“If Rafe’s going to be so mean,” he said, “he ought to be put out. Go ahead and peel the potatoes and onions, Rafe.”
“Sha’n’t. That’s girl’s work,” growled Rafe.
“Oh! If you’ve got a knife I’ll peel them,” said Tess. “I don’t mind.”
“All right,” Rowdy said. “Give her the knife, Rafe. Put over the pot with some snow in it. The little girl can feed that till there is a lot of water ready. We’ll want some for tea.”
“Don’t want tea,” growled Rafe. “I want coffee.”
“Oh, stop that, Rafe, or I’ll slap you good!” promised Rowdy, his vexation finally boiling over. “I never saw such a boy. Come on here, Sammy. Hold this rabbit by the hind legs and I’ll skin it in a jiffy.”
With the help of a knife to start the rabbit’s hide, Rowdy “plucked” the bunny very handily. It was drawn and cleaned, too, and soon Rowdy was disjointing it as one would a chicken, using a flat stone for a butcher block.
“It—it looks so much like a kitten,” murmured Tess. “Do you suppose it is really good to eat?”
“You wait till you taste it,” chuckled Rowdy, who seemed to be a very practical boy indeed. “I’m going to make dumplings with it, too. I have flour and lard. We’ll have a fine supper by and by. Then Rafe will feel better.”
Rafe merely coughed and grunted. He seemed determined not to be friendly, or even pleasant.