leader, he couldn’t help but smile at her ability to whip young Willy into shape. That youngster needed to be whipped into shape. He was too much like his father already, with his bullying ways.
Yes, perhaps a thrashing from a girl in a green cotton dress would be just the ticket to take him down a notch or two. And while that was happening, Jake would distract himself by offering a certain beautiful lady a cup of cold punch. Hopefully she wouldn’t turn him down.
Chapter Nine
We’ve all heard the adage that one rotten apple can spoil the whole bunch. The same is true with people. One sour old codger can ruin a perfectly good family function. But here in the Texas Panhandle, we work hard to turn sour apples into tasty pies or hot apple cider. In other words, we do our best to live with even those who are as stubborn as mules. Perhaps our years in working the land have taught us to be more patient. Or maybe we’re just friendlier because of our peaceful surroundings. Sure, there will always be folks with bitter dispositions. Maybe you’ve had a neighbor or two like that. But here in Texas, we’re quick to turn the other cheek. A-course, if that doesn’t work, we give those sour old souls a swift kick in the backside and send ’em packing. — “Tex” Morgan, reporting for the Panhandle Primer
When the church social came to an end, Emily and Kate laughed and talked all the way back to O’Farrell’s Honor. Anne wanted to join in the fun but found herself completely exhausted. She couldn’t stop yawning. Must have something to do with her lack of sleep last night. Well, that and the scrumptious food Maggie had served up for lunch. Nothing like a full belly to cause one to long for her pillow.
“Looks like someone needs a nap when we get home,” Maggie said. “Sounds good.” She covered her mouth as she echoed Anne’s yawn. “I could use a little catnap myself. Let’s all make a pact that we won’t get out of bed until we’ve slept a couple of hours. Agreed?”
“But I don’t want to sleep. I want to see the ranch.” Kate pouted.
“Me too,” Emily said. “I need to go exploring.”
“I’ll tell you what….” Jake leaned forward, looking back and forth between the girls. “Let’s let the other ladies sleep and I’ll give you a tour of the property. How does that sound?”
“Wonderful!” Emily clasped her hands together. “Can I bring my writing tablet?”
“Of course.”
“Are you sure you can handle these two alone?” Anne asked.
“I think so.” He gave her a playful wink, which caused her heart to flutter. Hmm. Suddenly she didn’t feel like taking a nap at all. Maybe she could explore the ranch with her younger sisters and Jake.
No, the more she thought about it, the more she realized she needed her beauty sleep. When they arrived at the house, Anne made her way to her bedroom, changed into her nightgown, and collapsed into bed. When she awoke, shimmers of red and orange danced through the window. Had she really slept that long? She rose and listened at the door to see if she could hear any noise from beyond it. Yes. Kate’s giggles, coming from the parlor, along with Jake’s happy-go-lucky voice, singing some sort of song.
And the smells! Mmm. What was that? Smelled like roasted chicken. Anne quickly changed into a dress, paused to glance at her reflection in the mirror, then pulled her hair up. She tried to fuss with it a bit longer than usual to get it to look more sophisticated—like Amaryllis’s—but in the end, she let the long black locks flow freely. Maybe tomorrow she could take care of it.
She entered the parlor, and Jake looked her way. Anne couldn’t help but notice his smile as he took her in. “Well, hello, sleepyhead!”
“Annie, you’re up!” Kate rose and rushed her way. “Jake’s been entertaining me with songs while Emily writes her story.”
“Did you nap at all?” Anne asked, running her fingers through Kate’s messy hair.
“No,
Yes, perhaps a thrashing from a girl in a green cotton dress would be just the ticket to take him down a notch or two. And while that was happening, Jake would distract himself by offering a certain beautiful lady a cup of cold punch. Hopefully she wouldn’t turn him down.
Chapter Nine
We’ve all heard the adage that one rotten apple can spoil the whole bunch. The same is true with people. One sour old codger can ruin a perfectly good family function. But here in the Texas Panhandle, we work hard to turn sour apples into tasty pies or hot apple cider. In other words, we do our best to live with even those who are as stubborn as mules. Perhaps our years in working the land have taught us to be more patient. Or maybe we’re just friendlier because of our peaceful surroundings. Sure, there will always be folks with bitter dispositions. Maybe you’ve had a neighbor or two like that. But here in Texas, we’re quick to turn the other cheek. A-course, if that doesn’t work, we give those sour old souls a swift kick in the backside and send ’em packing. — “Tex” Morgan, reporting for the Panhandle Primer
When the church social came to an end, Emily and Kate laughed and talked all the way back to O’Farrell’s Honor. Anne wanted to join in the fun but found herself completely exhausted. She couldn’t stop yawning. Must have something to do with her lack of sleep last night. Well, that and the scrumptious food Maggie had served up for lunch. Nothing like a full belly to cause one to long for her pillow.
“Looks like someone needs a nap when we get home,” Maggie said. “Sounds good.” She covered her mouth as she echoed Anne’s yawn. “I could use a little catnap myself. Let’s all make a pact that we won’t get out of bed until we’ve slept a couple of hours. Agreed?”
“But I don’t want to sleep. I want to see the ranch.” Kate pouted.
“Me too,” Emily said. “I need to go exploring.”
“I’ll tell you what….” Jake leaned forward, looking back and forth between the girls. “Let’s let the other ladies sleep and I’ll give you a tour of the property. How does that sound?”
“Wonderful!” Emily clasped her hands together. “Can I bring my writing tablet?”
“Of course.”
“Are you sure you can handle these two alone?” Anne asked.
“I think so.” He gave her a playful wink, which caused her heart to flutter. Hmm. Suddenly she didn’t feel like taking a nap at all. Maybe she could explore the ranch with her younger sisters and Jake.
No, the more she thought about it, the more she realized she needed her beauty sleep. When they arrived at the house, Anne made her way to her bedroom, changed into her nightgown, and collapsed into bed. When she awoke, shimmers of red and orange danced through the window. Had she really slept that long? She rose and listened at the door to see if she could hear any noise from beyond it. Yes. Kate’s giggles, coming from the parlor, along with Jake’s happy-go-lucky voice, singing some sort of song.
And the smells! Mmm. What was that? Smelled like roasted chicken. Anne quickly changed into a dress, paused to glance at her reflection in the mirror, then pulled her hair up. She tried to fuss with it a bit longer than usual to get it to look more sophisticated—like Amaryllis’s—but in the end, she let the long black locks flow freely. Maybe tomorrow she could take care of it.
She entered the parlor, and Jake looked her way. Anne couldn’t help but notice his smile as he took her in. “Well, hello, sleepyhead!”
“Annie, you’re up!” Kate rose and rushed her way. “Jake’s been entertaining me with songs while Emily writes her story.”
“Did you nap at all?” Anne asked, running her fingers through Kate’s messy hair.
“No,
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