Joseph folded his arms over his chest and scowledatthem.
“I hear you’re having car troubles,”Bettysaid.
“Yes, ma’am,” Daisy said. “We’re hoping we might be able to help you with the harvest in exchange for the parts we need. We’re hard workers and we’ll earnourkeep.”
“Where are you headed?” Bettyasked.
“Gardner,”Daisysaid.
“You have family upthere?”
“Yes,”Daisylied.
“Can they drive down and help you?” Bettyasked.
“No,” Andy said quickly. “They don’t haveacar.”
“They don’t?” Joseph askedskeptically.
“They did, but they had to sell it. They had some hard times so we’re on our way up to help them,”Daisysaid.
She’d never known herself to have a slick tongue, but desperation made her spin a yard of lies. Hopefully they’d believe her improbable story. She glanced at Greg, who kept his gaze riveted on the floor. She’d half-expected him to blow their cover. But he really did seem to want to help them. She’d have to find a way to thank himlater.
“Four of my sons are away,” Betty said. “Three are off serving their country in Vietnam and one is in college. That leaves me, Joseph, Greg, Samantha, andAaron.”
“Where are they?” Gregasked.
“Your sister’s out back hanging the laundry and Aaron’s on his way into town to get some more flour and yeast. I want to make biscuits and gravy for breakfast tomorrow,”Bettysaid.
“I would have gone to town for you,”Gregsaid.
“You were too busy messing with these hippies,” Josephsnapped.
“We’re not hippies,”Daisysaid.
When River’s gaze darted to her, she shook her head slightly. Betty smiled and waved away theconcern.
“Whatever you are, we could use a hand around here,” she said. “Canning season is about to start and Samantha and I can’t do it all. We have to work fast and hard. So if you can do that, then we can spare the money to get your carparts.”
“Are you sure we can spare it?”Josephsaid.
“We were going to have to hire help anyway. In the long run, this might becheaper.”
“All right, hon. They can stay. But only because I don’t want you working so hard.” Joseph crossed the kitchen and kissed his wife on thecheek.
“You’re a good man,” shewhispered.
Daisy averted her eyes. Their obvious love for each other held an intimacy that made her uncomfortable. She didn’t look up until someone brushed againstherarm.
“Let’s go check out the garden,”Gregsaid.
“Wait,” Joseph said. “We haven’t talked about sleeping arrangements. My guess is that you’re going to have to stay on the farm a few weeks. We don’t get parts shipments up here too often and you have to work offyourdebt.”
“We’re prepared to stay as long as you need us,”Daisysaid.
“Okay. But we don’t have enough room for all of you in the house,”Josephsaid.
“We have tents,” River said. “We’re happy to sleep outside under thestars.”
