The Reluctant Bride (The Ladies Club of Laramie Book 4) Read online

  He and Will had met back East when Levi had gone to Philadelphia to talk to the man that owned the Grand Union Hotel. Will was a budding attorney who negotiated the deal. Levi told the young attorney if he ever wanted to visit Laramie, he would be happy to put him up.

  Six months later, Levi had received a telegram from Will announcing his arrival and that he hoped he had a place to stay. Since that day, they’d been the best of friends.

  Levi allowed Will room to tease, but that's where it ended. There was nothing funny about his feelings for Eva.

  He had been in love with her since they were children. It was his unfortunate luck that he was born to a drunken con artist from the dirty, poor side of town. It had been a rough go for a young boy growing up under the scrutiny of Laramie's finest citizens.

  Eva's family, on the other hand, were some of the wealthiest around. Levi remembered the first day he met Eva. Her family had just arrived in town and she entered school in the fifth grade. He was five years older and pretty rough around the edges, but when some of his classmates kicked up dust on her pretty dress, something rose up inside Levi's chest and he pounded the hell out of those boys.

  He remembered that same day when he walked Eva to her home. He told himself he was protecting her, but the truth was, he wanted to spend more time with the fair haired, doe-eyed little girl. That was a boneheaded move. He should have known better.

  Her father met them on the front steps of her home. He jerked Eva up onto the porch by her arm. "Eva, go inside. You are not to be seen in the company of this reprobate."

  Eva did as her father asked, but when she turned to say goodbye, he could see tears shining in her eyes. His gut had ached at the sight.

  Then her arrogant ass of a father turned on Levi. "If I catch you with my daughter again, I'll take a whip to you and I won't stop until you learn your place. You are not good enough to touch my daughter's shoes and I refuse to allow the likes of you to sully her reputation. Do I make myself clear?"

  Levi's jaw clinched at the memory. Perhaps he owed the pompous ass a debt of gratitude because it was that day and those words, that lit the fire in his belly and changed his destiny.

  He would never be that boy again, although his insecurities were still buried deep within his soul. He shook off those old hurts and took the ornate stairs from the hotel lobby two at a time to his elegant suite of rooms on the third floor where he lived.

  A tub of scented hot water was already waiting on him in his private bath. He shucked his clothes and stepped into the porcelain tub, sinking up to his neck.

  Levi slid the soap against his skin and savored the luxurious feel of the expensive milled foam.

  A wistful smile stretched across his lips as he remembered a time when he couldn’t afford a sliver of lye soap, much less this kind of luxury.

  Twelve years had come and gone since he vowed to do something with his life. It hadn’t always been easy either. He could have gone down a completely different direction—the same one his father had gone down, but Levi had made different choices and he had succeeded in spades.

  Determined to be something more than a cast-off orphaned son of a very flawed man, Levi had worked his tail end off to escape not only his impoverished life, but his father's tainted reputation. And now, at twenty-seven, he was his own man with a healthy bank account, several joint investments with many of Laramie's elite citizens, and a reputation good enough to garner the respect of Wyoming Territory's Governor, Grover Moonlite.

  And yet, his mind always reminded him he would never be good enough for the woman he had given his heart to all those years ago.

  A knock at the door pulled him from his regrets. Wesley, his manservant, called out to him, "Mr. Copper, I have your suit and shirt pressed. I shall lay them out on your bed. Do you need anything further from me, sir?"

  "No, Wesley. Thank you. I'll take it from here."

  Chapter 2

  Eva had suffered the non-stop chatter of her mother all afternoon. It was a profound relief to finally arrive at the party where her parents would be occupied by other party goers leaving her to put her plan into motion.

  She surveyed the large room of the Quincy ranch home. The huge wooden beams and rustic feel made her feel out of place. She was used to crystal chandeliers and velvet settees. All the trappings of her gilded prison in her parent’s home.

