His Frontier Christmas Family Read online

“Would, too!”

  Before Levi could move, the two were rolling around in the bed of the wagon, pushing and pummeling each other. With a jolt, he realized their movements were shoving the packs toward the rear of the open wagon.

  Callie must have seen the problem as well. “That’s enough!” she cried. “You’ll cost us our things.”

  Neither brother paid her the least heed. Face turning red, she reached back a hand, but, holding the baby, she couldn’t seem to catch hold of either boy.

  “Hang on,” Levi told her.

  She cast him a glance, then resolutely grabbed the side of the bench.

  Levi slapped down on the reins, and the horses lunged forward. The movement sent both boys flying into the quilts. Levi reined in, allowing the horses to draw the wagon to the side of the road and stop. Then he turned and gazed down at two scowling faces. Somehow, he thought he’d looked at Drew with just that amount of defiance when his older brother had taken over leadership of the family after Pa had died.

  “You wanted to get to Seattle as fast as possible,” he reminded them. “Every time you act up, I’m stopping this wagon. I’ve slept out under the stars before, in colder weather than this. If you want to take a week to go five miles, I’m your man.”

  They didn’t so much as exchange glances this time.

  “No,” they chorused.

  “Good,” Levi said. “Then pull those packs up closer to the bench and get comfortable.”

  The two scurried to comply.

  “By the way,” Levi continued with a wink to Callie, “I hear there are bandits in these parts. Keep your eyes peeled, and sing out if you spot one.”

  The twins’ heads jerked up, and they nodded eagerly.

  As soon as they’d settled themselves back among the quilts, Levi faced front and called to the horses.

  “Bandits,” Callie said, skepticism in her voice. Even Mica, who must have been awakened by the sudden movements, was frowning at him.

  Levi shrugged. “My brother and his wife were set upon out this way.”

  Callie’s eyes widened.

  He felt a tug of guilt and leaned closer, speaking low for her ears alone. “Eight years ago. I haven’t heard of any trouble recently.”

  “Are those bandits?” Sutter called.

  A chill ran up him. They were rolling around a bend, so Levi could easily spare a look back. Callie turned as well, shoulder brushing his. Two riders were coming along the road. The pair was far enough behind that Levi couldn’t make out their faces under their broad-brimmed hats. He forced himself to focus on guiding the horses around the curve.

  “Do you know them?” Callie murmured beside him.

  “I don’t think so,” Levi told her. “You?”

  Her cheeks were pale. “We had visitors last night. Might be them. Horses look right.”

  “There’s another bend coming up,” Levi said. “We’ll check then.”

  As the horses trotted around the curve, Levi and Callie turned once more. She was so close he could feel the warmth of her.

  The way behind lay empty.

  Callie met his gaze. “Where did they go? I didn’t see any tracks leading off this one.”

  Neither had he. Were they waiting around the last bend, making sure he didn’t get another look at them? Why the secrecy? What were they trying to hide?

  And what had drawn them out this way?

  Chapter Four

  Callie kept her head high as they rolled into Seattle. She’d been a little concerned about the men Sutter had spotted on the road, but the pair had never caught up with them. Obviously bored, Frisco and Sutter had curled themselves in Ma’s quilts.

  They perked up as Levi guided the horses down Second Avenue. Callie wished she could be as excited. New buildings crowded either side of the wide, muddy street, signs overhead showing pictures of boots, hats and a mortar and pestle. Men in a variety of garb, from fine wool coats and high-crowned hats to rough trousers and tweed caps, moved among the shops, boots clomping on the boardwalk. The few ladies among them walked with bonnets covering their hair and cloaks covering their swaying skirts. Callie’s hand went to finger her lank locks spilling out below her hat. It had been too cold the last few weeks to take a bath and wash her hair, even if she’d felt it fair to ask her brothers to lug enough water from the creek.

  Many of the people were glancing their way with curious looks. She could almost hear their whispers.

  There go those wild Murphy brats.

  Someone ought to teach them better.

