Margareatha was safe in that run-down house where O"Neal had taken her. Her bed was a cotton mattress unlike the straw pallet she had slept on for five miserable years. It was covered by a quilt with embroidered birds in each square and the pillows were stuffed with feathers.
Erlene Blevins was the owner of the house. The first day Erlene let Margareatha sleep and when she arose informed her she was not to go outside as someone might see her. She insisted Margareatha sit at the dining room table while she served her.
Margareatha studied Erlene"s bustling form. The woman might be about forty. He skin was a coffee-with-cream color, her dark eyes intelligent, and her hair was braided and twisted into a bun. She was wearing a short shift for working and bustled in and out of the kitchen
“On