  Could she do this? Could she find the courage to approach Levi with this bold proposal?

  "Stand up straight, Eva. You are humped over like an old woman." Her father snapped at her under his breath.

  "Yes, Father," she replied, straightening her spine. Yes, she could do this. She must do this. What other choice did she have if she had any hope of helping fate outwit her father.

  Her father pulled her hand through the crook of his arm and clamped it into place with his hand. He held his other arm out to her mother. She took it and together they presented a united front to everyone in attendance. Eva knew that was a façade, just like everything else in her miserable life.

  "Hello, Henri." She heard someone greet her father. It was Governor Moonlite. Her heart hiccupped deep in her chest. Her father pushed her forward and she curtsied to the man, praying his son was nowhere to be seen. When she realized her prayer had been answered, she nearly fell to her knees with relief.

  "Good evening, Governor. And where is that handsome son of yours?" Her father inquired.

  Could her father be any more transparent? Eva's cheeks pinked with embarrassment.

  The man shrugged. "Hiding. It seems my son has a deep aversion to tying the matrimonial knot."

  "Perhaps he just hasn't met the right woman yet." Her father offered.

  Mortified, Eva curtsied again and excused herself. "I see some of my friends, Father. Mother. Perhaps I will run into Governor Moonlite's son among the younger people." It was the best excuse she could come up with that might appease her parents.

  "I think that is an excellent idea, Evangeline. Please bring him to meet your father when you find him," her mother suggested.

  "Of course." Eva curtsied again and hurried toward her friends. A quick look backwards revealed her parents deep in conversation with the governor. This was her chance to slip away and find Levi.

  Her friends, Kelly Quincy, Tildie Masterson and Cora O’Brian spotted her and motioned her over. She shook her head and waved. "I'll be back in a bit. Wait for me," Eva promised. She searched the room until she spotted a server. “Can you tell me where the men are playing poker?”

  "In the east room of the solarium, miss."

  Eva thanked the man and hurried in the direction he pointed. The cigar smoke permeated down the hall long before she arrived at the solarium door. Her heart punched at her chest in anticipation.

  She had never done something so bold as this in all her days. And once she called Levi Copper out of that room in front of all those other men, it would get back to her father and there would be hell to pay. She prayed once again her friend would not disappoint her.

  She heard the raucous laughter of men just down the hall and she knew she was getting close. There was still time to change her mind, but if she did, what was her recourse? Marry a stranger? She shuddered at the thought.

  She knew if it wasn’t the governor’s son, her father would just find someone else to pawn her off on to further his cause. He had even brought up the elderly gentleman who owns Laramie’s newspaper, The Laramie Sentinel. She couldn’t recall the man’s name, but he was at least eighty years old. She was certain of it.

  Her father had thought at the time it would be satisfying to have control of the newspaper and his plan to get it was to marry her off to the old gentleman, then when he passed away, her father would step in and take over the running of the newspaper. Control of the written word would give him the power and prestige he craved. When the newspaper owner would not take him seriously, nor was the man’s married son particularly happy about the proposition, her father moved on to the governor and his son.<
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  The thought pushed her down the hall toward the poker room where she hoped to find Levi. She prayed he had come tonight. She prayed doubly hard he would say yes to her plan. After all, they had been friends for years and if anyone understood her father’s negative qualities, it was Levi.

  Eva approached the doorway to the room where the smoke and men's voices were coming from. She took a deep breath to calm her nerves and rubbed her damp palms against the expensive fabric of her gown. Her mother would have a fit if she knew.

  She inhaled another deep breath for courage and nearly choked on the smoke. She smothered her cough behind her hand when a familiar voice spoke from behind her.

  "Eva? Have you suddenly taken up the game of poker? I'm surprised your father allows it."

  She whirled around to see the man she had been searching for standing just behind her. "Levi. I—" Suddenly, Eva couldn’t get words past her lips, so she did the only thing she could think of. She bent her head and curtsied.

