Excerpt

The bowls of potatoes, carrots and the platter of cold roast beef were almost empty when they reached her and Bobby. Rachael sent a hopeful look towards her aunt, but no one made a move to get up for refills.
Rachael had felt the hot tears spring to her eyes. But she had blinked them back quickly as she reached for two slices of thick bread, and handed one to her brother.
Carefully now, she rolled onto her side away from her cousins. She clutched the edge of the mattress so that she wouldn’t tumble out on the floor. Then she closed her eyes and tried to fall asleep. But something was missing – she hadn’t said her prayers.
On the farm, Uncle Morley had taught them a prayer, and had listened to them say it every night when they were ready for bed. She remembered when her mom had taught them a prayer, and once in a while had made sure they said it at bedtime. But that was a simple one beginning, Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. Her mom didn’t know she had stopped saying the ending – If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take. Rachael didn’t like the sound of that very much.
Uncle Morley’s prayer had been different and had included other people. She tried to remember it, but the only part she could think of was, Lord make me your true child. Help me to love your Son, Jesus. And please bless Daddy and Bobby, and keep them safe through this night. Silently she said the words, and then added in a whisper, “And God bless Uncle Morley and Auntie Tyne. And oh yes, God, please let me and Bobby have enough to eat tomorrow. Amen.”
Tyne felt thankful for her two days off duty. Yesterday – Friday – had been difficult. Getting the children ready, and driving them to their aunt, had taken more out of her than she would ever have imagined. Bobby had clung to her while Morley unloaded their few belongings from the car trunk, and it had taken all of her willpower not to march up to Ruby and tell her she would do anything, even face arrest, rather than let her have the children.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/192676319X