Chapter Two

Sidney turned her attention to the adults and smiled shyly. Buck turned to Rachel, "Are you sure she can handle this job?" He said, his voice dripping with annoyance.

Without giving Rachel a chance to respond, Sidney stood in front of the man, looking up into his face. "I assure you Mr. Cross, I am quite capable of handling your children."

Buck looked at his children then back at the petite girl in front of him and raised a mocking eyebrow, "We'll see." He said, then turned and walked back to the house, his children following him obediently leaving Sidney to seethe after them.

Rachel smiled as she witnessed the exchange between the two adults. Yes, she thought, she is just what this family needs. "Are you sure you want to stay?"

Sidney jumped, she had forgotten Rachel was there. Turning to face her new friend she smiled. "Yes, I'm sure. Does he always let them get away with things? I mean he didn't even reprimand them for frightening me."

Rachel nodded. "That's another thing." She began, "You're not only here to help raise the children, you're also here to help Buck be their father."

Sidney understood immediately. When Buck closed himself off from the world after Sarah's death, he also became detached from his children. It seemed to them that he was just the man who lived in their house.

"Now mind you, Buck may fight you tooth and nail about everything. But from what I've just seen, I'm sure you can stand your ground." Grabbing her elbow, Rachel led Sidney back to the house. "Come on, I'll introduce you to Mrs. Collins the housekeeper."

The musty smell of the room enveloped Sidney and she coughed quietly. The large motherly woman who had been introduced as Mrs. Collins turned to her with an apologetic smile. "Tis a wee bit foul in here, but we can change that once we open the windows and air out the room."

Sidney nodded and looked around the room that had been assigned to her. Located near the children's rooms, it was spacious. A four poster bed dominated the room, there was also a vanity, armoire, several chests of drawers and a desk. There were three big windows, two of which faced the front of the house and one of those had an attached bench, just perfect for gazing out at the stars or reading.

Mrs. Collins smiled as the young woman stared wide-eyed at her surroundings. She had taken to Sidney immediately. She knew this sprite of a girl would need a friend, especially in this house. "Tis somethin' to look at, isn't it? We also have an indoor privy downstairs."

"It is lavish Mrs. Collins. A more beautiful house I've never seen."

Mrs. Collins beamed brightly. "Why thank ye lass. I'll leave you to get settled in. I've cooked up a stew for dinner it should be ready in about a half an hour. Ye can come down to eat whenever you're ready. The children will do the same so don't worry about them."

Sidney's brow furrowed, "Doesn't the family eat together?"

The older woman shook her head sadly, "Not in the last four years I'm afraid."

"Well then it's way past time they started to again. I'll inform the children and Mr. Cross that they will be having dinner in a half hour in their dining room."

"Child, I don't think that's wise."

"I promised Rachel that I would change things here, the sooner I begin the sooner they will get used to them."

Mrs. Collins nodded, she sensed there would be no way to change this young girls mind. "Good luck." She muttered as she walked out of the room.

Sidney heard the comment and sighed. Turning her attention to unpacking she lifted a valise and placed it on the big bed. She couldn't believe her entire life's belongings could fit into three bags. As she began taking her clothes out of the bag, she felt as if she were being watched. Sid turned quickly and caught the flash of long black hair as the youngest of the children ducked back from the doorway.

Sidney smiled and turned back to her clothes. "I think I saw a monkey spying on me." She said loudly.

"I'm no monkey!" Was the insulted response.

Sidney turned back to the door to find Angel standing there with her hands on her hips and a scowl to match her father's on her face. "Well you're right. You certainly aren't a monkey." She put on her most penitent face, "Please forgive me."

Angel dropped her hands and stared at Sidney. "You talk funny, are you gonna be my new Mama?"

"No!"

Both Sid and Angel jumped and turned to the door. There stood Star flanked by her two brothers, staring at Sidney with angry eyes. "She's not going to be our Mama. We don't need no Mama, we're doing right fine without one. Why don't you just go back to wherever you came from and leave us be!" She growled.

