CHAPTER 7

Ma considered the information Barrett had unwittingly revealed. Mary Jo had purposefully gone out to get that sign. Why? If she wanted the telephone number, who did she intend to contact - and how? Pa would have a conniption fit if he learned she was chasing a man. Mr. Monroe seemed like a nice man, but they knew nothing about him.

Monroe released her elbow when they reached the porch. "What did you need to speak to me about?"

This was a good time to talk to him, before Mary Jo got back from the barn. She shrugged. "I thought maybe you might be interested in some of that there timber. Of course, I'd have to talk to Pa about it."

There, he knew she was interested. Either he was or he wasn't.

He looked like he wanted to say something, but hesitated. Finally he spoke.

"Of course, you realize it isn't my company. I'd have to talk to my uncle, but I think he might be interested." He tipped his head to the side. "What would Mary Jo say about that?"

Ma gave him a stern look. "Mary Jo don't own the land or the timber."

He nodded. "I understand."

She sighed. "Probly not, but I don't know if Pa'll agree anyhow. We need to git that girl a car so's she can git a job and have some kinda life."

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He nodded again. "Oh, I see. Let me talk to my uncle and I'll get back to you."

She didn't expect him to have an immediate answer. He was interested. That was enough.

Mary Jo came into the house thorough the back door. She looked from one of them to the other as though suspicious about what they had been talking about. Her annoyed gaze finally landed on Mr. Monroe.

"So why did you come here?"

Ma gasped. "Mary Jo, ain't you got no manners atall?

Mary Jo didn't mean to be rude, but she figured he had told Ma what happened down the road a while ago. No wonder Ma was upset. Mary Jo scowled at Monroe.

"Lester was just trying to scare me. Oncet I got into the hills, he'da gone on with his business. Yer the one who interrupted his plans, not me."

Ma looked confused. She looked at Monroe and then back at Mary Jo. "What did Lester do?"

Monroe lifted his brows, a touch of humor in his eyes. Apparently he hadn't said a word about what happened, but he was amused that she had been the one to give it away - while chastising him, no less. Under other circumstances, she might have found the situation amusing as well, but scaring Ma wasn't funny - not even a little bit.




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