"Ther Dark Ages."
"Oh, that's a time away back yonder before you were born."
"Hit was putty dark in them days, wasn't it?"
Wade's face flushed perceptibly, but he smiled.
"You cannot be so very much younger than myself," he said.
"I don't know how old ye are, but I know I'm old 'nough ter go ter town alone, an' can bring the cows home when Tom's not here."
"Who is Tom?"
"My only brother. Ye seed him t'other night when ye come with me ter fetch the old brindle cow home, didn't ye?"
"I saw someone on horse back coming up the road."
"Did he see ye?" She bent over and looked straight into Wade's eyes.