Hell With the Lid Blown Off Read Online Free PDF

inside with me, sugar. You can help me mix up the custard.”
    Alafair led her daughter into the house, through the newly mopped parlor and into the warm kitchen. “Sit down. I’ll fix you a plate and you can eat while I cook up the makings for the ice cream. The girls will be glad to know you’re back tonight. With you and Martha spending nights in town half the time, Grace wants to sleep with Blanche and not Sophronia and it’s a big flapdoodle every night at bedtime until Mama or Daddy goes in there and knocks some heads together.”
    Ruth laughed. “There are enough beds now that everybody could have her own.”
    â€œThat’d suit Blanche, but Grace will never have it.” She gave Ruth a knowing look as she set down a plate of cold chicken and potato salad and a big mug of milky coffee. “I admit I’m surprised to see you. I figured you’d spend the night in town. Did Miz Beckie do something to set your teeth on edge?”
    Ruth took a bite of drumstick. “Oh, no. Wallace showed up today, along with some college friend of his. Randal, his name is. I thought I’d make myself scarce tonight.”
    Alafair simply said, “Ah.” She was acquainted with Ruth’s opinion of Wallace MacKenzie the Third.
    â€œI’ll confess,” Ruth continued, “if it was left to me, Wallace would make up with his father in Muskogee and not come home to Miz Beckie’s at all. But Miz Beckie is so happy to see him again that I expect I can’t begrudge her.”
    Alafair busied herself with milk, sugar, and eggs for a moment. “If you feel uncomfortable in that house while Wallace and his friend are there, honey, maybe you’d better stay here until they leave. You know we’ll carry you into town so you can teach your lessons whenever you need to.”
    â€œOh, that’s not necessary, Mama. I’m sure Wallace doesn’t have the slightest interest in me. I’m too common for the great MacKenzies. But he can’t stand it that I don’t think he’s the finest young fellow in all Christendom. He’s so used to worship and praise that he’s downright insulted when he doesn’t get it. I talked a while to his friend Randal and liked him, though. He seemed like a gentleman. No, I’ll go back tomorrow, and it’ll be fine. I offered to make pork chops and dressing for supper tomorrow. Miz Beckie told me I could invite Trent Calder. She’s got it into her head that I’m partial to him. She is quite the matchmaker.” Ruth sounded amused.
    Alafair lowered her head so Ruth wouldn’t see her smile. She was inordinately pleased that Ruth liked Trenton Calder. She had always had a soft spot for the red-haired deputy, so serious and thoughtful. He had always been good to his mother, and in Alafair’s opinion that was a strong predictor of an excellent husband.
    And if any of her kids deserved an excellent husband, it was Ruth. Ruth was an affectionate girl. She had spent more of her childhood in someone’s lap than any two of the others together, and still was ready with a hug and a kiss. Circumstance had put Ruth in an oddly singular position, the middlest of middle children, the sixth of ten living. The eldest four were all girls, and made as nice a little group as may be. The youngest three were also girls, a tight gang of playmates. But Ruth was born between the two boys. Her mother’s knobby-kneed, long-limbed little tree-climber, with stubbed toes and scratches on her arms, who had loved to ride horses, and dance, and sing, and play the piano. Never lost among her horde of sisters and brothers, but always going her own way. Alafair smiled at the memory. When had she become this soft-voiced, elegant creature? They always grew up when you weren’t looking. If someone had threatened to drown her if she didn’t choose, she might, just might, say that of all her much-beloved children, Ruth