“Well, with a reward like that, how can I say no?”
They all laughed, and Susanna joined in.
Emilio took her hand. “You can sit by me, Miss Susanna.”
John was not to be outdone. “No, she can sit with me.”
“I have two sides,” Susanna told them. “I will sit in between you both. How’s that?”
The boys grinned. “Then we can both have you.”
“What about me?” Owen asked.
“Oh, you don’t need to sit with her,” John explained. “You and Papa can sit side by side. You’re friends, and we’re friends with Miss Susanna.”
“Aren’t I Miss Susanna’s friend?”
Susanna looked at Owen and noted his raised brow, as if questioning her on the matter. She smiled and gave a shrug. Owen only grinned.
“Right now, Miss Susanna is going to help me fry fish. So you boys go sit down and let us work. We’ll have this fixed upmuy rápido—very fast.”
Susanna watched as Lia used several spices to enhance the flavor of the fish but mainly kept it simple with salt and pepper. There weren’t that many filets to fry, so the cooking went quickly.
“Susanna, do you see that crock over there?”
She glanced the direction Lia pointed. “Yes, of course.”
“It has tortillas. Would you bring it and that jar of salsa beside it? LeRoy likes to eat his fish like that. You might like it as well. It’s not too spicy.”
Susanna laughed. “I’ve already learned that when a Mexican says it’s not too spicy, I’d better be ready for fire. Your idea of not being too spicy is different from mine.”
“Then I will bring some cold milk for you to drink. It helps to cut the burn.” Lia flipped the last of the fish onto a plate. “You’ll see.”
They sat down to the late snack, and Susanna couldn’t remember when she’d had such a pleasant time. The fish was delicious, and putting it in the tortillas with salsa was a perfect way to eat it. She was grateful for the milk, because as she’d suspected, the salsa was a bit spicier than she was used to. Owen laughed at her as she fanned her tongue, and Emilio and John mimicked her several times before the meal was complete.
“I know two little boys who need to get washed up and put to bed,” Lia declared as soon as the children finished their food.
Susanna could see they were starting to droop. Sitting still to eat had brought out all the exhaustion in them.
“I’ll wash your dishes.” Susanna got up and began gathering the plates. “And you can wash your boys.”
“I’ll dry,” Owen offered, then added with a grin, “The dishes, not the boys.”
“That lets me off the hook altogether,” LeRoy said, sounding quite pleased with himself.
“Oh no.” Lia shook her head. “I’ll wash and you can dry boys.”
He laughed and got to his feet, grabbing first John and then Emilio. “Let’s just throw them in the river and then put them to bed.”
“No, Papa,” they squealed, suddenly finding energy again to resist.
LeRoy laughed and carted them off to another room while Susanna grabbed the last of the dishes and headed to the kitchen.
Owen already had the hot water from the stove’s reservoir ready and was filling the dishpan with soft soap.
“I thought I was going to wash and you dry,” Susanna said.
“You are. I just was getting things ready for you.” He stepped aside and grabbed a dish towel. “I don’t know about you, but I’m beat and ready to hit the hay.”
