"
"Worse off than she was yesterday evening?"
"Yeah. Lots worse. Lida Belle says the old soul's talking out
of her head."
"Lida Belle's here?"
"Her and Wes both. I figure they don't want anybody
suspecting that anything's wrong at their house."
"Has anybody notified Ward's folks yet?"
"Uncle Hiram's gone back home to get his wife and to get word
to the kin over around Millers Crossing."
"What about Ophelia's young'uns?"
"Most of them are at the schoolhouse. Uncle Hiram came the
day before yesterday to take Miss Dink back to his house, but she
was too bad off. So, he took the older young'uns home with him. I
guess he figured it would help Ophelia. This morning he brought
them back, straight to the schoolhouse. Then he came on over
here."
"How'd he know where to look for Ward?"
"He didn't. He said when he first got here Ophelia told him
Ward sneaked home Sunday but didn't stay long."
"But, Jodie, she vowed she hadn't seen him!"
"Well, anyhow, Uncle Hiram went down to the barn to feed the
mules and to milk the cow.
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