  They shouldn’t be allowed near civilized folk.

  “We gonna get that sarsaparilla, preacher?” Frisco asked, leaning over the edge of the wagon as if ready to dive into the mud of the street to escape.

  “You sit back down,” Callie ordered before Levi could answer. “I won’t have you causing trouble.”

  Frisco heaved another sigh and threw himself once more among the quilts.

  “We should rest the horses,” Levi told her. He nodded ahead to one of the few brick buildings she’d seen. “Why don’t we stop at the Pastry Emporium?”

  Immediately her brothers chorused their support, rousing Mica, who beamed at them all as if delighted to wake in such company.

  Callie eyed the building with its green-and-white-striped awning over the wide front window, the bright painted sign overhead. A lady in a bow-spangled dress was just entering.

  “Looks mighty fancy to me,” Callie told him. “I doubt they’d want our business.”

  Levi raised his brows. “I assure you, Miss Murphy, the owner Maddie Haggerty has seen far worse than two eager boys. She’s an old friend of the family.”

  Oh, but he moved in fine circles. First a whole town, now a prosperous Seattle business owner. Callie hefted Mica close as Levi drew the horses to the hitching post and jumped down to tie them. As Frisco and Sutter ran to press their noses to the sparkling glass of the front window, Levi held out his arms to Callie. “Coming, Miss Murphy?”

  Callie faced front. “I’ll wait here. Someone should watch the wagon.”

  Out of the corners of her eyes she saw his arms fall. “That shouldn’t be necessary. We’ll only be inside a short while, and we can see the wagon from the window.”

  Callie hunched her shoulders. “We’re carrying all our worldly goods, preacher. I ain’t taking chances.”

  “On anything, it seems,” he said.

  Callie shot him a look. The sun glinted on the golden curls against his forehead, made the blue of his eyes sparkle nearly as much as the clear glass window. Still, she couldn’t let his sweet looks sway her. “I came this far, didn’t I?”

  He took a step back, holding up his hands as if in surrender. “As you like, Miss Murphy. The boys and I will only be a moment.” Turning, he strode for the door, her brothers on either side.

  Callie sighed. She shouldn’t have been so hard on him. He was only being kind. He wasn’t used to having people judge him. In her experience, ministers were the ones who generally led the judging.

  As if to comfort her, Mica cuddled closer. Callie rested her cheek against the baby’s silky hair. At least Mica didn’t complain. She’d made do with goat’s milk after her mother had died, opened her mouth eagerly for whatever mashed fruit, vegetable or grain Callie could manage after the goat escaped. She laughed and wiggled through every rough diaper, every tepid bath.

  “And if that diamond ring turns to brass,” Callie sang, rocking her gently, “Mama’s gonna buy you a looking glass.”

  Mica sighed happily.

  “Pardon me, ma’am.”

  Callie looked up to find a fellow on horseback next to the wagon. His hat was as black as the horse, his eyes only a shade or two brighter. The planes of his face were hard. A shiver went through her, and Callie
swallowed.

  Seeing he had her attention, he nodded. “I know those horses, but I don’t know you.”

  She was not about to be accused of horse thievery. Callie narrowed her eyes at him before turning to stare straight ahead. “Don’t much care what you know, mister. I advise you to ride on.”

  He didn’t even shift in the saddle, and his voice came out cold. “I’m afraid I can’t do that until you tell me how you came by James Wallin’s horses.”

  Callie glanced his way. One hand had strayed closer to the gun at his hip. She stiffened, arms tightening around Mica. She’d never reach the rifle under the bench in time.

  Her brothers’ laughter echoed behind her as they came out onto the boardwalk to the tinkle of the shop bell.

  “Hey, Callie,” Frisco called, “look what we got—a whole roll, all for you. With frosting!”

  “Who’s that?” Sutter asked.

  Figure on Sutter to notice the man on horseback. Callie refused to take her eyes off the fellow until she knew he wasn’t going to shoot one of them.

