Thursday night it rained, and when Aunt Cathy awoke early Friday morning the sky was still overcast. She hoped Zeke and the boys wouldn't get soaked dealing with the contents of the still.   Aunt Cathy had helped raise the boys, who were Zeke's sons by his first wife. She had died of childbed fever 2 weeks after the youngest had been born. She was 17 at the time, and Zeke was only 19.    The boys were 10 and 11 years old when Zeke and Cathy were wed.   Cathy always had a special tender place for them. She knew what it was like to lose a parent. Her own father was killed when the mine roof caved in on him when Cathy was only 9.   She often thought that being fatherless had shaped Cassie and her in some similar ways.
    Zeke, Zeke Jr. and Stevie pulled up into the yard about 9:00 am. The rain seemed to have broke the heat wave of the last several days and the clouds were breaking up so that large patches of blue showed in the sky. The boys had not brought the grandkids, for which Aunt Cathy was guiltily glad. She loved 'em, but didn't much feel like foolin' with 'em today. Junior and Stevie walked over to kiss her on the cheek. Zeke gave her a big hug and tried to get in a smack on the lips, but Aunt Cathy turned her head, and he, too, had to settle for her warm, dry cheek.