“Well, he probably was not all that much older than you,” said Belle.
“Even a year older seems a lot to a younger brother. And when there are six of us and half are older than you are, it makes even more clear that you are younger.”
“But older brothers can do more for you,” said Abel.
“If they feel like it.”
“Well, I think that all pretty much covers the joys of having a brother, don’t you, Mr. Hobbs?” Auntie said sweetly and smiled at Mr. Hobbs, causing the poor man to blush. “I will admit to an interest in the work you do. In truth, I am having a bit of trouble over a will, or rather, over how my brother is using what a will says.”
Belle rolled her eyes and looked at Geordie. “I believe I heard the sound of patients gasping from hunger.”
“Or lack of morning coffee. You get the coffee and I’ll get the food.”
“Will do,” said Geordie as he followed Belle into the kitchen.
Belle and Geordie started to walk by the table, pausing only to add a few things to the trays they were carrying. Then Morgan tugged on Belle’s shirt. “Are you taking food to Robbie?”
“We are. How did you guess that?”
“It was not that difficult, and I also heard him laughing with someone else just down that hall.” She pointed down the one that led to the infirmary. “Can I come with you so I can say hello to Robbie?”
“Of course you can,” said Belle.
As they walked into the infirmary, Belle and Geordie were greeted with a few loud complaints. “Whine, whine, whine. Food is here now and it is not that late. Still only a few hours after sunrise.” She handed each young man their coffee and placed a plate of food on the table by each bed.
Belle tugged Morgan over to the side of Robbie’s bed. “We have Morgan staying with us now. I fear that tale of men hunting a certain chest finally brought the men to their door, but Morgan escaped. Your brother Geordie was named guardian.”
“I am sorry for ye, Morgan. Your mither was a lovely woman. The world is made less by her loss.” Robbie reached out and gently rubbed his hand over her hair. “Geordie isnae such a bad choice.” He smiled when the little girl actually laughed a little.
“No, I rather like him.”
“Good. Maybe ye will get to see where I live soon.” He glanced at Belle, who studiously ignored him.
“I am sure it is nice.” Morgan glanced at Belle. “I like the ocean too, though.”
After Robbie and Morgan talked for a bit and then she met and talked with Will, Belle took her back to where the others still sat at the table nibbling on what food was left. Then she grabbed Geordie’s hand and tugged him off to the back porch. She sat on the steps and he cautiously sat down beside her.
“So, you now have a child.”
“It seems that I do.”
“One who does not know where she is going to live.”
“I thought she would live with us,” he said quietly as he took her hand in his.
“All right, so you have decided I will be there with you—but, Geordie, where isthere?”
“Ah, well, I have not made up my mind on that.”
When she growled he tugged her into his arms and kissed her. “I ken it. I need to make up my mind. But got one answer already.”
“What?”
“That ye will betherewith me.”
“I did not actually say that, just commented on your assumption.”
“Weel, I certainly dinnae want to bethereunless ye are, even when I figure out wheretherewill be.” He pulled her into his arms. “I love ye, lass. I want ye to be where I am. It is just that the choice to make is a demmed hard one.”