  “Deputy McCormick,” Levi said. “How can we help you?”

  Deputy? So this fellow was the law in Seattle.

  He nodded past Callie as if acknowledging Levi. “No help necessary. You answered my question.” His hand moved away from the gun to finger the brim of his hat. “Good day, ma’am.”

  “A moment,” Levi called, just when she thought she might relax. As Sutter scrambled up into the bed of the wagon and Frisco handed Callie the roll wrapped in paper, Levi came around to face the lawman.

  “These are the Murphys from out around Columbia,” he told the deputy. “I’m taking them to Wallin Landing to live. We were followed part of the way by a pair of riders. I didn’t like the looks of them.”

  The lawman nodded. “I’ll head that direction when I can. Thanks for letting me know.” With a flick of the reins, he rode on.

  Callie drew in a breath at last. Sutter leaned out of the wagon bed, as if watching the deputy until he turned the corner. Frisco pressed against the side of the wagon next to Callie.

  “Go on and eat it,” Frisco said, slate-colored eyes bright as silver in the sunlight. “It’s cinnamon.”

  She could see some of the red-brown spice clinging to the corner of his mouth, and her own mouth turned up in a smile. “Was it good?”

  “Oh, yes.” He glanced at Levi, who had also been watching the lawman. “Thanks, preacher.”

  Levi collected himself and smiled at her brother. “You’re welcome, Frisco. Climb aboard, now. We still have a ways to go.”

  With a sigh that sounded far less happy, her brother trudged toward the back of the wagon.

  Levi turned his smile on Callie. “I’m glad to see Deputy McCormick checking on you, making sure you were safe out here.”

  Callie snorted. “Wasn’t me he was worried about. It was the horses. He thought I’d stolen them.”

  She expected Levi to argue, but he chuckled. “Wouldn’t be the first time someone made off with Lance and Percy.” He patted the closest horse before going to untie them. “You remember those bandits I mentioned? They took these beauties, left my brother and his betrothed alone in the wilderness.”

  Sutter popped up behind her. “How’d they get home?”

  Callie was fairly sure he was asking about the horses, not Levi’s family, but Levi nodded to him as he climbed into his seat and took up the reins. “James and his sweetheart navigated the forest alone for three days before our brother Simon tracked them and brought them home. The deputy and James both searched for the horses, but Rina was the one who rescued the pair.”

  “Rina?” Callie asked with a frown.

  Levi called to the horses, who pulled the wagon down the street toward where trees dotted the horizon at the north. “His betrothed, now his wife. She can be impressive.”

  Frisco popped up as well. “Wait, ain’t she the lady you said taught school?”

  “That’s right.”

  Her brothers exchanged glances. Callie knew what they must be thinking. A schoolteacher who could fight off horse thieves?

  Maybe going to Wallin Landing would turn out better than she’d thought, for all of them.

  * * *

  Levi smiled at how quickly Callie consumed the treat from Maddie. The Irishwoman was a good cook, but the way Callie inhaled the aroma, dug her fingers into the soft dough, that was about the best cinnamon roll ever baked. She caught him watching her as she finished and ducked her head, right hand rubbing at her left shoulder.

  “When are we gonna get there?” Frisco whined.

  “Another hour,” Levi promised him.

  The answering sigh could have toppled a cedar.

  “We can sing to pass the time,” Callie said, shifting Mica on her lap.

  Frisco humphed. “You always want to sing.”

  She ignored him, looking thoughtful. “Something spritely like we did around the fire at night.”

  Sutter popped up. “How about ‘Sweet Betsy from Pike’?”

  Levi wasn’t sure what his congregation would think if he drove in to Wallin Landing belting a bawdy song from the gold fields. “What about ‘Get on Board’?”

  Callie brightened. “We know that. Adam brought it back from his last trip.” She started singing the first verse.

  “The gospel train is coming.

  I hear it just at hand.

  I hear the car wheels moving.

  And rumbling through the land.”

