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She was pleased Wade was a quick study, but not surprised by his instinctive understanding of the relationship between the Calder clan and the people orked for them They really were an extended family and it was never more evident than around the holiday season

“Need soe of the Christ up a burlap robe for a boy as shorter than Jake

“You bet,” the other woh fabric The boy took a step away from her, but she shook her head “Not so fast, Eddy I have to baste the hem”

Jake leaned closer to Sloan “Baste? Isn’t that what Aunt Cat does to the turkey and ham?” Jake whispered with a hint of worry

Sloan fought back a s different And she said he Mrs Nevins is going to sew up the material so he doesn’t trip on it”

“Oh,” Jake said

Babette took a threaded needle from a fat, tomato-shaped pincushion on the floor next to her “Hold still,” she instructed Eddy, and got to work, sticking the pins into the pincushion as she removed them

A little girl in a flowing blue robe ca one hand in the folds of the same blue fabric that was draped over her head Sloan felt Jake’s grip tighten and glanced down Jake’s gaze was fixed on the girl’s face

“Hi, Becky,” he said

“Hello,” she replied demurely

“Do you want me to fasten that cloth for you?” Sloan asked her She’d seen a safety pin a with

“Yes, please” Becky let go as Sloan knelt down and safety-pinned the draped material carefully so it wouldn’t slip off Jake watched with interest Another little girl ca over her shoulders and fastened in front, clearly intended to be a sheep’s costuloves stood in for hooves and a black headband held sheep ears olden braids

“Who are you?” Sloan asked, aware that so with the actors to fill up the ie

“I’m Lizabeth,” she announced

“Oh What part do you play?” Sloan asked politely, even though the ansas fairly obvious