Free Snowfall by Shelley Shepard Gray Page B

your kinner for a while?”
    â€œJust until New Year’s Day. Then the kinner will go back to school and maybe by then Daybreak’ll be hiring again, and they can take her back.” But even as he said that, he felt a bit sad about it. Ruth was a chatty girl. Full of energy. From his kids’ response that morning, he knew she was doing a great job with them She’d won them over in just one day, which was quite a feat.
    It seemed a waste for her to go back to the retirement home. A girl like her, so vibrant and full of life, should be surrounded by a doting husband and a bunch of children of her own.
    â€œWhat do you think about that?”
    He shrugged. “There’s nothing to think about. It is what it is. For right now, I’ve been blessed with help.”
    â€œIf she came back for a second day, it means your children haven’t run her off yet.”
    â€œThere is that.” Martin grinned. “It sure is a shame that Kristy wasn’t available to help me out.”
    â€œKristy is a delicate soul. She’s adorable and loving.”
    Martin knew what was coming. “And?”
    â€œAnd the thought of just looking out for your Katrina alone intimidates her. There’s no way she’d want to tackle six of them.”
    â€œFloyd, you know my children.”
    â€œI do know them.”
    â€œAnd I am grateful for my many blessings. I love them. Very much.”
    â€œI know that, too.”
    â€œThat said, I don’t blame Kristy one bit.”
    Floyd grinned as he tossed two more branches into the wagon. “It takes a strong man to be honest about his children, Martin.”
    â€œThen I must be the strongest man in town,” he replied dryly.
    Sobering, Floyd reached out and slapped Martin lightly on the back. “Grace died too young.”
    â€œThat she did. She died too young,” he repeated as they set their tools in the wagon, then helped guide the horse down the hill. She died too young and took his heart with her.
    He’d always been sure of it.
    Which was why he couldn’t understand why he kept thinking about Ruth’s smile. Or her blue eyes.
    Or the way he’d been as happy as his children to see her.

Chapter 9
    I think I’ve grown a whole inch this month. Maybe two. I’m almost sure of it.
    Thomas, Age 8
    It was early in the morning. So early that Elsie’s husband, Landon, hadn’t even had his second cup of coffee yet. Therefore, Elsie knew it was the perfect time to talk to him about something she’d been considering for a couple of weeks.
    Now, if she could only get up the nerve. Feeling nervous and more than a little bit awkward, she reached down and gave Betsy a pet. Betsy raised her head. When she realized that Elsie wasn’t about to give her a command, but was simply giving her some attention, she put her head back down on her paws.
    Elsie leaned back in her chair and sighed.
    â€œElsie, what’s going on?”
    â€œIs it that obvious?”
    â€œIt is.” Pushing his coffee cup to one side, he leaned toward her. “Is something wrong?”
    â€œNo. I just wanted to talk to you about something.”
    â€œWell, then . . .” He reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze.
    And that made Elsie reflect again about just how blessed she was to have a husband like him. Now that she could hardly see at all, he often squeezed her hand or patted her shoulder, touching her in a hundred ways to show his support.
    â€œLandon, I’ve been thinking about my mother’s Thursday suppers.”
    â€œAnd . . .”
    â€œAnd, while I appreciate everything she’s doing, I’m a little frustrated with them.” She hated to sound so ungrateful, but she knew if she held her tongue, things would only get worse. “I’m getting the feeling my mom would serve me every meal if she could.”
    After a pause, he chuckled. “I fear you are right about