His Frontier Christmas Family Read online

  The boys had left the one closest to the hearth for Levi. Another time he might have been touched they’d given him the warmest spot, but he suspected the reason had nothing to do with his comfort. Positioning him near the hearth left the stairs clear for them to escape as soon as he was asleep.

  He had to duck his head under the pitched roof, but he went to the pallet, hefted it and carried it over to the other side of the loft, near the window.

  “What are you doing?” Sutter asked, proving that at least one of them was awake.

  “A wise guide once told me it was best to keep your feet warm and your head cool,” Levi told him, repositioning the tick near the stairs. “Good night, Sutter.”

  “Good night, preacher.”

  Frisco’s fake snore let Levi know what the boy thought of the conversation.

  Whatever their plans had been, Callie’s brothers were still in their beds when Levi woke the next morning. His conscience was heavy enough with thoughts of the past that he was a light sleeper, so he felt fairly confident the boys hadn’t sneaked past him in the night. After taking them to see the church, however, he wasn’t so sure.

  He had made Callie and her family porridge and bacon for breakfast. Once more the boys had wolfed the food down while Callie ate more daintily as she fed Mica. The baby didn’t seem to care what she ate. Everything, like everyone, was met with a smile.

  The boys seemed to have slept in their clothes by the number of new wrinkles, but Callie had changed back into her trousers and shirt, suspenders up over her shoulders. She seemed determined to help, stirring the porridge, turning the bacon in the pan.

  “I thought I’d show you all around this morning,” Levi told them. “You didn’t get to see much of Wallin Landing yesterday.”

  Callie glanced up from feeding Mica a spoonful of porridge. Those blue-gray eyes were thoughtful, but she didn’t question his suggestion.

  “And there’s that fishing hole,” Sutter reminded him.

  Levi smiled. “Right you are. Let’s get everything cleaned up, and we’ll start out.”

  Sutter tipped up his porridge bowl and licked out the last. “There you go. All clean.”

  “He means washed,” Callie said, cheeks turning pink. “And it wouldn’t hurt if you two washed yourself, as well.”

  “I ain’t lugging water from the lake,” Frisco said, crossing his arms over his chest.

  “You don’t have to,” Levi told him. “There’s a pump just outside in the breezeway.”

  “Does it work?” Frisco asked suspiciously.

  “Let’s find out,” Levi said.

  He showed them how to raise the handle on the pump, filled up a pot and brought it in to heat on the stove. The color in Callie’s cheeks stayed high as she used the cloth Levi gave her to wash the baby’s and her brother’s faces, necks and ears. When she started rubbing the cloth over her own neck, Levi had to turn away again.

  Partner. Ward. Adam’s little sister.

  He had to remember that. But he thought he might be walking just a bit fast as he started out of the parsonage at last.

  Fog shrouded the area, masking the top of the steeple and clinging to the trees.

  “That’s my parents’ original claim,” Levi explained, voice coming out hushed. He pointed down the hill. “The cabin on the right was where my brothers and sister and I were raised. The three men on my older brother’s logging crew live in it now. And at the back of the clearing, that long building is the school.”

  “I thought you were gonna show us where to fish,” Frisco said with a frown.

  “I will,” Levi promised. “But the church is right here. Might as well look in it first.”

  The boys shrugged, but Callie followed him willingly enough along the breezeway. In her arms, Mica sang to herself, voice high and piping, as if ready to join the church choir.

  “The whole community pitched in to erect these buildings,” Levi explained. “The parsonage, the church and the hall next door. It took months of work, squeezed in around planting, farming and harvest.”

  “Nice when folks work together like that,” Callie murmured as if impressed.

  “Your brothers must know something about building,” Sutter allowed.

  “My brothers know something about a lot of things,” Levi agreed. “Maybe someday I will, too. Now, a word of warning. I didn’t have a chance to come in and clean since Sunday, so it might be a little dusty.”

  Callie cast him a glance as if she didn’t understand the humility as he opened the door.

  The chapel was a simple construction, one long room with a door at the back and another at the side near the altar, an aisle along each wall and down the middle flanked by white-washed pews. Usually, his gaze was drawn to the cross over the altar. It was made of wood found on the shores and polished until every grain gleamed. Now he jerked to a stop, staring at the toppled benches, the velvet bags they used for offering strewn here and there, the communion plates scattered across the altar.

  Callie whirled. “San Francisco Murphy, what have you done!”

  Levi turned as well, but the boys had disappeared from the doorway, and he wouldn’t have been surprised to see them pelting for the woods.

  Chapter Seven

  What was she to say? How could her brothers have been so mean-spirited as to wreck a church the whole community had pitched in to build? True, nothing appeared to be broken, but it just seemed disrespectful. The people of Wallin Landing must have wanted a church real bad to work so hard to make this one. Which was kind of odd. Most prospectors lamented when the first preacher showed up in camp. And if he had wanted a building, he’d have had to erect one himself.

  “I told you, you have to watch them every minute,” she said to Levi. She took Mica from him and went to gather up the little velvet bags that had been tossed about. What did a church need with red purses, anyway? Mica reached for one, but Callie took it away from her, eliciting one of Mica’s rare frowns.

