Chapter Six
“Oh, Maggie, it’s so lovely,” Delilah said as Maggie MacGregor led the way outside to an expansive backyard that stretched all the way to the bank of the river.
“It’s still coming back to life after our cold winter, but in another month, the flowers will be quite spectacular.” Maggie smiled and led her around the yard. “I can’t take a bit of credit for any of this. Charles and Martha Byron have worked for Ian since he built this place. Mr. Byron takes wonderful care of the yard and Martha is an amazing cook and housekeeper. She comes in on Tuesdays and Fridays to clean and always leaves something delicious in the oven.”
Delilah didn’t care a whit about the spotless state of Maggie and Ian’s home. It was the varied assortment of plants, bushes, hedges, trees, and flowers that drew her interest. “Is that buttonbush?” she asked, bending down to look at a row of plants closest to the river.
“I think it might be, but you should speak with Mr. Byron. He planted every single thing on the place. He’d be a good resource if you’re interested in finding out what grows well here and what doesn’t.”
“I’d love to speak with him sometime. Perhaps I could invite Mr. and Mrs. Byron for tea one afternoon.”
Maggie grinned. “Martha would love it, although Charles would probably rather strike up a conversation outside over a bed of daffodils or a newly potted petunia.”
Delilah laughed. “I’ll keep that in mind. Your house and gardens are just amazing, Maggie. The invitation to see them is greatly appreciated.”
Maggie linked their arms together as they made their way back toward the house. “It’s our pleasure to have you and Mr. Robbins join us. I don’t see how a man as dapper as your father has remained unmarried for long.”
“He said he had one great love in his life and when he lost my mother, he didn’t feel inclined to search for another.” Delilah tamped down the emotion that always bubbled up when she thought about the death of her mother.
“I’m sorry, Delilah. I didn’t mean to sound…”
“No, Maggie, it’s perfectly fine,” Delilah said, playfully bumping against her and changing the subject. “Your husband is kind to allow Papa to examine all the weaponry in the front room.”
Maggie shook her head and rolled her eyes. “Ian likes nothing better than showing off the tools of his family’s trade, as he calls them. Let’s head back inside. If it was up to him, your poor father would miss supper while they played with the weapons.”
Delilah followed Maggie through the back entrance and into the well-equipped kitchen.
“I hope you don’t think us completely uncivilized for eating in here instead of the dining room,” Maggie said as she washed her hands at the deep sink. “The table is so long, I feel like we’re shouting across the room unless we have a house full of guests.”
“In here is perfect. The table in front of the bay window looks so cozy and inviting. I imagine you and Mr. MacGregor enjoy many a wonderful meal there.”
“What does Mr. MacGregor enjoy?” Ian asked as he and Ross entered the kitchen.
“Meals in here, instead of at that lonely, long table in the dining room.” Maggie stirred a pot on the stove then took a pie from the oven and set it on a folded dishtowel to cool.
“Dinner smells delicious, Mrs. MacGregor,” Ross said, smiling at Maggie.
“Please, we don’t stand on much formality around here. Call us Ian and Maggie.”
Ross nodded solicitously. “But only if you call us Ross and Delilah.”
“That we can do, can’t we, me bonny lass?” Ian asked, thickening his brogue as he pecked Maggie’s cheek.
“Yes, we can.” Maggie’s hand caressed his cheek before she turned back to dishing up the meal. “I think everything is ready as soon as our other guests arrive.”
The sound of someone knocking on the front door drew a grin from Ian. “Right on time,” he said, then hurried out of the kitchen and down the hall. He soon returned with a beautiful, petite woman, a cute little girl who fairly oozed with mischief, and a broad-shouldered giant of a man with a charming smile.
“Tully!” Maggie said, wiping her hands on a dishtowel then giving the man a warm hug. She gave one equally as welcoming to the woman before tweaking the little girl’s nose. “I’m glad you’re home. I can’t wait to hear all about your trip, but before we sit down to eat, allow me to make introductions. Sheriff Tully Barrett, Brianna Barrett, and Samantha, this is Mr. Ross Robbins and his daughter, Delilah.”
