Free A New Mam for the Girls by Joannie Kay Page B

any other kind, but it was nice to have cookies every so often.
    “I’ll cut off some lettuce and wash it up real good for a salad, Papa,” Susie said, frowning.  “It isn’t sweet like cookies, but I think it’s real good.”
    “I think so, too.  You girls are such a big help to me,” he told them, and then gave them each a hug.  “I’ll get that corral all finished, and we’ll fry up some steaks and potatoes to go with that salad and cookies.”  He headed for the door, and thought he heard one of the girls sniffling.  “What’s wrong, Sally?” he asked tenderly.  “You know you can come to Papa with any of your troubles, don’t you?”
    “It’s not our troubles we’re worried over, Papa.  Preacher Trimbull said it ain’t natural for a man to be alone!   Sally and me feel if it weren’t for us, you’d find another woman and get married and you’d be happy and natural.”  Susie’s big blue eyes were full of tears, and in an instant both girls were sobbing their hearts out.
    “Preacher Trimbull doesn’t always get things right, girls.  Now, don’t cry!”  He felt so helpless he didn’t know what to do.  “You girls haven’t done anything wrong.  I’m not unhappy, either!  Awwww, don’t cry!”  If that witless Preacher was standing here right now he would beat the crap out of him for upsetting his little girls!  He heard a buggy approaching the house and looked outside to see who was coming, and damned if it wasn’t Trimbull, his wife, and someone else he couldn’t make out.  The Sheriff was riding along beside them, and somehow Seth knew there was trouble brewing.
    “Girls, stop crying now, and wash your faces.  We have company, and once they leave, we’ll sit down and talk this through.  For now, I just want you to know that you misunderstood the Preacher.  I’m not unhappy, and the last thing I want is a wife to replace your Mama.  She was the sweetest woman alive.”
    “Okay, Papa,” Sally quickly agreed, giving her sister a meaningful look. 
    Susie went to look out the door and she said, “You greet them outside, Papa, and sister and I will tidy up.”
    Seth had to smile.  Little Susie sounded like her Mama right then.  Catherine always expected him to stall any unexpected guests they had so that she could tidy up before they hit the doorway.  “You do that, girls,” he agreed, and then went outside to see what kind of trouble there was.   He was used to the Preacher and his wife showing up to make their calls, but it wasn’t a bit like the Sheriff to ride out of town unless there was trouble of sort.  And, he still couldn’t tell who the other female was.  He walked out and waited patiently as the group approached, his attention on trying to figure out the identity of the woman.
    The closer they came, Seth felt his eyes drawn to the woman’s pretty face.  She was wearing a Kelly green traveling dress and jacket, and her bonnet matched.  It made her red hair stand out, especially with the sun reflecting off the golden strands.  Her eyes were the same pretty shade of green, and Seth literally couldn’t stop staring at her, even when the Sheriff cleared his throat, trying to get his attention.
    “Won’t you all come inside?” Seth finally remembered his manners.  “It’s warm out here in the sun, and I suspect the girls have brought up some cold buttermilk to share.”
    “Seth!  What has come over you?” Preacher Trimbull scolded. 
    “How can you behave with such a cavalier attitude?” his wife demanded, showing a temper that Seth hadn’t witnessed before.
    “This isn’t like you, Seth,” the Sheriff added his disapproval to theirs while the pretty woman just sat there with a hurt expression on her face.
    “Is this some sort of joke?” Seth finally asked.
    “Joke?  Would I be leavin’ me home on a joke?”
    The woman’s green eyes flashed in pure temper, and Seth thought her Irish lilt was enchanting.  He then cursed