Excerpt
In the farmhouse pantry, redolent with the aroma of coffee and good food, Tyne watched through the window as she helped Rose Cresswell, Morley’s mother, set out more sandwiches and cakes for the hungry people in the living room. The four eldest Harrison children had gone outside to play, and Ronald, the eleven-year-old, was tossing a ball back and forth between his two younger sisters. Tyne’s heart swelled when she saw Bobby rough-housing in the grass with his three-year- old cousin Freddy. She wondered what had become of Rachael since they had arrived home from the cemetery over an hour ago. Perhaps she was looking after Ruby’s six-month-old baby.
There’s nothing like a baby to take one’s mind off troubles, Tyne thought. Nevertheless, she had better go look for the girl.
Tyne found her sitting on the back veranda, her bare feet on the top step leading to the yard where the other children played. She stared straight ahead, unsmiling. Tyne was about to open the screen door and go out to her when she saw Ruby Harrison come around the corner of the house, and sit down beside her niece.
Ruby put her arm around the girl’s stiff shoulders. “Rachael honey,” she cooed, “what’s wrong? You can tell Auntie Ruby.”
What, Tyne wanted to yell, do you think is wrong? But she held her peace and watched.
Rachael did not yield to the embrace as she whimpered, “I want to go home with Daddy.”
Ruby pulled back and looked at her. “Oh, but you can’t.”
Rachael turned to face her aunt, fire in her eyes. “Why can’t I?”
“Because … well, because he can’t look after you. He’s away a lot, and you’d be by yourself.”
“I wouldn’t be scared, not if Bobby’s with me.” She turned her head to watch Bobby where he and Freddy now played on the swing. “And I can look after the house and Bobby, too. I’ve done it before.”
Ruby dropped her arm. “Yes, maybe, but you can’t stay there.
Libros Libertad 