She dragged the rope cot from under the larger bed—a cloud of dust rising white to the shanty's rafters and settling like a soft mist upon the student.
"I air goin' to sleep here," explained Tess with no mention of the lately exposed dirt. "I only slep' in Daddy's bed cause he wasn't here.... Ye go to bed while I gets the sticks fer the mornin'."
Frederick placed his hand on her arm almost timidly. She was so different from any girl he had ever known!
"Please allow me to get the wood for you."
Two rows of white teeth bared themselves in a frank smile.
"I's a squatter," she said, "and squatter women allers gets the wood. Scoot to bed."
When Tessibel came in from the mud cellar, Frederick lay with his face toward the wall, Orn Skinner's soiled blankets wrapped closely about his shoulders. Tessibel placed the leather strap over the staple in the door, and barred up for the night.