by Regina Scott
“I’m truly sorry you’ll get a scolding, Simon,” Levi assured him. “But I’m going to enjoy eating dinner when my misdeeds aren’t the main topic of conversation for once.”
Chapter Five
Since coming to Seattle, Nora had rarely set foot outside the town. The way to Wallin Landing fascinated her. The thick forests looked cozy, and she could imagine deer and rabbits taking shelter in the thickets of fern and wild berries. Wallin Landing itself seemed nearly as welcoming, with its big two-story log cabin looking out through the trees toward Lake Union, the sturdy log barn and the schoolhouse at the back of the long clearing.
Then Levi had fired that gun, and she’d nearly jumped out of her skin. All she could think about was protecting the ones she loved from danger.
Which was silly. No one was in any danger. And Simon Wallin hardly needed her protection. Besides, she most certainly was not in love with him.
Yet she had to admit that standing in the circle of his arms felt rather nice.
“Why are you in trouble?” she asked him as he released her and started toward the house, leaving James to deal with the horses. “Are we late for dinner?”
“No,” Simon said, his jaw tight. “I have to explain things to my family.”
Very likely he did. They would not have been expecting Simon’s convenient wife to move out to Wallin Landing. She could only hope they were better at listening than Charles and Meredith had been.
He led her up the porch and through the door. She was met with the smell of something spicy, and she spotted stew bubbling in a large kettle on a clever step stove that backed up to a stone hearth. Simon’s sister, Beth, a young lady with sunny-blond hair, was taking down a jar of what looked like apple preserves from the wide shelves lining one wall. Nora could only admire the girl’s simple wool gown. The blue was a good color for her clear complexion, and the scalloped neckline was a concession to style over practicality.
Beth paused when she saw Nora, then her round face broke into a smile. “Oh, Simon, how nice of you to bring us company! Are you traveling through the area, miss? Going out to meet your family?”
Nora looked to Simon, who appeared to be scowling though she could not identify the reason. “This is Nora,” Simon said to his sister.
Beth bobbed a curtsy, her dark blue eyes clearly showing her curiosity. “Very pleased to meet you, Nora. I think I saw you talking to Simon at Maddie O’Rourke’s wedding. I hope you brought lots of news from town. Things get a little quiet out here at times.”
Unlike Simon’s sister, it seemed.
“Go on in,” Beth continued, reaching for Nora’s cloak, which she hung by the back door next to several other brown coats like Simon’s. “I’ll fetch another place setting. I can’t wait to become better acquainted.”
What a lovely way to be welcomed to the family. Nora was smiling as Simon doffed his coat and led her through an arch beside the stove. On the other side lay the cabin’s main room, a wide, warm space, with ladder-back chairs scattered here and there along the log walls and a bentwood rocker next to the rounded stone fireplace. Nora’s gaze immediately lit on the small quilts, most likely the work of Simon’s mother, draping the chairs.
But a noise to her left alerted her to the long table there, flanked by benches on either side. Those benches were crowded with people all gazing at her with looks ranging from eagerness to surprise.
“Simon.” His mother looked up from her seat at the foot of the table. “Have you brought us a guest?”
Even as his mother’s green eyes crinkled in welcome, Nora was struck by the lack of resemblance to Simon. Where he was lean, his features razor-edged, his mother was round and soft, her face more closely resembling her daughter’s. Her green wool gown was clean and well-tailored, for all it favored an earlier style.
“Not precisely a guest, Ma,” Simon answered, and Nora was surprised to hear his voice come out stiff.
John, who had just come in the front door, stopped at the sight of Nora and raised his head heavenward as if petitioning the Lord for help.
Simon took Nora’s hand in his, his grip sure, firm. “Allow me to introduce my wife, Nora.”
Nora smiled at them all. Only Levi and John smiled back. The rest of them looked to be in a state of shock if the paling skin and widening eyes were any indication.
“Wife?” his mother gasped out. “Oh, Simon, what have you done?”
* * *
Simon’s stomach knotted. Beside him, Nora’s whole body tightened. She glanced up at him, her eyes wide, no doubt realizing for the first time that he had never told them the truth. She didn’t deserve to hear their protests. He’d been the one who’d been unable to find a way to explain the situation.
Knowing he would have as difficult a time now, he slipped his arm about her shoulders and gave her a nod he hoped was encouraging, then turned to face his family.
“Nora and I introduced ourselves at Maddie O’Rourke’s wedding,” he said. “We discovered we share a similar philosophy.”
“Family,” John put in helpfully as he slipped into his seat at the table. “Sacrifice for those we love.”
Nora offered his brother a tremulous smile.
“You knew about this?” Ma demanded.
John visibly swallowed. “Levi and I stood as witnesses.”
Levi held up his hands as his mother’s glare pinned him. “Don’t look at me. It was Simon’s idea. And I say he made a good choice. She can fix a sailing ship.”
His mother frowned at that, but Drew rose from the head of the table. It was a point of pride that Simon was the only one who could look Drew in the eyes, for all his brother was more muscular.
