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from the
ranch to town,” Bat said. “I never was cut out to live in town. It
just isn't in my nature, and God Bless them, but sometimes, my
daughters drive me crazy.”
    “I thought as much,” Billie said
knowingly as she cut the vanilla creme pie on the end of the table.
She dished up two slices and handed Bat his. “So how is the
house?”
    “That reminds
me, there's somethin' I need to ask ya. Ya know any women in town I
can pay to go out and give the house a good cleanin'? The whole
place needs dustin', airin', windows washed and whatever else makes
it look presentable. Between the layers of dust and a whole slew of
mice and spiders, the house is in a real mess.
    Hannah thought an awful lot of her
house. She'd turn over in her grave if she was to know what shape
the place is in now.”
    Billie looked woefully at her
brother. “I think I know how you feel. I miss Hannah, too. You have
a lot of good memories from living in that house with
Hannah.
    Trouble is that's competition for
any other woman as sure as if Hannah was still alive. She might as
well be living with you and your second wife.
    It wouldn't at all do to bring a
new bride into Hannah's house with her ghost still present,” Billie
said seriously. “No woman would stand for that, and I wouldn't
blame her one bit.”
    “What ghost? I don't believe in
such things, and I don't think ya do, either,” Bat
scoffed.
    “Hannah staring down at a woman,
who is very fond of you, from above the fireplace would be a very
uncomfortable feeling,” Billie declared. “Hannah's drawers are
still full of her clothes. Her personal items all over the place is
another thing. Looks like Hannah is still yet living in the house
and might just pop out any time.
    The drawers need to be cleaned
out, and Hannah's personal things need to be gotten rid of before
any other woman goes in that house,” Billie declared.
    “I reckon that is right. I
couldn't bear to clean out Hannah's things so I just walked away. I
left the house like it was and moved in with the girls,” Bat
admitted with a tinge of sadness.
    “When you going back to the
ranch?” Billie asked.
    “Tomorrow. I want to ride the
north fence to repair where it needs fixin' now that winter is
over,” Bat said. “The cowhands have the cows and spring calves in
that area, brandin' the calves. The herd will be there all summer
so I want the fence in good order.”
    “I'll tell you what. Come by here.
I'll be ready to ride along with you in my buggy. I'll take
cleaning supplies to straighten up the house. When you get ready to
leave the ranch tomorrow afternoon, you can escort me back to
town.”
    “Oh, Sis, I didn't mean for ya to
take on the job. That's too much to ask of ya. Ya really don't know
how dirty the house is,” Bat declared.
    “First of all, I
can imagine how bad the house is after two years of neglect.
Second, you didn't ask. I volunteered. Besides, it will be easier
on you if it's me going through Hannah's things rather than snoopy
women.
    If you don't mind, I think Ellen
Withman, on the old Fry place, could use some different clothes.
She's about Hannah's size.
    Heaven knows, she has a hard lot.
Ellen has a mess of younguns. As hard a worker as Lim Withman, that
hardscrabble ranch just barely seems to keep ahead of the bills.
Lim never has any money left over.
    That poor woman has nothing decent
to wear. What do you think of that idea?”
    “That would be fine. Hannah always
felt sorry for people that were down and out. I think she'd approve
of the notion of Mrs. Withman gettin' some good out her clothes,”
Bat said. “Sis, I'm much obliged for ya helpin' me out until you're
better paid.”
    “Nonsense, that is what a sister
is for to help her brother when you need her,” Billie said. “Now
eat that piece of pie so we can see if we have room to hold another
piece. It's not often I make you a pie.”
    Bat took Billie's advice to heart.
With a keen eye out for the right woman to be his second