Amber’s eyes were huge in her emaciated face. She took several breaths and replied after a moment. “Kenny-saw, whichever way it mighta happened—no matter what—in the end, they was the ones killed her, don’t you reckon?”

I took a breath. “Yes,” I sadly agreed. “Ultimately, they are the ones responsible for her death.”

Then another thought came to mind.

“Amber, did you ever hear of a girl called Chigger? A really small girl—small and young—sixteen or seventeen.”

Amber took a deep breath and exhaled. “I know her. She was always gettin’ into trouble and got treated real bad, ’til they just sorta broke her spirit. I felt real sorry fo’ that girl.”

“The preacher who’s coming to see you—Brother Truman Rainwater—will you tell him about Chigger? It’d be mighty important to him.”

“Is it important to you, Kenny-saw?” she asked with a squeeze of my hands.

“Yes, it is, Amber. It’s important to me, too.”

“Then I tell him,” she replied. “But now, I want you to do somethin’ fo’ me, Kenny-saw.”

“What’s that, darling? What can I do for you?”

“I want you to bust ’em all up. I want you to bring down they filthy house—bring it down right ’round they ears. I want you to tear ’em all to pieces. You a strong man, Kenny-saw, and you can do that. Will you? Will you get them po’ girls loose?”

I lifted Amber’s hands and kissed her fingers.

“I’ll do everything I possibly can, Amber—everything I can.”

“Good,” she said. “I know you will. It funny, ain’t it, Kenny-saw? You just have walked in here, an’ I ain’t laid eyes on you befo’ in my life. But I feel like I knowed you since I was a little girl. I wisht I had a knowed you befo’, Kenny-saw. Befo’ I got sick. I wisht I’d a had a friend like you. Things mighta turnt out different than they did.”

“Well, we know each other now, don’t we, darling girl? And I’m glad I met you when I did.”

Just then came the rumble of a truck pulling up on the street out front.

“That sounds like Brother Truman arriving. I’m gonna go now and leave y’all alone.” Amber started to protest, but I gently shushed her. “You’re gonna like him, Amber, and I know he’s going to love you. And what you and he have to say to each other is private and personal. But I want to come back and see you again—often. Can I do that?”

“I sho’ would like it if you would, Kenny-saw.”

“All right then, I’ll be back—soon.”

I leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. Amber put a hand on my neck and held her face tightly—fiercely—against mine. I felt the wet trickle of tears on my face.