  "Nicely done, but to what do I owe this pleasant surprise? Surely, your father isn't inside playing poker. It wouldn't bode well for anyone if I insisted on joining them, now would it?" His self-deprecating sense of humor didn't hide his pain from her. She had known him far too long for that.

  "No. Father wouldn't be caught dead inside the poker room. After all, what would people say?" Eva mocked her father's words. The same words she had heard him speak over and over and over again. She was sick to death of living her life based upon the self-righteous musings of other people.

  She watched Levi's brows raise in surprise at her unexpected comment. "I see." He leaned against the wall and pushed his hands into his pant pockets. It was a common thing that men did, but on Levi it was quite appealing.

  He looked down at her with those deep brown eyes of his. His black beard and mustache gave him a dangerous, rakish appearance, and for a moment, Eva was mesmerized by the man's dark good looks. Her friend’s good looks she reminded herself.

  "So, if it wasn't poker that pulled you away from the main party, what was it?" A frown creased his face. "A gentleman, perhaps? Eva, is there a certain someone in that room you were searching for?"

  Eva watched the good-natured countenance of her friend change. He appeared angry, but she had said nothing to anger him. And she certainly couldn't risk making him that way if she had any hope of convincing him to agree to her plan and risk her father's wrath.

  "No, Levi. Certainly not. I mean, I was looking for someone, but he isn't in that room," she explained. He didn't look any less angry, so she tried again. "Levi, I was looking for you. And now that I have found you, I have a most pressing question to ask you. Can we go somewhere less public and talk?"

  * * *

  Levi thought he was dreaming when he saw Eva standing in the hallway outside the poker room. But when she asked him to go with her to some place more private to talk, he nearly lost his mind.

  She took his hand and pulled him through darkened hallways until she found a door that led outside. The late winter chill outside pushed goosebumps across Eva's unprotected skin. Levi reluctantly pulled his hand from hers and took off his suit coat to wrap around her shoulders.

  "Here. You shouldn't have come out here without your shawl or cape. Take this. It will help stave off the night chill. It looks like we might get a late winter storm soon. Look at those clouds."

  "Thank you, Levi." He watched her slip inside his jacket and pull it close. "Yes, it’s quite cold tonight. And damp.” He watched her hesitate before she said. “I know I am acting strangely, but I really must talk to you in private. There is an old servant's quarters just behind that clump of bushes. I saw it once when I came to visit Kelly Quincy. No one will bother us there."

  Levi didn't need convincing. Any moment spent with Eva was a moment he would gladly take whatever the cost. "Lead the way. I'm right behind you," he said.

  He felt his vest pocket to make certain his derringer was safely tucked away. The Quincy ranch was located in the middle of Wyoming Territory. One could never grow careless where mountain lions and coyotes were concerned. They were stealthy hunters and a person would do well to keep his vigilance keen when venturing into their territory especially after dark.

  He held her arm to keep her from stumbling in the darkness, the only light to guide their steps was the moonshine, hindered by silvery drifting clouds.

  Soon the shadowy form of the abandoned building appeared against the inky, star-studded skyline. He followed Eva through the old door hanging halfway off its hinges and into the dusty dark interior.

  "Eva, you are going to ruin your beautiful dress—"

  "That doesn't matter,” she said. “What matters is whether or not you will agree to help me. You must help me, Levi. I don't know what else I can do."

  The pain in Eva's voice tore at his heart. "Of course, I'll help you. Just tell me what I must do. What is it that has you so upset?"

  "You and I have been friends for a long time, haven't we? At least twelve years. Maybe longer. And in all of that time, have I ever asked you for a favor? Any favor at all?" The desperation in her voice worried him.

  "No, you haven't. Not once," he admitted. And in all those years, he would have granted her any request, no matter the personal cost to him, if she had only asked.

  "Then I'm asking you now. I'm taking all those unasked favors and rolling them into this one big one. Do you understand what I'm saying? Am I making sense?" He could hear the tears in her voice.

