Read Online Blackstone's Bride by Teresa Southwick - Free Book Online

him.
    Abby stepped forward quickly. “Jarrod, you did say that the children must approve of whoever you decide to hire.”
    “That’s true.”
    He was almost sorry he had said that. This was not going at all as he had hoped. The kids seemed to resist the woman, and he couldn’t see why.
    “I have an idea,” Abby said looking at the children. “What if you spend some time alone with Miss Peters? Get to know her. She should get to know all of you too. Then you can better tell how you feel.”
    “But, Abby, Uncle Jarrod.” Katie stepped away from her sister and turned to look at both of them. “We already know how we feel—”
    “That’s a wonderful idea,” Lily said quickly. “Uncle Jarrod, you and Abby can go do something while we get to know Miss Peters.”
    “Is that all right with you, Bea?” Abby asked the woman.
    “Perfectly. It makes a great deal of sense.”
    Beatrice Peters hadn’t taught school all those years without learning a thing or two about children. These four were definitely up to no good. She sat in the big easy chair beside the rock fireplace and studied them.
    Right after Jarrod and Abby left, Tom had disappeared to his room and returned a few minutes later. He waited in front of her now with his hand behind his back. “I have something for you,” he said.
    The scamp had looked at her with nothing less than hostility since he’d first come downstairs to be introduced. Now he was smiling like a cherub. Why did children always think their elders had less brains than the good Lord gave a rock? She met his angelic expression with one of abject innocence, and braced herself. “What have you got there, young man?”
    He yanked forward a bouquet of yellow dandelion weeds. “Here,” he said, thrusting them at her.
    She took them from him. “How very thoughtful. Thank you, Tom.” She made a great show of smelling them. “Didyou know that these leaves are edible?” she asked as Tom sat on the stone hearth, very close beside her. She eyed him with a good deal of suspicion, but was distracted when Katie came closer.
    The little girl rested her elbows on the arm of the chair, thrust her chin into her hands and tipped her head to the side. “Ed Bull? Who’s that?”
    “Not a who, dear. Ed-i-ble means you can eat them. They make a fortifying soup, and tasty too.”
    “You don’t like soup. Remember, Katie?” Lily stood beside Oliver, looking a little nervous. Bea realized the girl hadn’t been able to meet her gaze since she had come downstairs.
    “I liked Mama’s soup,” Katie corrected. Her green-eyed gaze turned to Bea. “Did you know the angels took my mama to heaven?”
    “Yes, dear. Abby told me,” Bea said softly.
    “I have bad dreams about a mean man coming to get me. Mama went because she was tired, and that made her ready to go.”
    “Katie hasn’t slept all night since Mama passed away,” Lily said. “Poor Uncle Jarrod gets up with her constantly.”
    “That’s why he wants me to come stay,” Bea said. “What do you think about that?”
    Lily glanced up quickly, then back down at her hands. “I think you probably wouldn’t like getting up with her every night.”
    “Why don’t you let me worry about that. Is there anything else I should know?” she asked.
    Katie thought for a minute, then piped up, “Oliver wets the bed. And he has accidents—”
    “Do not.”
    Bea looked at the boy sitting cross-legged at her feet, thumb in mouth. “I’ll bet the outhouse is just too far away. Isn’t that right, Oliver?”
    He nodded without removing his thumb.
    “What else?” Bea asked, looking at the young faces. She glanced beside her at Tom, who quickly moved his handaway from her skirt and stuck it in his pocket. “What about you, young man? Do you have anything to add?”
    “I can take care of myself. Don’t need a housekeeper.”
    “Your uncle disagrees, and if you think we can all get along together, I’ll be taking the job. What do you say?”
    Lily