Chapter 14
WE LEFT FOR MAGGIE Valley early on a chilly morning, two days before Christmas, and arrived at the Hawkins residence a few minutes after Lucinda got home from work. Her reaction to seeing the four of us was predictably emotional.
“Oh, my, all four of my boys here at the same time,” she said, “and for three whole days. I can hardly believe it.”
It took a couple of minutes for her to run down; then Zeke said, “Believe it, Ma.”
“And we’re taking you out to dinner this evening,” Zeb said.
“Oh, no, you’re not,” she said. “I’ve got a nice dinner planned for us right here at home, so there’s no need for you boys to spend any money.”
And that, as they say, was that. We had a great time with Lucinda, and I didn’t care how cold it was, because I had my favorite bed-warmer with me al
