The Mountain Girl by Emma Payne Erskine Chapter 16 Page 9

“Have — have you been down to the house, Frale?”

“Naw, I jes’ come this-a-way from the station.”

“Is it — is it safe for you to come here, Frale?”

She stood a short distance from him, speaking so softly, and yet he could not touch her; his hands seemed numb, and his breath came pantingly.

“I reckon hit’s safe here as thar,” he said huskily. “An’ I’m come to stay, too.”

“Then let’s go down to mother. Likely she’s a-bed by now, but she’ll be right glad to see you. She can walk a little now.” She hastened to fill the moments with words, anything to divert that