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“My wedding?”

Maggie nodded briskly. “I want to write a story about it.”

Loree glanced at the window. She saw the gray skies. She could not believe how quickly autumn had given way to winter. She turned her attention back to Maggie. “Do you write lots of stories?”

Maggie bobbed her head.

“When do you write all these stories?”

“Nighttime is the best. It’s usually the quietest ‘cept when Pa gets a hankering for a bunch of kisses. He’ll say he wants to see Ma’s toes curl, and she’ll start giggling. Then suddenly, it gets really quiet. Do your toes curl when Uncle Austin kisses you?”

Loree felt her face warm. She had to admit Maggie wasn’t a shy child, but she couldn’t wait to tell Austin that she knew what Maggie was doing at night when her light again became visible in her room. She started pounding the bread dough. “Sometimes.”

“I bet Aunt Becky’s toes curl. When Uncle Cameron married her, he kissed her a really long time. Until Uncle Dallas cleared his throat real loud. Made me jump outta my skin.”

Loree imagined any noise Dallas made on purpose would startle her. “Was their wedding nice?”

Maggie shrugged. “It was tiny. There was just us. And Aunt Becky was so silly. She started crying. She said she didn’t think we’d come on account of her lovin’ Uncle Austin first and then lovin’ Uncle Cameron.” Maggie rolled her eyes. “But once you love someone, you don’t stop lovin’ ‘em.”

“No, I guess you don’t.” Loree wondered where the child had gained her wisdom, and if she’d lose it once she grew older.

A brief knock sounded on the door before Houston opened it, a panicked expression on his face. His other three daughters were with him, their eyes wide. “Amelia’s having the baby. Can I leave the young ‘uns with you?”

“Certainly.” Wiping her hands on her apron, Loree crossed the room and ushered the children inside.

The cold November winds whipped around Austin as he guided Black Thunder home. He drew up the collar on his sheep skin jacket and pulled his hat lower over his brow. Night was closing in, and he relished its arrival.

Evenings had become his favorite time of day. Loree welcomed him with arms open wide, a warm meal, and a warmer kiss. They sat in front of the fire, curled around each other, waiting for their child to move.

Austin had grown up around a brother who bred cattle, a brother who bred horses … and yet the wonder of a child that he’d helped to create growing within a woman he cherished … humbled him.

He brought Black Thunder to a halt, dismounted, and impatiently set about the task of tending to his horse before seeing to his own needs. He saw the lamplight spilling out from the window, and the chill of the night gave way to an unexpected warmth.

He finished his task and strode to the house, anticipation hurrying his step. He threw open the door and froze.

“Uncle Austin,” three little magpies chirped and raced across the room to wrap themselves around his legs.

“We’re makin’ baby cookies,” Laurel said. “Want one?”

The one she extended toward him had a bite taken from it. Loree strolled across the room and began to tug the girls back. “Come on, girls. At least let Uncle Austin get his jacket off.”

He met Loree’s eyes as he shrugged out of his jacket. She looked at him imploringly. “Amelia went into labor this morning. Houston brought the girls over so I could watch them.”

Austin looked past her to the table laden with cookies. “I said we’d bake cookies until the baby was born. I didn’t know it would take all day.”

The door swung open catching Austin in the middle of his back. Maggie pushed her way through. “Not yet. Pa says anytime. So can we bake some more cookies?”

“Don’t you think you have enough cookies?” Austin asked.

“But Aunt Loree said—”

“She didn’t know your ma would take so long,” Austin explained. “And Aunt Loree looks mighty tired to me.”

“We could play Go Fish,” Maggie suggested.

“It’s a little late to go fishing,” Austin said.

Maggie laughed. “You’re so silly, Uncle Austin. It’s a game.”

Loree sat in the rocking chair, watching her husband play a card game with his nieces.

They sat in a circle, drawing cards, laying down cards.

She suspected he was cheating because tiny A.

J. who sat in his lap while he held her cards, as well as his own, was winning several hands while Austin was repeatedly ending up with no cards to his credit.

It was a strange moment to come to the realization that she had fallen in love with him.

Her father had cheated as well—but it was always to his benefit … and she had yet to see Austin do anything that put him ahead at anyone else’s expense.

As night wore on, he carried each sleeping girl to the bed. Near midnight, a knock finally sounded on the door. Looking exhausted Houston stepped into the house.

“It’s a girl. Gracie.”

“How’s Amelia?” Austin asked.

“She had a hard time of it. Dr. Freeman says this will probably be the last one. Let me gather up the girls—”

“Why don’t you let them stay?” Loree said quietly. “They’re already asleep. I’ll bring them over in the morning.”

“If you’re sure?”

“We’re sure.”

“If Maggie turns up the lamp after you’ve gone to sleep, will you ignore it? I know she slipped into the house and got her journal earlier. She likes to write in it after everyone else is asleep. We’re not supposed to know.”

Austin patted his brother’s shoulder. “Go on. You look like you’re ready to collapse.”

Houston walked out the door. Austin turned to Loree. “Lie with me by the fire for a little while.”

He stretched out on the sofa, and she curled against his side, watching the flames dance within the hearth.

“I’m almost out of sugar,” Loree said quietly.

“I’ll pick up another ten pounds tomorrow.”

“I’m not that bad,” she said, knowing he was teasing her.

“You’re not bad at all.”

Silence wove around them. Reaching down, Austin splayed his fingers over her swollen stomach. “You’re tinier than Amelia.”

“My mother was tiny. She didn’t have any problems.”

“Dallas wanted to be a father. Houston wanted to be a father. It’s not that I don’t want to be a father, but the thought of this little fella coming into the world scares the hell out of me.”

“Scares me, too,” she admitted.

He wrapped his hand around hers. “I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life, Loree. I want you to know that I don’t consider this child to be one of them.”

She met his gaze, the love she held for him deepening. “I never thought that you did.”