Page 70 of Unforgiven

“Anytime, Aunt Tab.”

Returning to her side, Petey watched Tabitha mix the cookie dough and then place spoonfuls of it in neat rows on the cookie sheet. When she was done, he chirped, “Now they go into the oven?”

“Jah. Now they go in.” Tapping his nose softly, she added, “And when they come out, you may have a cookie.”

“Are you going to be giving the policemen cookies too?”

“I am.”

“I don’t know why they’re walking around your yard again,” Anson said. “Deputy Ernst told Jack and me that they’d combed the perimeter before we arrived.”

“What does that mean?” Petey asked.

“It means they looked around,” Anson told him before Tabitha could get in a word.

Petey scowled. “Daed says he don’t trust the police.”

Tabitha inwardly sighed. Of course her brother-in-law had to share an opinion. “These two are with the sheriff’s department, dear. I’m sure he trusts them.”

Anson shared a smirk with Jack, who’d just joined them in the kitchen.

“Well, they sure didn’t look too happy walking around the yard,” Petey said.

“I don’t suppose they were.” She wasn’t happy either. Actually, she was wavering between nervous, scared to death, and confused by the company. She supposed the Lord had a reason for bringing all of them together at the same time, but she couldn’t deny that she was finding it stressful. She was ready for everyone to go home.

“Did you do something bad, Aunt Tabby?” Petey asked.

“Nee.”

“Are you sure?”

“Petey, you’re being a pain,” Jack called out. “Stop pestering Aunt Tabby.”

Mary joined them. “Jack, be nice to your younger brothers.”

Hurt flared in Jack’s eyes. “Mamm, Petey is asking Aunt Tab all about the sheriff being here and if she was being bad and all this after he wouldn’t shut up about needing chocolate chips in his cookies. You wouldn’t have let me get away with any of that.”

She frowned. “Is this true, Peter?”

“Kind of,” Petey said in a soft voice.

Mary popped her hands on her hips. “Kind of?”

“Jah, it’s true.”

Mary sighed. “I’m sorry, Tabitha. Peter, go sit on the couch with John.”

The boy’s lip went out, but for once he didn’t argue. He went to sit on the couch.

“Can I go see what the police and Daed are doing?” Jack asked.

Mary glanced toward the front door. “I suppose. Take Anson with you. But stay near the door in case they need you to keep out of their way.”

“Fine.”

Seconds later, the kitchen was quiet again. Tabitha walked to the sink to wash her hands and collect herself.

Melonie joined her and Mary in the kitchen. “Your boys make me smile, Mary.”

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