But I held on to the gourd. As
I was getting up, I saw the spring just ahead.
I decided I'd better wash the dipper in the branch water
before I stuck it into the deep, clear spring. As I waded out to
the middle of the branch, cool sand oozed up between my toes, and
for a minute I forgot all about Mister Ward's loud, ugly talking.
But I heard him again.
"I don't know why in hell you can't get it through your thick
skull, Ophelia! I got it all figured out. All I gotta do is rake
up money to buy the copper cooker, and I'm sure gonna get it, one
way or another. 'Course, this summer I'll have to buy chops and
rye too. But come another year, I'm gonna plant a heap of corn. I
ain't gonna raise a stalk of cotton on the whole place. That
won't set so good with old Ned. But hell, if that nigger don't
like it, he can lump it! I got new plans for him anyways."
"New plans?"
"Yeah. He's gonna be helpin' with the runs. And them
burr-headed boys of his are gonna be cuttin' wood and keepin' up
the fires. Ah, I tell you, it's gonna be a perfect setup! Like
Hicks said, I got plenty of water and a nice spot here in this
hollow, way own the main road.
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