He was silent for a moment.
“Awright,” he said.
“An’, Tom, later—when it’s blowed over, you’ll come back.
You’ll find us?”
“Sure,” he said. “Now you better go.
Here, gimme your han’.” He guided her toward the entrance.
Her fingers clutched his wrist.
He swept the vines aside and followed her out. “Go up to the field till you come to a sycamore on the edge, an’ then cut acrost the stream.
Good-by.”
“Good-by,” she said, and she walked quickly away.
Her eyes were wet and burning, but she did not cry.
Her footsteps were loud and careless on the leaves as she went through the brush.
And as she went, out of the dim sky the rain began to fall, big drops and few, splashing on the dry leaves heavily.
Ma stopped and stood still in the dripping thicket.
She turned about—took three steps back toward the mound of vines; and then she turned quickly and went back toward the boxcar camp.
She went straight out to the culvert and climbed up on the road.
The rain had passed now, but the sky was overcast.
Behind her on the road she heard footsteps, and she turned nervously.
The blinking of a dim flashlight played on the road.
Ma turned back and started for home.
In a moment a man caught up with her.
Politely, he kept his light on the ground and did not play it in her face.
“Evenin’,” he said.
Ma said,
“Howdy.”
“Looks like we might have a little rain.”
“I hope not.
Stop the pickin’.
We need the pickin’.”
“I need the pickin’ too.
You live at the camp there?”
“Yes, sir.”
Their footsteps beat on the road together.
“I got twenty acres of cotton.
Little late, but it’s ready now.
Thought I’d go down and try to get some pickers.”
“You’ll get ’em awright.
Season’s near over.”
“Hope so.
My place is only a mile up that way.”
“Six of us,” said Ma. “Three men an’ me an’ two little fellas.”
“I’ll put out a sign.
Two miles—this road.”
“We’ll be there in the mornin’.”
“I hope it don’t rain.”
“Me too,” said Ma. “Twenty acres won’ las’ long.”
“The less it lasts the gladder I’ll be.
My cotton’s late.
Didn’ get it in till late.”
“What you payin’, mister?”