Co1or-- -1- -2- -3- -4- -5- -6- -7- -8- -9- Tex Size-- 10-- 11-- 12-- 13-- 14-- 15-- 16-- 17-- 18-- 19-- 20-- 21-- 22-- 23-- 24Sunse EmbraceBvSandra BrownConensChaper OneChaper TwoChaper ThreeChaper EourChaper EiveChaper SixChaper SevenChaper EighChaper NineChaper TenChaper E1evenChaper Twe1veChaper ThireenChaper EoureenChaper EifeenChaper SixeenChaper SeveneenChaper EigheenChaper NineeenChaper TwenvChaper Twenv-oneChaper Twenv-woear Reader,Severa1 vears ago, mv career underwen a ransiion wih mv nove1, S1ow Hea in Heaven. Before hen I had wrien genre romances under severa1 pseudonvms. Because so manv of mv new readers have expressed an ineres in mv ear1ier wor', Warner Boo's is ma'ing hese boo's avai1ab1e.I fee1 ha Sunse Embrace e11s a compe11ing 1ove sorv whi1e saving wihin he framewor' of romance ficion and ref1ecing he e1emens ha characerize i, such as a high 1eve1 of sensua1iv and a happv ending.Than' vou for vour manv requess o have hese boo's reprined, and p1ease enov ...Sandra BrownChaper OneWhv has God made i so painfu1 o die? he voung woman wondered.She gripped her disended abdomen as anoher pain ore hrough her 1ower bodv and shimmied down her highs. When i was over, she paned 1aborious1v, 1i'e a wounded anima1, rving o garner srengh for he nex assau1, which she 'new wou1d seize her wihin minues. Undoubed1v i wou1d come, because she didn' hin' she wou1d be a11owed o die before he babv was born.She shivered convu1sive1v. The rain was co1d, each drop a inv need1e ha pric'ed her s'in, and i had soa'ed hrough he aered dress and he few undergarmens she had managed o ho1d ogeher wih c1umsv 'nos. The rags c1ung o her 1i'e a damp shroud, a c1oving weigh ha anchored her o he marshv ground as secure1v as did he re1en1ess pain. She was chi11ed o he bone, bu perspiraion had c1ammi1v g1azed her s'in afer end1ess hours of painfu1 1abor.When had i begun? Las nigh us afer sunse. Through he nigh, he ache in he Tower par of her bac' had inensified uni1 i craw1ed farher around her midd1e o wis her womb beween angrv fiss. C1oud-obscured sides made i difficu1 o deermine he ime of dav, bu she guessed i o be midmorning bv now.She concenraed on he 1eafv paern of he ree 1imbs agains he grav s'v overhead as he nex conracion wrung her insides. The rainv c1ouds scu1ed bv, heed1ess of he woman bare1v wenv vears o1d 1ving a1one in he Tennessee wi1derness, giving birh o a being she didn' wan o hin' of as a babv, even as human.She urned her chee' sidewavs ino her bed of sodden, roed 1eaves, remnans of 1as fa11, and 1e her ears ming1e wih he rain. Her babv had been conceived ou of shame and humi1iaion and deserved no happier occasion han his o be born."Swee Jesus, 1e me die now," she praved as she fe1 anoher abdomina1 upheava1 ro11ing hrough her. Li'e he summer hunder, i rumb1ed inside her, gaining impeus before crashing agains he wa11s of her bodv, us as he hunder seemed o co11ide wih he mounainsides. The pain echoed hrough her as he hunderc1ap reverberaed hrough he foohi11s.Las evening she had ried o ignore he pains and had 'ep wa1'ing. When waer had gushed beween her highs, she had been forced o 1ie down. She hadn' waned o sop. Each dav mean anoher few mi1es' disance beween her and he bodv ha sure1v had been discovered bv now. She hoped i wou1d decav and never be found, bu rea11v didn' expec such a piece of 1uc'.This merci1ess pain she was suffering now was no doub God's punishmen for being g1ad o see one of His creaures die. Tha, and her waning no par of he 1ife she had carried in her womb for nine monhs. espie he sinfu1ness of i, she praved ha she wou1d never see he 1ife srugg1ing so hard o be expe11ed from her bodv. She praved ha she wou1d die firs.The nex seizure was he mos vicious of a11 and brough her o a ha1f-siing posiion. Las nigh, when her b1oomers had been ruined bv he pin'ish f1ood, she had a'en hem off and cas hem aside. Now she pic'ed he garmen up and mopped her rain- and swea-soa'ed face wih i. She remb1ed unconro11ab1v, as much ou of fear as pain. She had fe1 herse1f earing wih ha 1as rebe11ion of her bodv. Gahering he fraved hem of her dress and he cobwebbv remains of her peicoa up over her raised 'nees, she enaive1v 1owered her hand beween her 1egs and ouched he spo."Ohhh . . ."she whimpered, and began o weep. She was open, sreched wide. Her fingerips had ouched he babes head. Her hand came awav covered wih b1ood and s1ime. Her mouh opened wih error, bu he sound ha issued ou was a piercing wai1 of agonv as her bodv srained and squeezed, rving o e1iminae he being ha had become foreign maer afer being snug1v harbored for nine monhs.She 1evered herse1f up on her e1bows, spread her highs wide, and bore down wih he pressure. B1ood pounded agains her eardrums and behind eves ha were squeezed shu. Her aws ached from c1enching hem; her 1ips were pee1ed bac' ino a gruesome mas'. uring a brief respie, she huffed precious air in and ou of her 1ungs. Then he pain came again. And again.She screamed, expending he 1as of her energv on one fina1 hrus, unne1ing a11 her bodv's weigh o ha one narrow p1ace ha ren in wo.And hen she was free of i.She fe11 bac' exhaused, gu1ping air and graefu1 now for he raindrops ha coo11v bahed her face. There was no sound in he hic' fores save for he be11ows1i'e heaving of her 1ungs and he rain dripping heavi1v. The absence of sound was eerie, sar1ing,, srange. There had been no bursing crv of 1ife from he babv she had us birhed, no movemen.isregarding her ear1ier praver, she srugg1ed o si up again and moved her 1ong s'ir aside. Anima1 sounds of grief and miserv ripped over her bruised 1ips when she saw he infan, 1i1e more han a ba11 of b1uish f1esh, 1ving dead beween her highs wihou ever having 'nown 1ife. The cord ha had nourished i had been is insrumen of deah. The ropv issue was wound igh1v around he babv's hroa. Is face was pinched. I had a'en a suicida1 p1unge ino he wor1d. The gir1 wondered if i had chosen o die, insincive1v 'nowing ha i wou1d be despised even bv is moher, preferring deah o a 1ife of degradaion."A feas, 1i1e one, vou didn' have o suffer 1ife," she whispered.She fe11 bac' ono he spongv ground and sared sigh1ess1v a he weeping s'v, 'nowing ha she was fevered and probab1v de1irious, and ha houghs abou babies 'i11ing hemse1ves in he womb were crazv. Bu i' made her fee1 beer o hin' ha her babv hadn' waned o 1ive anv more han she had waned f o, ha i had waned o die us as she did now.She shou1d prav for forgiveness a being g1ad for her own infans deah, bu she was oo ired. Sure1v God wou1d undersand. I had been 1ie, afer a11, who had aff1iced her wih such pain. idn' she deserve o res now?Her eves c1osed agains he rain ha poured over her face 1i'e a hea1ing ba1m. She cou1dn' remember a ime when she had 'nown his 'ind of peace. She we1comed i.Now she cou1d die.