Whatever it Takes (a Texas Heat Book)

“I’m hungry Sissy.”
“I know you are baby. Just let me change clothes and I’ll fix you something.”
“But I’m hungry now.” And the tears began, the gulping and those crocodile tears broke her heart each and every time they fell. “You were gone all day.”
Pushing her hair back from her face, she walked in the kitchen and sat the bag of groceries down on the countertop, took a deep breath and knelt down and picked up her little sister, “Shh sweetie, I’m here now.” She reached into the bag and pulled out a small package of cookies. “Look what I got you.”
Sniffling and rubbing her hand under her nose the little girl said, “For me, really?”
“Yes, for you baby.” She opened the bag and pulled out two vanilla wafers and said, “Yes just for you, and there are two of them, one for each hand.” Sitting her down in the chair she continued, “You sit here like a big girl and eat your cookies and I’ll get you a glass of milk.”
“We don’t have any milk.” And once again the tears began to flow.
Reaching back in the bag she pulled out a half gallon of milk, “Yes we do.”
“But where’d you get the money?”
“You don’t worry about that.” She poured a glass of milk and sat it down in front of the little girl. “Now don’t cry sweetheart, remember big girls don’t cry.”
The back door flung open and the two older kids ran in yelling, “Tommy hit me.”
“She hit me first.” He yelled as they began to run around the table.
She grabbed her little brother, “Stop it, both of you right this minute. Now go in the bathroom and wash your hands and face dinners almost ready.
“What are we having?” Tommy stopped immediately at the mention of food.
“Meatloaf, mashed potatoes and carrots.”
“Yay, my favorite.” He said as he ran for the bathroom. She laughed in spite of everything. Food of any kind is her little brothers favorite.
Hands and faces inspected the kids were sitting at the table as she served their plates. “Wow did you rob a bank or something?”
“No Jenny I did not rob a bank?”
Talking with her mouth full of food she said, “Well this food is great. But where’d you get the money?”
She knew they wouldn’t stop asking till she gave them an answer. “Well if you must know I got a job.”
“Really. Does that mean we’re going to stay here?” Tommy asked.
She didn’t want to lie and get their hopes up but she was so tired of running. Having to grab what she could and move on. The four of them had been on the run now for a year, and she was bone weary tired. But she would keep moving and running to keep them safe, she’d do whatever it took to protect them.