“Forgive our manners, Nora,” Drew said in his deep voice. “We were just surprised by Simon’s news.” The look in his dark blue eyes told Simon his oldest brother was merely saving his questions for later, in private. “I’m Drew, and this is my wife, Catherine.”
Catherine rose as well. Dressed in a light blue wool gown, the pale-haired beauty rested a hand on her swelling middle and smiled. “Nora and I are acquainted from our time aboard the Continental. Welcome to the family, Nora.”
Simon could feel Nora’s body thawing a little.
James’s wife, Rina, nodded a greeting as well. Simon had never understood what the lovely schoolteacher had seen in his brother. Even now, her golden-brown hair was elegantly confined behind her head, and her purple wool dress might have graced royalty.
“I remember Nora from our journey, and her kindness since,” she said. “She is a good friend and a talented seamstress.”
“A seamstress!” Beth’s cry turned all gazes her way as she rushed in from the kitchen. Simon had seldom seen his sister so excited, and that was saying something, for Beth seemed to live in a giddy sense of delight.
“Oh, I knew I’d seen that dress before,” she said, turning her head to gaze with obvious rapture at the back of Nora’s skirts. Simon wasn’t sure what was so special about the gown. Of the dresses he’d seen on Nora, this was the most severe with its gray wool and black braid trim.
“It’s from the October Godey’s, isn’t it?” Beth demanded. “Only, you’ve changed the trim—braid instead of fringe. I thought the fringe was entirely too fussy. How would you keep it clean?”
“Beth.” Ma’s gentle admonition stopped her daughter in midgush. His mother stood and came to Simon’s and Nora’s sides.
“God blessed me with one daughter,” she said with a smile to Beth, who was turning pink. “And now He’s blessed me with more through my sons’ wives. Please know that you are welcome here, Nora.”
She opened her arms. Simon released his hold on Nora, and his mother hugged her close. Over Nora’s shoulder, however, Ma’s gaze was narrowed at him. If that was the worst he had to deal with, he would survive. His fam
ily had certainly had more reasons to complain about him in the past.
Beth set a place for Nora, and everyone shifted around so Nora could sit next to Simon at his customary place on the bench facing the window. She was smiling again, her cheeks rosy with pleasure at their attentions. Whatever trouble he’d had with his family over the years, he knew they would be kinder to Nora than her brother and sister-in-law had been.
It was him they had the most trouble with.
Everyone had just settled down, with Beth and their mother bringing in the food from the kitchen, when James returned from the barn.
“What did I miss?” he asked, taking a seat beside Rina.
“Simon and Nora are married,” his wife told him.
James tilted his head to one side as if shaking something out of his ear. “I must have spent too much time logging today. The crack of the ax has addled my hearing. I thought you said Simon got married.”
“I did,” Simon gritted out, readying himself for an endless barrage of his brother’s teases. “Nora is my wife.”
James rose and extended his hand across the table to her. “Welcome to the family, Nora. It’s refreshing to find one of us who knows his mind when it comes to brides.”
“Yes,” Catherine said with a look around him to Rina. “We did have to do a bit of convincing to help you see the value of marriage.”
James sat back down. “At least Levi didn’t have to kidnap me a bride.”
Drew flushed.
James leaned back. “Indeed, Simon always knows what he’s doing. You must be someone special, Nora, for him to ask you to marry him.”
“Actually,” Nora said, “I asked him.”
James blinked.
“Simon,” Drew put in, his voice catching on a laugh, “say the blessing so we can eat.”
Normally, his brother’s habit of ordering them around grated on Simon’s nerves. But the honor of saying grace usually fell to Ma or Drew. That his brother had given it to him meant something.
He just wasn’t sure what.
Everyone around the table bowed their heads and clasped their hands before them expectantly. He’d heard ministers recite a common prayer before a meal, but his family generally simply prayed about whatever was on their minds. They most likely wouldn’t want to hear what was on his mind at that moment—relief that his confession was over, concern for the future—and he wasn’t so sure his thoughts were fit for the Almighty’s ears either. Then again, it wasn’t as if He listened overmuch to Simon’s petitions. Still, he bowed his head.
“Thank You for this food, Lord, for the seed it grew from and the land that nurtured it. Thank You for the strength to harvest it and cook it. May it be a blessing to our bodies. Amen.”
Amens echoed around the table, and his family began passing the porcelain tureen of venison stew, the platter of biscuits, the pat of butter and jar of apple preserves. He could feel Nora relaxing beside him, her shoulders coming down, her head easing up.
“So,” James said, digging his fork into the stew, “you asked Simon to marry you. I like a woman with gumption.”
Rina smiled as she cut a piece of venison in two, knife and fork held properly.
Nora wrinkled her nose. “I don’t have a lot of gumption, I fear. I’m just glad he agreed.” She favored Simon with a smile that made everything taste better.
“You came with the Mercer Expedition,” Drew put in. “What made you join the ladies in venturing West?”
“I wanted to live my own life,” Nora replied. “Perhaps find a little adventure.”
“And so you married Simon,” James said triumphantly. “Excellent choice. Always the adventurer, that’s our Simon.”