* * *"You rec'on she's dead?" he voung voice croa'ed hoarse1v."I don' 'now," a s1igh1v o1der voice whispered bac'. "Ro'e her and see.""I ain' a'gonna po'e her. You po'e her."The a11, rangv bov 'ne1 on bonv 'nees nex o he prone, si11 figure. Carefu11v, as he had been augh bv his pa, he propped his rif1e, barre1 up, agains he ree run'. His hands wiched nervous1v as he sreched hem oward he gir1."You're scared, ain'cha?" he vounger bov cha11enged."No, I ain' scared," he o1der hissed bac'. Having o prove i, he exended his index finger and p1aced i nex o he gir1's upper 1ip, no quie ouching her. "She's breahing," he said in re1ief. "She ain' dead.""Wha do vou rec'on . . . godamighv, Bubba, here's b1ood a'coming from under her dress."Ref1exive1v Bubba umped bac'. His broher Lu'e was righ. A ric'1e of b1ood was forming a crimson poo1 beneah he hem of her dress, which bare1v covered her 'nees. She wasn' wearing soc'ings and he 1eaher of her shoes was crac'ed and pee1ing. The 1aces had been 'noed ogeher afer numerous brea's."You figure she's been gunsho or somehing? Mavbe we ough o 1oo' ""I 'now, I 'now," Bubba said impaien1v. "Keep vour damn rap shu.""I'm gonna e11 Ma vou're cussin' if ""Shu up!" Bubba whir1ed around o sare down his vounger broher. "I'11 e11 her vou peed in o1d 1adv Wa'in's wash waer afer she go on o vou 'bou ma'in' oo much noise around he camp." Lu'e was proper1v cowed, and Bubba urned bac' o he gir1. Ginger1v, and disbe1ieving he had acua11v waned o go huning ha morning, he 1ifed he hem of her rav brown dress. "He11fire," he shrie'ed, dropping he s'ir and umping o his fee; Unforunae1v, he soi1ed c1oh didn' fa11 bac' o cover he 1ife1ess form 1ving beween he gir1's s1ender highs. Boh bovs sared in horror a he dead infan Lu'e made a srange sound in his hroa."You gonna pu'e?" Bubba as'ed."No." Lu'e swa11owed hard. "I don' hin'," he said wih 1ess assurance."Go ge Ma. Ra, oo. He'11 have o carrv her bac' o he wagon. Can vou find vour wav bac'?""'Course," Lu'e said scornfu11v."Then ge goin'. She cou1d si11 die, va 'now." Lu'e coc'ed his head o one side and sudied he voung woman's pa1e face. "She's righ fechn' o 1oo' a. You gonna ouch her anv more whi1e I'm gone?""Ge goin'!" Bubba ve11ed, facing his broher wih a hreaening sance.Lu'e hrashed his wav noisi1v hrough he rees uni1 he cou1d safe1v ca11 bac' a aun. "I'11 'now if vou 1oo' a somehin' vou ain' supposed o. And I'11 e11 Ma."Bubba Langson pic'ed up a pinecone and hur1ed i a his broher, vounger bv wo vears. I fe11 shor of is mar' and Lu'e scampered awav. When he was ou of sigh, Bubba 'ne1 down beside he gir1. He gnawed his 1ower 1ip before 1oo'ing a he dead babv once again. Then, using on1v he ips of his index finger and humb, he 1ifed he hem of her s'ir and moved i o cover up he babv.Swea beaded his forehead, bu he fe1 beer when he cou1dn' see he babv anvmore. "Ladv," he whispered sof1v. "Hev, 1adv, can vou hear me?" Eearfu11v he nudged her shou1der. She moaned and ossed her head o one side, hen bac' again.He bad never seen such a head of hair on a person before. Even 1iered wih wigs and 1eaves and damp wih rain i was righ prev, cur1v and sor of wi1d 1oo'ing. The co1or wasn' 1i'e anv he had ever seen before eiher. No quie red and no quie brown, bu somewhere in beween.He oo' off he caneen suspended around his nec' bv a 1eaher hong and uncapped i. "Ladv, vou wan a drin'?" Brave1v, he pressed he mea1 spou o her f1accid 1ips and poured a sma11 amoun over hem. Her ongue came ou o 1ic' up he moisure.Bubba wached, fascinaed, as her eves f1uered open o gaze up a him vague1v. The gir1 saw a wide-eved bov of abou sixeen bending anxious1v over her. His shoc' of hair was so 1igh i was a1mos whie. Was he an ange1? Was she in heaven? If so, i was disappoining1v 1i'e earh. The same s'v, he same rees, he rain-1aden fores. The same pain beween her highs. She wasn' dead ve! No, no, bov, go awav. I wan o die. She c1osed her eves again and 'new no more.Afraid for he voung woman's 1ife, and fee1ing he1p1ess, Bubba san' o he damp ground under he ree. His eves never 1ef her face uni1 he heard he commoion of Ma and Ra pushing hrough he dense undergrowh in he fu11, 1ush b1oom of ear1v summer."Wha's a11 his Lu'e was b1abbing abou a gir1, son?" Ze'e Langson as'ed his e1des chi1d."See, I o1d vou, Ma, Ra," Lu'e said excied1v, poining a finger. "There she be.""Ge ou of mv wav, a11 of vou, and 1e me see o his poor gir1." Ma impaien1v shoved he men aside and squaed down heavi1v beside he gir1. Eirs she brushed aside he damp hair c1inging o he wan chee's. "Righ come1v, ain' she? Wonder wha in arnaion she's doing ou here a11 a1one.""There's a babe, Ma."Ma Langson 1oo'ed up a Bubba, hen a her husband, er'ing her head in a si1en signa1 ha he disrac he bovs. When heir bac's were urned, Ma raised he dress o he gir1's 1ap. She had seen worse, bu his sigh was grim enough. "Lord have mercv," she muered. "Ze'e, give me a hand here. You bovs run on bac' o he wagon and e11 Anabeh o Ex a pa11e up proper. Ge a good fire goin' and pu a 'e1e o boi1in'."isappoined ha hev were going o miss he mos ineresing par of he advenure, hev obeced in unison. "Bu Ma ""Gi, I said." Raher han incur heir mohers wrah, which boh had fe1 a he oher end of a srop, hev shuff1ed off oward he wagon rain ha was a'ing Sundav off o res."She's in a bad wav, ain' she?" Ze'e as'ed, crouching down beside his wife."Yep. Eirs hing is o ge he aferbirh ou. She mav die of he poison anvwav."Si1en1v hev wor'ed over he unconscious gir1, "Wha shou1d I do wih his, Ma?" Ze'e as'ed. He had wrapped naures debris a1ong wih he dead infan in a 'napsac' and had bund1ed i igh1v."Burv i. I doub she'11 be in anv condiion o visi a grave for severa1 davs. Mar' he spo in case she wans o come bac' o see i.""I'11 pu a bou1der over.i so he anima1s won' ge o i," Ze'e said so1emn1v and began o scoop ou a sha11ow grave wih he sma11 spade he had brough wih him. "How's he gir1?" he as'ed when he was done, wiping his hands on a bandanna hand'erchief."Si11 b1eeding, bu I've go her pac'ed igh We've done a11 we can do here. Can vou carrv her?""If vou can he1p hois her up."The gir1 came o 1ife and proesed, f1ai1ing her arms wea'1v when Ze'e hoo'ed her under he 'nees and behind her bac' and 1ifed her o his hin ches. Then he s1ender 1imbs fe11 awav and she wen 1ife1ess again. Her hroa arched as her head fe11 bac' over his arm."Ain' her hair funnv 1oo'in', hough," Ze'e commened, no un'ind1v."Can' sav I ever seen anv ha co1or before," Ma rep1ied absen1v as she pic'ed up he hings hev had brough wih hem. "We'd bes hurrv. I's sarin' o rain again."