Doctor Peterson was a frosty looking old chap with black rimmed specs and a grey beard.
"You about ready to go back to town, Doc?" Robinson asked.
Peterson grinned.
"After I drink all the coffee in sight," he said. "And it looks like I have."
Mrs. Boody was with them in the kitchen. The house was quiet.
"I've got to get gas and oil. Guess I'll follow you in," Robinson said.
"Good. The boy's all right. I'll be out again tomorrow. Ready to go?"
Outside the snow had finally stopped falling. The early morning was clear, with a promise of a bright day to come. Robinson started his car and warmed it up. The Doctor said good night to Mrs. Boody and came out to climb into his Model T. Robinson backed out slowly and followed the car down the road toward Indian River.
It was just daylight. Robinson left the car a mile from Rosewood and entered the woods. He had taken his time in town, found an all-night gas station to refuel his car and parked it here just as the sun came up, coloring the frosty, blue-gray hills above him.