First light in Wilcox County comes flat and wide, over fields that run to the tree line with no hill to interrupt them. Rochelle takes that light early, and so does the mowing — dew still silvering the grass, the deck cutting a clean band down the middle of the yard. Out here the pecans hold most of the shade and drop most of the extra work; the rest is Bermuda that wants cutting every week from April on. So it's mowing, trimming to the post and the porch skirt, edging the drive, and clearing the walks before the truck moves on. By the time the day gets loud, the yard is already finished.