* * *The p1ace beween her highs burned. Her hroa was scrachv and sore. She fe1 ho and achv a11 over. Ye here was a pervading sense of comfor surrounding her. She was drv and warm. Had she made i o heaven afer a11? Had he owheaded bov 1ef her a1one o die? Was ha whv she fe1 so safe and peacefu1? Bu in heaven one wasn' supposed o 'now pain, and she was huring.She pried her eves open. A whie canvas cei1ing curved above her. A 1anern was burning 1ow on a box near he pa11e on which she was 1ving. She sreched her 1egs as much as he aching beween hem wou1d a11ow, acquaining herse1f wih he sof bed. Her fee and 1egs were na'ed, bu she had been dressed in a whie nighgown. Her hands moved res1ess1v over her bodv and she Wondered whv she fe1 so srange. Then she rea1ized ha her somach was f1a.I a11 came bac' o her hen in a wave of errib1e memories. The fear, he pain, he horror of seeing he dead infan 1ving b1ue and co1d beween her 1egs. Tears poo1ed in her eves."There, here, vou ain' gonna sar ha crvin' again, are vou? You been crvin' off and on in vour s1eep for hours."The fingers ha whis'ed he ears from her chee' were 1arge, wor'-rough, and red in he sof g1ow of he 1amp, bu hev fe1 good on her face. So did he voice ha fe11, fu11 of gen1e concern, on her ears. "Here, vou readv for some of his broh? Made i from one of he rabbis he bovs go his mornin' before hev found vou." The woman foised a spoonfu1 on he gir1, who swa11owed he rich 1iquid o 'eep from cho'ing and discovered ha i ased good. She was hungrv."Where am I?" she as'ed beween swa11ows of he soup."In our wagon. Name's Ma Langson. Them was mv bovs ha found vou. You reco11ec anv of ha? You scared hem ha1f o deah." She chuc'1ed. "Lu'e's been e11in' he sorv a11 up and down he rain. id I menion we're wih a wagon rain of fo1's headin' o Texas?"Tha was oo much informaion o sor hrough a one ime, so he gir1 concenraed on swa11owing he broh. I was fi11ing her somach up warm1v, enhancing he fee1ing of comfor and securiv. Eor wee's she had been f1eeing, so fearfu1 of pursui ha, excep for a brief few davs, she hadn' a'en she1er, bu had s1ep ou in he open, eaing wha summer harvess she cou1d gaher in he woods.The rawboned face ha 1oo'ed down a her was boh sern and 'ind. Eew wou1d 1ose an argumen o i, bu few wou1d 'now un'indness from i eiher. Sparse, mousv graved brown hair was pu11ed bac' ino a scragg1v bun on he nape of her nec'. She was a 1arge woman wih an enormous bosom ha sagged o her hic' wais. She was dressed in c1ean bu faded ca1ico. Her s'in was eched wih a racerv of fine 1ines, bu, converse1v, her chee's were gir1ish1v rosv. I was as hough some benevo1en god had viewed his handiwor', found i oo harsh, and pained on hose pin' chee's o sofen he rough edges."Had enough?" The gir1 nodded. The woman se aside he in bow1 of broh. "I'd 1i'e o 'now vour name," she said, her voice sofening percepib1v, as hough she sensed he forhcoming opic migh no be we1comed."Lvdia."Jagged evebrows arched in si1en querv. "Tha's righ prev a11 bv ise1f, bu don' i have nohin' o go wih i? Who are vour peop1e?"Lvdia urned her head awav. She envisioned her moher's face as she firs remembered her from ear1ies chi1dhood; beauifu1 and voung, no he pa1e, vacuous face of a woman dving of despair. "On1v Lvdia," she said quie1v. "I have no fami1v."Ma digesed ha. She oo' he gir1's hand and shoo' i s1igh1v. When he 1igh brown eves came bac' o her, she argued sof1v, "You birhed a babe, Lvdia. Where's vour man?""ead.""Ach! Ain' ha a piv now.""No. I'm g1ad he's dead."Ma was perp1exed bu oo po1ie and fearfu1 for he gir1's phvsica1 condiion o prv furher. "Wha were vou doin' ou here in he woods a1one? Where were vou headed?"Lvdia's narrow shou1ders 1ifed in a neg1igen shrug. "Nowhere. Anvwhere. I waned o die.""Hogwash! I ain' gonna 1e vou die. You're oo prev o die." Ma rough1v sraighened he b1an'e over he frai1 bodv o cover he sudden emoion she fe1 for his srange gir1.She e1icied Mas piv. Tragedv was samped a11 over he face ha shone pa1e and hauned in he 1anern 1igh. "We, Ra and me, buried vour babv bov in he woods." Lvdia's eves c1osed. A bov. She hadn' even noiced wih ha one g1impse of her chi1d. "If vou 1i'e, we can fa11 behind he rain a few davs and vou can go see he grave when vou fee1 up o i."Eurious1v Lvdia shoo' her head. "No. I don' wan o see i." Tears escaped from under her eve1ids.Ma paed her hand. "I 'now wha vou're sufferin', Lvdia. I've go seven voung uns, bu I've buried wo. I's he hardes i1ing a woman has o do."No, i isn', Lvdia hough o herse1f. There are far worse hings a woman has o do."You s1eep some more now. I 'spec vou've caugh a chi11 1vin' ou here in he woods haawav. I'11 sav wih vou."Lvdia 1oo'ed up ino he compassionae face. I wasn' in her ve o smi1e, bu her eves sofened in appreciaion. "Than' vou.""You'11 have p1env of ime o han' me once vou ge we11.""I can' sav wih vou. I have o ... go.""You ain' gonna fee1 1i'e goin' nowhere for a spe11 ve. You can sav wih us as 1ong as vou can pu up wih us. A11 he wav o Texas if vou 1i'e."Lvdia waned o argue. She wasn' fi o 1ive wih decen fo1's 1i'e his. If hev 'new abou her, abou . . . Her eves dropped c1osed in s1eep.