Simon glared at him. “I’ll leave the adventure to those who act first and regret it later.”
Catherine passed Nora the platter. “More biscuits, Nora? You’ll find that Levi has the lightest hand.”
Down the table, Levi cocked a smile. “Ma taught me well.”
Ma smiled too. “I taught all my children to cook.” She nodded to Nora. “But that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t welcome new recipes or another hand in the kitchen.”
“I’d be happy to help,” Nora said.
Given what she’d faced with her brother, Simon wasn’t about to see her forced into labor again. Not that his family was demanding in that way. They all shared the chores, and help was received gladly. But Nora found it hard to say no, and he feared she’d soon find herself overwhelmed with their requests.
“Nora plans to continue working,” Simon advised them all. “She has commissions she must meet.”
“Like my new waistcoat,” James agreed, reaching for another biscuit.
“I’m sure I’ll have time for other things,” Nora said with a look to Simon.
He’d have to advise her about his family later. For now, he let the conversation veer off to other things and finished eating.
Yet he was aware of Nora beside him, the way she dug into the stew with gusto, the sigh of appreciation that escaped her when she tried his brother’s biscuits. Though the bench should have felt crowded, having her next to him only made him feel warmer, more at home. How odd.
“I didn’t see a trunk in the wagon,” James ventured at one point. “No lady I know travels so light.” He winked at his wife. “My back’s still smarting from moving Rina’s things.”
“I left my trunk in Seattle,” Nora explained with a look to Simon.
He was ready to tell her he would bring it back for her soon when Levi spoke up.
“I’ll fetch it for you.”
“You just want an excuse to get out of school,” Beth accused him.
“We only have seven more classes until we suspend for Christmas,” Rina reminded him. “And you in particular are needed to practice for our theatrical.”
Levi preened. “I have the most important role.”
“One of the most important roles,” Beth protested.
Rina smiled. “With only five students at present, all of the roles are important.”
To Simon’s surprise, Nora spoke up. “I’d be happy to help if you need. Do you already have costumes?”
“Yes, we do,” Beth answered for her sister-in-law and teacher. “And they are hideous.”
“Elizabeth Ann Wallin,” Ma scolded.
Rina held up a hand. “I fear she is correct. I have been focused on memorization and enunciation. With their other chores and Christmas preparations, Beth and the others have only been able to cobble together their costumes.”
“But I know just how they should look,” Beth said, eyes shining with her vision. “I’m sure you and I together could make them better, Nora.”
“I’ll do what I can,” Nora promised.
There they went again, roping her in to more work. Yet he had to own that Nora could likely do the job quicker and with higher quality than even his ambitious sister.
“And I’ll do what I can as well,” John declared, rising from the bench and picking up his empty plate, cup and utensils. “I’ll fetch Nora’s things from town while Levi practices, so long as James lets me use Lancelot and Percival.”
In typical style, James had named his horses after the knights of King Arthur’s court.
“Granted,” James said, his chin raised in kingly fashion. “So long as you bring back the mail and complete a commission for me while you’re at it.”
“Agreed,” John said in his usual good-natured way. “And now I better go clean out my things.” He smiled at Nora. “I’ve been bunking at Simon’s. I’ll move back to the main house with Levi.”
“What!” Levi protested. “That’s not fair!”
Beth, who was sitting next to him, bumped him with her shoulder. “You used to share the loft with all of them.”
“Yeah, but I’ve grown since then,” Levi told her.
“There’s plenty of room in the loft, John,” their mother said. “You are welcome to stay.”
“Only until I can file my own claim,” John assured her, “which is four months away.” He glanced at Simon as if in encouragement, then hurried for the kitchen.
Simon knew what his brother expected. Here was the perfect opening to tell them about the new acreage. He raised his head. “I was afraid we couldn’t wait until John files his claim for more land this spring. You know this winter will be difficult.”
Drew was frowning at him. “I think you overstate the matter. We’ll find a way to make it through.”
And so it started. Drew only consented readily to a plan if he’d been the one to think of it. Simon had had this fight more times than he cared to remember. Of course, once he convinced Drew of the necessity, there would be no turning back. Much as he would have liked help from all his brothers, when Drew involved himself, it would be nothing but arguments over who did what and how.
“We may scrape by this year,” Simon allowed. “But next year will be even harder with more mouths to feed.”
Catherine put a hand to her belly, while Nora gazed up at him, her face puckering once more.
Simon pushed ahead. “John’s claim can’t be cleared and planted in time. So I filed for one above Drew’s.”
“How?” Drew demanded. “We didn’t have enough money saved to buy the land.”
“But a man can file for his wife,” Simon reminded him.
Drew merely stared at him, but Beth gasped. “You married Nora for the land?”
She made it sound positively mercenary, as if he were no better than Nora’s brother, using her for his own gain. “It was a fair bargain,” Simon told her. “I gave her my support. She brought us land.”
Nora nodded.
Ma’s face crumbled, as if he’d done something beyond redemption. “But you are determined to make a marriage,” she said, hope in every syllable.