you here? I saw a wagon out back.”
“Excuse me,” John murmured, passing Dottie to the hallway.
James turned at the sound of his movement. “Ah, there you are. What, is it wash day already? What a tidy fellow you are. Ma would be so proud.”
John had a sudden urge to push his brother out the door. “Can I help you with something?” he asked instead.
James smiled. His next closest brother in outlook, James had a few inches on John, though he remained whip-thin. He’d also inherited Pa’s light brown hair and dark blue eyes. “Rina’s tooth is bothering her,” he explained. “Catherine’s given her a powder, but she’d prefer to take the day off tomorrow. She wondered if you’d step in.”
John and Beth had both substituted for James’s wife, who taught in the one-room school at Wallin Landing. Beth must have something else to do tomorrow that James would come for John.
“Of course,” John assured him. “Just have her write down what they’re studying in the various subjects. Last time Danny tried to convince me he couldn’t do more than add so he could get out of working on his multiplication. And perhaps Simon can return the wagon and horses to Seattle and bring back my horse.”
James opened his mouth, most likely to make some quip, as he was wont to do, but his gaze swept past John and no words came out.
John turned to find Dottie in the doorway to the bedroom. She smiled shyly at his brother before focusing on John.
“Forgive me. I just realized. You said you had cows and chickens. Do you need me to feed them? Milk the cows? Gather eggs?”
“I’ll tend to the cows and milk morning and evening,” John promised. “If you’d like to gather the eggs, that would be appreciated. You’ll see the coop at the side of the barn.”
James cleared his throat.
John kept his smile tight. “Mrs. Tyrrell, this is my brother James Wallin. He has the claim next to mine, as I mentioned. James, Mrs. Tyrrell and her son will be staying in my house until she decides where to settle in the area.”
James swept her a bow. “Dear lady, welcome to Wallin Landing. I’m John’s most charming brother and father to three adorable children. May I see yours?”
Dottie widened her grasp so he could peer down at Peter. The baby’s lower lip trembled, and he buried his face in his mother’s arms.
Funny. Peter hadn’t been particularly shy with John. He wasn’t sure why that made him feel as if he’d finally gotten the better of his witty brother.
“Probably ready for a nap,” James acknowledged. “A shame John doesn’t have a cradle.” He tsked as if John had been entirely shortsighted.
“I haven’t needed one before,” John reminded him.
James beamed at Dottie. “I have it! My beloved wife and I have a cradle, and none of our darlings is sleeping in it at present. We’d be delighted to see it go to good use. Why don’t you come with me, John, and fetch it back for the lady?”
Why not? It would keep John from saying more ridiculous things that would only give Dottie Tyrrell a further disgust of him. And the way his brother’s brows were wiggling, he had something to say to John in private.
“I’ll be right back,” John told her. He nodded to James, who bowed again to Dottie and then headed out the front door.
John fell into step beside him, arms still laden with clothing.
“Who is she?” James demanded. “Where did you meet her? Why does she have a baby?”
John started for the trees that marked the dividing line between his claim and James’s. “She’s a widow from back east. She and Beth have been corresponding for months, and Beth convinced her to relocate to Seattle.”
James whistled. “So that’s the mail-order bride. I didn’t realize she’d arrived.”
John jerked to a stop on the well-worn path. “You knew?”
James shrugged. “Beth had to confide in someone.”
“And you didn’t think to warn me?”
“She swore me to silence.” James shook his head. “Besides, it wasn’t as if I expected the woman to agree to come. This isn’t exactly an admirable situation—far from civilization and the things a lady generally prefers.”
John glanced back at the house, barely visible through the trees. “You think she can’t be happy here?”
“Who knows?” James clapped him on the shoulder. “That’s what courtship is about, learning what the other person can tolerate.”
John started forward once more. “We aren’t courting. She’s just staying here until she can determine her next steps.”
“Ah, I see.”
Somehow his brother made it sound as if he saw more than John intended.
“I mean it, James,” John warned. “Mrs. Tyrrell and I are not courting. I have no interest in marrying.”
James matched his stride. “Can’t say I blame you. There are already too many blondes at Wallin Landing, though none, mind you, with quite that glorious shade of gold. And a trim figure, while all the rage in Beth’s precious magazine, probably indicates she hasn’t the strength to muck stalls and haul timber.”
“I’d hardly expect a wife to muck stalls or haul timber,” John protested.
“No? How progressive of you. But it probably doesn’t matter. Very likely Mrs. Tyrrell is too educated for you.”
John frowned at him. “You think so?”
James barked a laugh. “No, scholar that you are. From what Beth tells me, you and Mrs. Tyrrell are evenly matched. I say propose and get it over with.”
“No.” John could hear the obstinacy in his tone. “You and Beth may know all about her, but I don’t. And I’m not sure I want to. A woman like that is looking for a hero. I’m no hero.”
James chuckled, but he didn’t argue the point. “It’s not me you need to convince.”
“Mrs. Tyrrell and I understand each other,” John assured him.
“Oh, very likely,” James agreed. “But you both may be outvoted. Do you really think you can resist the combined forces of the female population of Wallin Landing?”
John felt as if the shadows of the trees crept closer. “You don’t think...”
“I do. Once Beth, Rina, Catherine and Nora learn that Mrs. Tyrrell and her baby have arrived, you might as well go buy the ring, my lad, for you’ll be as good as married.”
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