"'Zactly," Ellyn said, grinning. "Learned a couple'a things along th' way, even if it ain't obvious they stuck."

"My ma was allus' real big on not ever givin' up hope, even when things looked real bad. Prolly a good thing she's like that. Dad prolly never would'a gotten over himself if she weren't. But things worked out. They'll work out here too, 'm sure, even if it ain't right away. Right? An' ya still got folk ta lean on."

She made a face. "An' I think if I said things could be worse I'd be shootin' myself in the foot, so 'm gonna shut up now."