Bobby stood over by Carl where he could hand over any tools Carl might need. Carl got the fire good and hot. He pulled out the spokes from the broken wheel that fell off of the wagon and then fixed them onto the new wheel. It wasn’t the first time, putin together a wheel, so it went fairly fast and the guys were on the road agin. Bobby had told Carl about findin a 1932 Ford at the dump down in town and brought it home to soup up. He bought that old car fur $100. He got a flathead v-8 and took about a year puttin it all together. “I done put special heavy back springs on the back and shocks to hold the car level when it is loaded down,” Bobby continued to talk while they took the wheel out and handed it to Earl.

“You can see how level it is now and I got her pretty well loaded. Oh, looky here. See this here knob? When you give it a pull, it is attached to the back of the car and it causes a bucket of oil to spill all over the road. When you are bein chased, it is guaranteed to let you run free! I ain’t had cause to use it, but it is ready!”

Earl had replaced the wagon wheel by that time and walked over to where the boys were talkin. “Well, Bobby, it looks like you are all set up fur runnin moonshine. This is a fine car, a fine car! Have you had occasion to use her?”

“Not yet, Mr. Higgins. Well, actually she’s loaded up and ready to go now and I better make hay while the sun shines. This’ll be my first run! Wish me well!” and with that Bobby was off!

Earl and Carl took off too, but considerably slower. Just before they got to the Covington place, they heard police sirens and could tell they were coming from the switchback goin down the way Bobby had just gone by the way the sirens sounded. Then they heard a screech in the distance and a crash. “I bet Bobby used the oil switch and sent those officers over in the ditch! God speed Bobby!” Carl said.

Earl and Carl went up to the house, when they got to the Covingtons place and Tom seen them driving in and moseyed up there himself. Mrs. Covington put on a pot of coffee they had that together with some conversation and the pie Lucy had sent over. She also sent over a jar of sorghum molasses. Tom said proudly that his bull had done the deed and he knew it took because the cow and bull were no longer talkin to one another!

There was nothin left to do but tie Rosie to the back of the wagon and head out toward home because it was goin to take them till dinner time to get home the way Rosie took her time! With pie and coffee under their belts and a pregnant cow, the men couldn’t be happier! Mrs. Covington came runnin out to the wagon with a big ol poke and said, “I almost forgot. Yore wife is a doctorin woman and I came across somethin she could use. This here’s a poke full of ginger root! It’s mighty nice fur upset stomachs and all sorts of gripe and colds and coughs! Give it to her with my blessings!”

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“Why thank you kindly, Mrs. Covington! Lucy will be mighty grateful. We ain’t discovered no ginger around our place lately and Lucy is about out! That was rite thoughtful of you!” Earl said.

Carl said, “That is a fine commodity and if’n you find another patch of ginger growin, you might want to take it into town and sell it. I hear the Trading Post is payin some purty good money fur it!”

Mrs. Covington thanked Carl fur the information and said good bye till next time.

Tom told his wife, “Those are some fine menfolk! Did you see when Carl went out to the outhouse and was gone so long? Well, he saw the wood I had chopped dumped over by the woodpile and he went and stacked the whole thing fur me and didn’t say a word! He’s well-trained and got the manners of a preacher man!”

She laughed, “I noticed he was gone a long time. I was meaning to offer him some mineral oil, cuz I figured he was havin a hard time ‘goin’ but it plum slipped my mind with us talkin and all!”

Earl was sure glad he took Carl with him when, just after crossin Bell’s bridge, Rosie decided to take a break and just stopped, nearly pullin the wagon backwards when the slack on her rope tightened up! Carl had expected this behaviour, knowin how obstinate Rosie could be when she was expectin! He had brought some molasses oats for her. He jumped out and went around to her, pattin her on the head while he offered her some grain. He held it out and walked forward., with Rosie follerin him. Earl was able to make some progress toward home before Rosie repeated herself. After the 10th time, Earl’s patience was bein tried. He told Carl, “The next time she stops, take a stick and give her a whack on the rear!” They both laughed and Rosie must’ve been listenin on the party line, because they didn’t have another lick of trouble out of her on the way home!

As they drove the last 100 yards or so to the house, they felt a low rumble and looked at each other. “That must be Bobby returnin from his run,” Carl said. “I guess his run must’ve gone purty good if he is back already!”

Bobby pulled into their driveway and yelled over to Earl. “Mr. Earl, help me quick. Steve is on my tail!”

Earl said, “Well he cain’t do nuthin if you done delivered yore product. There’s nuthin he can do.”

“If’n I got a full load he sure can! If the contact didn’t show up and get his product and I am left with a full car of moonshine, he can put me away fur good! Please help me Mr. Earl!” Bobby pleaded.

Earl told Carl, “Jump in now!” and then, “Take us to the church, Bobby!”

Bobby lit out with the sirens gettin closer and closer! It didn’t take ten minutes fur that ol souped up car to git it’s load to the church. “Mr. Earl, I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but what are we goin to do? They is almost here!”