swallowed. Even in the cold, her palms began to sweat.
Maybe she could just set the package on the front porch by the door. Then they could leave quietly. Reverend McCormick wouldfind his waistcoat and that would be the end of it. He could pay her later.
Sophie steeled her weak legs while the brisk wind pushed her farther up the walk. She really needed to brace herself against these silly feelings when she was only visiting the parsonage.
Treading as lightly a step as possible on the ice-covered wooden stoop, Sophie placed the bundle on the porch and turned to go.
Caira let out a scream at the worst moment. “Wan’ it!” She reached for a sparkling icicle, pointing down from the overhang.
“No, Caira. It will freeze your little hands. After I knit you some new mittens, we’ll find you one from the maple tree. It will be sweet like sugar. This one won’t taste good.”
Caira wiggled and reached again, making even more noise.
“Quiet down, you can’t have everything you want.” Sophie’s voice rose above a whisper.
Hinges squeaked open behind her.
“What a fine set of lungs she has!”
Sophie swung around to find a pleasant-looking woman filled with mirth.
“I’m Maggie Galloway.” The woman wiped her hands on her apron and held one out in dignified greeting.
Sophie supposed it was like shaking the hand of royalty; Maggie had done it so delicately.
“I’m Sophie Biddle and this is m-my sister, Caira.” She coughed. “We’re pleased to meet you.”
Maggie captured her gaze with almost the same blue eyes that the reverend had, only a bit lighter and more playful. The woman had the loveliest deep auburn hair pulled back into a knot, with small curls framing her face. The emerald stripes in her cream shirtwaist and matching evergreen skirt flattered her coloring.
“And I’m most pleased to meet you, too. I see you have done some work for my brother.” Maggie had already spotted the package.
“I, well, I—”
“Oh, don’t worry, not much gets by me. Ian thinks he’s getting away with something, but he’s not.”
Speechless, Sophie shrugged.
Maggie scooped up the brown paper bundle. “Won’t you please come in? We’re just about ready to have some dinner.”
Caira squirmed in her arms and poked a thumb into her mouth.
“I really don’t want to impose.” Sophie shook her head.
“Not at all. Please come in and warm up. Your little one looks quite tired. I’ll bet she’s hungry too.”
Would it be ruder to refuse? “Well, all right, if you insist.”
“Of course, she insists!” Reverend McCormick appeared behind his sister. “And well she ought to. We don’t make it a practice to leave anyone out in the cold.”
Those lake-blue eyes twinkled, and Sophie’s legs returned to their rubbery state, against her will.
She entered the modest kitchen, suddenly realizing what a heavy load Caira was. Relief came when she put her down on the dry floor.
With much fussing about, Maggie took Sophie’s shawl and shoes, had her wrapped in a blanket and led her to sit near the parlor fire. “Let’s get the chill out of your bones, and I’ll find some blocks for Caira. Philip will be home soon and he’ll play with your little sister. You look awfully tired.”
Caira, oblivious to Maggie’s plans, clapped her hands while she marched after “’Cowmick.”
Sophie thawed by the fire, amused by Caira’s antics. “Who is Philip?”
Reverend McCormick sat on the floor next to Caira piling wooden blocks to form a shaky structure. He looked up at Sophie for a moment. “Maggie’s son.” The little girl knocked the stack down with one swipe of her hand.
“You knocked my tower down,” the minister said with mock surprise in his voice.
Caira giggled and they repeated the game until he could persuade her to help him build with the blocks.
“Won’t Philip be bored with Caira?” Sophie thought she should try to make polite conversation with the pastor.
“He’ll like having
Maybe she could just set the package on the front porch by the door. Then they could leave quietly. Reverend McCormick wouldfind his waistcoat and that would be the end of it. He could pay her later.
Sophie steeled her weak legs while the brisk wind pushed her farther up the walk. She really needed to brace herself against these silly feelings when she was only visiting the parsonage.
Treading as lightly a step as possible on the ice-covered wooden stoop, Sophie placed the bundle on the porch and turned to go.
Caira let out a scream at the worst moment. “Wan’ it!” She reached for a sparkling icicle, pointing down from the overhang.
“No, Caira. It will freeze your little hands. After I knit you some new mittens, we’ll find you one from the maple tree. It will be sweet like sugar. This one won’t taste good.”
Caira wiggled and reached again, making even more noise.
“Quiet down, you can’t have everything you want.” Sophie’s voice rose above a whisper.
Hinges squeaked open behind her.
“What a fine set of lungs she has!”
Sophie swung around to find a pleasant-looking woman filled with mirth.
“I’m Maggie Galloway.” The woman wiped her hands on her apron and held one out in dignified greeting.
Sophie supposed it was like shaking the hand of royalty; Maggie had done it so delicately.
“I’m Sophie Biddle and this is m-my sister, Caira.” She coughed. “We’re pleased to meet you.”
Maggie captured her gaze with almost the same blue eyes that the reverend had, only a bit lighter and more playful. The woman had the loveliest deep auburn hair pulled back into a knot, with small curls framing her face. The emerald stripes in her cream shirtwaist and matching evergreen skirt flattered her coloring.
“And I’m most pleased to meet you, too. I see you have done some work for my brother.” Maggie had already spotted the package.
“I, well, I—”
“Oh, don’t worry, not much gets by me. Ian thinks he’s getting away with something, but he’s not.”
Speechless, Sophie shrugged.
Maggie scooped up the brown paper bundle. “Won’t you please come in? We’re just about ready to have some dinner.”
Caira squirmed in her arms and poked a thumb into her mouth.
“I really don’t want to impose.” Sophie shook her head.
“Not at all. Please come in and warm up. Your little one looks quite tired. I’ll bet she’s hungry too.”
Would it be ruder to refuse? “Well, all right, if you insist.”
“Of course, she insists!” Reverend McCormick appeared behind his sister. “And well she ought to. We don’t make it a practice to leave anyone out in the cold.”
Those lake-blue eyes twinkled, and Sophie’s legs returned to their rubbery state, against her will.
She entered the modest kitchen, suddenly realizing what a heavy load Caira was. Relief came when she put her down on the dry floor.
With much fussing about, Maggie took Sophie’s shawl and shoes, had her wrapped in a blanket and led her to sit near the parlor fire. “Let’s get the chill out of your bones, and I’ll find some blocks for Caira. Philip will be home soon and he’ll play with your little sister. You look awfully tired.”
Caira, oblivious to Maggie’s plans, clapped her hands while she marched after “’Cowmick.”
Sophie thawed by the fire, amused by Caira’s antics. “Who is Philip?”
Reverend McCormick sat on the floor next to Caira piling wooden blocks to form a shaky structure. He looked up at Sophie for a moment. “Maggie’s son.” The little girl knocked the stack down with one swipe of her hand.
“You knocked my tower down,” the minister said with mock surprise in his voice.
Caira giggled and they repeated the game until he could persuade her to help him build with the blocks.
“Won’t Philip be bored with Caira?” Sophie thought she should try to make polite conversation with the pastor.
“He’ll like having
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