  "Eva, yes. And no. Tell me what it is you need from me." He pulled her shivering body to him and held her in his arms. She snuggled deep into his warmth and he treasured this moment with his beautiful, precious Eva. Content to just hold her, he didn't push her for an answer. She would get to her point when she was ready. In the meantime, he would commit this moment to memory and on those lonely nights when he lay in his bed and sleep refused to come, he would remember how it felt to hold her.

  She stepped back and hugged his coat against her body. "Levi. You must think me a horrid person. I haven't seen you, or even spoken to you in weeks, and here I stand before you, asking for a favor." She searched his face for something, but he had no idea what she was hoping to see. All he could do was reassure her and maybe solve whatever problem she suffered.

  "Eva. I understand how hard it is for you at home. Your father is a beast and I won't apologize to you for calling him that. Whatever is troubling you, whatever you need from me, rest assured it is already yours. All you need to do is ask." He pushed a golden curl off her face and tucked it behind her ear. The feel of her smooth skin against his fingertips sent shivers of delight through his body. If only things could be different for them.

  "Perhaps you should wait until I ask before you make promises you may not be able to keep." A sad smile drifted across her mouth, pulling his attention to her lips. Another delicious jolt of desire for this beautiful woman hit him low. And hard. He wanted so much more from Eva, but he knew she could never be his.

  "Eva. I have resources now that I didn't have when we were children. Money is no longer a problem—I have a bank vault full of it. And I have friends in high places, all have probably lost to me at poker at one time or another and owe me favors." He tried for humor, but he could see she wasn't in the mood for his dry wit. He lifted her chin and her sultry dark brown eyes met his.

  "Just tell me, Eva. Tell me now and I will fix it," he promised.

  She pulled a breath into her lungs. The soft round swells of her breasts rose just above the neckline of her fashionable gown. He sensed her hesitation and was about to encourage her again just to tell him what it was she wanted when she spoke. "Well, since you have already promised to honor my request, I know you won't go back on your word—because your honor is very important to you, is it not, Levi?"

  "Yes. It is very important to me. Now tell me. No more hesitation. Out with it. What can I do?"

  She nodded. "Very well. What I'm trying to say—rather what I wanted to ask yo
u is—will you marry me?"

  Levi had considered the possibility of a lot of things that could be troubling his beautiful Eva, but this request was certainly not one of them. Too shocked to control his words, he said the first thing that came into his head.

  "You must be joking."

  Chapter 3

  Eva knew her request was bizarre at best, but she never dreamed Levi would find marriage to her so objectionable. Tears burned and she turned to hide her face in the darkness.

  "Eva, what are you saying? What has happened? Has someone compromised you and refused to be accountable, because if they have, I swear to you, I will kill him with my bare hands—"

  "No. It's nothing like that. You know my father would have already had them drawn and quartered if something like that had happened to his prized bartering possession. No, it's…complicated."

  "Tell me," Levi demanded.

  She owed him an explanation, but would he understand what moved her to make this unheard of request?

  "My father wants to arrange a marriage for me and the governor's son."

  She saw Levi’s eyes close for a moment. When he opened them again, there was a sad look aimed at her. He felt sorry for her. That wasn’t what she wanted.

  Levi nodded as if he understood. "I see. I suppose your father also knows that every other father who has a daughter in that ballroom is aiming for the same thing," he teased. When she gave him a look that said she was not amused by his attempt at humor, he wiped the teasing grin off his face and sobered. "Okay, so perhaps we should start with what you want?" He placed his hands on her shoulders.

  "When has that ever mattered to my father?" She heard her bitterness leach out among her words. A single tear of frustration slid down her cheek. She quickly brushed it away. "What I want is to thwart my father's plans. I refuse to marry someone I have never met before, much less love. That's why you must agree to marry me, Levi. You must," she pleaded.