Read Online Beloved Counterfeit by Kathleen Y'Barbo - Free Book Online

do that.”
    Emilie smiled as she dusted bread crumbs off her skirt. “I want to.”
    The sound of a boarder calling her name didn’t give Ruby much time to think. “I suppose there’s no harm in it. Just don’t let Carol convince you she’s allowed more than one serving of dessert. She’s got quite the sweet tooth, that one. And watch out for Red.”
    “Red?” Emilie asked.
    “The rooster. He thinks he rules the yard.” Someone in the dining room called her name again, and Ruby responded then turned her attention back to Emilie. “Just wave him away and he’ll run.”
    Another call, and Ruby left Emilie standing in the kitchen. The group of boarders was still missing Micah Tate. Ruby was too tired to worry about why the persistent wrecker had missed lunch for the first time since she’d come to work in Mrs. Campbell’s kitchen.
    Perhaps this God she’d only just come to know really did love her. He’d certainly smiled on her by not causing her to face Micah Tate twice in one morning.
    Ruby shrugged off the unwelcome reminder and cleared the table, then piled the dishes together for washing. A moment later, she went back for the soiled linens and tablecloth. Only then did she pause to sigh. An afternoon of laundering and more cooking awaited her, as did the nighttime routine of preparing for the morning meal, yet Ruby gave thanks for the work.
    At least it was an honest living that kept a roof over their heads.
    A giggle drew her attention to the window overlooking the back porch. There Ruby spied the very proper schoolteacher sitting on the back steps, watching what appeared to be wild heathens turning and spinning like tops and scattering Red and three hens to the far corners. Just as one girl would fall, another would jump up and take her place.
    If they continued, none would be able to hold down her lunch. Yet it seemed a shame to stop the very thing that made them shriek with happiness. After all those three had endured the past year, happiness was certainly due them.
    Had Emilie not spied her, Ruby might have let the dancing and spinning go on indefinitely. Instead, she offered Emilie a smile then hurriedly divided the remains of the stew into five bowls, being careful to fill the other four before spooning what remained into her own.
    At Emilie’s command, the girls ran to the rain bucket and doused their hands and faces. While Maggie used the corner of her skirt to dry Tess’s hands, Emilie shooed away Red and replaced the board atop the bucket.
    Ruby placed spoons into all five bowls then situated them on a fancy ebony and silver tray that likely came from one of the wrecker’s auctions. Backing out the door to keep it from slamming on her, she stepped onto the porch.
    “Oh no,” Emilie said as she rose, “I didn’t intend to interrupt your lunch. We can talk another time.”
    “Girls,” Ruby called, “how would you like to have a picnic over in the churchyard again?” All three squealed with delight, a sure sign the answer was yes. “Maggie, go and get the tablecloth from the laundry pile. Carol, you see to Tess’s bowl.”
    In a flash, the girls were headed across the yard, scattering chickens as they slipped through the gate. When the last blond head disappeared from sight, Ruby collected her bowl and settled on the top step. Exhaustion began its familiar trek from the tips of her toes past knees that had bent one time too many, finally settling at the small of her back, where she refused to acknowledge it.
    “What is it about that churchyard that makes the children love to picnic there?” Emilie asked. “Not a day goes by that I don’t see at least one group of boys or girls there during their lunchtime break.”
    Ruby grinned while she waited for her arms to comply with her wish to lift the spoon. “Mary Carter’s the reason. She’s forever baking sweet treats and offering them up for the children if they can show her they’ve cleaned their plates.”
    “Well, that does