So far, Miranda Jessup Buckley has been raising the son of her ex-lover, Dougie. After he disappeared without a trace, she filed for temporary custody and stepped into the role of mother. Now, Dougie has returned, and she is afraid he is back to take the boy away.

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I get to work a few minutes early and peek through the front window of the store to find Matt and his two kids standing by the counter. My gut tells me to run, it looks like he's waiting. He's standing there, looking around, checking his watch and pausing every few minutes to say something to one of his kids. They're cute but just from watching for a few seconds, I can tell they are a handful.

I walk in and Matt's face splits into a thankful smile. "Miranda, I was afraid you were going to call out. I kind of need a favor."

"Let me guess. You need me to watch your kids for you. Something's come up and you can't take them with you."

"I need to run some reports back in the office. I was going to see if you could just hang out with them. Just for an hour or so."

"I can't baby sit and watch the counter, Matt."

"No, Rita said she would man the store while you took them for a walk or to the park. Just for an hour. Please, Miranda."

I grimace and cast a dubious look at his offspring. "Why can't Rita do it?" I ask.

Matt takes a step closer. "They would eat her alive. These two, they need your special touch, Miranda."

"You want me to scare them straight? Let's make sure I'm clear on this assignment. Blink once if that's what you're saying."

Matt looks at the children the blinks once.

I clock in and turn to the kids. "Okay, children. Auntie Miranda is now in charge. Follow me."

They stare up at me and I see the boy smirk as I walk by. I get to the front door and when I turn around, neither of them are following me. I march back and peer down at them. "Did I stutter?"

"I don't know you. I don't have to go with you," the boy says.

"Oh, you're going with me. You can either walk out on your own accord or I can hold your hand. How old are you? Six?"

"Eight," he says, indignantly. "She's six."

"She's acting older than you right now," I say. I figure if I divide them, make them try to out do each other for my favor, I'll have an easier time. "Are you sure you're only six," I say, ignoring the boy and focusing my admiration on the little girl.

"I'll be seven soon," she says, nodding her head.

"You certainly are mature for six. Do you two have another brother or sister?"

"No." She shakes her head. "It's just Daddy, Mommy and me and Randy."

"Are you sure? I could have sworn that your daddy was telling me about a little boy and girl who acted like little babies. Since, you act so mature, and I'm sure Randy doesn't act like a little twerp, who could he be talking about? Whoever it was, they threw someone's shoes in the fireplace, were jumping on the furniture. But, maybe he was talking about someone else's kids. I'm just glad I'm not having to watch those kids. I'd probably beat their tails. Sounds like they need that."

The little girl glances at her brother. She's starting to put things together. She can either act like a civilized person or she can risk being called a baby.

"Shall we go for a walk?" I ask.

"Where?" the boy, Randy, asks. "I don't like to walk."

"Most small children don't," I muse. "Does your daddy have a stroller in the back of his car? I could push you."

He frowns. His whole face is dark and unpleasant. "I'm not a baby. Quit saying that!"

I stoop and look him in the eye. "Then stop acting like a spoiled little jerk. Follow me."

I take them over to the vacant building on the lot next door. I watch as both of them try to read the graffiti that's been spray painted in random spots on the walls.

"What is this place?" Randy asks, bending down to pick up a rock. He is staring at the dirty plate glass window with more than mild interest.

"You break that window and you'll wake up Earl the cook. He doesn't like to have his nap interrupted." I put my finger to my lips.

"No body's here," Randy says.

I smile. "Throw that rock and find out," I say. "But, I'm gonna warn you, I'm not gonna stick around to save you. My butt is gonna be back in the Little Eagle safe and sound. You and your sister, y'all are on your own." I back up, looking around the side of the building. "If you want to hear a story, I'll tell you one."

I watch as Randy tosses the rock away. "A baby story or something scary?"

"Oh, it's scary." I say. I level my gaze at them both. "Can you handle a scary story?"

Both nod.

"Earl ran this place for years. He wasn't the cleanest man. Very rarely took a bath, never washed his hands. But, his burgers were delicious. People came for miles around to eat a burger that Earl made. One day, a health inspector showed up. Earl showed him around and started fixing him a burger. The health inspector watched as Earl started forming the hamburger pattie never once stopping to wash his hands. He wrote a very bad report, causing Earl to have to shut the restaurant down."

"Why didn't he wash his hands?" Randy asked.

I shrug. "Said he didn't like being told what to do. Never did it when his daddy asked him to, never really listened to his parents at all. Earl started out as a bratty kid and never learned to grow out of it. But, now, he waits in this old creepy building for bad kids to come around."

Randy looks up at me nervously. "What does he do with them, the bad kids, I mean?"

I know I'll probably go to hell for this, but I can't help myself. I look at the two wide eyed children and I whisper, "He grinds them up and makes hamburgers." I wait for the shock of what I've just told them to take full effect, then as cheerfully as I can, I say, "Ready to go back to the Little Eagle?"

They both take my hands and we walk back across the parking lot to where their father waits.

He looks at me and smiles slightly confused as the two walk hand and hand with me. "This was fun. Maybe y'all can come back again sometime."

Both look over their shoulder, back towards the abandoned burger joint. "Daddy, can we go home now?"

"Sure," Matt says.

As I step around him, I whisper in his ear. "If they start to act up, just say the name Earl."

"Earl?" he repeats, causing both Randy and his sister to clutch at him.

"You're welcome."

I'm sure Matt didn't want me to scare the hell out of his kids, but he wanted results. And, by golly, he got them.