Leon and Floyd set off briskly, then broke into a run, racing each other as they had done in childhood with no signal to start or stop other than either’s inclination. The boy, laden with guns now as well as the morning kill, followed more slowly, and the dogs dropped back to keep him company.

They were still in high spirits when they came to the kitchen door where they were met by Lovey.

“I heard the shooting; what’d you get?”

“Big mess of squirrels,” Leon said.

“You tell Joe-Tom to take them to the barn to skin and gut. I don’t want them in this kitchen for Myrtis to deal with.”

Floyd said, “He knows that, Mama.”

She scowled at the two cheerful men. Without turning she said, “Myrtis! They’ve come. Start.” To the men she said, “Scrape your shoes before you come in.” They obeyed her and entered the kitchen where Myrtis was breaking eggs into a skillet. A plate of fried ham stood warming on the back of the stove, and grits were cooked and ready in a pot. “You’ll eat here,” Lovey said, indicating the round table where she and Floyd and Clarice always ate.

Sharon poured warm water into a tin basin, and they washed their hands. Sallou set plates and cutlery down and then fetched jars of plum jam and fig preserves, which she knew they both particularly fancied. Presently all was ready, and they ate, exchanging a word, a phrase as they did so. They knew each other so well there was seldom need for whole sentences between them; often a nod or glance sufficed for communication more complete than others make with words.

They had finished the gifts and ham and gravy and sopped up the last of the egg yolk from their plates when Sarah came in. She looked tired and preoccupied. Her face had lost flesh and her chin and nose appeared more angular than they had when she was younger. Although there was no sagging under her chin, her neck had accumulated wrinkles. There were lines around her eyes, and others held her mouth in parentheses.

“Good morning,” Leon said.

It was only then she noticed the men. “Oh. Good morning. Did you go hunting?”

Leon nodded and said, “Got some squirrels.”

Sarah had not waited for his answer; she was speaking to Lovey. “Tell Otis to saddle a horse, and then come to me in the offices. I want to send him to town directly.”

“How is Uncle Felix?” Leon asked.

She said, “I want Otis to go for Dr. Platt.”

Leon stood. “What can I do?”

Before he finished saying the words Sarah had left them.

Floyd rose from the table. “I’ll go tell Otis, Mama,” He went out.

“Where are the others?” Leon said to Lovey.