"Hello, darling," she greeted the girl, throwing her arms around her. "I'm so glad that God has delivered you to us."

"Hello, Aunt Harriet," smiled Angela, returning the embrace.

"Hi," grinned Sarah, her pretty freckled face glowing under her braided red hair.

"Hi," smiled Angela, throwing her arms around her cousin.

Glancing over at Samuel, who had the same freckles and fiery red hair as his sister, Angela noticed how he was blushing as he stared at her bare legs beneath the short skirt.

"Hello, Samuel," she grinned, pleased that her bare thighs had disturbed him. "It's nice to see you again."

"Come in with me," Harriet said to Angela when she noticed how her son was looking at the girl's legs. "I think you should change your clothes. That dress ain't quite right for farming."

Later that afternoon, Sarah took Angela for a tour of the farm, showing her cousin all the animals including their pet shepherd dog that answered to the imaginative name of Shep. He was a big shaggy dog that took an immediate liking to Angela as he followed the two girls around.

Sitting down at the table that evening, Uncle Lester blessed the food, and after asking the Almighty to forgive Angela for her sinful ways, they settled down to a silent meal. Except for someone asking for food to be passed, there was very little conversation during the meal.

When the dinner was finished, Angela helped Sarah clear up the table and wash the dishes. The child never bothered to do dishes at home, but here at Uncle Lester's house, everyone did chores from sun up until bedtime.

"Where's the television?" Angela asked her aunt. "Lordy, child," the woman replied. "We don't have no truck with television around here. If a body's got that much idle time, they can spend it reading the Bible."