The Hand-Me-Down Family by Winnie Griggs Page A

doubt. Jack rubbed his chin as he stared unseeing out the window.
    How was it she always knew the right thing to say and do with the kids? Maybe Lanny hadn’t been so crazy after all in choosing her to be Annabeth’s stepmother. The woman sure seemed to have a knack for the job.
    And apparently that’s all Lanny had been looking for—more of a glorified nanny than a wife. Had sticking her down the hall in the guestroom been her idea or his?
    Not that it was any of his business. Or that it even mattered.
    Still, he’d give a pretty penny to know whether her embarrassment back there had been due to his finding out about the arrangement or from being faced with the proof of Lanny’s expectations.
    The muffled sound of Simon’s voice caught his attention.
    He opened the window, but before he could call out he saw what had caught the boy’s notice—a wagon leading a cloud of dust down the road was headed their way.
    â€œSomebody’s coming,” Jack said.
    He heard Callie step up behind him. “Do you think they’re coming here?”
    â€œOnly one way to find out.” He turned to the girls. “Looks like we might have visitors. What say we head outside to see who it is?”

Chapter Nine
    T he girls clattered down the stairs while he and Callie followed at a more sedate pace. As they stepped onto the porch, Jack sensed her nervousness. For the second time in as many minutes she tugged that ever-present bonnet forward. That telling betrayal of self-consciousness always surprised him. She certainly didn’t seem to lack gumption when it came to anything else.
    â€œWho is it?” she asked, interrupting his train of thought.
    He shaded his eyes, following her gaze to the approaching wagon. “It looks like Virgil and Ida Lee with their kids. You met Virgil yesterday when the stage arrived. He’s been taking care of this place since Lanny died.” Jack gave her a meaningful look. “These folks aren’t just good friends, they’re also the closest neighbors to this place.”
    â€œI know.”
    Now how would she know something like that?
    She must have read the question in his expression. “I told you, Julia’s letters were like chapters in a book, and the people of Sweetgum were the main characters.”
    That comment set Jack back on his heels. If Julia had beenso all-fired gabby, what had she written about him in those letters over the years? More to the point, did Callie know about that botched proposal?
    He pushed that uncomfortable thought aside as the wagon pulled to a stop. “Hi, Virgil, Ida Lee.”
    Virgil acknowledged the greeting with a nod. “Sorry if we’re intruding. As soon as Ida Lee saw your carriage go by she insisted we head out here to welcome you home, proper-like.” He gave Jack a just-between-us-men grin. “Not to mention she’s been dying to meet our visitor ever since I mentioned her arrival.”
    Ida Lee didn’t seem at all put out by her husband’s words. “Just wanted to extend a neighborly welcome,” she said calmly.
    Four kids scrambled down from the back of the wagon. Ida Lee made shooing motions. “You all go along and play with the other kids. Just stay out of the house.”
    Jack offered his hand to help Ida Lee down.
    â€œHi-dee, Jack.” Her expression softened. “I’m right sorry about Lanny and Nell. They were good people.”
    She patted his hand then smiled that broad, toothy smile he remembered from their childhood. “It’s been much too long since we saw you. Now that you’re back, I hope you plan to stick around for a while.”
    He accepted her quick hug. “I’m not figuring to go anywhere for the time being.”
    â€œGood.” She smoothed her skirts and turned to Callie. “And you must be Julia’s Callie. It’s good to finally meet you. Julia used to go on about what a sweet friend you