looked at the spoon like it was a rattlesnake.
Rose pressed it into his hand. âI havenât been able to figure out how to keep Zac and Tyler from stealing sweets,â she said. âZac has mastered the art of putting a whole cookie in his mouth and still being able to talk. I tell him heâs got pouches in his cheeks like a squirrel.â
Sarah couldnât imagine having a child behave like that. She had done exactly what she was told as a child. On the few occasions she hadnât, the punishment had been quick and harsh. Her own children had never required punishment. Jared wasnât able to get in trouble, and Ellen never thought of anything except helping take care of her brother and helping with the ranch in any way she was able.
âItâs time to think about fixing supper,â Rose said. âI wonder where the boys are.â
âIâll be glad to help,â Sarah offered.
âYouâre company.â
âCompany that wasnât invited. I insist on helping.â
âIâm not sure I could get anything done with that many people in the kitchen.â
âLet Zac and Tyler have the day off.â
âIf I did that, theyâd be wanting a day off all the time. You donât know what itâs like having to deal with six Randolph men. You canât give them an inch.â
Sarah didnât know quite how to take Roseâs remarks. She doubted Rose was one to suffer mistreatment. Besides, sheâd made her complaints with humor instead of rancor.
A commotion caught her attention, and she turned just in time to see a handsome but disheveled urchin burst into the kitchen. âI smell doughnuts,â he announced. His gaze swept the room looking for the source of the tantalizing aroma.
âRose said she was never making doughnuts again after you stole so many last time.â This from a tall, skinny boy who entered on the first oneâs heels.
âI smell them,â the boy said. âI know theyâre here.â
âTheyâre in this tin,â Jared announced, much to Sarahâs surprise. âRose said Iâm to whack you with this spoon if you try to steal one.â
The boy turned his full attention on Jared. âI donât know who the hell you are, but get ready to die.â
Four
Rose took the boy by the ear. âThis impudent rascal is Zac,â she said to Jared. âPay no attention to him. His bark is worse than his bite.â
âI donât bark and I donât bite,â Zac announced as he wiggled free. âI just shoot people.â
âGo get the wood,â Rose said, pointing to a box in the corner, âor Iâll give your doughnuts to Monty.â
âYou canât,â Zac protested. âHeâd eat âem.â
âThen youâd better hurry with that wood. The sooner I fix supper, the sooner youâll get your doughnuts. The tall one whoâs going for water is Tyler,â Rose said to Sarah. The boys had left as quickly as theyâd entered. âYouâve probably heard the only words heâll speak all evening.â
Sarah had never been allowed to run outside much less inside the house. Sheâd had to keep her voice low and speak only when addressed. She had no idea what her mother would have done with a boy like Zac. Her father would have broken an endless string of sticks on his back until heâd broken his spirit. It was clear no one had broken Zacâs, though he obeyed Rose without question.
âI really would like to help,â Sarah said.
âOkay,â Rose said, relenting. âIâll tell you what Iâm planning to fix, and we can divide the dishes between us.â
The next hour was unlike anything Sarah had ever experienced. It was soon obvious that Rose knew what every person in the kitchen was doing even though she never seemed to take her eyes off her own work. She kept Zac and Tyler busy fetching and
David Cook, Walter (CON) Velez