Free Mail Order Madness by Kirsten Osbourne Page B

sitting on the dresser.  “It’s time to go down and greet our
     guests.”
    She shrugged.  “I guess we need to go then.”  She looked at him.  “I hope you realize
     I’m furious with you.”
    He nodded.  “I know.  And I am sorry.”
    She followed him out of the room and down the stairs to where their guests were already
     starting to assemble.  The boys were all freshly scrubbed and dressed in clean clothes.  The clothes weren’t as nice as the ones they’d worn to the wedding, but
     they would have to do.  Albert had a fat lip and Lewis’s eye was starting to swell. 
     She took the boys by the hands, and said, “Excuse me,” before she was even introduced
     to any of the guests.  She didn’t much care if David thought she was rude.  She needed to handle her new
     sons.
    She took the boys back to the family parlor at the back of the house and glared at
     them.  “Do you two really think fighting is appropriate?  On my wedding day ?”  Her emphasis on the last two words was meant to fill them with guilt, and by the looks
     on their faces, it worked.  They both shook their heads looking up at her with wide eyes.  “What do you have to
     say for yourselves?”
    They both hung their heads, not saying a word.  It was obvious they didn’t know how
     she’d react and were doing their best to act contrite.  She’d seen the same looks
     on her brothers’ faces over and over.  “The first part of your punishment for fighting on my wedding day will be holding hands until every guest is gone.  That means at the table, while
     you’re playing, and whatever you do, you will hold hands.  Do you understand?”
    Albert looked up at her to protest.  “No way!  I’m not going to hold his hand!”   He poked his brother in the arm to emphasize his words.
    Susan shook her head and stepped forward to intimidate the boy.  “You will, and you’ll
     do it with a smile.  For every time I see you drop hands during the party, you’ll
     write twenty times during play time tomorrow , ‘I love my brother.’”
    “You can’t make me do that!” 
    “Oh, yes I can.  You will behave, and you will start now!”  Susan knew that if she let them get away with fighting
     on her wedding day, they’d always think they could run all over her.  It wasn’t going
     to work that way.  She was their mother now, whether deception had been used or not,
     and she would see to their discipline if it killed her.  “Do you both understand me?” 
     The boys nodded, and she watched as they joined hands.  “Let’s go join the others.”
    She made the boys lead the way so she could watch and see if they dropped hands. 
     She walked back to the front of the house and joined David who was talking to a man
     and his wife.  David saw her slip up beside him and raised an eyebrow at her in question
     of what she’d done.  She simply shrugged and smiled at the woman across from her. 
     “Hi.  I’m Susan.”
    The woman smiled as she noted the boys holding hands and looking miserable.  “I’m
     Beverly Smith.  We have the ranch that shares your south border.”   Beverly was a petite red head with a pretty smile.
    “It’s very nice to meet you.  Do you have children?”  Susan engaged Beverly in conversation,
     asking her questions about herself and watching the boys out of the corner of her
     eye. 
    “I have three girls.  They’re six, four and two.”
    Susan noticed the boys drop hands.  “Excuse me for just a moment,” she muttered and
     strode over to the boys.  “That’s your first twenty sentences each.  How long do you
     think it will take you to reach one hundred?”
    The boys quickly joined hands again, and she walked back to Beverly and her husband. 
     “Sorry.  I need to let them know who’s in charge.”
    Beverly laughed softly.  “Those boys have needed someone to let them know who’s in
     charge for a long time.”  She squeezed Susan’s arm.  “You’re going to