A moment later, the front door opened.
Elias stepped inside.
Snow covered his broad shoulders. His dark hair had grown slightly longer, and his thick winter coat carried the familiar scent of leather, pine smoke, and cold air.
Even after two years of marriage, Lara still felt a quiet happiness whenever she saw him come through that door.
He removed his hat.
“Evening, sweetheart.”
She smiled.
“Evening, husband.”
He crossed the room and kissed her forehead.
Then he glanced toward the windows.
“Looks like we've got company.”
“Anyone we know?”
“Not sure.”
His expression suggested otherwise.
Lara noticed.
“Elias?”
He hesitated.
“There's something familiar about the carriage.”
She studied him.
“Familiar how?”
Before he could answer, footsteps sounded on the porch.
Then came three heavy knocks.
Elias looked toward the door.
Lara placed the wooden spoon on the table.
“Go on,” she said softly.
He opened it.
A tall man stood beneath the porch lantern.
He wore an expensive dark wool coat, polished boots, and a fur-lined hat. His face was thinner than Lara remembered, but she recognized the sharp nose, narrow eyes, and familiar expression of someone who believed every room should make space for him.
Her older brother.
Thomas Higgins.
For a moment, Lara could not move.
Thomas looked past Elias.
His eyes found her.
Then traveled briefly over her body, her apron, the warm kitchen, and the wedding ring on her finger.
“Lara.”
She stared at him.
“Thomas.”
He smiled uncertainly.
“Well. You look comfortable.”
Elias did not step aside.
“What do you want?”
Thomas glanced at him.
“I've traveled a considerable distance.”
“That wasn't my question.”
The smile disappeared.
“I came to speak with my sister.”
Lara felt an old, familiar tightness in her chest.
There had been a time when the sound of Thomas's voice was enough to make her straighten her clothing, lower her eyes, and search for something she had done wrong.
But that woman no longer existed.
She looked toward Elias.
“Let him in.”
Her husband studied her face.
“Are you certain?”
“Yes.”
Elias stepped aside.
Thomas entered, brushing snow from his coat.
He looked around the room with open surprise.
The house had changed enormously since Lara's arrival.
There were curtains at the windows, braided rugs on the floor, polished shelves, flowered crockery, and warm quilts folded over the chairs. A large dining table stood near the stove, and beyond the kitchen doorway were newly added rooms built during the previous summer.