You might want to check, but when I pause after the comma in your first sentence it doesn't sound like it's needed.

'Cold as a witches heart and slick as snot' cracked me up. Good wordage on that.

Pardon typos I don't catch. My glasses are busted and held together with duct tape.

Do you mean Criminy Creek? I get cricks in my neck, but cracks in the ground and creek as in small river are the usual words. I had a southern step mom, so not sure what you meant.

Why stand guard in Autumn? Does he hope his family will come down? Wouldn't he want people to go find his family?

You said 'far as anyone knew' but then later you say the son checked on the plots, as if they were buried. Just a bit confusing.

Good ending. lol Did not see that one coming. You might consider taking out the ambiguity of the family's fate at the beginning. Just a suggestion. Thanks for the cool read.
love, LinnAnn