Barrett wasn't sure how he had offended Mary Jo, but he knew he had. Once again he had hoped to please her by providing a luxury she didn't have at home, and once again he had made her feel inferior. When was he going to learn that she didn't want someone doing things for her? She wanted electricity. She had said so. She wanted a car too, but she didn't want it given to her. She was willing to give up some of her precious trees for the freedom of a car. He'd have to warn Uncle Del before he blundered into trouble the same way.
Last night, while he was waiting for the trailer to be delivered, he had examined the trees and found some suitable for the requirements Uncle Dell had given him. He wasn't going to start cutting them down until he had Mary Jo's approval, though.
Back at the house, Ma was enjoying the solitude. Monroe was mature for such a young man. She trusted him with her children. Of course, they weren't really children - not in age, anyway. She had no doubt that Monroe's interest in Mary Jo went a lot deeper than getting a few trees. In fact, she was sure he wouldn't have returned if it had not been for his interest in Mary Jo. What surprised her was his instant connection with Billy Ray. Monroe treated them all with respect, but he treated Billy Ray as an equal, which was something she had seen no other man do - not even Pa.
Tires rolled over rocks in the drive and her heart beat faster. If that was one of the Hudson boys, she was going to go out the back door. She peered out the window and saw a patrol car sitting there. What could they want?
An older officer and a young officer climbed out of the car and came to the door. She waited until they knocked before she crossed the family room to open the door. She reached down and locked the screen door and waited for them to state why they were there.
The younger officer spoke first. "We're looking for Barrett Monroe. We were told that he was up here visiting you."
Who would have told them? She frowned. "Whatcha want him fer?"
The older officer looked annoyed, but the younger one answered in a kindly tone. "We need to ask him some questions about an accident report."
She pointed back into the woods. "He's on the front forty, cuttin' down some trees. I reckon you can go back there. My yunguns is with him."