Dorothy Garlock - [Route 66] Read Online Free PDF Page B

paper and tied with a string—one appeared to be meat, the other cheese.
    “For goodness sake! Does he think we're destitute?” Leona glanced toward the garage, saw that the back door was open and headed for it. She rapped on the door frame and called, “Mr. Yates?” When there was no reply, she stuck her head inside the door. It was dim inside the garage with the two big doors closed, but light enough for her to see that he wasn't there.
    JoBeth tugged on her hand. “He's with the campers.”
    Yates and the camper were working beneath the hood of the dilapidated car. Calvin stood beside him.
    Grasping JoBeth's hand, Leona headed for the campground. The older woman sat on a folding chair holding the baby while the younger one supervised the children. Two of the bigger boys were feeding sticks into the campfire, where a blackened pot sat on the iron grate. They paused to watch Leona and JoBeth as they approached.
    “Good evening,” she said to the woman. “Are you having to scrounge for firewood? If you need it, take a few sticks from our woodpile.”
    “We have an ax, but Fred doesn't want the boys to use it. He'll go back in the woods and bring in firewood.” The woman appeared to be exhausted, but the children were in high spirits. They were clean and well-mannered. Leona wondered how the work-worn woman managed.
    “I came down to ask if you could use some milk. We have a real jim-dandy cow, and she produces more milk than we can use right now. We plan to get a couple of runt pigs to fatten for winter, but in the meanwhile, I just can't bear to pour out what we can't use.”
    “If you're sure you can't use it, ma'am, we'll take it off your hands.”
    “Milk sours fast in the summertime. I can use just so much sour milk. I'm from the old school, just can't stand for anything to go to waste. If you can use it, I'll bring it down.”
    “One of the boys will fetch it and save you a trip.”
    “There's at least two gallons. Do you have some sort of a container?”
    “Yes, ma'am. We have a couple of pails with good tight lids.” She motioned to one of the children, who ducked inside one of the tents and came out with two tin pails. “Paul, you and Edgar go with the lady.”
    “Well, if I don't see you again, have a safe trip. I wish you all the luck in the world.”
    “Thank you. We're goin to need it.”
    Leona stopped beside the car. Yates's head was still bent over the motor.
    “Mr. Yates, I would like to speak to you for a moment.”
    He turned, looked down at her and reached for a rag to wipe his hands. “Go ahead.”
    “In private, if you please.” He nodded and moved away from the car. “JoBeth,” Leona said, “take the boys to the house and tell Ruth Ann to fill the pails from the bucket of milk on the table.”
    Happy to be doing something important, the child ran toward the house. The boys followed at a slower pace. Leona didn't speak to the tall man beside her until the children were out of hearing distance.
    “Come get your groceries off our porch, Mr. Yates. We're not so poor that we can't feed ourselves.” Her icy-blue eyes met his unblinking gaze.
    “You're not, huh?” His voice was low, husky and irritating.
    “No, we're not!” Leona took a deep breath and when she released it, anger boiled up. “We have a cellar full of canned goods. We have a cow, chickens and a garden. If you want to impress someone with your generosity, I suggest that you give your sack of groceries to the campers.”
    “Crawl down off your high-horse, Mrs. Connors. I made a deal with Andy to stay here. While I'm here, I'll furnish my own grub. If you cook it I'll throw in some extras for your trouble. If that doesn't suit you, I'll cook it over a campfire.”
    “I'll cook your meals but—”
    “Good. Then it's settled. I'd like the pork chops for supper. I have a fondness for pork chops, brown gravy and biscuits.”
    Leona's mouth opened, closed, then opened. “But you don't have to furnish our food. The