Page 120 (1/2)
Yelling for Cub, Dellarobia ran and slid down the hill in a direct path for the back door Aly, he appeared there She sat on her cold botto, still fifty feet or more from the house "Get up here!" she yelped "Get that bucket in the barn, the e that hoton?" he asked
"Damn it, Cub, just do it" She rolled onto her knees and clambered back up the slick path she’d just co her feet sheat thenow, so that had definitely not happened to her Dellarobia flung off her gloves and touched the dark creature Its heat shocked her, the waro She unwound her wool scarf and scrubbed the lamb out of the milky caul, then cleared its eyes and nostrils, but it was not breathing It was li Dellarobia shut her eyes tightly so tears wouldn’t freeze in thes and tender hooves perfectly forlossy black curls
She’d never known Cub couldloudly he ca sideways up the hill carrying her Revere Ware pot by its handle, the ht with that She ran the last few paces to rab the pan and towels The ain, would just do as she commanded, no questions asked? She felt overwhelia for this bond that was not even yet in her past, while she sopped a towel in the warm milk and watched Cub see the lalove compartment, helplessness and sorrow jaain She always did
"I don’t know, Cub, I don’t know," she kept repeating Hester had predicted she would fail at this She rubbed the little ringlet-covered body, scrubbing hard, like shining up the kids after their baths, war this corpse with the soaked towel and then with her own breath She blew into its tiny da for life, but felt nothing and nothing The small head lolled, no hint of resistance The body was already starting to go cold
"Don’t you dare die on s for a grip, it was so very slippery, and staggered to her feet "Okay," she said to Cub "Okay, watch out, stand back" She stomped out a tiny arena in the snow and spread her boots wide and began to turn, gaining traction as she could, swinging the lairl’s ponytail on the ht pulled as she turned and kept turning, mindless of her own voice as she thrummed out a pulse of curses: Breathe, damn it, daround, the world kiltered on its axis The boughs of the forest behind her lurched, blackish andup behind theh the glass branches
"Dellarobia, what in the hell?" Cub asked finally Or she finally understood what he was asking He was beside her on his knees She sat up
"Here, put it against your skin To warm it up"
Cub unzipped his jacket and thrust the lahtly at its slimy chill He held it there
"Oh, my God, Cub Where are the kids?"
"They’re fine The stove’s off They’re watching TV"
"Did you tell the?"