Chapter 23

A good thing about sleeping high up on the hill was how the morning light showed up early. Down there in the holler it took a while for the sun to show its face. Bo wasn't beside her now. He was at the front of the cave finishing off whatever varmint hadn't been quick enough to hide from him.

Ada June didn't look to see what it was. She didn't want to feel sorrowful for it the way she did sometimes for the hens Aunt Dottie picked for the stew pot. Folks had to eat. So did Bo, and at least she wouldn't have to sneak something out of Aunt Dottie's kitchen for him.

Shivering, she pulled on her boots. The fire wasn't nothing but ashes. Moving would warm her up. And somebody would be building a fire down at the church. She didn't never get near to the stove Preacher had put halfway along the side wall, but with folks crowding in to hear whatever he was preachin' from the Bible, the church heated up all the way to the back.

She wondered where the preacher's missus would sit. Probably clear up on the front row benches with the likes of Miss Nicey Jane and Miss Effie. Ada June didn't intend on letting either of them see her. They'd be chasing Bo out the door, and Miss Nicey Jane would want to pray over Ada June like as how she had a demon or something. Preacher did say Jesus got out demons, but it weren't no demon keeping Ada June from talking. Her ma hadn't had no demon either. She didn't care what folks said.

The water was running in the creek, so it wasn't froze over. Ada June washed her face. That brought on extra shivers. Bo pranced right out in the water to lap up a drink like it wasn't the least bit cold.

When she sneaked inside Aunt Dottie's house to get the milk bucket, she was glad to hear Mr. Luther snoring. She hoped he'd keep on snoring till she wasn't nowhere around and then be gone on his way before milking time came again.

She warmed her hands under her armpits, and Beulah give down her milk without a fuss. After spilling some out in an old pan for the barn cats, she dipped a tin cup full for herself. Aunt Dottie would still have plenty.

The sun still hadn't peeked over the hill when she carried the milk to the house, but Emmy Lou was at the back door.

"Bo." She grabbed Bo's tail.

The dog gave Ada June a pleading look but didn't try to get away from the little girl.

"Emmy Lou." Ada June put the milk bucket on the cabinet and picked up the little girl. She let Bo out the back door to wait on the steps.

"Aie Oon," Emmy Lou said. "Hungie."

On the far side of the room, Aunt Dottie struggled out of bed. Ada June was glad she didn't ask her to pull her up, the way she did sometimes. Mr. Luther turned over, put a pillow over his head, and went back to snoring.

Aunt Dottie hobbled over to the eating table.

"Ma." Emmy Lou reached for her.

"You stay with Aie Oon." Aunt Dottie waved her away. "Your ma ain't feelin' so pert."

Ada June pointed toward Aunt Dottie's belly. "Baby?"

Aunt Dottie rubbed her baby bump and dropped down in one of the chairs. "I ain't thinkin' so, but I couldn't hardly get any comfort last night, what with my back giving me fits. Can you fix the fire?"

Ada June put Emmy Lou down next to Aunt Dottie to keep her from trailing along toward the fire. Once she got the flames built up, she strained the milk through a rag and dipped some out into bowls. Then she crumbled up yesterday's cornbread in the milk. That was faster than cooking mush or eggs. Besides, Mr. Luther would want the eggs when he woke up. She aimed to be gone before then.

Aunt Dottie let Emmy Lou crawl up in her lap. "I ain't hardly got enough lap to sit her these days." She spooned a bite of the milk-soaked cornbread into the little girl's mouth. Emmy Lou took the spoon away from her to feed herself.

"I reckon it's for the best that you ain't wantin' to be baby no more." Aunt Dottie looked over at Ada June. "You get her dressed and carry her to church with you."

"Not you?" Ada June frowned.

"Don't look so put out. I ain't expectin' you to handle her all the day. You can hand her off to Mathena at church. She offered to take her for a spell were I needin' her to." Her eyes narrowed on Ada June as she reached over to tug on a strand of her hair. "You've got rats' nests in your hair. And is that a stick?"

Ada June pulled a little pine branch out of her hair.

"You look like you slept in a tree. Wouldn't Elsinore let you use her comb?" Aunt Dottie frowned. "And how long you been wearing that dress?"

Ada June shrugged. Her other dress hit above her knees, but Aunt Dottie hadn't noticed that to do anything about it.

"I guess it won't matter, but you need to warsh that tomorrow." She left her bowl uneaten and pushed up from the table. "Put something clean on Emmy Lou so's Mathena won't have nothing to talk about. You'll have to wrap her in a kiver to keep her warm going down there. Mr. Luther didn't bring her that coat he promised."

Ada June fed Emmy Lou as much of Aunt Dottie's bowl as she wanted before she took the rest outside to dump on the step for Bo. She got the little girl dressed and banked the fire. She wasn't sure what time it was, but figured it would be nigh on church time when they made it down the hill. Emmy Lou was excited when Ada June wrapped a little blanket around her and went outside.

When she saw Bo, she reached for the dog. "Bo."

Ada June bent to let her pet him but said, "Can't get down."

"Play. Snow."

"Maybe at Aunt Mattie's." Ada June didn't know whether that would happen or not, but it would be Mathena's trouble then and not Ada June's. She shifted the little girl to a better position on her hip.

Packing her all the way down the hill would make her arm hurt, but she didn't want Emmy Lou to get her feet wet and maybe start coughing like Elsinore. She felt a flash of guilt for not going by to check on her and Selinda, but that Horace Perry was probably down there wanting in her door. He'd tell his ma if Elsinore was worse sick.

When she got to the church house, she stayed out by the big oak until she saw Mathena coming with her husband and young'uns. But she didn't have no carrying ones right now. She could see to Emmy Lou.

Ada June gave Bo a look so he'd know to stay by the tree while she carried Emmy Lou to Mathena.

The woman took the little girl. "Is it the baby, Ada June?"

Ada June shook her head. Emmy Lou saved her having to say anything. "Ma sick."

Mr. Frank shook his head at Mathena like he wasn't happy about her having Emmy Lou before he herded their kids on inside.

"What's wrong with her, Ada June?"

Ada June touched her back.

Mathena looked worried. "That could be the baby." Then her face changed. "But Luther's there, ain't he?"

Ada June nodded.

"Drinking, I'm guessing."

Ada June shrugged. She hadn't smelled any spirits in the house.

Mathena's eyes sharpened on Ada June. "Ain't you got anything better to wear to church than that old coat and dress?"

Ada June shrugged again. She had to wear what she had.

"And those boots. Land's sake, child, I don't know how you walk in them."

Ada June just looked at her. Wasn't nothing to say to any of that, even if she did want to let words out of her mouth.

"And what's that in your hair?"

Ada June pulled a pine needle out of her hair. She forgot about finding a comb after she dressed Emmy Lou.

"You gotta try to do better, Ada June, and not live like some kind of animal." Mathena shook her head. "I don't know what we're gonna do with you."

Ada June stared down at the ground. She didn't look up as she muttered, "Try."

"I reckon you can't help how you are, no more'n your ma could." Mathena sighed and turned toward the church. "Don't worry about comin' after Emmy Lou. I'll take her on up so I can check on Dottie."

Ada June went back to the tree to crouch down by Bo. He leaned against her. He always knew when she was hurting inside. She was glad nobody paid her any attention. After most everybody went inside and they were singing, she and Bo slipped in the back door and found a spot in the shadows.