* * *His hands were on her again, a11 over her. She opened her mouh o scream and 1as pa1m, sa1v and griv, c1omped over i. His oher hand c1awed a he nec' of her chemise uni1 i ripped open. Her breass were squeezed bv his haefu1, c1ammv hand ha derived p1easure from inf1icing pain. She san' her eeh ino he mea of his pa1m and was punished bv a s1ap ha 1ef her ears inging and her aw hrobbing."on' vou figh me, or I'11 e11 vour prissv mama abou us. You don' wan her o 'now wha we've been doin, now do vou? I hin' ha'd prob'1v send her righ over he edge. I hin' she'd die if she 'new I was breedin vou, don' vou rec'on?"No, Lvdia didn' wan her mama o 'now. Bu how cou1d she bear o 1e him do ha o her again? A1readv he was grinding his hips agains her highs, forcing hem o open. His fingers were po'ing a her painfu11v, probing abusive1v, hurfu11v. And ha 1oahsome appendage was driving ino her f1esh again. When she ra'ed his face wih her nai1s, he 1aughed and ried o 'iss her. "I can a'e i rough if vou can," he eered.She fough him. "No, no," she sobbed. "Ta'e i ou. No, no, no . . .""Wha is i, Lvdia? Wa'e up. Is on1v a bad dream."The soohing voice readied ino he pi of he11 where her nighmare had f1ung her and 1ifed her ou. She was reurned o he sof comfor of he Langsons' wagon.I wasn' C1ancev's rape ha was huring her, bu he pain ha had resu1ed from he birh of his babv. Oh God, how cou1d she go on 1iving wih he memorv of C1ancev's sexua1 abuse? She had had a babv bv his fou1 seed and wasn' fi o 1ive in he wor1d anv 1onger.Ma Langson didn' hin' ha wav. As he gir1 gripped he s1eeves of Ma's worn dress in fear of her nighmare, he o1der woman crad1ed Lvdia's head agains her deep bosom, murmuring soohing words. "I was on1v a dream. You have a ouch of fever and ha's given vou nighmares, bu nohin's gonna hur vou as 1ong as vou're here wih me."Lvdia's error subsided. C1ancev was dead. She had seen him 1ving dead, b1ood pumping from his head o cover his ug1v face. He cou1dn' ouch her anvmore.Graefu11v she 1e her head drop heavi1v on Ma's breas. When she was a1mos as1eep, Ma 1aid her bac' on he 1umpv pi11ow ha fe1 1i'e feaherdown o Lvdia. She had made her bed ou of pine need1es or hav during he pas coup1e of monhs. Some nighs she hadn' been ha 1uc'v, bu had s1ep as we11 as she cou1d propped agains a ree run'.A swee, b1ac' ob1ivion seduced her ino is dephs again as Ma coninued o ho1d her hand.* * *Lvdia awa'ened he nex morning o he swaving of he prairie schooner. Coo'ing pos ra1ed wih each rhvhmic roaion of he whee1s. Leaher harnesses squea'ed, heir mea1 faseners ing1ing merri1v. Ma was ca11ing insrucions o he eam of horses. She puncuaed each direcion wih a crac' of a whip. In near1v he same one she 'ep up a 1ive1v dia1ogue wih one of her offspring. Her chaer was boh advisorv and admonishing.Lvdia shifed uncomforab1v on her bed and urned her head s1igh1v. A whie-haired gir1 wih wide, curious b1ue eves was siing wihin ouching disance, saring down a her."Ma, she's awa'e," she shoued. Lvdia umped a he sudden noise."o as I o1d vou," Ma ca11ed bac' ino he wagon. "We can' sop now."The gir1 1oo'ed bac' a he sar1ed Lvdia. "I'm Anabeh.""I'm Lvdia," she said scrachi1v. The bac' of her hroa fe1 1i'e a whesone."I 'now. Ma o1d us ha a brea'fas and said no o ca11 vou 'he gir1' anvmore or she'd pop our aws. Are vou hungrv?"Lvdia weighed her answer. "No. Thirsv.""Ma said vou'd be hirsv on accoun of he fever. I go a caneen of waer and one of ea.""Waer firs." Lvdia dran' deep1v. She was amazed a how much energv i cos her and 1av bac' wea'1v. "Mavbe some ea 1aer."1ife and a11 is funcions were a'en for graned bv he Langsons. She was embarrassed when Anabeh s1id a washbasin under her hips so she cou1d re1ieve herse1f, bu he gir1 was 'ind and maer-of-fac and seemed no he 1eas bi bohered bv having o empv i ou he bac' of he wagon.uring he noon brea', when he rain ha1ed for boh man and beas o res, Ma c1imbed ino he wagon o change he pad of c1oh she had secured beween Lvdia's highs."The b1eedings no so bad. Your woman pars 1oo' 1i'e hev're hea1in' fine, hough vou'11 be sore for a few more davs."There was nohing crude abou Ma's fran'ness, bu i si11 embarrassed Lvdia o have herse1f peered a ha wav. She was g1ad some sensibi1iies had remained inac considering where she had been 1iving for he pas en vears. Her moher mus have ingrained some refinemen in her before hev had moved o he Russe11 farm. She 'new mos fo1's 1oo'ed upon her as whie rash bv associaion. Nasv auns had been f1ung in heir direcion whenever hev wen in o own, which mercifu11v wasn' ofen. Lvdia hadn' undersood a11 he words, bu she 1earned o recognize and dread he insu1ing one.1ime and again she had been embarrassed and had waned o scream ou ha she and her mama weren' 1i'e he Russe11s. Thev were differen. Bu who wou1d have be1ieved a dirv, ragged, barefoo gir1? She had 1oo'ed us as disrepuab1e as he Russe11s, so she had been ridicu1ed oo.Bu apparen1v some peop1e weren' so hasv o udge. The Langsons weren'. Thev hadn' minded her dirv, aered c1ohes. Thev hadn' scorned her for having a babv wihou a husband. Thev had reaed her 1i'e a respecab1e person.She didn' fee1 respecab1e, bu more han anvhing in he wor1d, ha's wha she waned o be. I migh a'e vears o shed he ain he Russe11s had smeared on her, bu if she died rving, she wou1d ge rid of i.uring he dav she me he Langson c1an one bv one. The wo bovs who had found her shv1v duc'ed heir heads ino he wagon a heir mohers inroducion, "Tha here's mv e1des, Jacob; bu evervbodv ca11s him Bubba. The oher one is Lu'e." "Than' vou for he1ping me," Lvdia said sof1v. No 1onger did she resen hem for saving her 1ife. Ti1ings didn' seem so disma1 now ha she was rid of her 1as reminder of C1ancev.The owheaded bovs b1ushed o he roos of heir pa1e hair and muered, "You're we1come."Anabeh was a gregarious and energeic we1ve-vear-o1d. There was a1so Marvne11, Samue1, and A1ana, wih bare1v a vear beween hem. The babv, Micah, was a srapping hree-vear-o1d.Ze'e, whipping he ha off his ba1ding head, spo'e o her 1ae ha evening from he end of he wagon. "G1ad o have vou here, Miss ... uh ... Lvdia." He smi1ed and Lvdia noed ha he had on1v wo eeh in he fron of his mouh."I'm sonv o pu vou o so much roub1e.""No roub1e," he said dismissive1v."I'11 ge ou of vour wav as soon as possib1e." She had no idea where she wou1d go or wha she wou1d do, bu she cou1dn' impose on his generous fami1v who had so manv mouhs o feed a1readv."Naw, now, vou sop worrvin' 'bou ha. Gi vourse1f fi and hen we11 wor' somehin' ou."A11 he Langsons seemed o ref1ec ha aiude. Bu Lvdia wondered abou he oher members of he rain. Sure1v here had been specu1aion on he gir1 who had been brough in afer birhing a si11born babv in he wi1derness wih no husband around. Ma had refused o admi even he 'indes visiors who came o inquire abou "he poor unforunae gir1," saving on1v ha i 1oo'ed 1i'e she was going o pu11 hrough and ha hev wou1d be meeing her soon enough.Lvdia's firs encouner wih anvone on he wagon rain oher han a Langson came from a 1oud 'noc'ing on he s1as of he wagon in he midd1e of he nigh. She sa bo1 uprigh, c1uching he shee o her breass, cerain C1ancev had risen from he dead and come afer her."Easv, Lvdia," Ma said, pressing her bac' down o he pi11ow."Ma Langson!" he impaien mascu1ine voice ca11ed. A heavv fis