He drew up the easiest armchair
in the room.
"I'm goin' to the kitchen to jack up Johnnie so he won't lay down on
his job," he told her cheerily. "You take yore time and get into these
dry clothes. We'll not disturb you till you knock. After that we'll
feed you some chuck. You want to brag on Johnnie's cookin'. He thinks
he's it when it comes to monkeyin' 'round a stove."
When her timid knock came her host brought in a steaming cup. "You
drink this. It'll warm you good."
"What is it?" she asked shyly.
"Medicine," he smiled. "Doctor's orders."
While she sipped the toddy Johnnie brought from the kitchen a tray upon
which were tea, fried potatoes, ham, eggs, and buttered toast.
The girl ate ravenously. It was an easy guess that she had not before
tasted food that day.
Clay kept up a flow of talk, mostly about Johnnie's culinary triumphs.
Meanwhile he made up a bed on the couch.
Once she looked up at him, her throat swollen with emotion. "You're
good."
"Sho! We been needin' a li'l' sister to brace up our manners for us.
It's lucky for us I found you. Now I expect you're tired and sleepy.
We fixed up yore bed in here because it's warmer. You'll be able to
make out with it all right. The springs are good." Clay left her with
a cheerful smile. "Turn out the light before you go to bed, Miss
Colorado. Sleep tight. And don't you worry. You're back with old
home folks again now, you know."
They heard her moving about for a time.
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