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Chapter 2
Iturnedaroundandsawmostofthetownpeopleandtheentirebusdelegationlookingatme.MissCarolineandIhadconferredtwicealready,andtheywerelookingatmeintheinnocenturancethatfamiliaritybreedsunderstanding.
IrosegraciouslyonWalter’sbehalf:"Ah—MissCaroline?"
"Whatisit,JeanLouise?"
"MissCaroline,he’saCunningham."
Isatbackdown.
"What,JeanLouise?"
IthoughtIhadmadethingssufficientlyclear.Itwasclearenoughtotherestofus:WalterCunninghamwassittingtherelyinghisheadoff.Hedidn’tforgethislunch,hedidn’thaveany.Hehadnonetodaynorwouldhehaveanytomorroworthenextday.Hehadprobablyneverseenthreequarterstogetheratthesametimeinhislife.
Itriedagain:"Walter’soneoftheCunninghams,MissCaroline."
"Ibegyourpardon,JeanLouise?"
"That’sokay,ma’am,you’llgettoknowallthecountyfolksafterawhile.TheCunninghamsnevertookanythingtheycan’tpayback—nochurchbasketsandnoscripstamps.Theynevertookanythingoffofanybody,theygetalongonwhattheyhave.Theydon’thavemuch,buttheygetalongonit."
MyspecialknowledgeoftheCunninghamtribe—onebranch,thatis—wasgainedfromeventsoflastwinter.