  He righted a bench with a thud. “Likely they didn’t mean any harm.”

  “But they caused it nonetheless.” She moved to the table at the top of the room and stacked the tin plates. Did they eat here, too? Mica smacked her lips as if she thought so.

  “I should have expected something like this,” he said, banging another bench into place. “I uprooted them. They just returned the favor.”

  Callie whirled, earning her a giggle from Mica. “Don’t you dare condone such behavior! You can’t coddle them, or they won’t ever learn how to get on in the world. Did your ma coddle you?”

  He turned away, but not before she saw red streaking his cheeks. “A little understanding can’t hurt.”

  Callie couldn’t argue that, but she was no longer sure if they were talking about her brothers or him.

  It took them a little longer to set the room to rights, then they ventured back outside. Callie was afraid to learn where her brothers had gone. They didn’t know the area yet, and they’d talked yesterday about heading north. Of course, she didn’t know Wallin Landing, either. How could she find them if they got lost?

  Levi must have been looking for them as well, for he caught her arm and pointed down the hill with his free hand.

  The horses that had brought them to Wallin Landing were out in the pasture along with Levi’s mare, plucking at the brown winter grass. Frisco and Sutter had climbed the rail fence and were waving at the trio, feet swinging.

  Callie shook her head. “See? Not an ounce of remorse for what they done.”

  “They may not realize the potential harm,” Levi said, releasing her arm and starting down the hill.

  Callie walked beside him, scurrying to keep up with those long legs. Mica giggled each time she bounced. “Then we should make sure they understand.”

  Sutter had pulled up
a clump of grass and was holding it out, as if trying to entice the horses closer. Callie shuddered to think what would happen if her brother actually mounted one of the powerful beasts. As it was, the three horses kept their distance, heads down. Only the flick of their ears told her they heard her brothers’ eager calls.

  Levi leaned his arms on the fence next to Frisco. “That was some mess in the church.”

  Frisco nodded, gaze on the horses. “Someone must not like you.”

  Callie planted her feet between the pair. “San Francisco Murphy, you apologize.”

  Frisco glanced at her with a frown. “Why?”

  Callie threw up one hand, earning her a squeak of surprise from Mica. “Why? You just told the preacher you didn’t like him and you nearly destroyed his church.”

  Frisco’s frown deepened. “Did not.”

  “Me, neither,” Sutter insisted.

  Now Callie frowned. Her brothers could tell some tall tales when they wanted, and they’d fibbed a time or two to escape punishment, but she’d always caught them. Something said they were telling the truth now.

  So who had damaged the church?

  “I’m glad to hear that, boys,” Levi said, voice deepening. “I’d hate to think that you’d try to destroy a place devoted to God, a place meant to provide peace, sanctuary.”

  Now, that was more like it. Callie nodded her agreement.

  “It’s a nice church, preacher,” Frisco said, turning for the pasture once more. “But I like horses better.”

  “So did I at your age,” Levi assured him. He pushed off the rail. “But there’s lots more to see. We can start with the barn over there.” He headed in that direction.

  Her brothers hopped down and ran ahead toward the large log building.

  Callie sighed as she and Mica caught up to him. “Is that all you’re going to say about the matter?”

  “For now,” Levi said, gaze on her brothers. “But I’ll take your advice and keep an eye on them.” He lengthened his stride to reach her brothers.

  He kept them busy the next little while, showing them the barn with the goats, chickens and pair of oxen his oldest brother used in his logging. He let them climb up to the hay loft and roll around in the piles. He pointed out the stack of logs as high as his head that would serve for fuel for the winter.

  Sutter’s eyes widened.

  “I could chop that much wood in a day,” Frisco bragged.

  Sutter elbowed him. “Could not.”

  “Could, too!”

  Callie was ready to wade in, but Levi stepped between them. “Want to see the school?”

  “No,” her brothers chorused, and they scampered toward the lake.

  Levi loped after them.

  “You are going to make them go to school, aren’t you?” Callie asked him when she joined them near the biggest cabin.

  “Of course,” he assured her.

  She wished she could believe that, but she couldn’t help feeling that Levi Wallin wasn’t used to being the authority, despite his calling as a preacher. He acted more like Adam, an indulgent older brother.

  Frisco and Sutter needed more. They needed someone who would forge their characters, help them find the strength to refuse the easy path that had ruined their father and brother. She’d done what she could. She needed a real partner.

  As the boys headed down a path toward the water, she caught Levi’s arm. “Promise me you won’t keep giving in to them.”

  “Promise me you’ll let them have a little fun,” he countered.

  “Fun?” Callie stared at him. “It isn’t fun eking out a living, but it has to be done. Most things in life are that way.”

  He reached out and tucked a hair behind her ear, the touch soft. “Not everything has to be a struggle, Callie. Let me show you.”

  She took a step back, shifting Mica between them. “I don’t need you to show me anything. I raised my brothers alone. I thought you were going to help.”

