Rose of Sharon listlessly followed orders. “Ya think Connie’ll be back today?”

“Maybe—maybe not. Can’t tell.”

“You sure he knows where-at to come?”

“Sure.”

“Ma—ya don’ think—they could a killed him when they burned-?”

“Not him,” Ma said confidently. “He can travel when he wants jackrabbit-quick an’ fox-sneaky.”

“I wisht he’d come.”

“He’ll come when he comes.”

“Ma—”

“I wisht you’d get to work.”