The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek

Cussy Mary continues with her route. She leaves Time magazine for Mr. Prine. At Saw Briar Trace, Junia stops, surprising Cussy Mary; usually, she goes through the pass easily, though other animals are scared of it. Cussy Mary sees a trap with a rabbit leg in it and realizes she is hungry. She opens Henry’s gift to find it’s a pineapple Life Saver. She’s so touched by Henry’s present that she keeps it in the tin box with other keepsakes.

Cussy Mary stops at the Smith house, where Martha Hannah lives with her children and her husband, Devil John. They discuss reading materials, but Cussy Mary hasn’t brought the periodicals Martha wanted. They exchange books, and the children ask her to stay and read, but she has to go. Devil John returns home, and Martha sends the children to do their chores.

Back on the route, two miles away from the Smith house, Cussy Mary sees Vester Frazier’s boot and coat coming out from behind a tree. Junia, in response, gallops off the path. There, Cussy Mary sees a woman and a child picking berries. Seeing Cussy Mary, the child says, “Oh, Mam, look, it’s har.