Tully exchanged handshakes with Ross and tipped his head to Delilah. Sammy approached Delilah, giving her a long, studying glance before looking at her mother. “Yep, she’s delightful.”
Brianna gave the impish child a quelling look then smiled at Delilah. “I love the gown you’re wearing. The braided trim is so intricate and that shade of maroon is gorgeous.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Barrett. Your gown is lovely, too. I think I recognize a bit of Mrs. Amick’s lace on it. Is that right?”
Brianna glanced down at the lace trim on her sleeve. “Yes, Maggie made the gown and Allie made the lace.” She placed a hand on Delilah’s arm. “And please, call me Brianna. I do hope we’ll all be friends.”
“I’d like that very much, but only if you call me Delilah.”
“Not delightful?” Sammy asked, earning a wink from her father and a scowl from her mother.
“Let’s eat, shall we?” Maggie said, guiding everyone to the table laden with food.
Between the jovial sheriff, his puckish daughter, Ian’s teasing, and Maggie and Brianna’s attempts to feign indignation at all three of them, dinner was lively and entertaining.
Delilah caught her father’s grin as Tully harangued Ian about wearing a skirt.
“I’ve explained it until I’m blue in the face, you hard-noggined eejit, it isn’t a skirt, but a kilt. And a fine one it is, too!” Ian glared at Tully. “You’re just jealous because you haven’t the legs required to look handsome and manly in one.”
Tully appeared thoroughly affronted. He pushed back from the table and lifted one leg in the air, tugging up the hem of his denims. “I’ll have you know my legs are just as handsome as yours, you blithering blowhard.”
Brianna flushed with embarrassment while Sammy giggled.
“If you two want any dessert, you’ll cease this tomfoolery and behave like respectable gentleman instead of the hooligans we know you to be,” Maggie said, staring at Ian and then Tully.
“For heaven’s sake, put your leg down!” Brianna smacked Tully’s arm from her seat next to him. “Ross and Delilah will think there isn’t a single person in town with even the slightest bit of manners or decorum.”
“What’s decorum, Mama?” Sammy asked, giving her mother an inquisitive look.
Tully dropped his leg and reached around his wife to playfully tug on Sammy’s braid. “It means sucking all the fun out of everything.”
“Tully…” Brianna’s voice held a note of warning that caused the sheriff to straighten in his chair and tip his head to Delilah and her father.
“My apologies for behaving like the ruffians we are.” The sheriff attempted to look petulant, but it only made Maggie and Sammy giggle.
“You’re no better than the boys,” Brianna said to Maggie while trying to subdue a smile.
“Don’t apologize on our behalf,” Ross said, looking to Delilah who nodded in agreement. “This is the most entertainment we’ve had for a while.”
“Speaking of entertainment, I noticed there’s a play coming to town this week. Is anyone planning to attend?” Brianna asked.
Maggie shook her head. “According to Ian, it would be ‘only and ever over my dead body,’” she said, imitating Ian’s brogue.
“I’m with Ian on this one,” Tully said, then looked at Ross. “Are you folks planning to attend?.”
“I’m not, but Delilah has an invitation to attend with one of your deputies.”
“You don’t say.” Tully gave Brianna a knowing look before turning to Delilah. “Make sure Dugan takes you out for a nice meal before the play.”
“I, um… it wasn’t… Deputy Harter is the one who invited me.” Delilah toyed with the mashed potatoes on her plate. She had no idea why the sheriff assumed Deputy Durfey was the one who’d invited her. In truth, regardless of which deputy asked, she would have attended with either of them. They both were handsome, entertaining, intelligent, and amusing.
“But I thought Dugan said…” Sammy’s statement was cut off when Brianna placed a hand over her mouth.
“Eat your supper, sweetheart,” Brianna said, giving Sammy a look Delilah couldn’t decipher and wasn’t sure she wanted to.
