We already had a Chief of Police but he was tired of Annadel’s wild Saturday nights and agreed to go work for Ermel at a raise in salary. Isom took over. First thing we done was impose a one cent liquor tax. Then we joined the American Rifle Association and started to stockpile Krag-Jorgensen rifles.

Eleven

CARRIE BISHOP

I WENT BACK TO THE HOMEPLACE, AND BECAME PREOCCUPIED with the simple matters of living and dying. Aunt Jane passed away and her namesake was born to Ben and Flora.

Though my parents were both dead, I felt like an orphan for the first time. Aunt Jane was the last of the old people, born of the first settlers, wed and brought to the childbed during the War Between the States. For me she was a strong post to lean against. All my people knew about Rondal, but Aunt Jane alone took to her grave the knowledge of everything that had passed between us.

Flora and Ben grieved, but they had their first baby after two miscarriages, little Jane, and they could not feel totally bereft. They were continuing Aunt Jane’s line. I was happy for Flora, but at night I wept for myself. Only Aunt Becka was as shaken as me by Aunt Jane’s death. The women had a stormy kinship, but they had grown closer the last few years, Flora said.

“I think Aunt Becka was allays scairt of Aunt Jane. But Aunt Jane was feeble here of late. She lost some of her vinegar. They drawed close’t at the end.”

“They was two old women alone,” I said. “Like I’m going to be.”

“They’s worse things. You could be married to some rascal. Aunt Jane and Aunt Becka got on all right by theirselves.”

“Maybe. But I dont want Aunt Becka latching on to me now that Aunt Jane is gone.”

“Shame on you! Aunt Becka will be lonesome.”

“I know. And I dont want to see it. I’m too scairt of it for my own self to keep looking on it in her.”

“What about Aunt Jane? She lost her husband young, only had one youngun by him, and then lost the youngun too. She got on. She lived a full life. You cant say she werent happy.”

“Least she had a husband and a youngun for a time. Least she had them to remember on. That way she belonged here.”

“Carrie Lee, you stop that feeling sorry for yourself! Hit aint pretty to see. This here is your home and allays will be.”