At last she spoke again in her husky twang, more quietly than before. “You are the saddest, mos’ miserable pair of hounds I ever saw. Surely those cain’t be soldiers’ uniforms.”
Neither man spoke.
She looked at Red. “You got a tongue, Redbeard?”
Red smiled faintly. “Too tired to use it, ma’am.”
“Well at least you got one.” She turned to Tim. “You Slim, you got a tongue? Tell me what yer doin’ here.”
“Making our way across the mountains, ma’am.”
“Now don’t you s’pose that’s plain? What I mean, are you Yankees or Rebels? That’s what I have to know.”
Neither man answered.
“Now you don’t know which one I am or why I should give a hang at all.” She tossed her head. “Tell you what I’ll do. Without my help you’ll never cross the Smokies alive. If you answer wrong, I’ll send you on yer way.” She squinted and smiled a humorless smile. “I’d like the truth.”
Red stood straight and looked right into the woman’s eyes. “We’re Yankee soldiers, ma’am.”