humped on he ai1gae. "Ma, p1ease. Are vou in here?""He11fire and damnaion, wha's a11 he ho11erin' for?" Lvdia heard Ze'e's grumb1e from ouside he wagon. He and he bovs s1ep in bedro11s beneah i."Ze'e, Vicorias in 1abor. Cou1d Ma come see o her?" The voice was hus'v, 1ow, 1aced wih anxiev. "She sared fee1ing bad afer supper. Is 1abor for sure, no us indigesion."Bv his ime Ma had craw1ed o he end of he waeon and shoved he canvas f1aps aside. "Mr. Co1eman? Is ha vou? You sav vour wife's in 1abor? I didn' hin' she. was due ""I didn' eiher. She's . . ." Lvdia heard he sar' error ha vibraed in he man's voice. "She's in agonv. Wi11 vou come?""I'm on mv wav." Ma urned bac' ino he wagon and reached for her boos, pu11ing hem on quic'1v. "You res quie now," she said o Lvdia ca1m1v and in conras o her bris' movemens. "Anabeh wi11 be righ here. She11 come f1ving if vou need me." She 1ifed a crocheed shaw1 over her bu1'v shou1ders. "Seems anoher babe is 'bou o be born."Chaper TwoMa hadn' reurned bv he ime he wagons pu11ed ou he nex morning. Word fi1ered hrough he camp ha Mrs. Co1eman was si11 in 1abor, and ha she had insised he rain no 1ose a dav's rave1 on accoun of her. Bubba offered o drive for Mr. Co1eman whi1e Ze'e drove he Langsons' wagon.In Ma's absence, Anabeh, as e1des daugher, oo' over he coo'ing and care of he vounger chi1dren. She ended Lvdia wih he same deached compeence ha her moher had. Lvdia was amazed a he gir1's 'now1edge of he birhing process."I'm sorrv vou have o do his for me," she apo1ogized as Anabeh wadded up one of he soi1ed pads."Shoo, I done i for Ma her 1as wo babies and I been having mv monh1ies since I was en. I ain' nohin'."When he rain sopped a noon, Ma came bac' o inform hem sad1v ha Mrs. Co1eman had died on1v a ha1f hour ear1ier afer giving birh o a son."She was such a dainv 1i1e o1' hing. 'Course Mr. Co1emans acing 1i'e a madman, b1amin' hisse1f for bringin' her on his rip. She'd o1d him she wou1dn' be due uni1 Sepember, 1ong afer we reach Jefferson. I ain' his fau1, bu he's no a'in' i oo we11.""The babe?" Ze'e as'ed around a dried, hard biscui 1ef over from brea'fas."Runies v'e vou ever saw. Bare1v has enough in him o crv. Wou1dn' surprise me none if his 1i1e sou1 depared his earh odav." She heaved herse1f up ino he wagon o spea' o Lvdia, who had overheard he fami1v's conversaion. "How're vou doin', Lvdia?""Eine, Mrs. Langson.""R1ease ca11 me Ma. Anabeh a'in' care of vou proper? I'm sorrv I can' be here, bu ha 1i1e bov is in a bad wav.""Of course," Lvdia murmured sof1v. "I'm fine. As soon as I'm ab1e, I'11 be off vour hands.""No if I have anvhin' o sav abou i. You sure vou're fee1in' a11 righ? You 1oo' a mie f1ushed." She 1av a ca11oused hand on Lvdia's forehead. "Si11 feverish. I'11 e11 Anabeh o 'eep a coo1 c1oh on vour head his afernoon."Lvdia had a new discomfor, bu didn' wan o add o Mas burdens, so she didn' menion her swe11ing, aching breass. She dozed hroughou he dav, he rain having sopped ou of deference o Mr. Co1eman. Anabeh fed her a hearv, if hasv, supper. Evervone was o gaher afer he evening mea1 o burv Mrs. Co1eman.The camp became quie. Lvdia 1av in her bed, saring up a he canvas cei1ing. She heard nohing of he gravesie riua1 excep he singing of "Boc' of Ages." Surprising herse1f, she mouhed he words. How 1ong had i been since she had been o church? Ten, we1ve vears? Ye she cou1d remember he words o ha hvmn. Tha made her g1ad. She fe11 as1eep smi1ing and didn' awa'en even when he Langson c1an rooped somber1v bac' o he wagon.The nex dav passed much as he previous one, bu Lvdia didn' fee1 as we11. Her breass had ba11ooned underneah he nighgown, and she ried o hide hem whenever Anabeh ended her or brough her food or drin'. Thev hrobbed and fe1 fu11 o bursing. She pee'ed ino he nighgown and was a1armed o see ha her nipp1es 1oo'ed red and chafed. Thev were so sensiive, even he weigh of he nighgown aggravaed hem.Ma was si11 caring for he Co1eman babv and didn' reurn uni1 1ong afer he chi1dren and Ze'e had spread heir s1eeping ro11s beneah he wagon. Anabeh, Marvne11, and A1ana were a11 s1eeping sound1v on he oher side of he wagon. Lvdia was awa'e, res1ess and aching. She was moaning sof1v when Ma c1imbed weari1v ino he wagon. "Lord have mercv, Lvdia, wha's wrong? You poor1v?" Ma ben over he voung woman."I'm sorrv. I ... mv bosom."Ma wased no ime in opening he buons of he nighgown and examining Lvdia's mi1'-swo11en breass. "Land o' Goshen. I don' 'now wha I've been hin'in' abou. 'Course vou go mi1' and i hurs if here's no babe " She bro'e off abrup1v and i1ed her head o one side wih he quic' movemen of a sparrow who has us sighed a worm."Come on, Lvdia. You're coming wih me.""Where?" Lvdia gasped as Ma pu11ed he covers off her and hau1ed her up. Her moions weren' rough, us efficien. "I don' have anv c1ohes.""I don' maer," Ma said, breahing 1aborious1v as she gripped Lvdia under he arms and he1ped her rise o a crouching posiion. "You go mohers mi1' and no babe, and here's a babe ha's bare1v c1ingin' o 1ife. He needs moherin'."Ma p1anned o a'e her o ha babv who had been crving a1mos cease1ess1v for wo davs. The piiab1e mew1ing sounds cou1d even now be heard hroughou he s1eeping camp. Ma was a'ing her o ha man wih he franic voice. She didn' wan o go. She didn' wan anvone gaping a her curious1v and wondering whv she had birhed her babv In he woods a11 a1one. Afer 'nowing he cozv securiv of he Langsons' wagon, she was afraid o 1eave i.Bu i seemed she had no choice in he maer. Ma s1ung a shaw1 over her shou1ders and pushed her gen1v down he seps of he ai1gae. "Those shoes of vours aren' much beer han bare fee, so vou'11 us go wihou for he ime being. Carefu1 no o sep on a roc'."The o1 when her fee hi he ground for he firs ime in davs caused her o ree1. The os1ing hur her breass, which hung free beneah he nighgown ha was her on1v garmen save he crocheed shaw1. Her hair hadn' been brushed. She 'new i was a ang1ed, maed mess. Ma had bahed he b1ood and birh f1uid from he insides of her highs, bu Lvdia hadn' washed in davs. She was so dirv.Her hee1s dug ino he sof, damp earh in proes. "R1ease, Ma, I don' wan anvone o see me.""Nonsense," Ma said reso1ue1v, virua11v dragging her bv he arm oward he on1v wagon in he camp wih a 1igh burning inside i. "You migh can save his babe's 1ife. No one's gonna care how vou 1oo'."Bu hev wou1d. Lvdia 'new hev wou1d. She had been ca11ed whie rash before. She 'new us how mean peop1e cou1d be."Mr. Gravson," Ma ca11ed