Ma rolled her eyes. "Now Mary Jo, that timber ain't doing nobody no good just a sitting out there collectin' moss and waiting for lightnin'.” She shook her head as she turned back to Monroe. "Mary Jo acts like each of them trees was her personal property. Don't want nobody cutting them down - not even one. A fine way for the daughter of a carpenter to take on, don'cha think?"
Cool gray-green eyes turned on Mary Jo and she cringed involuntarily at his tone.
"Another tree-hugger? It might surprise you to know that lumber companies are required by federal law to pay replanting fees. There are more trees now than there were 70 years ago." He grabbed his head and winced, his features paling again.
Ma patted him on the shoulder. "Now don't let her get ya riled,"
"I'll be all right as soon as I get a little rest." He put an arm over his eyes to shut out the light. "I'm sorry to intrude this way."
Ma lay a gentle hand on Monroe's arm. "Now you just rest, son. I'll check on you dreckly." She crooked a finger at Mary Jo and they retreated to the kitchen.
As soon as they cleared the kitchen door, Mary Jo spoke to her mother in a low tone. "Ma, are you sure he's gonna be okay?"
Ma frowned. "I can't say for sure, but what can we do? We could take him to a doctor in the buggy, but it’s a rough ride. We should call the police and report the accident, but we ain’t got no phone." She placed the coffee pot on the wood stove. "Now you go out and take care of Ol' Ned. After that you get some sleep while I stay up with him. If he looks like he's gittin' worse, I'll call you and you can run down to the Hudson's and call for help.” She stepped to the doorway and peeked at the lumber man. “He makes me think of Jim Bob.”
Monroe looked nothing like Jim Bob. The only similarity between the two was probably their age…other than the fact that they both plunged off the road in the same place. Was that what reminded her? When they retrieved Jim Bob’s body, it was too late to revive him. If they didn’t get a doctor for Monroe, and he died…but Monroe was the one who had asked them not to call the police. Was there a reason he didn’t want the police involved? Maybe he was supposed to meet one of the Hudson boys back there.