William said, “Something sure smells good in here.”
“I’m glad you think so. We saved a plate for you.” Emily Jane motioned for him to follow her.
He didn’t need to be asked twice. William shut the door and did as she bade. His gaze took in the clean kitchen and the girls.
Surrounded by blankets, they were playing in a large washtub. Their hair and faces looked freshly washed, only neither wore their ribbons. Shock filled him. How was he going to tell them apart? “Miss Rodgers, what happened to the girls’ hair ribbons?” He knew the question came out tight and sounding angry, but he couldn’t stop the feelings of confusion and fear coursing through him.
Ruby and Rose squealed with happiness at the sound of his voice. They scrambled to pull themselves up on the side of the tub. He knelt and gave them both hugs. They smelled of soft, clean powder.
“Oh, they were horrible, so I threw them out.” She pulled a covered plate from the back of the stove and turned to face him.
“I remember specifically telling you that those ribbons were the only way I could identify them. Did you forget?” As he looked into the identical faces, he felt robbed. Something important had been taken from him. How was he going to know which girl was Rose and which one was Ruby?
She set the plate down on the table. “No, I remember. But since Rose has a birthmark behind her right knee, I didn’t think you’d mind me throwing out the ribbons. They were pretty ragged, and I plan to replace them. I just haven’t had time yet.”
William picked up the little girl closest to him and looked at her leg. How had he missed the small brown mark that looked like an ant behind her knee? He should have seen it. Maybe the girls did need a woman’s care. He kissed Rose on the cheek and then put her back into the tub. “No, that won’t be necessary.”
Ruby extended her arms, reaching for William to give her a cuddle and kiss, too. He obliged by picking her up and kissing her soft cheek. She giggled.
When William set her back down, he noticed two colorful cloth balls in the tub with them. Picking one up, he said, “These are pretty.”
Emily Jane poured a glass of water and set it beside his plate. “Mrs. Matthews, another one of our neighbors, brought those by earlier for the girls. You should come eat this before it gets cold.”
William gave the ball to Rose and stood. “I appreciate all you’ve done for the girls today.”
“It wasn’t much.”
He laughed. “You gave them a bath. That’s huge. I put off doing that until I can’t stand the smell anymore. They are a handful at bath time.” William sat down and lifted the cover from his plate of fried ham, mashed potatoes and green beans.
Her gentle laugh had his gaze moving to her face. “Well, that explains a lot.”
William laughed with her and then offered a quick grace before forking a chunk of ham and chomping into it. “You know, if you keep feeding us, I’m going to have to pay for my meals here, too.”
Rose chose that moment to fuss. She was tired of being in the tub. Emily Jane walked over and picked her up. “Shhhh, little one, Anna Mae has a headache. We don’t want to wake her, do we?” She leaned the little girl against her shoulder and rubbed her back.
“I’m awake,” Anna Mae said as she entered the room. She smiled at William and the girls on her way to the coffeepot. “I think my headache has about run its course.” She poured a cup of the fragrant liquid.
Emily Jane smiled. “I’m glad.”
Anna Mae returned to the table and sat down. “How was your first day at work, Mr. Barns?” She took a sip and studied him over the rim of her cup.
William sat up a little straighter in his chair. He cleared his throat before saying, “I believe it went well. Wilson says I’m a natural.”
Anna Mae nodded. “I’m sure you are. Isn’t today the day that supplies arrive from Austin?” she asked, still keeping her gaze locked on him.
“Yes, ma’am. It is.”
Anna Mae grinned across at him. “Please, there are no ma’ams here. Call me Miss Anna Mae, and you may address Emily Jane as Miss Emily Jane. I believe that is formal enough for around town and here at home. Don’t you, Emily Jane?”
“That will be fine.”
William nodded his agreement. He could tell by the stiffness in her voice that Emily Jane wasn’t pleased with him calling her by her given name but that she’d complied out of politeness.
“Now that that is settled, would you mind telling us what arrived from Austin today?” Anna Mae asked, setting her cup down.
Ruby had been left out of the conversation long enough. She squealed, letting them know she too wanted out of the tub.
William rose to get her.
Anna Mae waved him back into his seat. “I’ll get her. Please, continue eating and tell us all about your day.”
William did as Anna Mae requested. He found the schoolteacher to be a delight. She seemed truly interested in his everyday goings-on, and Ruby cuddled close to her as if they were meant to be together. Of the two ladies, Anna Mae might be a better choice for the girls as a new mother. Even so, he didn’t feel the same attraction toward her as he did with Emily Jane. That line of thinking was dangerous. William focused on his food.
He finished his meal as quickly as possible and then stood to leave. “Thank you for dinner and taking care of the girls today, Miss Emily Jane.” William picked up the girls’ bag. “Tomorrow Mr. Moore and I are going to put up a poster announcing that I need someone to watch the girls. Do you mind taking care of them one more day?” While he talked, William dug around the blankets in the tub.
Emily Jane handed Rose to Anna Mae and then picked up his dirty dishes. “That will be fine.” She stopped and watched him for a moment. “What are you looking for?”
He straightened and said, “The girls’ stuffed animals.”
She carried the plate, silverware and cup to the dish tub. “They are still in your bag.” Emily Jane poured more hot water over the dishes.
William turned with a frown on his face. “Then how did you get them to take their afternoon nap? They can’t sleep without their toys.”
Emily Jane turned with a sweet smile. “They didn’t take an afternoon nap.”
As if to confirm her words, Rose yawned. Ruby followed suit. The little girl snuggled closer to Anna Mae.
“No nap?” William couldn’t believe it. Over the past few weeks, he’d taken to putting the girls down for an hour or more every morning and again in the afternoon so that he could get some much-needed rest, too.
She shook her head. “No nap.”
“Why not?” William asked.
Anna Mae answered. “So that they will sleep tonight.” She stood and handed a very sleepy Ruby to William and Rose over to Emily Jane.
“And they didn’t fuss?” he asked as Ruby cuddled up against his shoulder.
Emily Jane wiped her free hand off on her apron. “No, they were too busy playing with Mrs. Matthews and sampling cookies. Tomorrow we’ll start with a short nap in the afternoon and then see how well they sleep. But for tonight you should have no trouble whatsoever getting them to sleep the night through.” She smiled at Rose, who stared back at her with big blue eyes.
Baffled at how easily Emily Jane seemed to have taken care of his nieces, William patted Ruby on the back. He did like the idea of them sleeping all night.
Anna Mae shook her head. “My head is beginning to ache again. Emily Jane will help you get home.”
“That isn’t necessary.”