Snowfall (4 page)

When they continued to eye her silently, she started to think that this Christmas could be even worse than the ones she'd known. Feeling dismayed, she attempted to joke. “I know this is hard, having a new sitter and all. But I'd like to make the best of things. I'd like to get to know you, and I'm hoping that you all can tell me how to do things. I'm going to need a lot of help, you see.”

Finally, finally, the oldest girl spoke. “Why are you going to be needin' our help?”

Ruth blinked. She hadn't planned to tell them much about her personal life. She'd hoped to come across as confident and self-assured.

But as she stared into the clear, wary eyes of the little girl, Ruth knew she had no desire to try to pull anything over on them. It was obvious that these
kinner
were expecting the worst—and that they could probably spy a liar from fifty feet away.

Therefore, she decided honesty was the best policy. “I'm going to be needin' your help because I don't have much experience with children.”

“Why not?” one of the boys asked.

There was no way she was going to start telling them the specifics about her life. “Just because I don't.”

“But what about your brothers or sisters?” another girl asked. She was one of the twins. Her voice was a little less accusatory, a little more confused.

Ruth crossed her arms over her chest and contemplated just how much she wanted to share. Not much. On the other hand, it didn't look as if these
kinner
were going to give her much of an option.

Bracing herself, she replied—and prepared to answer an onslaught of questions. “I don't have any brothers or sisters.”

The eldest girl tilted her head to one side. “You are an only child?”

“I am.”

“What about your cousins?”

“I'm afraid I'm not too close to my cousins. I don't see them often.” Actually, she hadn't seen them since she'd left their house after her year with them.

“Well, who do you have?” one of the twins asked. “Everyone has family.”

“That is not for you to find out,” she said smartly.

In response, the line of
kinner
blinked and then blinked again. Good, she had gotten them a little off-kilter.

Perhaps this was the tack she should adopt. Stay on the offensive.

“Now, please introduce yourselves and tell me your age and one thing you'd like to do with me while I'm here.”

“Do?” a boy interrupted.

“
Jah
. I'm talking about activities. You all need to tell me what projects you'd like to do with me over Christmas break. After that, we'll figure out what you want to do first.”

The children looked at one another in confusion, as if she'd suddenly decided they should take a trip to the moon. Then, after a bit of a hesitation, the eldest girl stepped forward. “I'm Katrina, I'm nine, and I don't know what I want to do with you.”

Ruth nodded sagely. “I suppose that makes sense. After all, we don't know each other, do we?”

Katrina shook her head slowly. Every inch of her seemed to scream that she was communicating with Ruth reluctantly, almost in spite of herself.

Clearing her throat, Ruth propped her hands on her hips. “Next?”

The twin girls stepped forward together. “I'm Brigit and this is Karin,” the bossy one said. “We're five and we're twins.”

“Ah.”

“Like she couldn't figure that out,” one of the boys scoffed. “You both look just alike, and you always dress alike, too.”

Ruth ignored that. “Brigit, what would you like to do with me?”

“I don't know.”

“Karin?” Ruth said gently. “Do you like to bake cookies or go for walks?”

Karin looked at the oven, the door, and then at her sister. And then, ever so slowly, she shook her head.
“Nee.”

“I'm sorry to hear you say that. I love to bake cookies and I always need help.”

Little Karin's eyes turned to saucers but she stayed silent.

Ruth had imagined that they might not like a stranger caring for them, but she didn't understand why they were being so standoffish. Why were they so reluctant to reach out to her?

Feeling more and more dismayed, Ruth made a shooing motion with her hand. “All right, boys, it's your turn. What are your names?”

The smaller of the two stepped forward. “I'm Gregory and I'm seven. And I hope you don't stay long.”

“And why is that?”

“You don't seem nice.”

These had to be some of the rudest children in the state of Ohio! “At the moment, you don't seem too nice, either.”

