The old man gave her a wry grin. "I ain't much for helping, and that's the truth of it," he admitted. "I'd be right willing to play the fiddle, however, and brighten your day." His smile could have lit up their old, dark cave. And Esme understood, not for the first time, what her hardworking practical mother had seen in the "laziest man in Vader, Tennessee."
"Yes, Pa," she said quietly. "Play me a lively tune."
In minutes he began the cheerful tune to "Old Rosin the Bow." Esme's foot began a rhythmic tap as she quartered the dough and rounded it into the pans.
The twins scampered in from the sewing room with a lively step and clap as they sang.
"I've always beencheerful and easy.
And scarce have I heeded a foe,
While some after money run crazy,
I merrily Rosin'd the Bow."
At least tenverses later and lots of clapping and laughter, all of them were still going strong when the kitchen door was jerked open abruptly.
"Lord have mercy!" Eula Rhy cried as she took in the scene around her. "What in the name of heaven are you doing making such a ruckus in the middle of the morning?"
Yohan ceased playing and leaned his fiddle casually against his chest.
"Oh, Mother Rhy—" Esme began, shamed at her own thoughtlessness.
"You sick?" Yo interrupted her.
"Of course I am sick!" Eula Rhy was clearly furious. "I have a serious nervous condition."
Yo nodded. "Yep, I heard that." Gazing rather calmly at his fiddle, his smile was deceptively innocent. "I've always heard that music has healing powers," he said.
"Not that kind of music," Eula disagreed huffily.
Yohan raised an eyebrow. "It got you out of that bed of yours for the first time in weeks."
Eula opened her mouth in fury, prepared to make an angry retort, when Esme waylaid her.
"Here, Mother Rhy, do sit down before you wear yourself out." Esme took the older woman's arm and helped her to a chair. "Can I get you something? Some spring water? A bit of buttermilk?"
"Tea!" Mrs. Rhy demanded haughtily.
"Of course," Esme answered and gave a quick warning look to the rest of her family as she hurried to put the kettle on.
"Pa," she said with a fine edge of authority. "Play Mother Rhy something a bit more soothing to the nerves."
Giving Eula a disapproving look, Yohan nevertheless began a soft sweet strain, and the twins sang the impromptu duet.
"In the skythe bright stars glittered.
On the grass the moonlight shone.
From an August evening party,
I was seeing Nelly home."
At first EulaRhy's face was stony, then the music slowly seeped into the old woman's veins. By the time Yohan had reached the third and final verse, Eula's contralto had joined the sweet soprano of the girls.
"You got a right fine singing voice, Miz Rhy," Yo complimented. "Do you know 'Old Oaken Bucket'?"
The singing continued as Esme fixed her mother-in-law's tea and resumed her work. She was just bringing in the sheets from the line when Eula Rhy suddenly stood up to help her.
