Free No One But You by Leigh Greenwood

when she was a little girl. But rather than the atmosphere of cheerful industry that filled Rose’s kitchen, Sarah remembered an urgency to get the meal prepared quickly, the fear her father would find something wrong with it.
    â€œI could set the table.”
    â€œThat’s my job,” Zac said without looking up from his work.
    â€œPut food in bowls and carry them to the table.”
    â€œI do that.” Tyler sounded as protective of his job as Zac.
    â€œYou can cook the eggs as soon as Jared is finished cracking them,” Rose said. “I have to fry the rest of the sausage and keep an eye on the apples to make sure they don’t burn.”
    Not to mention what looked like a pot of grits and a pan of beef and gravy. Sarah had never seen so much food, nor had she ever had to cook about two dozen eggs. Even after dividing them into two batches, it felt more like she was stirring a pot of soup. When the first pan was done, she turned to ask for a platter only to find Tyler had already placed one at her elbow. By the time she finished the second batch of eggs, the first biscuits were out of the oven and the rest of the food was on the table.
    The men, who’d apparently been waiting to be called, came in talking and laughing. In a matter of moments everyone was seated, every platter or bowl had been passed around the table, and hot biscuits were dripping with butter or wrapped around a sausage. The sound of talk and laughter had been replaced by that of spoons in bowls, forks scraping plates, and of sugar and/or cream being stirred into cups of hot coffee.
    â€œI hope you aren’t bothered by the quiet,” Rose said to Sarah. “To a cowboy, nothing is more important than eating.”
    â€œI’m not bothered at all,” Sarah replied. “I’m used to it.” Her father had never allowed conversation when he was eating, and Roger had been interested only in his own opinions.
    The quiet ended as soon as everyone was through with their first servings. Sarah was intrigued to note that while everything had been passed only to the right when the meal started, bowls and platters were passed the quickest way when it came to seconds. Or thirds. Monty seemed to have a hollow leg.
    As soon as their appetites were satisfied, the men turned back to their conversations over coffee. George parceled out the duties for the day. He listened to suggestions or objections and made a few changes. Once the work assignments were settled, the men swallowed the last of their coffee and left as a group.
    â€œWhat can we do to help clean up?” Sarah asked Rose.
    Rose surveyed the kitchen. “Zac can hand the plates to Jared. Once he’s scraped them, Ellen can stack them on the counter.”
    â€œI can wash the dishes if Tyler will dry while you put away the food,” Sarah suggested.
    â€œEllen can help Zac put the food away. Meanwhile, I’ll set Jared to shelling some dried peas for supper.”
    It was impossible to have six people in a kitchen without getting in each other’s way from time to time, but everything was washed, dried, and put away in a short period of time.
    â€œNow it’s my turn to relax with a cup of coffee,” Rose said to Sarah. “Want to join me?”
    Sarah would have liked nothing better, but that would keep Rose from the nap she’d promised George she would take.
    â€œThere’s nothing much to do until it’s time to fix supper. Until I have this baby, the men have to clean their own rooms. The twins stay home on the day I do the washing, and Zac and Tyler do everything else before they can join their brothers. George will help any time I ask.”
    â€œThat’s all the more reason I shouldn’t be causing you extra work,” Sarah said.
    â€œPshaw,” Rose said. “When you have to cook for ten, three additional mouths don’t make much difference. Besides, it’s worth it to have a woman to