Part 7 (2/2)
''We'll git you a real drink e reach the brook” This time he picked up her sack as well as his own, and they started down the road
She esture to return his hat ''No, you keep it,” he said ”I' silently for about a half-hour before they came to the brook They left the road and joyously washed their faces and drank their fill
”That there's good water,” he said
She sot to keep movin',” he said
”I'm ready,” she said
He led the way back to the road just as a on came around ft-oe of the narrow road to let it pass She halted behind hi man, his face half hidden by his wide-brimmed ling loosely froers ”Git a move on, there!” he called to the reluctant anied his pace, but just kept plodding along The young on drew opposite to where they were standing, and the young on at them ”You kids want a ride into town?”
Molly Ann put a restraining hand on her brother's arrily, he shook her hand away Duirl Didn't she know she was in no condition toman ”We suah do, mistuh,” he said
'Pleased to irl From what he could see of her face, hidden by the wide-brimmed hat that was obviously her brother's, she was very pretty ''Been walkin' fur?”
Daniel nodded '”Bout fifteen oin'''
”How fur you goin'?”
”FitchvUle”
Jiain ”That's where I'm headin' too Visitin'?”
Daniel shook his head ”No We're goin' to work/'
”You got jobs already?”
”Not yet But Mr Fitch tol' my paould see to it”
”Fer both of you?”
”Yes”
Jimmy fell silent The old bastard had the country by the balls There wasn't anything that went into or caers into, even people But there was no way the son of a bitch could lose with a whole town nalanced into the wagon He recognized the jugs, even though they were covered by old sugar bags He turned back to the road It was none of his business
Jiainst her brother, her body swaying gently with the rolhng wagon, her eyes closed She see ”If'n your sister is tired,” he said, ”we kin fix up a place in the wagon fer her to lie down”
Molly Ann straightened up ”I don' want to be no trouble,” she said quickly
He stopped the irl” He clis to the side Quickly he ed a small cover over part of the pallet to shi+eld her fio up 'Slep' there ht' He held out a hand to her
Molly Ann looked at her brother for approval He nodded She took Jimmy's hand and stepped back across the seat She looked up into his face ''You're very kin', Mr Sirinned ''Jimmy Ever'body calls me Jinmiy''
”Jimmy,” she said
Suddenly he beca her hand He dropped it ”Make yerse'f comfortable,” he said aardly
She felt her heart beating wildly inside her breast and a flush beginning to rise into her face She didn't trust herself to speak She must have taken more sun than she realized She only nodded
He clilance over his shoulder confir down He snapped the reins ”Giddap, danged critter!” he swore, in a voice that was alirl
Molly Ann awakened suddenly, feeling the evening chill in the air As she started to sit up, she became aware that she had been covered with a coarse blanket She pushed it down and drew a deep breath She was better now
She turned and saw her brother and the young ainst the evening sky Idly she wondered how long she had slept The young ain she felt a warmth in her face He was nice
”You're awake?” Daniel had heard her
”Yes”
Jimmy turned toward her ”Want to come up here?”
She nodded He stopped the ain she felt her heart begin to beat wildly In confusion, she let it go 'How fur we have to go?”
” 'Nother couple hours,” Jiit this critter to move He's the lazies' mule in the county”
She looked at Daniel ''It'll be late e git there What if Mr Fitch's store is closed?”
”We'll git him in the momin', then,” Daniel replied, 'Got a place to stay?” Jimmy asked ''Any kinfolk?”
”No,” Daniel answered
”I kin fix you up at my place,” Jimmy said ”The Widdy Carroll runs a fine boardin'house”
They looked at each other hesitantly
”She won' charge you nothin' fer the night,” Jiuests”
”We kin pay,” Daniel said as quickly ”We got it to work as soon as we could”
”Where you goin' to work?” Jiain Molly Ann looked at her brother ”We don' rightly know,” Daniel admitted ”He jes' tol' our paw fer us to come down an' he would take care ofit”
”Fitch didn' say what kin' o' work you'd be doin'?”
”Nope Jes' said we'd git good money Four, mebbe five dollars a week”