Yolanda lowered a sandaled foot onto the top stair. She gathered up her skirt and held it high in front. She went sideways, right foot down, right foot down, reaching out to grab the edge of floor. She let out a deep breath and squeezed through the hole.
She cursed as she switched her grip to the railing and step by slow step, reached bottom. She felt around in the near dark for the lantern on the wall. Once the wick had been lit she could see the wooden cases, beer caps gleaming in the lamplight. She pulled out a bottle, hesitated, and though the day was dwindling into evening and she'd
done little but sit on the porch stringing
hot peppers all day, she pulled out another.
