“If I thought I'd have visitors, I would have dressed myself some better,” Reed said, wiping the dirt from his hands. “I'm clearing some stumps down there. You think cutting a tree is hard work until you have to pull the stump. That's when you understand what hard work is like.”

“Mr. Reed, your house is a wonder. I never before saw a roof bloom.”

“It's what I knew in Nebraska. But there, there ain't a lot of trees for cutting lumber, but there's God's own abundance of sod. So we build houses with it, walls, barns, whatever it is you need. I believe a good Nebraskan would eat sod if only it fried better.”

“Well, it is truly beautiful, Mr. Reed. I believe you've met Mrs. Power.” She gave a sweep of her hand toward Granny Jane as if introducing royalty.

“I have, most certainly,” Reed said. “And it is a pleasure to do so again. And the lovely young lady in her arms there. She is growing up so fast.”

“Ola is a year next month. The only girl in a pack of boys.”

“That will prove a challenge to her in coming years,” Reed said.

“She'll hold her own. A Power is a Power,” Granny Jane added.

“That's so,” Mattie said. “But we're hoping she's not the last daughter.” She brought her hand up to her belly, which was just beginning to swell. “Of course, Jeff wants more boys.”

“Well, of course,” Reed said. “As I work them stumps down there, I have cause to regret my own lack of offspring. Especially boys.” He looked over at Granny Jane. “But girls is good, too. I've known girls could hunt bear with a switch if there was the need.”

“We brought you some things you might need. I'm afraid my husband is hanging on to the boys, though.” She handed him a covered pan, then took Ola back from Granny Jane.

“Why, I thought I smelled corn bread.”

“And here's a little rug that I braided myself,” Mattie said.

“Why, that's a beauty, right there. That will brighten my life considerable. And it will keep my feet warm, too. Why don't you ladies come into my house? It's unmannerly for me to keep you standing out here. It's not much, just enough for an old bachelor such as myself. But perhaps you can choose a good spot for that rug. Ladies are better at that than men who have no calling for such.”

“Why, this is a nice little cabin you have here,” Mattie said. “Isn't it, Granny? It's almost as big as our cabin, and there's seven of us.”

“Well, I ain't lost myself in it yet,” Reed said.

“And you keep it so clean for a man alone.”

“Well, here's the beauty of it. When your house is made of dirt, you can't tell what's dirt and what's house. If I was to polish too much, I might just wear it out.”