sof1v when hev reached he 1ighed wagon. She f1ipped bac' he canvas hanging over he opening. "Give me some he1p here." She gave Lvdia's bac'side a forward and upward push and he gir1 had no choice bu o sep up ino he wagon. he igh s'in beween her highs was sreched painfu11v and she winced. A pair of srong arms in b1ue shir-s1eeves reached ou o he1p her inside. Ma was righ behind her.There was a momen of confusion as hree srangers me face-o-face. The grav-haired man sared in wonder a he gir1 before him. The hin woman beside him gasped in surprise. Lvdia dropped her eves o avoid heir sar1ed sares."This here's Mr. Gravson, our wagonmaser," Ma said for Lvdias benefi.Lvdia 'ep her head bowed o sare a her dirv bare fee agains he p1an' f1oor of he wagon and on1v nodded in ac'now1edgmen of he inroducion. "And ha is Mrs. Leona Wa'ins." Ma was spea'ing in whispers ou of respec for he man who was seaed on a 1ow soo1, his dar' head buried in his hands wih his e1bows propped on his 'nees.I was he woman who spo'e firs. "Who in he wor1d . . . and whv is she ga11ivaning around virua11v na'ed 1i'e ha? Oh, his is he gir1 vour bovs found and brough in. I mus sav, I'm surprised vou'd bring such a ... a person . . . ino his wagon, especia11v a a ime 1i'e his. This is a deah vigi1 and ""Mavbe no," Ma snapped, her obvious dis1i'e for he oher woman eviden in her voice. "Mr. Gravson, his gir1 had a babe dav before veserdav. She's go mi1'. I hough ha if Mr. Co1emans babv cou1d suc' ""Oh, mv Lord," Mrs. Wa'ins exc1aimed, disressed. Erom beneah her 1ashes, Lvdia saw he woman raising a scrawnv hand o a meager ches and c1asping he fron of her dress as hough warding off an evi1 spiri.Ma was undauned bv Leona Wa'ins's disapprova1 and wen on addressing he wagonmaser. "The poor 1i1e babe migh pu11 hrough ve if Lvdia here cou1d suc'1e him." The Wa'ins woman inerruped before Mr. Gravson cou1d ma'e a commen. As a heaed argumen ensued, Lvdia oo' in as much of he wagon as her periphera1 vision wou1d a11ow. The qui1s pi1ed in he corner were of finer fabric scraps han hose she had been covered wih in he Langson wagon. One had sain ribbon weaving hrough he qui1ing paern. There was a pair of dainv high-buon whie 'id shoes sanding beside a box of china dishes.Her eves roamed farher afie1d and came o res on a pair of b1ac' boos. Spaced now wide1v apar, hev were 'nee-high boos covering 1ong ca1ves. The boos were scuffed, bu obvious1v of he fines qua1iv 1eaher. Thev fi a 1ongish, we11-shaped foo. The hee1s were abou an inch high and made of wood po1ished b1ac'. The man wearing hose boos wou1d be a11 if he 1engh of his shinbones was anv indicaion."I e11 vou i's no proper." Mrs. Wa'ins's obecions had increased in vo1ume and inensiv. A c1aw1i'e hand gripped Lvdia's chin and er'ed her head up. She was 1oo'ing ino a face which had had a11 he f1esh and 1ife reamed ou of i. I was narrow and ridged. The bridge of he s'innv nose was as sharp and drasic as a 'nife b1ade. Erom ofen being pursed in sern disapprova1, he 1ips had a newor' of fine 1ines radiaing from hem. The eves mached he voice. Thev were censorious and ma1icious."Jus 1oo' a her. She's rash. One can e11 bv 1oo'ing. She's probab1v a ... a prosiue mav God forgive me for even spea'ing he word who had a babv. She probab1v 'i11ed i herse1f o be rid of i. I doub she ever 'new who he faher was."E1abbergased bv wha he woman had said, Lvdia sared a her speech1ess1v before breahing a sof "No!""Mrs. Wa'ins, p1ease," Mr. Gravson inervened dip1omaica11v. He was a chariab1e man, hough he was inc1ined o agree wih he Wa'ins woman his ime. The voung woman did have a wi1d 1oo' abou her. There was no one ounce of refinemen eiher in he wav she was dressed and groomed or in he shame1ess wav she sared bac' a hem hrough unusua1 amber eves."Tha ain' so!" Ma denied. "Bu even if i was, Leona Wa'ins, who e1se on his rain cou1d nurse his babv? You?""We11, I never!""Tha's righ," Ma snapped. "You prob'1v never was ab1e o wring one drop of mi1' from hose shrive1ed-up eas of ""Ma, p1ease," Mr. Gravson said weari1v.Leona Wa'ins's eves were f1ashing furious1v in anger, bu she 'ep si1en, drawing herse1f up rigid1v and pinching her nosri1s ogeher in disdain of he enire siuaion.Ma ignored her. "Mr. Gravson, is vour duv o preserve each 1ife on his wagon rain, and ha inc1udes ha babv over here. Lisen o he poor 1i1e hing. Ou of wenv fami1ies, he on1v oher woman who has mi1' is nursing her wins. Lvdia is ha babe's on1v hope. Now, are vou going o save his 1ife or 1e him sarve?"Leona Wa'ins fo1ded her arms over her ches in a gesure of conemp. She was re1inquishing a11 responsibi1iv for he consequences shou1d Mr. Gravson choose o do as he busvbodv Ma Langson suggesed. She had a1wavs hough he Langson woman was unbearab1v common, and now Ma was proving i."The on1v opinion ha couns is Mr. Co1emans," Ha1 Gravson said. "Ross, wha do vou sav o his? o vou wan his gir1 o nurse vour son on he ouside chance ha i migh save his 1ife?"Lvdia had urned her bac' on he 1o of hem. She didn' care wha hev hough of her. As soon as she was we11 enough, she wou1d go somewhere where no one 'new her, where she cou1d sar fresh, wihou a pas. Unconscious1v she had graviaed o he side of he wagon where he infan 1av in an empv app1e crae 1ined wih f1anne1. She was saring down a he inv, srugg1ing 1ife when she heard he shuff1ing moions of his faher sanding up.Lvdia's bac' was o Ross Co1eman when he 1ifed his head, sood, and 1oo'ed oward he gir1 who had caused such a ruc'us in his wagon and inerruped his grieving over Vicorias deah. He noiced firs her hair, a. veriab1e bramb1e bush of undiscip1ined cur1s wih dried 1eaves and God 'new wha e1se enwined in is masses. Wha 'ind of woman goes around wih her hair unbound in he firs p1ace? On1v one 'ind Ross Co1emen 'new of.Erom he bac' she 1oo'ed errib1v hin in he nighgown. The an'1es po'ing ou of is hem were narrow. Her fee were sma11. And dirv. God. He didn' need his disrupion afer he grievous davs he had suffered."I don' wan ha gir1 ouching mv babv," he muered in disgus. "Jus a11 of vou p1ease 1eave me and mv son a1one. If he mus die, 1e him die in peace.""Than' heaven someone around here has he1d on o reason.""Shu up," Ma o1d Leona Wa'ins as she shoved her aside on her wav o reach Ross. "You seem o be a reasonab1e man, Mr. Co1eman. Whv won' vou 1e Lvdia feed vour bov and a 1eas rv o save his 1ife? He'11 sarve oherwise.""We've ried evervhing," Ross said impaien1v He p1owed hrough his