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Authors: Kathleen Rouser
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enough of your time.” She forced her mouth to shape a slight smile.
“At least have some pie with us first.” Maggie’s insistence broke her down.
“My sister really does make the best apple pie—rivals Esther’s, or should I say, your pie?” The reverend’s voice lowered, along with his chin.
Sophie regarded his shy compliment. “I’m afraid I could use more practice at baking pies.” Perhaps he only flattered her.
“You’re not far behind. The crust on that pie of yours that Esther gave Ian last Sunday was nearly as perfect as my mother’s.” Maggie nodded.
“Well then, Maggie, at least yours is better than our mother’s.” He winked at Sophie and then whispered, “If I don’t tell her that, I’ll never get her to bake again.”
“Shame on you, Ian. Nobody’s pie was better than our saintly mother’s!” She put her hands up in the air in what seemed a gesture of defeat.
Sophie couldn’t help herself smiling at the teasing way between the brother and sister. She enjoyed one more hour of that warm family circle before Maggie had her and Caira wrapped in blankets and on the sleigh, seated next to the Reverend McCormick.
Ian glanced over at his passengers. First, Caira yawned, and then her sister. The little bundle could hardly keep her eyes open. Miss Biddle tucked the blanket tighter around her younger sister with such love and devotion!
As the sleigh pulled up in front of the boardinghouse, Ian felt relief that the young woman seemed more relaxed than the day they had met. “Well, here we are already.” He pulled up on the reins.
“Thank you, Reverend.” Her amber eyes glowed with appreciation as she flashed him a shy smile.
“You are welcome to visit any time.” Ian cleared his throat. He hoped he wasn’t being forward, but he sensed that she needed friends she could trust and a place of refuge, in the absence of her real family. Why couldn’t he, Maggie and Philip provide that for her and Caira? “Maggie would enjoy having your company again, I’m sure. She’s tired of being the only lady around us men.”
Miss Biddle looked surprised. “I’m sure she must keep busy socially.”
“Being my sister, she often has to keep her guard up.” He studied the young woman before him. Even though they’d shareda meal, and she’d spent time in his parlor, she looked nearly as shy as the day they’d first met.
“I think I understand how that is.” She chewed her lip and glanced down.
“But you and Caira seemed very comfortable.” Ian paused. “I hope I won’t seem too forward by mentioning what a lovely first name you have. Did you know in Greek it means ‘wisdom’?”
“It’s too bad I can’t claim that virtuous meaning for myself.” Her eyes seemed clouded with sadness.
How he would love to know the thoughts behind them! Ian sighed. It would take a long while for anyone to gain Sophie’s confidence. But there he was in territory where he didn’t belong again. His concern should be for her spiritual condition and physical safety, nothing more.
“I’m afraid it often comes with time. Though I’m sure with the large responsibility you’ve had placed on your shoulders, you have more wisdom than you realize.” Ian climbed down from the sleigh, intent on helping Sophie, but by the time he got to the other side, she was making her precarious way to the ground.
“At least let me take Caira from you.” He reached up for the sleeping toddler.
“All right.”
Ian carried Caira toward the door alongside Sophie. She stepped sideways after her elbow bumped his arm. When they reached the entrance, Ian cleared his throat. “I hope you’ll not think me impertinent, but we are in great need of a pianist at the church. I haven’t heard anyone play like you in a long time. Would you be willing to take the job?”
Her face turned crimson at his praise. “I-I don’t know what to say.”
“Say that you’ll at least consider it. Please? I’m sure we could pay
“At least have some pie with us first.” Maggie’s insistence broke her down.
“My sister really does make the best apple pie—rivals Esther’s, or should I say, your pie?” The reverend’s voice lowered, along with his chin.
Sophie regarded his shy compliment. “I’m afraid I could use more practice at baking pies.” Perhaps he only flattered her.
“You’re not far behind. The crust on that pie of yours that Esther gave Ian last Sunday was nearly as perfect as my mother’s.” Maggie nodded.
“Well then, Maggie, at least yours is better than our mother’s.” He winked at Sophie and then whispered, “If I don’t tell her that, I’ll never get her to bake again.”
“Shame on you, Ian. Nobody’s pie was better than our saintly mother’s!” She put her hands up in the air in what seemed a gesture of defeat.
Sophie couldn’t help herself smiling at the teasing way between the brother and sister. She enjoyed one more hour of that warm family circle before Maggie had her and Caira wrapped in blankets and on the sleigh, seated next to the Reverend McCormick.
Ian glanced over at his passengers. First, Caira yawned, and then her sister. The little bundle could hardly keep her eyes open. Miss Biddle tucked the blanket tighter around her younger sister with such love and devotion!
As the sleigh pulled up in front of the boardinghouse, Ian felt relief that the young woman seemed more relaxed than the day they had met. “Well, here we are already.” He pulled up on the reins.
“Thank you, Reverend.” Her amber eyes glowed with appreciation as she flashed him a shy smile.
“You are welcome to visit any time.” Ian cleared his throat. He hoped he wasn’t being forward, but he sensed that she needed friends she could trust and a place of refuge, in the absence of her real family. Why couldn’t he, Maggie and Philip provide that for her and Caira? “Maggie would enjoy having your company again, I’m sure. She’s tired of being the only lady around us men.”
Miss Biddle looked surprised. “I’m sure she must keep busy socially.”
“Being my sister, she often has to keep her guard up.” He studied the young woman before him. Even though they’d shareda meal, and she’d spent time in his parlor, she looked nearly as shy as the day they’d first met.
“I think I understand how that is.” She chewed her lip and glanced down.
“But you and Caira seemed very comfortable.” Ian paused. “I hope I won’t seem too forward by mentioning what a lovely first name you have. Did you know in Greek it means ‘wisdom’?”
“It’s too bad I can’t claim that virtuous meaning for myself.” Her eyes seemed clouded with sadness.
How he would love to know the thoughts behind them! Ian sighed. It would take a long while for anyone to gain Sophie’s confidence. But there he was in territory where he didn’t belong again. His concern should be for her spiritual condition and physical safety, nothing more.
“I’m afraid it often comes with time. Though I’m sure with the large responsibility you’ve had placed on your shoulders, you have more wisdom than you realize.” Ian climbed down from the sleigh, intent on helping Sophie, but by the time he got to the other side, she was making her precarious way to the ground.
“At least let me take Caira from you.” He reached up for the sleeping toddler.
“All right.”
Ian carried Caira toward the door alongside Sophie. She stepped sideways after her elbow bumped his arm. When they reached the entrance, Ian cleared his throat. “I hope you’ll not think me impertinent, but we are in great need of a pianist at the church. I haven’t heard anyone play like you in a long time. Would you be willing to take the job?”
Her face turned crimson at his praise. “I-I don’t know what to say.”
“Say that you’ll at least consider it. Please? I’m sure we could pay
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