Page 168 (1/2)

Loreda looked at her mother over the row of cotton that stood between them

The structure in the middle of the field was nearly co all un tower Soon one of the fore sure the workers knew their place

You see? Loreda mouthed

ELSA LAY AWAKE, DEEP into the night, worrying about the ten percent cut in wages

Across the small, dark room, she heard the other rusted metal bedframe squeak

Elsa saw the shadow of her daughter in the h the

open vent Loreda quietly got out of bed

Elsa sat up, watched her daughter move furtively; she dressed and went to the cabin door, reached for the knob

“Where do you think you’re going?” Elsa said

Loreda paused, turned “There’s a strike ht In camp”

“Loreda, no—”

“You’ll have to tie ”

Elsa couldn’t see her daughter’s face clearly, but she heard the steel in her voice As scared as Elsa was, she couldn’t help feeling a flash of reluctant pride Her daughter was so er and braver than Elsa was Grandpa Wolcott would have been proud of Loreda, too “Then I’ with you”

Elsa slipped into a day dress and covered her hair with a kerchief Too lazy to lace up her shoes, she stepped into her galoshes and followed her daughter out of the cabin

Outside, low, turned the white cotton bolls silver