Mother For His Children, A Read Online Free

mind. The Englisch woman had ruled a classroom full of forty-five children from first through eighth grades with a calm voice and a no-nonsense approach to rules. Ruthy had loved her. What would Mrs. Studer do with this mess if she were here?
    Stepping to the table, Ruthy caught each of the eight-year-old twins by the arm as they ran past her. “What are the two of you supposed to be doing?”
    Their flushed faces looked into hers, and then they both glanced at Waneta.
    â€œWe’re setting the table,” one of them said, grinning at Ruthy. When Ruthy kept her face stern, the grin vanished.
    â€œThen you should be setting the table, shouldn’t you? Games like this should be saved for outdoors.”
    The girl who had spoken nodded her head. Ruthy turned to her twin sister, ready to scold both of them, but the tears in the girl’s eyes stopped her words. She was so much more sensitive than her sister. How different could twins be?
    â€œYou will need to help me with your names for a while. I know one of you is Nellie, right?” The silent twin nodded her head and she turned back to the more daring girl. “So you’re Nancy.”
    â€œYou’re right.” The girl grinned again, her blue eyes sparkling.
    â€œNancy, you go ahead and finish putting the flatware on the table and Nellie can get the plates.”
    Nellie went to a cupboard near the sink and opened it, revealing a generous stack of white plates. Such a tender child in this boisterous family seemed out of place. Ruthy turned her attention back to Sam, who was sitting on the chair next to the decimated cake, calmly eating the piece he had stolen. Waneta glanced at Ruthy as she opened a jar of pickled beets and gave her a quick smile. At least one person approved of the way she was handling things so far.
    Ruthy knelt next to the little boy.
    â€œAre you enjoying that cake?”
    Sam nodded and grinned at her. His blue eyes were full of mischief, but his sweet smile made her long to give him a hug.
    She couldn’t give in to that! This boy was a little thief who needed to be taught a lesson.
    â€œIt would taste better with frosting on it, wouldn’t it?”
    â€œJa,” Sam said between bites. “’Neta makes the best frosting.”
    â€œIt’s too bad you won’t get any, then.”
    Sam stopped, the cake halfway to his mouth for another bite. “Why won’t I get any?”
    Ruthy rose and took a spoonful of frosting from the nearby bowl. “You’re eating your cake now instead of after supper. So when the rest of us have our pieces with frosting, you won’t be able to have any.” She started frosting the untouched layer of cake and exchanged a glance with Waneta. The girl gave her a grateful smile.
    â€œIf I give it back, will you put frosting on it?” Sam held out his remaining chunk of cake.
    â€œWill you promise to leave desserts alone until after the meals from now on?”
    Sam stared at the cake, considering. Then he nodded. “I’ll try.”
    â€œAll right then.” Ruthy got a plate from the cupboard and Sam deposited his cake on it. “I’ll frost this piece just for you.” Sam slid down from the chair and headed into the front room.
    â€œDenki,” Waneta whispered. “ Dat always complains about pieces missing from the cakes, but I don’t know how to stop him.”
    â€œI have a brother who tried the same thing when he was Sam’s age. Mam made him give up his desserts for a month when he didn’t stop.”
    Waneta giggled. “You’ll have to threaten Sam with that. Nothing I say will make him behave.”
    Ruthy set the broken cake layer on top of the first one and spread it with another dollop of frosting. Dessert wouldn’t be pretty, but from the way Sam liked his sister’s cake, she could tell it would still taste good.
    â€œDo you always make the meals by yourself?”
    Waneta