XIV
FLASH OF FIRE
“SHOO!” Nothing happened.
“I said, ‘Shoo.’ ” Millie made a bit of a run in the direction of Bossy and waved her apron weakly. Bossy lifted her head, and Millie beat an ignominious retreat. Betty and Millie, back on the Paranatinga post, carried on the daily work, treating sick Indians. Neither of them knew much about nursing, but when medicines weren’t available, sympathetic smiles and hot coffee often worked wonders. They cared for the children and kept the services going. The cows knew when the men were gone and had a heyday breaking down the fences and diving on the hard-to-come-by garden produce. Millie and Betty were both secretly afraid of cows, but went to the interlopers, crying boldly, “Shoo, cow!” The cows weren’t fooled a bit. They simply lowered their horns, gave them a long warning look, and sometimes emitted a bullying bellow.
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