“I heard you’ve been making repairs both at the house and weather station. Is everything in order now?” Tully asked, directing the conversation away from Delilah’s choice of suitors.
She listened to her father discuss the work he’d completed at the weather station and the return to a regular reporting schedule to the home office in Washington.
That morning, they’d retrieved the trunks and crates they’d left in storage and hauled them to the house, with the help of Edwin Greenfield. Delilah had loved staying with Hattie and Edwin, but she was ready to be in charge of her own home again. And she wanted to get started on the yard and garden.
Although the furniture they had was limited to a few rickety pieces Eugene Sutler left behind, Delilah didn’t care. She just wanted to bury her hands in the warm, rich earth and begin transforming the desolate space behind and in front of the house into a haven for the birds she so loved.
They’d just finished eating the delicious canned blackberry pie Maggie said she’d made from berries Tully and Brianna had picked the previous summer when Delilah heard a bird twittering outside.
The sound, one she’d heard only one other time, drew her interest until she missed a question Brianna asked her.
Her father gave her a nudge and she looked at him for an explanation. “Brianna asked if you’d like to join her for tea tomorrow.”
“Oh, yes, please. That would be lovely,” Delilah said, shooting a smile to the beautiful woman. “I apologize for my distracted state. I heard a bird outside and was trying to distinguish the type.”
“Are you interested in birds?” Sammy asked, leaning her elbows on the table only a moment before Brianna gently pushed them off.
“Don’t get her started,” Ross said with a laugh. “Delilah loves birds, and she’s a good hand at drawing them, too.”
“By all means, go investigate our yard,” Ian said, offering her an encouraging smile.
“Are you sure you don’t mind?” Delilah asked, already rising out of her chair.
“Go on.” Ian grinned at Sammy. “Perhaps the wee lassie would like to accompany you.”
“Sure I would!” Sammy jumped out of her chair, grabbed Delilah’s hand, and led her out the back door. “What are we looking for?” the child asked in a loud voice as they walked past an outdoor dining set and across the greening grass.
Delilah stopped and bent down, speaking softly. “Hear the song he’s singing?”
The bird warbled and trilled.
Sammy grinned as the bird finished his song.
“We’ll have to be quiet and still to see if the little fellow singing will appear.” Delilah motioned to a bench in a patch of fading sunshine.
She and Sammy sat together, looking around the yard, waiting.
The bird called again, sharing his melodic tune with those prepared to listen. Sammy’s head turned from left to right, trying to locate his whereabouts.
“There, in the branches of the pine tree,” Delilah whispered, pointing to a tree at the far end of the yard where a red bird sat on a low branch.
“It sounds like he’s clearing his throat, then singing a tune,” Sammy said in a hushed voice.
Delilah grinned. “It does sound like that.”
“What kind of bird is it?”
Delilah studied the chipper bird as he ran through his tune again. “It’s a white-winged crossbill. They wander in flocks year-round, searching for food. The males are red with black bars on their wings while the females are brown and yellow.”
“Can we get closer to him?” Sammy asked, leaning against Delilah.
“We can try, but you’ll have to be quiet,” she cautioned the little girl.
Sammy nodded and slipped off the bench, taking Delilah’s outstretched hand. Together, they slowly edged their way closer to the tree.
Delilah stopped when they were still several feet away from the pine. She hunkered down and whispered to Sammy. “See how his beak crosses over. That’s so he can dig seeds out of conifer cones, like pine cones. I had no idea there were crossbills in Oregon.”
“We got all kinds of birds around here. If you want, I can show you a nest of eggs I found in the park this morning. Dad said he wasn’t sure what kind of bird they belonged to, but they kind of look like robin’s eggs.” Sammy glanced up with interest at the little red bird. “He sure has a funny beak. I didn’t even know pine cones have seeds. Can you plant them?”
Delilah cast one last look at the crossbill before she led Sammy back to the house. If nothing else, perhaps Baker City would provide her with ample opportunities to pursue her work of studying and cataloging birds.