Her sweet baby was cooing from the crib in the room. Emma opened her eyes and breathed in. Smiling, she slipped out of bed and padded over. She lifted Ginny into her arms, and rocked her slowly. Her little girl was the light of her and Ben's life. It was now 1943, and Ginny was getting bigger every day.
They had been talking about building a house of their own, but eventually decided that they would stay at the house until their family grew. Jason and John Boy were living in France now, training harder than ever. In John Boy's last letter, he said that they hadn't actually fought any Germans yet.
Emma became more alert as she heard a car pull up. And it didn't sound like any the family used. She put Ginny back in the crib, pulled on her shoes, and rushed out of the shed. Out of the car stepped a plump, curly dark haired older woman, a blonde girl of about ten, and a younger boy of seven.
The woman smiled over at her. "Hello! I'm Rose Burton. John's cousin. I've come to stay a while with my grandchildren, and I hope that's fine."
Grandma was away visiting cousins, so Rose took her room for the time being. Jeffrey would share with Jim Bob, and Serena with Elizabeth and Erin. No one knew what to think of the two kids, as sometimes they were extremely happy, and other times reserved. Rose was the one everyone warmed up to, she was so kind and you just wanted to hug her.
Serena came to visit Emma, who was looking after John Curtis and Ginny as she wrote her oldest brothers letters. "Who you writin' to?"
Emma looked up and smiled. "John Boy and Jason. My oldest brothers." Ginny stirred in her crib, and John Curtis looked solemnly down at her from where he was keeping guard over his precious cousin. Emma's heart melted a little at the wholesome sight.
Serena kept silent for a moment before flashing a genuine smile. "It's nice to be here. Thank for talkin' to me!" She called before scampering out of the shed. Emma frowned a little. She and Ben didn't know why on earth the three relatives had chosen this time to stay. And why did they have to stay for so long?
Ben was working down at the mill when Jeffrey came running down. The little boy had been warned not to go near the men when they were working, and Ben couldn't help but smirk at the little boy's mischievous ways. It reminded him of his childhood self.
"Hey, Jeffrey." Ben hollered as he stopped the machine. John also glanced over from where he was writing figures at his desk. "What's up?"
"Not much." Jeffrey's little brown eyes floated about, taking in every tool and machine until Ben was sure that his brain was gonna burst. "I love it here."
John set his glasses down. "I'm glad you do, son, but I'd feel better if you stayed around the house. John Curtis even knows not to come down here unless it's an emergency. It's extremely dangerous for young kids to play down here."
Jeffrey opened his mouth and closed it. "Yes, sir." He said dejectedly before trailing away. Ben tilted his head and made a mental note to talk to Emma later on.