Sidney looked at each of the children and cleared her throat. "Star is correct. I'm not here to be your mother, I was hired to help your father raise you, but I hope in time we can all be friends." Kneeling down in front of Angel, Sidney continued. "The reason I talk differently from all of you is because I'm from a different country, a place called England." She spoke to them tenderly and began to tell them about her homeland.

Buck listened from just outside the door, he had heard Star yelling and came up to find out what was going on. He had to admire the girl for the way she was handling his children, but he still didn't like the fact that she had been practically forced upon him by Rachel. After listening for a few minutes as she spoke of Big Ben and London he decided to make his entrance. "What's going on in here?" He said gruffly.

The four children jumped and Sidney rose to her feet and glared at him. "I was telling the children about London, they were curious."

"Well supper's ready."

"I didn't realize I had taken so long." Sidney said apologetically. "Alright children, go get washed up and wait for your father in the dining room." Five pairs of eyes stared at her as if she had grown another head. Sidney immediately felt as if se had to defend her statement. "It's what families do, they eat together."

The children all turned to their father for his reaction. Buck had promised Rachel he would give the girl some leeway in the raising of his children. "You heard Miss Bennet, go." The three older children left immediately to wash up. Angel stood behind and stared at her father in awe. "You really gonna eat with us daddy?"

Buck's eyes softened and he caressed the little girl's cheek softly. "Yes I am sweetheart."

The little girl's eyes sparkled. "Yippee!" She said as she ran out.

Buck turned to Sidney. "I don't usually eat with them." He explained to clarify what had just happened. "But I don't want them to question your authority so I will tonight."

"I'd like it if you did it every night and mornings too." Sidney answered. "It would be nice for the children."

Grumbling under his breath, Buck left her to go downstairs.

A few minutes later, Sidney gathered the children together and brought them to the dining room where their father waited. The children all sat around the large oak table quietly and eyed their father warily. Sidney also watched the gruff man as he slouched in his chair, a half empty bottle of whiskey in front of him. Well this is a start, she thought to herself, at least he's sitting with his children. The table was set immaculately and moments later Mrs. Collins came in pushing a cart with their dinner on it. As soon as the woman began serving the family, Sidney turned to leave.

"Where are you going?" Buck asked harshly.

She stopped and turned to face him wondering when this man would ever say anything kindly to her. "I was going to get something to eat."

"Where?"

"The kitchen."

"What's wrong with eating here?"

Sidney was taken by surprise, she had never been invited to sit at the table with the family members of the children she took care of. "It's not proper for the help to eat with the family."

"We're not much for being 'proper' here Sidney, if I'm to sit here and eat with my children then I expect you to do the same."

Sidney was about to tell him that calling her by her given name was also not proper, but allowed him that courtesy. "Very well." She sat beside Angel as Mrs. Collins set another place at the table.

Sidney watched as the children ate, making mental notes to herself about their manners and she also made one or two about Buck's as well.

After dinner, the kids were allowed some free time before bed and Buck retreated to what Sidney assumed was the study. Sidney helped Mrs. Collins clean up and the two women talked over coffee. A half hour later, Buck left the house and headed to town.

Hearing him leave, Sid looked at Mrs. Collins questioningly.

"He's going to town for a few hours."

"To get drunk?"

"Oh no, he hasn't gotten drunk in over three years. He drinks yes, but not to get drunk. He's going to one of the local 'houses'." When Sidney still looked puzzled, she continued. "He's been without a wife for a long time now, he's going to spend time with a woman tonight."

"Oh." Sidney blushed. "Does he do that a lot?"

"No, only when I agree to stay here and watch the children. But now that you're here I assume he won't be askin' me anymore."

"Well if he thinks I will sit idly by while he goes out whoring he's got another thing coming." Sidney said as she turned and walked towards the stairs. "Good night Mrs. Collins."

"Good night Sidney." Watching the two adults was going to be very interesting she thought.

On to Chapter Three

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