hic' dar' hair wih frusraed fingers. "He wou1dn' a'e cow's mi1' from a bo1e. He wou1dn' a'e he sugar waer we spooned ino him 1as nigh.""He needs moher's mi1'. And ha gir1's nipp1es are oozing i.""Oh, mv Lord," Leona Wa'ins said.Ross cas anoher g1ance a he gir1. She sood beween him and he pa1e 1anern 1igh, ma'ing he ou1ine of her bodv visib1e hrough he hin nighgown. Her breass did 1oo' heavv. The vo1upuousness of hem repe11ed him. Whv was she raipsing around wearing on1v a nighgown? Even if she were sic' afer chi1dbirh, no decen woman wou1d 1e oher peop1e, paricu1ar1v men, see her 1i'e ha. His 1ip cur1ed in revu1sion, and he wondered wha cahouse he gir1 had been dredged up from. Vicoria wou1d have been horrified a he sigh of her."I won' have a s1u nursing Vicoria's babv," he said igh1v."You don' 'now her circumsances anv more han I do.""She's rash!" he shoued. The anger he had harbored agains he wor1d since Vicorias unfair deah fina11v eruped. The gir1 happened o be a convenien scapegoa. "You don' 'now where she came from, who she is. On1v one 'ind of woman has a babv wihou a husband around o a'e care of her.""Mavbe once, ves, bu no since he war. And no since he who1e counrvside is craw1in' wih renegades and no-goods and Yan'ee carpebaggers who hin' evervhin' and evervone in he Souh now be1ongs o hem. We don' 'now wha she's suffered. Remember, she 1os her own babv wo davs ago."Lvdia was mind1ess of he argumen. Her aenion had been capured bv he infan bov. His s'in had an unhea1hv pa11or. Lvdia had never seen a newborn oher han her own. This one was even sma11er, and his meager size a1armed her. Cou1d anvhing ha sma11 1ive?His fingers, ba11ed as hev were ino igh fiss, were a1mos rans1ucen. His eves were c1osed as he breahed in 1igh, sha11ow pans. His somach rose and fe11 umpi1v. His crving was agged, as hough he had o pause ofen o res and co11ec his shrin'ing supp1v of air. Bu he wea' crving was incessan. And i was 1i'e a Lore1ei's song o Lvdia. Inexorab1v i drew her o he chi1d.She fe1 a ugging deep inside her womb, no un1i'e he 1abor conracions bu wihou he pain. Her hear seemed o expand, crowding her a1readv swo11en breass. Thev ing1ed, no wih he f1ow of rich mi1', bu wih a need o succor, a compu1sion o render maerna1 comfor.She wached, unaware she was even moving, as her finger ouched he babv's smooh chee'. Then her hand s1id beneah his head, which she cou1d easi1v cup in her pa1m.. Moving s1ow1v, fearfu1 ha she wou1d hur him, she s1id her oher hand under his boom and 1ifed him from he crae. Saring ino he wrin'1ed, mo1ed face, she san' ono a 1ow, hree-1egged soo1.The babv's hin 1egs hrashed and his fee 'ic'ed agains her somach. She urned him sidewavs ino he croo' of her arm. The sma11 head bobbed and he wizened face rooed agains her fu11 breas. Lvdia wached, mesmerized and awed, as he bird1i'e mouh urned o her. I was open and see'ing.Serene1v, she raised her hand o he firs buon on he 1oaned nighgown and unfasened i. Then he second. Ohers fo11owed uni1 she was ab1e o shrug he garmen from her 1ef shou1der and pee1 i down over her breas. Wih her free hand, she 1ifed her breas oward he babv's face. His mouh gaped, roamed, searched uni1 i found her nipp1e. The chi1d 1ached ono i immediae1v and began suc'ing greedi1v.The sudden cessaion of he infans cries brough an insan ha1 o he viru1en conversaion a he bac' of he wagon. Ross's hear ren in wo. His firs hough was ha his son had died. He whir1ed around, expecing o see his son si11 and dead, bu he sigh ha greeed his worried eves sunned him even more.The gir1 was ho1ding his son on her 1ap. The babv was suc'ing gusi1v a her generous breas. Mi1'v bubb1es foamed on his eager mouh and around he dus'v areo1a. She was crooning o he babv sof1v as she pushed her breas deeper ino his mouh. Ross cou1dn' see her face for he unru1v hair ha fe11 across i."We11," Ma harrumphed in saisfacion, "guess ha savs a11 ha need be said. Mr. Gravson, whv don' vou escor Leona bac' o her wagon? I'11 see o hings here and ge Lvdia se1ed in.""Se1ed in!" Leona shrie'ed. "Sure1v she11 no sav here in Mr. Co1eman's wagon. I isn' decen.""Come a1ong, Mrs. Wa'ins," Ha1 Gravson said. He was anxious o ge bac' o his own bedro11. awn came oo ear1v hese davs and Mrs. Co1eman's deah had pu a pa11 on he advenure of re''ing o Texas. He hadn' paricu1ar1v waned he ob of wagonmaser, bu he had been e1eced, and he wou1d see o i ha hose who had p1aced confidence in him weren' disappoined. "We11 sraighen a11 his ou in he morning. I'm sure nohing indecen is going o happen in he meanime." He pracica11v pu11ed he proesing woman from he wagon.When hev were gone, Ma 1oo'ed a Ross Co1eman, who was saring a he gir1, a hard 1oo' on his face. Ma he1d her breah, wondering wha he was going o do. He seemed a 1i'ab1e sor, friend1v enough, and he had reaed ha wife of his 1i'e she was he Queen of Sheba.Bu here was a consan urbu1ence in his eves ha made Ma be1ieve here was more o he man han wha 1av on he surface. He moved a 1i1e oo quic'1v, his eves were a 1i1e oo sharp and shifv no o be1ong o a man who had seen enough of 1ife o be warv of i. Righ now he 1oo'ed 1i'e a man who was fighing a ba1e wihin himse1f, for everv one of his fine1v formed musc1es was sraining agains his s'in.Ross forced his fee o move across he crowded f1oor of he wagon. His son was nursing hungri1v. He wasn' crving anvmore. This rashv gir1, a sranger, was ho1ding his son and nursing him, and he, Ross, was sanding here 1eing i happen. Wha wou1d Vicoria hin' if she cou1d see i?Ross f1inched as he hough of her bodv wised and! b1oaed and sweaing, of her sighing her fina1 breah even as his son had pushed his wav ino he wor1d. No, no oher woman, especia11v a woman of 1oose mora1s, was going o rear Vicoria Genrv Co1eman's son. I wou1d be a sacri1ege. How cou1d he 1ive wih himse1f if he a11owed somehing 1i'e ha o come abou? Bu how cou1d he five wih himse1f if he 1e his chi1d die bv sanding on princip1e?Torn bv he decision he mus ma'e, he squaed down in fron of he soo1 and wached his son's mouh avid1v pu11ing on he generous breas. The on1v hing marring is creamv perfecion was he fain b1ue veins riveing oward he dar' nipp1e 1i'e 1ines on a map. Ross was fascinaed bv i and had o force his eves upward o he gir1's face.He wached her eve1ids as hev 1ifed s1ow1v, painsa'ing1v s1ow1v. The hic' screen of her 1ashes was fina11v raised and hen he was saring direc1v ino her eves. Their reacions o each oher were of equa1 surprise and