Chapter Fourteen
Now that the boxcars were done, Drake spent the morning riding around the area letting contractors and builders know he was available for hire. They all knew him and his reputation for excellence, so he received a few solid offers. Pleased, he and Havana headed back to his mother’s house. On the way, he saw a sign advertising a buggy for sale, so he stopped. The seller, an elderly White woman, answered his knock on the door with a smile. She was a widow and the buggy belonged to her. She’d only driven it to church, she said, and was selling it because she was moving to Biloxi to go live with her son and his wife. As Drake eyed it up close, he liked that it was compact, sported a cushioned leather seat, and that the four spoked wheels were in good condition. Although the leather awning was a bit worn, there were no holes or tears, and it could be lowered or raised depending on the weather. The price she quoted was reasonable. A sturdy even-tempered mare named Penelope came with the vehicle and that pleased him as well, so he paid her what she asked.
With Havana tied to the back on a lead, Drake climbed into the buggy, waved farewell to the widow, and continued the journey home. Between Valinda’s teaching and charity work she needed a vehicle. He knew she’d be grateful even if she had frozen like a deer suddenly running up on a gator in response to his question last night. Admittedly, his pride still stung. The talk with Raimond, though pointed, had made him feel somewhat better, but Drake was a LeVeq and the men in his line had outsized personalities most women were dazzled by—except the women who captured their hearts. According to legend, their great-grandmother Clare had cursed Dominic in three languages when he kidnapped her from the British ship, and Sable had given Rai such a run for his money, Drake and the other Brats placed bets on how soon he would lose his mind. Rai claimed Val loved him. Drake wasn’t sure whether to put any stock in that or not. If she did, she didn’t love him enough to remain his wife and with that in mind, he’d guard his heart.
Drake hadn’t joined them for breakfast, and although Valinda had been disappointed, she had too much to do to get her school up and running to mope about it.
“Here’s the list of items I’ll need right away,” she said, handing the paper over to Julianna seated behind the desk in her office. She hoped the older woman didn’t find the final sum too costly.
Julianna said, “The ink pens and pencils we can get in the Quarter as well as the slates and chalk. The readers we may have to order.”
“I know. I can handprint some of the exercises the students can share until the readers arrive.”
“May I keep this?” Julianna asked.
“Yes.”
Julianna set it aside. “Thanks so much for organizing my office. I can actually find things now.”
“Just be sure to put everything back in the proper place so it doesn’t get out of hand again.”
“Easier said than done, but I’ll try. In the next three or four days, we’ll shop for your wedding dress.”
Val stilled. “Wedding dress?”
“And shoes.”
Val looked down at her mud-caked brogans. “I don’t—”
“Yes, you do. There will be more than a few wealthy Creole women and their simpering daughters attending the reception and I want them to envy you not only for taking another LeVeq son off the market, but for being the most beautifully gowned woman there as well. I’ll get a kick out of seeing their crestfallen faces, so indulge me.”
“You’re very bad, Julianna.”
“I know. It’s the pirate blood.”
Val laughed. “Then who am I to deny you your fun?”
Her dark eyes glittered with amusement. “I have two of the best daughters-in-law in all of Louisiana.”
“Temporary.”
Julianna waved her off. “If you say so.”
Before Val could respond to that, Drake appeared in the doorway. “Val. Mama,” he said in greeting.
Val saw the distance in his face which let her know he was still wounded from last night. She inwardly sighed, wondering what it might take to salve his hurt.
“Valinda, I got you a buggy.”
She eyed him, confused.
“Come look. It’s outside.” And he exited.
Julianna smiled and shooed her out, so Val followed him.
Sure enough, there was a small black buggy parked outside with a dun-brown horse attached.
“This is Penelope,” he said, indicating the horse. “Her former owner says she enjoys apples and likes children.”