Leonardo (Romancing the Weavers #5) - Kit Morgan

Chapter One

Washington Territory, May 1888

Savannah sighed and watched the landscape out the stagecoach window. It had been nearly three years since she visited the Weavers outside of Nowhere, in the Washington territory. They had one day of travel left before they reached the town, then another day or two to get to the Weaver farm. She was looking forward to seeing her brother Clinton and his wife Melania. They had a child already, and she was excited to play with him.

Clinton married Mel (as she was known) two years prior. Father had sent him off with a small herd of cattle the Weavers purchased. Martin Kincaid, a son of the Triple-C’s foreman, also went, along with two cowhands. But delivering cattle wasn’t the main reason Clinton went. Mel and Clinton had been sweet on each other for nearly six years, and it was time to see if they’d suit. What better way to find out than to have him work on the Weaver farm?

Savannah wondered if her parents were sending her off with Uncle Colin and Aunt Belle to find out the same thing concerning her and Mel’s younger brother Leonardo. But she wasn’t sure it was such a good idea.

“What’s Leonardo like?” her cousin Parthena wondered.

“Annoying.” Savannah sighed again and smiled. “I’m glad you came along. Maybe you’ll see qualities in him I’ve missed.”

Parthena rolled her eyes. “For Heaven’s sake, you haven’t seen him in years. He might have been annoying then, but you don’t know what he’s like now.”

“Maybe he’s more annoying.”

Parthena groaned. “Fine – how was he annoying?”

Savannah thought a moment – it was a valid question. “He followed me around like a puppy dog. If that’s not annoying, I don’t know what is.” She folded her arms and went back to looking out the window. Uncle Colin and Aunt Belle were fast asleep on the opposite seat, so she had to remember to keep her voice down.

As if reading her thoughts, Parthena whispered, “What’s so annoying about that? Didn’t he speak to you?”

“Of course he did, but really, cousin, he’s just a boy.”

Parthena rolled her eyes again. “He’s less than a year younger than us, as I recall.”

Savannah shrugged. “I never asked his birthdate, so I really don’t know.”

“And you’re so much more mature than he is.” Parthena smirked. “I wouldn’t act so high and mighty if I were you.”

“Really, I have no interest in him. I don’t know what Father was thinking sending me along.”

“I think we all know what your father was thinking. Uncle Harrison figured it worked with Max and Lucy, and Clinton and Mel, so why not you and Leonardo? Or do you prefer to call him Leo?”

Savannah’s jaw tightened as she glared at her cousin. “Who says I have a preference?”

Parthena threw a hand in the air. “Really?” she hissed. “Savannah Cooke, stop downplaying everything. I bet you’re excited to see him again.”

“I’m nothing of the kind.” Savannah looked out the window again. “I do hope the orchards are in blossom.”

Parthena laced her fingers under her chin and batted her eyelashes. “I do hope the orchards are in blossom,” she mimicked.

“Shut up.” Savannah smiled. “It’s not as if we’ve been writing to each other, you know.”

Her cousin put her hands down. “I guess not. Not the way Clinton and Mel did.”

“For six years,” Savannah added. “Those two needed to get married.”

“It will be good to see them. I’ve missed Clinton.”

Savannah smiled again. “Me too. You of all people know how close we are.”

“You might pretend to hate him at times, but I know better.” Parthena smiled. “Everyone on the ranch does.”

She giggled. “I know.”

They went silent, watching out their respective windows. Uncle Colin snored softly with Aunt Belle snuggled against him. They planned to stay a little over a week and Savannah hoped to get her fill of her new nephew. Harold Umberto Cooke – Harold to be as close to Harrison as possible for Clinton, Umberto after the King of Italy for Melania. Melania, like Leo, wasn’t technically a Weaver but a Cucinotta, a sibling of Calvin Weaver’s wife Isabella. They’d all come from Rome to America, then to Washington Territory after Bella married Calvin.

Rome. New York City. And she hadn’t even visited Portland yet …

“Do you think he looks the same?” Parthena asked out of the blue.

Savannah covered her window. “I couldn’t say. Is three years long enough for someone to change?”

“We have,” Parthena said. “Look at us. We’re both getting on in years.”

Savannah cringed, as she did every time