Mellie followed her timidly into the house. She found her stepmother stringing peppers with an impassive face. Kneeling down beside the older woman, she slipped an arm round her.
“I jes’ cu’dn’t help loving Jed, Maw. I reckon I always have, but I didn’t know hit till I seen him so sudden-like in the hickory lead. We’uns are goin’ to be good child’en to you-all and obedient.”
Mrs. Chunn gave a parched little laugh. “Yes, hit looks like it.”
An impressionist’s sketch of a smile touched Mellie’s lips.
“I done like yo’ said. I got a man, Maw.”
