brother John stood there, tall infant chair beside him. John was his closest brother in age, though he’d flourished under Drew’s leadership where Levi had challenged their older brother at every turn. Slightly shorter and stockier than Levi, with mahogany-colored hair and their mother’s green eyes, he had never looked happier since marrying a few months ago.
“Dottie thought you might need this,” he said, giving the chair a push. It rolled forward and bumped against the threshold.
“Is that Drew’s high chair?” Levi asked, eyeing it.
“It was,” John acknowledged. “He loaned it to Dottie for Peter, and I made a few improvements. But Peter’s big enough that he prefers to sit at the table with us now.”
The pride in his voice was unmistakable. Though the little boy was Dottie’s son, John had fully entered into the role of father, even before their marriage.
“I’m sure Callie will appreciate it,” Levi said, lifting the wheeled contraption into the house. He leaned closer to his brother. “Listen, John, would you tell the others to wait a few days before welcoming Callie and her family? They’re still accustoming themselves to the changes.”
John, always the peacemaker, nodded sagely. “Of course. If a book would help, I’d be happy to bring some from the library. Culpeper’s Complete Herbal and Robinson Crusoe for the boys, perhaps. The Courtship of Miles Standish for Miss Murphy. That was always Beth’s favorite.”
Courtship? “I’ll pass along your offer.”
With a nod, John strode off, whistling.
Levi shut the door. John was a hopeless romantic, devouring the adventure novels their father had left them. He’d recently finished building and equipping the community library he hoped to open after Christmas. But somehow, Levi didn’t think Callie would be interested in reading about someone else’s courtship. He could only hope it was his brother’s kind nature that had prompted him to suggest it, and not an attempt at matchmaking.
He stepped back into the room and wheeled the little chair over to the table. He could imagine Mica smiling from it. She smiled at everything.
Unlike Callie. Her smiles were so rare that they were like the sun coming out after the rain. What would it take to make her smile more often?
There was a perfunctory tap on the door before his brother James strolled in.
“I saw Lance and Percy from the store, so I thought I’d fetch them,” he announced, glancing around. “Where’s your new family?”
Levi hurried to intercept him before James could wander any farther into the house. “Getting settled and needing a little time to get used to things,” Levi told him.
“Ah.” James wiggled his brows. Though James was older, he resembled Levi the most, from his dark blond hair and deep blue eyes to his slender build and tall height. The main difference lay in their hair. Where James’s was straight and short, Levi’s was longer and curlier. That had always seemed odd to Levi. James was the tease, the jokester in the family. Somehow it seemed as if he should be the one with curly hair.
“Perhaps I should warn you,” he said now. “Rina would like to evaluate the boys so she knows where to place them in school.”
Levi glanced at the empty stairs, already concerned about the silence from the loft. “Give them a day or two.”
“I’d be happy to give them all the time in the world,” James assured him, “but I bow to my wife, who knows far more about educating young minds than I ever will.”
“I’ll speak to her,” Levi promised, taking his arm and attempting to escort him to the door.
“Do you have everything you need?” James asked, resisting and glancing about as if hoping to catch a glimpse of Callie and the boys. “What about a cradle for the baby? Dottie gave us ours back recently.”
“Tomorrow,” Levi said, pulling a little harder.
He thought he heard the squeak of James’s boots against the plank floor. “I could bring you something from the store—an extra set of dishes? More flour? A bear trap?”
“We’re fine,” Levi assured him, straining to wrestle his brother over the threshold.
James planted his hands on either side of the open door, eyes widening as he looked past Levi. “Yes, I can see that you are. Quite fine indeed.”
What was he talking about? He was fairly sure his brother was just teasing him, but Levi couldn’t stop himself from glancing over his shoulder just in case.
Callie had come out of the bedroom. Gone were the slouch hat and the rough buckskin coat. Her honey-colored hair was held up behind her by an abalone comb and flowing about her shoulders in waves. The blue printed calico dress was likely too cold for a winter’s day, but it outlined her form and brought color to her cheeks. Or perhaps it was Levi’s and James’s approving looks that made her blush.
She raised her chin and marched toward the stove, Mica waving a greeting from her arms.
“Isn’t it time to get supper started?” she asked with a look to James.
Levi’s brother cleared his throat. “Not until I properly welcome you, dear lady.” He removed his hands from the doorjamb and sketched an elegant bow. “I’m Levi’s brother, James. And you must be the lovely Miss Murphy.”
Though his brother was devoted to his schoolteacher wife, he still went out of his way to be gallant to the ladies, young and old. Another woman would have simpered and blushed.
With one hand, Callie pulled a pan from the rack above the stove. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Wallin. If you’ll excuse me, I should earn my keep.” She brought the pan down on the stove with a clatter.
“I thought you brought a ward, not a housekeeper,” James murmured to Levi, brow up.
“We have a few things to work out,” Levi said, and he managed to push his brother out at last.
He closed the door and turned to Callie. For all her bravado, she was shifting from foot to foot as if unsure what to do next. Mica peeped over her shoulder and wrinkled her nose at Levi.
“I thought I’d cook for you,” he said, moving closer. As he passed the infant chair, he gave it a push that set it rolling toward Callie.
She turned as if noticing the rumble of the wheels against the planks. “What’s that?”
“A present from my brothers,” Levi told her. “For Mica.”
The little girl was already reaching out a hand and wiggling her fingers as if wanting to draw the chair closer. Callie tilted her head to study the contraption. “Why? What’s it for?”
“If I may?” Levi held out his arms.
Callie hesitated a moment, then handed him the baby.
He was more sure of how to hold the little girl this time. But it probably wouldn’t have mattered if he hadn’t been. Mica smiled up at him, cheeks pink and eyes sparkling. Levi gave in to the thought of rocking her
