they’d saved her from foreclosure. Though there might be enough from the sale of the harvested cotton to keep the banks satisfied this year, without workers to plow, plant, and tend a new crop, all would be in vain. She would lose Rose Hill and Langford Manor anyway.

A tear trailed down her cheek.

With Levi lying in the bachelor’s quarters, severely injured, worrying over her own problems seemed selfish. Hadn’t she confessed that sin just this morning?

“Help me trust in You, Lord,” she whispered, crawling beneath the cool sheet. “You are my deliverer, too.”

Her eyes slid closed.

God would make a way. She may not like it, but she would trust Him.

CHAPTER THIRTY

Levi opened his eyes and blinked at the muted sunshine coming through a window above his head. The smell of bacon wafted over him, and his stomach rumbled. He glanced around the small room. It looked vaguely familiar, but he couldn’t place it in his foggy mind.

“Well, looky there. You’s awake.”

Moses’ face appeared in his line of vision.

“Where am I?”

“You’s at Rose Hill, in the bach’lors’ quarter. Been here since yesterday when we found you out in them woods.”

Levi closed his eyes. Yes, he remembered now. When he opened his eyes, Moses was smiling. “What are you grinning about?”

Moses chuckled. “Just seein’ you with your eyes open and talkin’ be a real answer to prayer, suh.”

“Is Banks here? What happened to Lopez?” He wanted to ask about Natalie, too, but he’d wait and speak with her himself.

“Corporal Banks went on to the soldier camp a few hours ago, but he said he’d be back. Your men is still out lookin’ for that scoundrel Lopez, but they was able to catch two or three of his cowpokes tryin’ to hightail it to ol’ Mexico. I ’spect that where Lopez is headed too.”

While the news wasn’t what he wanted to hear, Levi felt a measure of peace knowing Banks was handling things in his absence.

“I have my Harriet pour you some broth. She has it nice an’ hot, waitin’ for you to wake up. That army doctah say you need to stay in bed a couple days befo’ you try and get up. Says that knot on yo’ head be troublesome if you don’t lie still.”

Levi frowned. He’d rather be out looking for Lopez, but his head still pounded, and he couldn’t move his left arm. “I suppose I don’t have much choice.”

Moses chuckled. “I be right back.”

Levi let his head sink into the soft pillow and closed his eyes. He recalled the events that led him here. He’d need to get a report off to General Granger—if Banks hadn’t already taken care of it— alerting the commander to Lopez’s identity. That the cattle thief had been right under Levi’s nose didn’t sit well, but thankfully, he was no longer a problem. Even if he got away, Levi doubted Lopez would show his face in Texas again.

A sound near the door brought his eyes open. Samuel’s mop of sandy hair peeked around the opening. A moment later, he stepped over the threshold. He had a streak of mud across the front of his overalls, and his feet were bare. The boy’s bright, curious eyes stared at him.

“Hi, Samuel.” Levi smiled and motioned him inside.

Samuel glanced toward the kitchen then entered the room. “Moses said you was awake.”

“I am.”

The boy sidled up to the bed, his big eyes taking in the bandage around Levi’s head and the one on his shoulder. “Mama said Señor Lopez was a bad man and that he hurt you. I’m not supposed to talk to him no more if he comes to Rose Hill.”

Levi nodded. “That is all true.”

“I’m glad.” Samuel inched his backend onto the edge of the mattress until he was sitting next to Levi’s leg. “I didn’t like him. Neither did Ebenezer. Carolina said Ebenezer bit Señor Lopez before he left.” The boy giggled.

The sound brought a smile to Levi’s lips. “I always did like that dog.”

“Samuel, what are you doing in here?”

Natalie stood in the doorway looking as beautiful as ever. Her rounded blue eyes met his gaze, concern shining from their depths.

“Look, Mama,” Samuel said, pointing to Levi with a pudgy finger. “The co’nel is awake.”

Her eyes never left Levi’s. “Yes, I know. Moses told me.” A tremulous smile parted her lips. “It’s good to see you awake.”

Her soft voice warmed him. “I’m happy to be awake, although I feel like I’ve been chewed up by an ol’ grizzly bear and spit out.”

Samuel giggled.

Natalie blinked several times. Was she fighting tears? He hadn’t intended to make her cry.

Moses arrived with a bowl, steam rising from the contents. “Got some broth here, Colonel.” He glanced to Natalie, a question in his eyes.

She shook her head. “Come along, Samuel. Let the colonel rest now. You can come visit him again later.”

Samuel hopped off the bed. At the door, he turned to Levi. “Maybe I can tell you a story later. I always rest good when Mama tells me a story.”

Levi nodded. “I’d like that.” His gaze found Natalie again, but she’d already turned away.

When they were gone, Moses settled into the chair next to the bed. “You think you can manage this here broth, or you want me to he’p you?”

“Maybe if you put another pillow behind me, I can feed myself without spilling it.”

Once Levi was propped up a bit, he tried to spoon the liquid while Moses held the bowl, but exhaustion and pain soon had his arm trembling. Ashamed, he let Moses take the utensil. “I guess I can’t do it.”

“I happy to he’p.” He dipped the spoon into the broth and fed Levi like he was a baby. “You been through a lot. Don’t ’spect it such a bad thing to let someone else come alongside and he’p ’til you strong enough.”

Levi had to admit the warm broth felt better sliding down his throat than dribbling off his chin. When he’d had his fill, he sat back,

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