Where did Monroe live when he wasn't working for his uncle? He probably had electricity and running water. He would have neither in his trailer. Even so, it would probably be better than this place.
She went back to the kitchen and put some water on the wood stove. She took a couple blocks out of the wood box and tossed them into the stove, on top of the red hot embers. It would be nice to have a hot water bottle. How many appliances could they run off a generator?
She sighed. It didn't matter. They couldn't afford them anyway.
The next morning she was up before the sun so that she could get her chores done early. After she finished her chores, she woke Billy Ray and went back out to saddle the mules. It wasn't that far and they could walk, but the mules might be useful.
As she finished, Billy Ray came out to join her. She expected him to be drowsy, but he was wide awake - excited at the prospect of seeing Monroe, no doubt. She had to confess to herself that she felt the same way - though not for the same reason.
They took the back way, down through the gate where she had led Monroe that first day. She didn't want to get caught on the road by any of the returning Hudson boys. It wasn't full daylight yet, but they could see well enough to get around. She wasn't sure where they put the trailer, but she knew the general area.
She saw lights in the distance and smelled bacon. Her stomach growled. She hadn't thought to eat breakfast before they left. More than likely Billy Ray hadn't either. She was supposed to be taking care of him. She approached the camp cautiously. It could be the Hudson Boys.
She saw Monroe at the same time Billy Ray did. He kicked his mule into a trot and yelled "Mr. Monroe!"
Barrett turned, obviously taken by surprise, and when he saw Billy Ray, he grinned.
"Good morning. Have you had breakfast yet?"
Billy Ray shook his head vigorously. Monroe's gaze settled on Mary Jo. "How about you, Sis?"
She shrugged, glancing at the man cooking sausage, eggs and bacon on a gas grill in front of a large trailer. When Monroe said they were bringing in a trailer, she had pictured a small camping trailer. This trailer was like a big white box with a few windows - maybe 25 feet long and 8 feet wide. Beside it, a generator hummed. Another man came out of the trailer with a pot of coffee - the kind of pot that belonged to an automatic coffee maker.