Part 11 (1/2)

”Why,” Harky hoped he appeared innocent, ”is it in there, Pa?”

”Git it out!”

Harky drew his first easy breath since Old Brindle's escape. If Mun had forgotten why he'd confiscated Harky's shotgun, he'd forgotten about school. The ordeal was over, at least for this year, and Harky was free to concentrate on important matters. For the immediate future, the only matter of importance consisted of wis.h.i.+ng it was night so they could go c.o.o.n hunting.

Evening finally arrived, and, with Queenie and Thunder at their respective heels, Raw Stanfield and b.u.t.t Johnson arrived with it. The older hounds sneered in their own fas.h.i.+on at Duckfoot, who enthusiastically sneered right back, and curled up on the porch.

None of the men, as yet, knew that Mellie was sending his daughter to subst.i.tute for him. When Queenie, Thunder, and Duckfoot set up a desultory baying, all thought that Mellie would join them shortly. To do so he would follow prescribed etiquette of the Creeping Hills, which involved opening the door and walking in.

When Mellie did not enter, but someone knocked, the four hunters first looked astounded. Then they looked at each other. It was Harky who decided that one way to find out who was knocking would be to go open the door. His astounded bellow made Queenie cringe and sent Thunder slinking from the porch.

”What in tunket do you want?”

”h.e.l.lo, Harold,” Melinda trilled.

She was dressed in the boy's trousers she always wore except when she went to school, a boy's s.h.i.+rt which immediately gave the lie to the theory that girls can't wear boys' clothing and look like girls, and a denim jacket. Her feet were encased in an old pair of shoes, and a boy's hat was pushed back on her saucy black curls. Without a second glance for Harky, she walked past him into the kitchen.

”Pa's been mule-kicked and can't come,” she announced. ”I brought Glory.”

”Right kind of ya,” said Mun. ”We'll take good care of her an' see that she gits back.”

[Ill.u.s.tration]

”Oh, I'll take her back myself,” Melinda said. ”Pa will expect it.”

”Nice of ya to offer,” said Mun. ”But Harky an' me, we sort of batch it here. The house ain't rightly fixed fer a girl to stay in an' we may be gone all night.”

”Don't you worry about that, Mr. Mundee,” Melinda rea.s.sured him. ”I'm going hunting with you.”

Harky gagged. Melinda turned to face him.

”You sound as though you've been eating green apples, Harold,” she said sweetly. ”Have you?”

”Why'n'choo go home?”

”Harky!” Mun roared, but not very loudly, ”mind your tongue!”

”Thank you, Mr. Mundee,” Melinda said, with the barest hint of a sob in her young voice. ”You do want me along, don't you?”

”Well uh--” Mun stammered and appealed to Raw Stanfield. ”We do want her along, don't we?”

”Well uh--” Raw aped Mun and looked at b.u.t.t Johnson.

b.u.t.t stuttered, ”Why--why--why--” and fixed his gaze on Harky.

”There!” Melinda said triumphantly. ”The other three want me! Now what do you say?”

”Hope ya fall in the mud!”