Page 8 of The Ranger

Grandma Sadie pointed to her right temple. “My list was here, but I guess my memory isn’t as good as it used to be. I must be getting old.”

Maida snorted. “You? Never.” She went to her grandmother and gave her a hug. At sixty-five, Grandma Sadie was still a stunning woman. Grandpa Harrison looked good for his age too. And he was older than her grandmother!

“I can go to town,” Maida offered.

“You can go next door,” Grandma said. “I’m sure Belle has some sugar. If she doesn’t, then borrow some from Susara.” She handed her a cup. “Now scoot.”

Maida smiled and left the kitchen. Having her great aunt next door was handy in a pinch, and Susara’s house was just across the barnyard. Logan, their foreman, was her husband, and they’d lived there before she was born.

“Aunt Belle?” Maida called as she walked through the front door. She headed for the kitchen. “Aunt Belle?”

“Hey, if it isn’t my favorite great niece.” Uncle Colin stood at the stove, stirring a pot. “What can I do for you?”

She held up the empty cup. “I need some sugar. Can I borrow some?”

“Sure, you know where it is.”

“Thanks, Uncle Colin.” She headed for the pantry. “Where’s Aunt Belle?”

“At the Kincaids’. She and Susara are cooking up some sort of dessert for tonight. A new recipe.”

She got her sugar, then joined him at the stove. “What sort of dessert?”

“I have no idea. but you’ll get to try it later. Now get that sugar back to your mother.”

She smiled. “I’ll see you for dessert then. Are we having it here?”

“Yes.” He smiled then peered into the pot.

“What are cooking?” she asked, curious.

He gave her a lop-sided smile. “My socks.” He dipped a spoon in and lifted one out.

Maida laughed. “You’re cooking your socks?”

“No, I’m washing them. They get cleaner this way.”

She laughed again then left the house. Uncle Colin was a prankster, but also smart, and came up with all kinds of fun ideas on how to do things. Washing socks in hot water wasn’t anything new, but a big washtub was usually involved, not a cookpot.

“I have the sugar,” she announced when she entered the kitchen.

“Good,” Mama said. “Hand it over.”

Maida gave her the cup, then surveyed the work being done. She saw a bowl of potatoes on the worktable and a paring knife. She picked up both, sat at the kitchen table and started peeling. “How many?”

Mama glanced her way. “It’s just us for dinner, but we’re going to Belle’s for dessert.”

“So, half a dozen?”

“That should be enough, don’t you think?” Grandma asked.

“You’d better peel about eight,” Mama suggested.

Maida got back to work. The families on the ranch loved to eat at each other’s homes for dessert, and sometimes dinner as well. It was fun, and everyone brought something they’d made for the meal.

She peeled the potatoes, put them in a pot of water, then put them on the stove. “Is that chicken I smell in the oven?” Maida asked.

“Yes,” Mama said. She turned to Grandma Sadie. “How many are you roasting?”