“Duane’s south
pasture line,” I said. “His hip is sore after tonight, and those corner posts need setting before winter.”
Kaylee smoothed the ribbon on her maroon sweatshirt and sat on the sofa beside her brother.
Travis stood in the doorway for a long moment before turning down the dark hallway toward the bathroom.
I sat down next to Kaylee and put my arm around her shoulder.
Can Travis re-earn his place in the family through quiet work rather than monetary tokens?
I looked at the red rose standing in its jar of water on the mantlepiece while the house settled into the cold October night.
By seven o’clock on Friday morning, the frost sat thick along the lower rim of Dad’s kitchen window.
I sat at the yellow oilcloth table with both hands wrapped around a heavy stoneware mug of black coffee.
The house smelled of frying lard, dark coffee grounds,
