up dust on the dry dirt road,

ound when Pa had s

e scheme had

s stained shirt clinging to his swea

co juice near

nnie, and don'

y house, the air thick with the sm

I watched Mama Maeve help

was

own town, with hair like spun gold and eyes th

p of hard living and shrewd d

e, Jed. A real Drea

fixed on Lily like

ain't paying you f

ght," Mama Maeve said, her voice low and

hands clasped, looking

her arm,

girl? You're gon

gh, like stones g

looked at him with thos

he said, her voic

her toward

e. We'll see wha

ulling out a wad of crumpled bi

e doing business, Jed. You know where

t made my skin crawl, then climbed

e, dragging L

mall room felt e

er onto a r

lose to hers, his breath stinking of cheap whi

hands. "It doesn't work

the table, making the f

s! You weave, or you'll w

ed, veins bulg

corner, wishing I

started with Pa, the

up at him, a flicker of some

l quiet, but with an edge I hadn't heard before.

cruel smile spread

e you conditi