  He dropped his hand. “I am helping.”

  “Not if you let them do as they please, you aren’t.”

  He frowned. “They’re just children.”

  “Children who will grow into men.”

  His frown only grew. He didn’t understand any more than Adam and Pa had. Callie tightened her grip on Mica. “Fine. I’ll take the chore back. I don’t need your help. We did all right without you.”

  “No,” Levi said, crossing his arms over his chest. “You didn’t. And it’s about time you faced that fact and stopped lashing out at people who only want to help.”

  * * *

  Levi had never seen Callie so fiery. Her eyes flashed like gemstones, two spots of color stood out on her cheeks and her breath came fast.

  “If you wanted someone who would do your bidding,” she said, “you should never have offered to partner me.”

  Levi dropped his arms. “I never asked for someone to do my bidding. But no one here is trying to harm you, Callie.”

  “Tell that to the people who messed up your church,” she said, pushing past him. “I’m going to find my brothers.”

  Levi ran a hand back through his hair.

  Father, what am I doing wrong? I only want to help.

  And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but consider not the beam in thine own eye?

  He wasn’t surprised that that verse came to mind. He knew he had a lot to make up for. Sometimes, lying in bed at night, he felt the rope rough against his neck, heard the jeers of the miners surrounding him.

  You know what we do to claim jumpers, don’t you?

  Thief!

  Liar!

  Scoundrel!

  A shudder shook him. He wasn’t that boy anymore. Thaddeus had convinced the miners involved to keep quiet, giving Levi a chance to atone. He wasn’t going to waste it.

  He found Callie and her brothers down by the lake. Though the mist was rising, it still hid Mount Rainier from view. With the forest all around, the lake was cupped by green and topped by silver.

  Seemingly oblivious to the grandeur, the boys were throwing stones into the water, the plunks echoing even as the ripples widened. As many times as he and his brothers had stood along the shore throwing rocks, Levi was surprised there were any left.

  “Lots of fish in that lake,” he ventured, joining them. “Some as long as my arm.”

  Sutter paused in midthrow. “Really?”

  Levi held up a hand. “Word of honor.”

  “I’ll catch ’em,” Frisco said, hurling a rock out as if planning to knock a fish on the head. “You can cook ’em, preacher.”

  “With pleasure,” Levi assured him. “For now, see that plant growing at the water’s edge? That’s watercress, and it tastes fine. Pick us some for dinner.”

  Frisco and Sutter dropped their rocks and moved down the shore.

  Levi stepped closer to Callie. “Forgive me. I wasn’t trying to tell you how to raise your brothers. You are Mica and the twins’ family.”

  Her gaze had followed her brothers. “And I’m sorry for getting riled. I suppose you’re trying, preacher.”

  “Very trying,” Levi agreed with a smile.

  She smiled back, brightening the day. “There’s hope for you. And for me. But I’ve been both mother and father these last few months. I suppose I’m not used to sharing the responsibility.”

  “Neither am I,” he confessed. “I was the youngest boy. My brothers claim Ma had a sweet spot for me, not that I noticed with the number of punishments she had to mete out, well deserved.”

  She cast him a glance, gaze shuttered. “Hard on you, was she?”

  His mother’s face came to mind, strong, determined, but with love shining from her green eyes. How she’d smiled when he’d excelled, c
ried when he’d misbehaved. She’d had more cause for concern than most mothers.

  “Never,” he said. “And I always knew she loved me.”

  She nodded, gaze returning to her brothers, who were working together to pull up the watercress. “My ma, too. Pa, for that matter, though he had odd notions about how to show it. He thought the next big strike would set us up for life. I tried to tell him the money didn’t matter to me, but he kept saying I deserved better.”

  “I suppose all parents want the best for their children,” Levi allowed.

  “I suppose,” she said, but she didn’t sound convinced.

  * * *

  The rest of the day went fairly well. They brought the watercress back, and Levi showed the boys how to set it to stewing. Callie put Mica down for a nap, then swept out the house from top to bottom. As if to make amends, she swept out the church, too. Nice to have a partner again, even if the feeling brought a pang for his last partner, Scout. Would he ever see his friend again? He couldn’t blame Scout for avoiding him after what Levi had done.

  For his part, he did as she’d suggested and kept an eye on her brothers. He showed Frisco and Sutter how to chop wood, setting up two stumps as their bases so no one would need to take turns. He gave them each a hatchet, as well. If there was one thing his family had in abundance, it was implements to chop down trees. The boys did so well that he sent them to James’s store along the lake for a treat, telling them to put it on his bill.

  As he watched Callie play with Mica on the rug, warmth wrapped around him. It seemed he had a family of his own.

  Thank You, Lord.

  He had dinner going on the stove—venison steak John had brought over along with stewed watercress and biscuits with blackberry preserves, when the boys returned. Callie looked up as they entered.

  “Mighty fine store you got here, preacher,” Frisco announced.

  Sutter sucked on his candy stick and nodded.

  “We brought you something back.” Frisco pulled a tin of beans from his pocket and set it on the table. “Thought it might go with the watercress.”