“Then why do you refuse to take me in?”
“Tole ye, didn’t I? I got work to do.”
Penny knew that Joe was only making excuses, for obviously, one day was very like another in his care-free life.
“What work do you have this morning that can’t wait, Joe?”
“Well, fer one thing I gotta smoke out a swarm o’ bees and git me a nice mess o’ honey fer winter. Want to go with me?”
“Into the swamp?”
“No, this tree hain’t in the swamp.”
“Then I don’t want to go. Joe, I think you’re stubborn! You know how much this trip means to me.”
“Reckon I do.”
“Then why not take me? Tell me your reason for refusing.”