It was taking us forever to cross the field.
When we finally got back to the buggy, Papa didn't say a thing about beating me or my hide. He hardly noticed us. Mama was there by the buggy, and they were looking at a big, double-barreled shotgun Miss Dink wanted Papa to fix.
Papa walked back to hook the chain on Miss Ophelia's rickety gate, and he and Mama talked on-about Miss Dink being sick in the bed again, and about Miss Ophelia claiming she hadn't seen Ward since Christmas Eve night, and about some gunshots way across the field. Papa was more worried about the shots than about Miss Dink.
"Nannie, it sounded like it was between here and Wes Bailey's house!"
"Quit worrying, Jodie. It was probably them three boys out shooting at tin cans. Boys like to practice."
"Maybe so, but let's get on home. These days I stay uneasy, 'specially every time I hear a gun go off."
Papa glanced down at me and Shoogie. "You girls hurry and climb up in the back of the buggy there so we can go. My, y'all both look like you've been running pigs in a briar patch!"
"No, suh, Mister Jodie. Me'n Bandershanks ain't see'd no pigs. No pigs a-tall!"
Mama was surprised to see Shoogie. And she was afraid we had both just about played our dresses to pieces.
Papa helped Mama up into the buggy, and she held Miss Dink's gun and the reins till he could climb in.