That earned her her first smile—from the oldest boy. He had curly light brown hair and what she was already suspecting to be a deceptively angelic expression. “You're funny, Ruth.”

“I'm blunt, that's what I am. What is your name and age?”

“Thomas. I'm eight. But everyone says I'm going on eighteen.”

“Why is that?”

“'Cause Thomas always wants to be older,” Katrina supplied.

“Now, that is mighty interesting.” Actually, she thought it was amusing, but she didn't want to hurt his feelings.

“Why? Do you want to be older, too?”

“Definitely not.” She had a lot to accomplish before she got much older!

“How come? How old are you?”

“My age is none of your business.” She neatly cut him off before he could argue with that. “Now, what would you like to do with me?”

“That is none of your business.” He smiled again, somewhat evilly.

But then he marched over to the smallest member of the family, a little girl who was holding a worn white blanket that looked to be in dire need of a wash. “Go ahead, Meg,” he murmured, his voice soft and gentle. “She won't care what you say.”

But instead of saying a word, the littlest girl popped her thumb in her mouth and leaned in to Thomas.

Rolling his eyes, he nonetheless wrapped one arm around his sister. “This here is Meg. She's four and shy. She doesn't want to do anything with you, either.”

Feeling stunned, hurt, and a bit mystified by the children's obvious plan to keep her at arm's length, she sighed.

It looked like some things never changed.

Old feelings, carefully shuttered, threatened to burst open and take control. Once again, she was the new girl in a distant relative's house. Standing in a kitchen, all of her belongings in the world folded carefully in an old duffle bag. Relying on the kindness of others and—in spite of knowing better—daring to hope that things were going to improve.

For a moment, she was tempted to turn right around and march out to the barn. To hitch up Rocky, locate Martin, and inform him that she was sorry but that she had no desire to spend the next few weeks with his
kinner
. She'd already come too far in her life to once again be at the mercy of six children with a bone to pick with the world.

She'd been there and done that.

But then she noticed how Thomas was still holding his sister Meg protectively, as if he was used to shielding her from the world. As if he was used to giving her that little bit of warmth and attention that she needed. Like he knew all about being considered a burden.

When she met his eyes, his gaze was stern and solemn and vaguely taunting. As if he was prepared to protect little Meg no matter what.

And that, of course, made her heart melt. And suddenly, it all made sense.

At least, it did to her.

She had plenty of experience wishing that someone would take the time to shield her from the harsh realities of life. Boy, how many days had she spent as a little girl wishing for someone—anyone—to offer her a warm hug? A kind smile? She would have hardly known what to do if someone had carefully placed a comforting arm around her.

These children were somehow conditioned to not expect too much. Furthermore, it looked as if they'd taken to shielding themselves against further pain and disappointment.

She, too, had done that a time or two.

Instinctively, she knew that they wouldn't respond to anything fake—or anything that bordered on too intrusive in their lives. If they saw her as desperate or insincere, they would run, run away as fast as they could!

“Well, Katrina, Thomas, Gregory, Brigit, Karin, and Meg, I am sorry none of you want to do anything special with me today. But that is okay. I'm glad you were honest.”

Gregory wrinkled his nose. “You are?”

“Oh, for sure and for certain! You are children, not workers. If you don't wish to do any projects or activities with me, you certainly don't have to. I'll simply keep everything I brought in this hamper for safekeeping. Maybe the next group of children I'm around will be interested in it.”

And just as she predicted—well, hoped—all six children's eyes fixated on her bright red wicker hamper.

Karin stepped forward. “You brought something for us?”

“I did. Well, I'd hoped to bring something for us to do. I like to be busy, you see. But I don't want to force you to do anything with me.”

“You didn't force us. You asked us,” Thomas stated. “Before you went and told us that there was something in that hamper for us.”

