What Used to be Arkansas Chapter 7

with audio

That evening, Molly sat at the kitchen table tearing up greenhouse lettuce for salads as Anjulie and Sue cooked the rest of the meal. Beside her, Nanook lay on the floor panting. 

The house was warm, but it was worth it. Sue was baking biscuits. She stood by the oven ready to pull the flaky golden goodness from its rack.

“Get some water, if you’re hot, girl,” Molly told Nanook. “I just filled your water bowl.”

The wolf huffed out a breath as if irritated she hadn’t thought of that. She rose, went to her bowl, and noisily lapped up some water.

“How did the planting go?” Anjulie asked Molly.

“Hot—especially for this early in the year. But I got mine finished.”

“And helped a couple of other people, I heard,” Sue said, beaming.

Molly shrugged and gave her a little smile. “I was happy to help.”

“You’ve become a real asset in our community, Molly,” Sue patted her shoulder. “Everyone has something good to say about you.”

“I’m glad.” Clearly, no one had asked Jeb what he thought of her.