Emily Jane didn’t have time to think any more about the choice she’d made in watching the girls. Rose began to cry almost as soon as the door closed behind William. She scooped down and picked up the little girl. “Now what are you fussing about? He’ll be back soon.” She patted the little girl’s back.
Thankfully, even with a wet diaper, Rose stopped her complaining and nestled close to Emily Jane. She looked down at Ruby and saw the little girl crawling toward the sitting room.
First thing she’d need to do was find a way to confine the twins to one area. Unlike their uncle, Emily Jane couldn’t hold them both at once, at least not all the time, and strapping them to a chair all afternoon wasn’t an option. “You two are lucky I have little brothers and sisters and know how to build a fun pen for you to play in.”
She set Rose down and snatched up Ruby before she could crawl from the room. Someone knocked at the front door. “Now, who do you suppose that is?” Emily Jane asked Ruby, who wiggled in her arms, trying to get down.
“Who is it?” Emily Jane called.
“Elsie Matthews, dear.”
Mrs. Matthews was a sweet woman who lived two houses down. In her late sixties, she was the least of the busybodies who lived in the neighborhood. “Come in, Mrs. Matthews. We’re in the kitchen.”
The door opened, and the older woman stepped inside. “I hope I’m not disturbing you.”
Emily Jane motioned her in. “Not at all. I was just figuring out how I would manage these two this afternoon. Can you stay long?”
“Long enough. What can I help you with?” She pulled her shawl from around her slight shoulders and hung it on the nearest kitchen chair.
Rose crawled over to the older woman and pulled on her skirt. “Up,” said the little girl, smiling.
Emily Jane watched as Mrs. Matthews scooped the child into her arms and tickled her belly. “So you were one of the wee folk making all that noise last night, weren’t you?”
In reply, Rose giggled.
Emily Jane carried Ruby to the center of the kitchen and set her down again. “They both need baths. Would you mind keeping an eye on them for just a second while I step out back and get the washtub?”
“Be happy to, but are you going to drag in that big tub just to give these two a bath? Wouldn’t it be easier to just wash them one at a time in the washbasin?” Mrs. Matthews placed Rose beside her sister.
Emily Jane laughed. “Yes, but the washtub will hold them both. I’m going to use it as a pen so that I can get some work done.”
“That’s an excellent idea.” Mrs. Matthews’s light auburn hair streaked with gray bobbed on the top of her head as she nodded her approval.
Emily Jane hurried to where their washtub sat by the back door. Normally they did their laundry on Saturday, so the tub would be available for the girls to play in for a couple of days yet. William should have someone else lined up to watch the girls by then.
Rose and Ruby giggled and crawled after Emily Jane. Mrs. Matthews laughed. “Oh, no, you don’t. You two have to stay and play with me for a few minutes.” She knelt down, offering her apron strings for them to pull on.
Emily Jane lugged the big tub inside. It was wooden with metal rings around the top, middle and bottom of it, the perfect size to hold two little girls. Normally Anna Mae helped her carry it inside, but since she wasn’t available and Mrs. Matthews had her hands full with the girls, Emily Jane tugged on it until she got it into the kitchen.
Mrs. Matthews hurried over. “Here, let me help you with that.”
Together they set it against the wall by the back door. “I think you might need something soft inside for them to sit and play on.”
“I’ll go get a blanket, be right back.” She hurried to her bedroom and grabbed a small nine-patch quilt from the foot of her bed. It was her reading quilt. She enjoyed curling up in it and reading her Bible before going to sleep each night.
When she returned to the kitchen, she saw that Mrs. Matthews stood holding Rose with Ruby sitting at her feet pulling at the buttons on her black shoes. “This should do it.” Emily Jane spread the quilt out in the bottom of the tub and then reached for Ruby. Mrs. Matthews added Rose.
The girls grinned up at them. They really were sweet little things. Emily Jane went to the cupboard and pulled out spoons and pans for the girls to play with.
“Would you like a cup of tea?” Emily Jane asked.
Mrs. Matthews sat down in a chair at the table. “I’d love one. And while you are making it, I’ll keep an eye on the girls. Maybe you could tell me how you ended up with these two this afternoon?”
Emily Jane nodded. “Mr. Barns, Mabel’s grandson, started work this afternoon at the general store. Some of our neighbors suggested I’d be a good person to watch them.” She poured water into a large pail for the girls’ bath and also filled the teapot.
“Oh, I’m sure they did.” Mrs. Matthews laughed. “They came over to the house this morning, complaining about the girls crying last night. You’d think they were all a hundred years old the way they gripe.”
Trying to hide a smile, Emily Jane nodded. “Yes, they came by the bakery this morning, too.”
“Meddling old hens.” Mrs. Matthews’s hazel eyes met hers. “I’m sure they had a lot to say.”
Warmth filled Emily Jane’s cheeks as she remembered them suggesting she marry William Barns and give the girls a mother. She shook her head at the memory. “Can you believe they suggested I marry him?”
“Why?” Mrs. Matthews tilted her head to the side and scrunched up her brow. “I mean, for goodness’ sake, you just met the man.”
Her expression was comical, and Emily Jane giggled. “To give his nieces a mother. They seem to think a mother would be able to stop them from crying at night.”
“That’s preposterous.” Mrs. Matthews cooed down at the twins. Emily Jane gazed at the girls, who looked so much like William. Where are their parents? she wondered. And why aren’t they taking care of the girls?
* * *
A few minutes after four that afternoon, William knocked on Emily Jane’s front door. Weariness seeped through his bones like honey from a leaky jug. Working with Mr. Moore hadn’t been hard. It was the sleepless night up with the girls. His energy level was zero and his nerves stretched tight.
She opened the door with a smile and stepped back to allow him inside. The aroma of fried ham drifted to William, reminding him he still needed to feed the girls. His stomach growled, so to cover his embarrassment, William said, “Something sure smells good in here.”
“I’m glad you think so. We saved a plate for you.” Emily Jane motioned for him to follow her.
He didn’t need to be asked twice. William shut the door and did as she bade. His gaze took in the clean kitchen and the girls.
Surrounded by blankets, they were playing in a large washtub. Their hair and faces looked freshly washed, only neither wore their ribbons. Shock filled him. How was he going to tell them apart? “Miss Rodgers, what happened to the girls’ hair ribbons?” He knew the question came out tight and sounding angry, but he couldn’t stop the feelings of confusion and fear coursing through him.
Ruby and Rose squealed with happiness at the sound of his voice. They scrambled to pull themselves up on the side of the tub. He knelt and gave them both hugs. They smelled of soft, clean powder.
“Oh, they were horrible, so I threw them out.” She pulled a covered plate from the back of the stove