A Perfect Mistress by Barbara Mack

her children. They’re a blessing to my sister, though – when her husband died last year, Robert and Becca were her salvation. Someone to focus on besides herself, you know. Her other two boys are grown and gone, and she needs these two right now. She’s had a hard road to hoe since Jimmy die d, but you never he ar her complain. She says it’s just what has to be done, and there’s no sense in crying over it. She takes in washing and Robert here hires out to the stables down the street. “
    “It’s a good job.” Robert ducked his head when Sophie looked at him. “Mr. Johnson pays me well. He says I’m a good worker. He asks after Ma all the time, and he’s always sending something home with me. Last week, he gave me a big bundle of clothes to give to her. I think he’s sweet on her , but she’s always telling me not to be silly, he’s just a nice man. “
    Nancy Ferguson smiled. “Isn’t Mr. Johnson a widower?”
    Robert nodded vigorously. “His wife died the year before Pa did. She’d been sickly for a long time.”
    “That’s interesting news. We’ll have to see if we can do something about that, Robert.” She stood up and stretched. “But now I think it’s time for bed. Tomorrow is going to come awfully early, and Sophie’s still tired out. She can barely keep her eyes open.”
    It was true; Sophie was tired. She smiled sleepily.
    “Where are we to sleep?” she asked. Earlier, Bonita had shown her around proudly, and Sophie noticed that the house consisted of two bedrooms, a kitchen, and this sitting room. “I don’t want to take anyone’s bed. I could sleep on a pallet in here.”
    “No, no,” said the two in a chorus.
    “I’ll sleep on the pallet, Miss,” Robert said. “Ma and B ecca will sleep together, and Aunt Nancy and you can share the other room. I sleep in here all the time when Aunt Nancy comes to visit. I don’t mind a bit. ”
    “Come,” Mrs. Ferguson said, drawing her up firmly. “You need your rest, and I suspect Bonita has fallen asleep with Becca already. I keep some clothing here, and I’m sure I’ve got something for you to sleep in.”
    Sophie let herself be drawn away , protesting no further . Mrs. Ferguson undressed her as if she were a child and put a nightgown over her head that could have easily enclosed two more of her. She tucked her into bed and in moments, Sophie was sleeping peacefully with the warmth of the other woman beside her.
    ********
    Sophie woke with a cry of fear, sitting straight up in the bed and looking around in panic. It took her a moment to realize that she was safe in Bonita’s house, and that Delia hadn’t managed to sell her after all. She swung her legs over the side of the bed, putting her head between her knees and gasping for breath.
    When she finally managed to calm herself, she stood up shakily, holding onto the bedpost with one hand. She smiled when she saw her clothing laid out on the shabby armchair; Mrs. Ferguson had cleaned and pressed them. She wouldn’t have to spend the day in clothing too big for her, or wear her wrinkled garb. She washed herself as best she could with the basin of water left for her and hurriedly dressed.
    Jackson was coming today, and from the look of the light pouring through the windows, he would be coming soon. She’d slept half the day away.
    When she left the bed room, Mrs. Ferguson and her sister turned from their ironing to smile identical smiles at her.
    “Well now, you’re finally awake,” Bonita said heartily. “I thought we were going to have to go and pull you from your bed before your fella gets here, but you’ve got time to eat a quick bite before he comes, I think.”
    She hustled Sophie into the kitchen with Mrs. Ferguson and Becca trailing behind, talking nonstop as she put a plate of eggs and biscuits in front of her. Sophie protested she couldn’t eat the whole plate, but when she took the first bite, it tasted like ambrosia. Before she knew it, all the food was gone and