from page 62 and 63 of DEVIL MAKE A THIRD:

"It'll be funny to see everybody eatin' at once," Jeanie Bannon said, "and it'll be a project  to cook it all in one shift."

Buck pulled her away and on down the hall a few steps. He stopped before he opened the door and looked down at his mother. "This'n took a lot of buildin'. Biggest room in the house."

He pushed the door , then, and let her go into the kitchen ahead of him. She stopped just inside and her eyes roved slowly over the room, to the pantry, to the huge woodbox, and to the cupboards, still unpainted and enormous against the wall. She looked all around, once back at Buck, then quickly to the empty chimney flue.

"There's a big stove comin' tomorrow," Buck said, quickly, before she could ask. " with warmers and a hot-water reservoir." He watched her anxiously at first. Then with his mouth slowly curving in satisfaction, he said, "I figured you'd want your old benches and table in here for breakfast."

Her eyes crinkled at the corners and she nodded soberly. "Breakfast is best in the kitchen," she said. "Thank you, son."