“What the hell for?” Pa asked. “We ain’t done nothin’.”
“Nothin’ ’cept beat up a cop,” said Tom.
“Well, we never done it.”
“From what that cop said, they wanta push us along.”
Rose of Sharon demanded, “You seen Connie?”
“Yeah,” said Al. “Way to hell an’ gone up the river. He’s goin’ south.”
“Was—was he goin’ away?”
“I don’ know.”
Ma turned on the girl. “Rosasharn, you been talkin’ an’ actin’ funny. What’d Connie say to you?”
Rose of Sharon said sullenly, “Said it would a been a good thing if he stayed home an’ studied up tractors.”