What did you say?" Henry grated.
"I said , Henry." Rachel's voice was still soft, but the glint in her eyes was fighting mean. "I've put up with your cussedness for nigh on nine years. No more. You apologize to Loretta Jane this instant."
"Or you'll do what?"
Rachel lifted a challenging brow. "Well, I reckon you're too big for me to grab you by the heels and your brains. Guess I'll have to blow them out. Now apologize. I won't have that kind of talk in my house."
" house?"
"That's right." Henry did an admirable job of trying to appear amused. Placing his hands on his hips, he bent one knee and eyed the rifle. "Rachel, darlin', you have a gun right now. Here shortly, you're gonna have to put it down and cook. And when you do, I'm gonna beat the sass plumb out of you. Now I suggest be the one to apologize. If you do it convincin' enough, maybe I'll forgit this ever happened."
Loretta figured the bluff would probably work. Aunt Rachel had never been long on guts, and Loretta didn't see her getting a goodly supply in the space of ten minutes. Rachel surprised her, though. Instead of apologizing, she set her jaw and raised her chin.
"Henry, if you touch me when I'm cookin', I'll rip you from stem to bow with my butcher knife. I've had it up to my gullet with you."
"Give me that gun!" Henry stomped toward her.
Rachel took quick aim. The explosion of noise nearly scared Loretta out of her skin. Henry jumped straight up, clearing the floor by several inches.
"Holy Mother, you near shot my foot off, you damned fool woman!"
"Next time, I won't miss."
Henry sputtered, so mad he looked fit to bust. "Rachel, I swear, I'll give you the hidin' of your life for this."
"Touch her, Uncle Henry, and I'll knock you senseless with a chunk of firewood," Loretta inserted.
"And if she don't do a good job of it, I'll finish it for her!" Amy yelled from the loft ladder. "Good for you, Ma! Give the old wart toad what for!"
Rachel returned the Spencer to the rack. "Well, Henry? It sounds like three to one. You gonna apologize to Loretta Jane or not?
"I said , Henry." Rachel's voice was still soft, but the glint in her eyes was fighting mean. "I've put up with your cussedness for nigh on nine years. No more. You apologize to Loretta Jane this instant."
"Or you'll do what?"
Rachel lifted a challenging brow. "Well, I reckon you're too big for me to grab you by the heels and your brains. Guess I'll have to blow them out. Now apologize. I won't have that kind of talk in my house."
" house?"
"That's right." Henry did an admirable job of trying to appear amused. Placing his hands on his hips, he bent one knee and eyed the rifle. "Rachel, darlin', you have a gun right now. Here shortly, you're gonna have to put it down and cook. And when you do, I'm gonna beat the sass plumb out of you. Now I suggest be the one to apologize. If you do it convincin' enough, maybe I'll forgit this ever happened."
Loretta figured the bluff would probably work. Aunt Rachel had never been long on guts, and Loretta didn't see her getting a goodly supply in the space of ten minutes. Rachel surprised her, though. Instead of apologizing, she set her jaw and raised her chin.
"Henry, if you touch me when I'm cookin', I'll rip you from stem to bow with my butcher knife. I've had it up to my gullet with you."
"Give me that gun!" Henry stomped toward her.
Rachel took quick aim. The explosion of noise nearly scared Loretta out of her skin. Henry jumped straight up, clearing the floor by several inches.
"Holy Mother, you near shot my foot off, you damned fool woman!"
"Next time, I won't miss."
Henry sputtered, so mad he looked fit to bust. "Rachel, I swear, I'll give you the hidin' of your life for this."
"Touch her, Uncle Henry, and I'll knock you senseless with a chunk of firewood," Loretta inserted.
"And if she don't do a good job of it, I'll finish it for her!" Amy yelled from the loft ladder. "Good for you, Ma! Give the old wart toad what for!"
Rachel returned the Spencer to the rack. "Well, Henry? It sounds like three to one. You gonna apologize to Loretta Jane or not?
( Catherine Anderson )
[ Comanche Moon ]
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