LITMIR.BIZ

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grandmother kept her little mare in the lean-to in the back. It’s small, only two stalls, but you are welcome to put your horse there also,” she offered as she poured milk into two cups.

      He nodded. “I’ll look into putting him up at the livery tomorrow.”

      Just as William got to the door, Miss Rodgers called after him. “What are the girls’ names?”

      He turned to face her. “The one with the yellow ribbon is Rose and the other is Ruby. Those ribbons are the only way I can tell them apart, so please don’t take them out of their hair.” Shame filled William. What uncle, who had taken care of his nieces for as long as he had, couldn’t recognize them without their silly bows? He hurried out the door before Emily Jane could ask him the question he’d just asked himself.

      What must she think of him? Showing up with two little girls, dirty little ones at that, and not knowing that his grandmother had passed away? William crossed the dirt road. He moved to the back of the wagon and began pulling out the few belongings he’d brought. He told himself it really didn’t matter what she thought. Emily Jane Rodgers had no say in what he did. Other than being their neighbor, she held no place in his or the girls’ lives. And to be honest, he had too much on his plate to worry what some silly woman thought of him.

      He had to admit, though, that she was very pretty and had been helpful. And so far silliness had not been part of her character, more a cautious, no-nonsense attitude toward his circumstances. She had known just what to do for the girls and had been willing to feed them. Was she just being neighborly? Or had she seen him as a single man with two children and a possible husband?

      William shook his head. No matter how pretty or helpful Miss Rodgers was, he had no intention of becoming her husband. Or anybody’s husband, for that matter. He picked up the closest box and realized being tired put very wayward thoughts into one’s mind. Miss Rodgers was simply a nice woman. Very pretty and very nice. Nothing more. He hoped he was wrong that she might see him as a possible husband; he definitely wasn’t looking for a wife.

      He limped up the porch and entered the house. It was time to focus on himself and the girls. They needed a place to sleep tonight. William walked straight through the sitting room and into his grandmother’s bedroom. Her bed rested against the center of the back wall. Other than the dust that covered everything, it looked much like it had five years ago when he’d last visited her. She had a small cabinet for clothes, a washbasin by the window and a small writing desk against the opposite wall. A side table sat on the other side of the bed and held a kerosene lantern and her Bible. He set the box of clothes down inside the doorway and then went to explore the rest of the house.

      He followed a short hallway to the other side of the building where the kitchen and another bedroom rested. His grandmother had used the other bedroom for a sewing room as well as her guest room. Would the girls be too far away from him if he put them in this space?

      William sighed as he went back out to the wagon. He lifted an oblong box from the bed that had served as Rose’s cradle during their trip and carried it into the house and his grandmother’s room. Then he went back for Ruby’s. The girls would sleep in the room with him until they were old enough to be put in their own room. Plus, he’d need to clean only one room tonight.

      On the way back outside, William noticed the bag that held the girls’ diapers and drinking cups beside the sofa where Emily Jane had left it. He scooped it up and continued on to the horse and wagon.

      It didn’t take long to find the lean-to behind Emily Jane’s house and take care of the animal. What had happened to his grandmother’s horse? Miss Rodgers had said that she kept her here. William made a mental note to ask her about the little mare.

      Taking a deep, unsteady breath, he hurried around the house, only to stop disconcerted at the door. Was he supposed to knock or go on in? He knocked.

      Footsteps hurried across the floor. So far he hadn’t heard the girls crying; that was a good sign, right? A rush of fragrances, sugar and cinnamon, hit him when she opened the door. He breathed deeply, enjoying the calming smells, making another mental note to cook something spicy at his grandmother’s so the stale smell would leave.

      “Mr. Barns, please, come on inside. You didn’t need to knock. I expected you to return.” She spun around on her heels and hurried back to the kitchen.

      The slight bite in her voice had him hurrying after her. Had the girls misbehaved while he was gone? The diaper bag slapped against his side as he went to check on his nieces.

      The scene that met him almost had him laughing out loud. Each girl sat in a chair by the table. Miss Rodgers had tied them to the chairs with what looked like aprons. Their faces were clean and their eyes sparkled as they gnawed on chunks of bread. They smiled up at him.

      He eased into a chair beside Ruby. “I hope they weren’t too much trouble.”

      Miss Rodgers sat across from him. “Oh, no, they were just hungry. Now that they’re eating, they seem content and happy.”

      The front door opened and closed in the sitting room. A voice called out, “Emily Jane, I’m home.”

      This must be the Anna Mae that Miss Rodgers had mentioned.

      “I’m in the kitchen,” Miss Rodgers called back. She offered him a smile. “I’m sorry for the yelling, but if I don’t answer she will think it strange.”

      He grinned back. “So the yelling back and forth is normal?”

      “It’s become a part of our routine.” A slight blush filled her cheeks, and he wondered why.

      “You would not believe my day.” The woman called Anna Mae stopped abruptly, her gaze taking in the scene at the table.

      Light brown hair, piled on the top of her head in a bun, and big brown eyes made Anna Mae Leland look plain next to Emily Jane. At least, that was William’s first impression of her. She wore a simple gray dress, dusty brown shoes and a beige apron. He wondered if she dressed like that as a way to hide or become invisible to those around her.

      “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize we had company.” Her brow crinkled, and then she looked at the two girls. A smile replaced the scowl. “Who are these darling ladies?” she cooed.

      The little children smiled happily in return and kicked their legs back and forth. Who wouldn’t smile at someone whose tone of voice had gone from normal to doting?

      Miss Rodgers introduced them. “Anna Mae Leland, this is William Barns, Mabel’s grandson, and his daughters, Rose and Ruby.”

      William stood and shook the hand Anna Mae extended toward him. His hand engulfed her smaller one.

      “It’s nice to meet you, Miss Leland, but I have to correct Miss Rodgers. Rose and Ruby are my nieces, not my daughters.”

      “Oh, I’m sorry. I assumed they were yours.” Her voice drifted off as if caught in a high wind.

      “Nothing to be sorry about, Miss Rodgers. It was an understandable mistake,” William assured her, returning to his seat.

      Both ladies were seated and, after a short grace, began filling the girls’ plates with soft food. Mixed emotions threatened to overwhelm him. He didn’t know whether to be relieved or offended at this liberty. He’d been the only caretaker of the girls since their mother had been killed. To suddenly relinquish that duty left him floundering, a bit as if he’d lost something precious. He shook his head. What on earth was wrong with him? This was what he’d needed his grandmother’s help with. It was as simple as that.

      William then filled his plate. As he sank his teeth into the first bite, he closed his eyes in pure pleasure. “Ummmmm,” he all but groaned. He hadn’t tasted fried chicken this good in... He didn’t know how long. “You are a wonderful cook, Miss Rodgers,” he praised.

      “Thank you.”

      Miss Leland wiped Ruby’s mouth and then said, “Wait until you taste dessert. Emily Jane is the best baker in

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