  She had a clear, sweet voice, both the sound and the glow on her face drawing him in. The feeling reminded him of summer outings on the lake with his family, friends gathered around a hearth. He and her brothers joined her on the chorus and other verses, while Mica swayed in time.

  “Well done,” he complimented her when they finished and her brothers plopped back down among the quilts.

  She blushed a soft pink. “I always liked music, sung or played. Something about it touches me inside.” She pressed a hand to her heart, and Mica grabbed her fingers. With a smile, she lowered her hand. “That probably sounds odd to you.”

  “Not at all,” Levi told her, ducking under a low-hanging branch. “I feel that way about the Bible. Thaddeus Bilgin, the minister who took me under his wing at Vital Creek, encouraged me to start reading it again. Every time I open it, the words are new.”

  She smoothed the buckskin of her coat. “Never have read the Bible.”

  Levi grinned at her. “Now, that’s something I can help you change.”

  Her hand stilled. “I expect I’ll be too busy.”

  Not if he could help it.

  Just the memory of his old friend made his spirits lift. Thaddeus had taught him a lot of things, both spiritual and practical. The two of them still corresponded now that Thaddeus was settled in Vancouver.

  His spirits lifted even higher as the first farms at the edge of Wallin Landing came into view. Their neighbor Mr. Paul raised his hand as they passed. Mrs. Ruflagger called a greeting as she walked her ducks down to the lake. Funny how they both treated him kindly now that he was the minister. The elderly farmer had spent half of Levi’s life chasing him out of the crops, and the wise farmwife had spent an equal amount of time dragging him out of the lake. A good thing they didn’t know what he’d done on the gold fields. They might not be so forgiving.

  The steeple rising through the trees in the distance reminded him of the One who had forgiven all.

  “Almost there,” he called to the boys.

  Frisco and Sutter bobbed up, looking around eagerly. Callie raised her head, and Mica reached out as if she could make the wagon go faster.

  He called to Lance and Percy, and the horses leaned into the harness, carrying the wagon up the rise onto the promontory that held the church buildi
ngs.

  His brothers had built the chapel to inspire. The steeple loomed higher than the ancient fir and cedar surrounding it. The clean white paint gleamed in the sunlight and cheered on a rainy day. The windows on the north looked out onto Lake Union. Beth had wanted stained glass but Levi had convinced her to use clear panes. The vista reminded worshippers that they served a mighty God, capable of creating such a wonder. He couldn’t come near the place without feeling a sense of pride.

  To one side lay a long, steep-roofed log hall, ready to serve as a place for local gatherings. Rina was planning to use it for the school’s Christmas theatrical in a few weeks. On the other side of the church, completing the triangle of buildings, stood the parsonage.

  Frisco and Sutter leaped from the wagon before Levi had even brought it to a complete stop. Whooping and hollering, they ran toward the door of the two-story log house.

  “Stop!” Callie ordered them, sitting taller on the seat and earning her a surprised look from Mica. Her brothers skidded on the path. “You come back and help the preacher and me unload.”

  Their shoulders slumped, but they returned to the wagon.

  “Plenty of time to explore,” Levi promised them, climbing down. “In fact, after we get everything settled, I’d be happy to show you around.”

  Frisco tugged up on his worn trousers. “No need, preacher. We’re pretty good at finding our own way.” Sutter nodded.

  Still defiant. Levi went around to the rear of the wagon and pulled out a pack like the one he’d used on the gold fields. Memories threatened, but he put them aside.

  “Just as well,” he said. “My brothers would probably skin me alive if I showed you our secret fishing hole.”

  Sutter grinned, but Frisco scowled.

  “Here.” Levi shoved the pack at him. “Take this inside. Sutter, go see if Callie needs help with Mica.”

  Muttering under his breath, Frisco took the pack and headed for the house. Levi shouldered the other pack and pulled out Mica’s little wagon. As he came around from the back, Callie was standing on the ground and handing the baby to Sutter.

  “And mind you no fighting while she’s in your arms,” she admonished him.