Summoning up her best Lovina Keim impression, Ruth tipped her chin up a bit and attempted to look put upon. She had no idea how she was supposed to act with the children so she relied on what her instincts told her to do, and that was to play hard to get. “I doubt that would have made a difference, anyway. You six look like a pretty tough bunch.”

Out of the corner of her eye, Ruth spied Katrina biting her lip. “We do?”

“You do to me.” She brushed her hands together. “I understand I am supposed to cook you supper and clean your house as well. So that is what I suppose I should do.” Waving a hand in her direction, she murmured, “Well, carry on, then.”

Six little faces stared at her incredulously. “That's it?” Thomas asked. “You're just going to ignore us?”

“I'm not ignoring ya. I'm following your wishes. I'm not going to force myself—or my activities—on you if you are not interested. That isna right.” She waved her hand. “Go on now. I'll simply go about my business. When I'm ready to see your bedrooms I'll find them myself.”

A line formed between Thomas's eyebrows. “But what were you going to do if we wanted to see what was inside your hamper?”

“I was going to play games, of course.”

“But what about all the cleaning you've got to do?”

“I don't know about you all, but I'd always rather play a game than clean. But that's all right,” she said as she rolled up her sleeves. “I am getting paid to do the best I can with what I'm given. That's all one can do, I suppose.”

Quickly, she turned around because she was afraid she wouldn't be able to hide her smile any longer. Truly, the six of them looked like a pack of beagles eagerly anticipating a morning's hunt.

She heard some whispering behind her, but she pretended not to hear. Instead she resolutely turned on the faucet and squeezed a little bit of the dish soap in the sink.

“Ruth, wait!” Gregory exclaimed.

She turned off the water. “
Jah
, Gregory?”

“I want to see what is in the hamper.”

“Me, too,” little Meg said with a pleading look.

“I want to see, too!” Karin said. “And I didn't really mean that I didn't want to do anything with you. I was just trying to be diff'cult.”

“Me, too,” her twin said, just as a very furry golden retriever came in. And so does Frank.”

“Frank?”

“He's our dog. He's a
gut
dog, too. But he chews.”

“How about this. Tomorrow, if your father wants me to return, I'll bring my hamper back. We'll chat, and if you are in the mood to play games, we'll look inside.”

“You can still change your mind today,” Thomas reminded her. “It's not too late.”

She knew he was right. Ruth also knew that what was in her basket wasn't all that exciting. The children looked like they were expecting her to pull out a menagerie of baby animals or the like.

So she decided to keep them waiting. Maybe they would be a little bit more eager to talk to her. And, well, her life had shown her time and again that nothing easily gained was worth having.

She sighed. “Ach, but I'm afraid it is, Thomas. Tomorrow is soon enough. Now I'm going to make cookies on my own and a taco casserole.”

Frank walked up to her and sat down by her feet. When she glanced down at him, his tongue lolled out and he gave her a tail thump. She bent down and gave him a pat. “Oh, and it looks like I'll be keeping company with your sweet dog, too. He seems to like me fine.”

Katrina folded her arms over her chest. “You know, we could probably sneak a peek in the hamper without you ever knowing.”

“Maybe you could, and maybe you would do it, too.” She leaned down a bit, daring to look the nine-year-old in the eye. “But if you did, you'd know that you spoiled the surprise.”

Wariness lit Katrina's eyes. “And?”

“And you might even come to regret that decision. Sometimes it's better to try to get along with people, yes? Wait until tomorrow, Katrina. I'll be back.”

And at that, little Meg popped her thumb out of her mouth. “I want to make cookies with you, Ruth. Can I?”

“Of course. Go find a step stool, child. I would like your company. I would like it
verra
much.”

Meg scampered to the other side of the kitchen, picked up the little step stool, and then proceeded to half carry, half drag the step stool to Ruth's side. When Ruth smiled at her again, she clambered on top of it and leaned close. “I like baking,” she whispered.

“I do too, child,” Ruth replied as she pulled a large ceramic bowl closer.