He continued at a leisurely pace even after Owen stopped the buggy and called to him. When he finished, he shut the gate and sloshed through the mud to where Owen waited. “Mornin’.” The old man’s eyes went to his wife sitting in the buggy beside Soren, then back to Owen. “Morning, Jens. Esther’s not well. Soren and I brought her home.” “Ja. She busted down again from the looks a her.” Jens shrugged indifferently. “Damn woman be more trouble than what she be worth.” “What the hell are you talking about?” “Spells is what she gets. Flies off the handle ’n’ acts like she ain’t got no sense a’tall. Then gets the sulks like she be now. Lily ’n’ Hettie get plumb ’fraid of her ’n’ I get plumb put out.” “How long has this been going on?” “She ain’t been right since the day she come here,” he snorted, then added when Owen scowled, “Started actin’ queerer after ya brought that gal back last fall. Ranted ’n’ raved, she did, till I be sick a hearin’ it.
