out of the wagon. “Sewing circle,” she mused. “I'd quite forgotten about it. Did you find a fabric you liked?”
    “You ladies have a nice visit. I'm going to look up Harrison. If you need me, Fella, I'll be down at Doc Waller's.”
    Fina smiled at him, not bothering to comment on his use of the nickname. She decided to give up and just let the man call her what he would. Besides, given enough time, she was sure to come up with a really interesting one for him. She stifled a laugh and followed Apple up the mercantile steps. At the door she turned to him. “I'll see you later, then?”
    He smiled at her. “You can count on it,” he winked at her, before he turned and headed across the street.
    “He's so handsome,” sighed Apple.
    “He’s also quite annoying.”
    “Annoying? How can a man who looks like that be annoying?”
    “Trust me, when I say, that he can be. Now, show me what you found.” They entered the mercantile and went straight to a table stacked with bolts of fabric. “These are lovely, Apple. How is one ever to make up her mind?”
    “I like this blue calico,” Apple told her. “But look at this lovely lilac color,” she added and picked up the bolt of cloth.
    Fina admired it and sighed. “If only there was a dressmaker in town. It would make our lives so much easier.”
    Mrs. Dunnigan snorted behind the counter. “No such thing around here. You might as well get used to it! Besides, that's what the ladies’ sewing circle is for. You can get a dress made a lot quicker with a dozen women working on it.”
    “A dozen?” Fina asked in surprise. “Are there really that many women in the area?”
    “Don't listen to Irene,” said Wilfred as he came out from behind the curtain that separated the front and back of the mercantile. “It's hard enough to get six or eight of the women together for the circle, let alone a dozen.”
    “You stay out of this!” Mrs. Dunnigan growled. “You're always off playing checkers with Harlan, while we meet, anyway.”
    “Not always,” he said and winked at the girls.
    Apple giggled and took the bolt of lilac-colored calico to the front counter. “I like this one.”
    Mrs.