The Hand-Me-Down Family by Winnie Griggs

your tone when you are in my home.”
    Apparently it didn’t matter how old Jack was—he would always be a recalcitrant schoolboy to Mrs. Mayweather. Callie carefully swallowed a grin.
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    Jack mumbled an apology, chafing under Mrs. Mayweather’s obvious censure.
    He wasn’t sure what was wrong with him today. One minute he was breaking out in a cold sweat at the thought of taking sole responsibility for the three kids, and the next he was ready to fight to the death against anyone who’d dare try to take that privilege from him.
    Mrs. Mayweather smoothed her skirts and gave them both equally stern looks. “Now, you’ve had a long day, both physically and emotionally. This is probably not the best time for you to make any major decisions.”
    Callie nodded. “I agree. It would be best if we spent a little more time seeking guidance in this matter.”
    Jack bit back a retort. There she went with that “seeking guidance” talk again. Didn’t the woman know how to make a decision on her own? Or did she think her delaying tactics would give her some sort of advantage in their tug-of-war?
    Mrs. Mayweather, however, didn’t give him an opportunity to voice his objections. “Quite sensible. I insist the children stay here with me another night or two, while you two get everything worked out. It would be criminal to uproot them again before there is some certainty as to where they will live and with whom.” She looked from Callie to Jack. “Are we agreed?”
    â€œYes, ma’am.” Callie’s response was quick and confident.
    No surprise there. It was exactly what she wanted—time to build her case. But he couldn’t come up with an argument that didn’t sound petty, so, under Mrs. Mayweather’s stern gaze, he had no choice but to follow suit. “Yes, ma’am.”
    â€œVery well. Jackson, you are welcome to stay for supper. The more time you and Callista spend in the children’s company, the better for everyone. Afterward, I suggest you spend the night at the farm. It will relieve Virgil of the responsibility of taking care of the chores in the morning. You may use my horse and buggy to get there.”
    She rose as if the matter were settled. Which he supposed it was.
    His brother’s widow stood uncertainly. “I suppose I should get a room at the hotel.”
    Mrs. Mayweather frowned. “Nonsense. You’ll stay here with me and the children.”
    She held up a hand, halting any protest Callie might make.“This is no time to stand on ceremony. Your presence has already made such a difference to Annabeth. She’s spoken more in these past few minutes than she has the last four days.”
    Jack frowned at this point in Callie’s favor in their battle for guardianship of the children.
    â€œBesides,” Mrs. Mayweather continued, “you can help me with some of the extra chores that have resulted from the presence of the children.”
    That seemed to seal the deal for Callie. “Of course. Thank you.”
    There was a feeling of feminine conspiracy to this. Not that the arrangement didn’t make sense from a strictly logistical standpoint. The only problem was, it let his sister-in-law have free rein with the kids while he was exiled to the farm. Which gave her a leg up in winning the children’s favor.
    He’d have to find a way to level the field.
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    Callie had mixed emotions that evening as she watched Jack walk out Mrs. Mayweather’s kitchen door.
    Just as when he’d started to walk away from her beside the stagecoach this afternoon, she felt as if a lifeline was slipping away from her, leaving her stranded in unfamiliar territory.
    Strange. As stubborn as the man was, she felt they’d formed a connection of sorts. After all, when he wasn’t being so pig-headedly combative over the matter of the children, he was actually nice. And even in that matter,