Leonardo (Romancing the Weavers #5) - Kit Morgan Page 0,3

He winked at Leo. “I think I’ll let Mr. Cucinotta take them to Postmistress Davis. She always likes to chat with him when we’re in town.”

“Who doesn’t?” Aunt Betsy laughed. “Now get, you two.”

Leo followed a grinning Daniel into the mercantile, down the hall and into the guest room. “What’s so funny?” Daniel’s cousin Matthew asked as they walked by.

“Oh, nothin’,” Daniel said.

“Will just you two be spending the night?” Matthew continued.

Leo nodded. “Yes. The Cookes will stay at the hotel.”

Matthew nodded. “Well, I’ll be minding the store if you need me.” He disappeared down the hall.

Since it was only Daniel and Leo, they knew they had accommodations with their relatives the Quinns. They enjoyed visiting, and it would give the Cookes a day to rest up if they needed one before the journey to the farm.

It wasn’t long before they were standing in front of the sheriff’s office. It was where the stage had stopped for years until more mail started coming to town and was handled at Quinn’s Mercantile. The stage driver found it easier to stop there until Nowhere finally got a post office a few years ago, just up a side street from the sheriff’s.

Unfortunately, when they got the post office they didn’t get a postmaster. Nellie Davis volunteered and had been doing it ever since. Leo wasn’t so sure it was a good thing, since Mrs. Davis used to be a notorious gossip. Still was, really, but she was nicer about it now.

Daniel grinned. “I hear the stage comin’.”

Leo wanted to roll his eyes. He stuck his hands in his pockets instead and rocked toe-to-heel while looking down the street. The stage came around a bend in the road and approached town.

Daniel elbowed him in the ribs again. “Ya excited?”

“No.”

Daniel’s face fell. “Land sakes, why not?”

Leo looked him in the eyes. “Because … because I don’t have any interest in Savannah Cooke.”

Chapter Two

Savannah closed her eyes and bit her lip as the stage came to a stop. Without thinking, she took a deep breath, her eyes darting to her cousin and back. Had Parthena noticed? She hoped not. She didn’t think she’d be nervous, but she was. Drat that Leonardo!

“Are we here?” Uncle Colin said, blinking back sleep.

Aunt Belle yawned. “Obviously, dear. Why else would we stop?” She pushed the curtain aside and looked out the window. “Nowhere at last.” She covered her mouth and yawned again. “My goodness.”

“How can you sleep on a stagecoach?” Parthena asked. “You missed all the scenery.”

“Not really, sweetness,” Uncle Colin said. “We’ve been here before, remember? Besides, the beds at the last two stops left a lot to be desired.” He rubbed his back for emphasis as he stretched.

The coach door opened and the driver gave them a big grin. “Here we are folks – Nowhere.” He stepped aside to let them disembark.

Uncle Colin got out first. “Daniel, how good to see you!” He helped Aunt Belle out.

Savannah sat, her heart in her throat. Why was she so nervous anyway? It’s not as if she’d set her cap for Leo – quite the contrary. She hoped he didn’t follow her around like a puppy again.

Uncle Colin helped Parthena out. “My, my,” she heard Daniel say. “Just look how much ya’ve grown, young lady.”

Savannah rolled her eyes. She’d grown too – they both had. They were young women now, after all …

“Savannah, honey,” Uncle Colin called. “Are you planning to sit there all day?”

She opened her eyes, not realizing she’d closed them. She looked at the hand he offered and smiled. “Sorry. I was thinking about what to say to Clinton when I see him.” She knew very well her aunt and uncle would be watching her reaction to Leo as soon as she disembarked, and that they would be sadly disappointed. She put on her best poker face and left the stagecoach.

Leo’s eyes locked on hers the moment her foot touched the ground. “Oh, mio Dio,” he said. “Savannah, is that you?”

She headed for the steps to the boardwalk. “Of course, it is. I haven’t changed that much.”

Daniel and Leo looked her and Parthena over. “Beggin’ yer pardon,” Daniel said, “but ya most certainly have. Yer all grown up now, both of ya.” He smiled at Colin and Belle. “And to think these are the youngest, right?”

“That’s right,” Belle said. “And still quite unmarried, as are a few others on the ranch.”

“Let’s see, that would include Sam, right?” Daniel asked.

“Yes,” Colin said. “Along with Thackary and Adele.”

Daniel smiled and