Dad and Mama went at it every time he stopped plowing to catch his breath. He sat down behind the plow and rested while we caught up with the hoeing. Once Mama got within earshot, they started.
He slung the half-full gourd of water across the patch. "Who is this girl-woman that you let move into the empty house down the road?"
"Her name is Mattie. She's a Starns."
"I know of her. She's pert-near twenty-five years old. I saw her in town this Saturday past."
"She's been a'sparkin Wait Nations. He'd do hisself proud if'n he'd hitch up with her."
"Wait, let's see--that's old Snake Nations' boy, from over on Vengeance Creek."
"The same; he'd do good to marry her. She's a fine girl. And a looker, too."
"She's with--I mean, Waits a decent sort. She won't pull double with that man." Dad stood up and hung the check lines around his neck. We'll talk more about it back at the house. Git up there, Sally."
"Hush up that kind of talk," Mama said. "Aunt Airenell Patton said Mattie would make a good school marm; she'd show her how. Airenell ought to know. She's taught over a thousand little'uns all over these here mountains."
By then, Dad was fifty feet away. I heard him mumbling as he went out the row. "Gee. Another one coming on. Gee there. I never figured out that Airenell woman either. Gee. Gee, come up, dang you Sally, you're getting contrarier'n hell--just like'em."