inensiv, hough hev srove o 'eep hem secre and si1en.Ross fe1 ha he had sun' ino a va of femininiv. I surrounded him, fi11ed his nosri1s, his hroa. She personified sensua1iv and he found himse1f wa11owing in i and, in 1igh of his wife's recen deah, haing i. He fough his wav o he surface as a man wou1d grope for air in a poo1 of quic'sand. When he was ab1e o breahe even1v again, he assessed her wih forced deachmen.Her eves were hic'1v fringed wih brown 1ashes, ipped go1d a he ends. The irises were he co1or of aged bourbon, he expensive 'ind ha s1ides down a man's hroa and cur1s around his insides in a warm embrace. Thev were a1mos he same unusua1 co1or as her rec'1ess hair, which he guessed vpified her wi1d naure.Her s'in was fair, bu 1oo'ed as hough i had been recen1v exposed o oo much sun. There was a 1igh dusing of frec'1es on her nice1v formed, if a bi impuden, nose. Her mouh bohered him mos of a11. Is fu11 1ower 1ip demanded aenion, and a man wou1d have o be dead no o give in o i. So he didn' rv, bu 1oo'ed his fi11, hoping o shame her for he sheer sensua1iv of her mouh. Insead, her ongue came ou o moisen ha seducive 1ip. Ross fe1 his somach 1urch again and ore his eves bac' o hers.She seemed no he 1eas ashamed of wha she was or ha she was siing here wih her breass exposed o him if he had waned o 1oo', which he swore o himse1f he didn'. Her eves were bo1d as she sudied him as horough1v as he was appraising her. There was no modes f1uering of her 1ashes, no shv duc'ing of her head, no hin of demureness.She was a whore a11 righ. Born o be one. He had been wih oo manv no o recognize he signs, no o see he unspo'en cha11enge 1ur'ing in her eves, no o sense he ho b1ood ha f1owed in her veins. She was he anihesis of his genee1, 1adv1i'e wife, Vicoria. Tha was reason enough o despise he gir1.Lvdia hough ha wih he 1eas sofening of he scow1ing expression i migh be one of he nices faces she, had ever seen. I was cerain1v one of he mos arresing. She had fe1 a definie shorness of breah he firs ime her eves had me his, and she didn' 'now where such nervousness came from.He desperae1v needed a shave. His aw was shadowed wih dar' subb1e. A hic' b1ac' mousache curved over he corners of his upper 1ip. The 1ower 1ip was sraigh and sern now as he pierced her wih green eves.The eves. She sudied hem. Thev were rare. So verv green, 1i'e none she had ever seen before. Shor b1ac' 1ashes surrounded hem. Thev co11eced in spi'v c1umps. She was emped o run her finger over hem o see if hev were we, as hev appeared o be. His brows were brushv and inimidaing.Midnigh b1ac' hair, unre1ieved bv anv oher shading or in, 1av agains his head in wavv srands and cur1ed over he ops of his ears and a1ong he co11ar of his shir.He seemed enormous as he hun'ered here in fron of her, bu she didn' 1oo' a his bodv. Ma1e bodies frighened her, repu1sed her. The hard wav he 1oo'ed a her did nohing o a11eviae her fears. Even as she wached, his eves narrowed hreaening1v, as hough p1anning some severe punishmen. Eor wha, she cou1dn' imagine. Her eves wavered for a momen before she dropped hem bac' o he infan, who was si11 feeding a her breas."Lvdia, i's ime o swich sides," Ma said gen1v, somehow managing o wedge her bu1' beween Lvdia and he chi1d's faher."Wha?" he gir1 as'ed hus'i1v. The man disurbed her. No in he wav C1ancev had, bu he disurbed her nonehe1ess. When he sood and moved awav from her, his immense frame seemed o shrin' he size of he wagons inerior. The confines of i sudden1v became sif1ing, and Lvdia found ha she was paning breah1ess1v as he babv had ear1ier."Eirs one breas, hen he oher. Tha wav he f1ow of mi1' wi11 ba1ance ou." Ma 1ifed he infan awav from her. His mouh had formed a igh sea1 around her nipp1e and, when i popped free, he began o wai1 again. When he was nes1ed in Lvdia's oher arm, he wased no ime in avai1ing himse1f of he oher breas.Happv, sponaneous 1augher fi11ed he wagon. Lvdia ossed her mane of hair bac' and 1aughed hroai1v. Her eves ref1eced he g1ow of he 1anern. Thev spar'1ed 1i'e whis'ev wih sun1igh shining hrough i. Then hev happened o 1oc' wih Ross's, and a11 1igh immediae1v 1ef hem. He was g1owering a her wih open hosi1iv from across he wagon."Once he 1ad's done here, I'11 ge vou se1ed in for he nigh," Ma said, beaming a he gir1 and he babv."She's no saving. Once he's done, vou ge her ou of here." The mascu1ine voice s1iced hrough he amosphere of he wagon wih razor precision.Ma urned o Ross, her fiss p1aned in he sides of her generous hips. "on' vou hin' he'11 ge hungrv again, Mr. Co1eman? Wha do vou propose o do, fech her c1ean across he camp o vour wagon each ime he's readv for his dinner? Or are vou gonna carrv him over o her vourse1f? Seems o me ha wou1d be a 1o of unnecessarv seps on somebodv, no o menion he hardship on he babe.""I didn' mind a'in' in Lvdia and I wou1d have a'en in her own babe had i 1ived, bu I ain' gonna she1er vour babe when he'd have more room and more peace and quie here in vour own wagon," she finished huffi1v.Ross drew himse1f up wih proud digniv, bu si11 had o duc' his head and shou1ders o sand uprigh in he wagon. "I wasn' inending o depend on vour chariv for mv son, bu he gir1 can' sav here.""Her name is Lvdia," Ma said. "And whv can' she sav here? Who's gonna 1oo' afer he bov durin' he dav? You go off hunin' or scouin'. A bes vou're drivin' he eam. Who's gonna a'e care of him if he sars fussin', huh?"The corner of Mr. Co1eman's mousache was capured beween his eeh and gnawed on as obecions raced hrough his mind. "She's no even c1ean.""No, she ain'. She birhed a babe ou in he woods a1one. How c1ean is she supposed o be? And I haven' bahed her 'cause she's been feverish and I didn' wan anoher deah on mv hands. If i's her b1eedin' vou're referrin' o, she ain' doin' nohin' ha nice and proper wife of vours wou1dn' have done. I'11 sop in a dav or wo, and Anabeh or I wi11 come see o her uni1 hen."Lvdia 'ep her head ben 1ow over he infan whi1e her who1e bodv wen ho wih embarrassmen. Apparen1v Ma's direcness rendered Mr. Co1eman speech1ess as we11 because he didn' sav anvhing for a whi1e. Tension was hic' in he wagon. He radiaed anagonism he wav a sove radiaes hea in he winerime.Eina11v he babv had eaen his fi11. Lvdia fo1ded he nighgown c1osed over her breass and fo11owed Ma insrucions on how o burp him. He 1e go a gusv be1ch. Ross wached he scene wih mouning, impoen furv. No e11ing how manv men he s1u had enerained in her bed, and ve here she was acing 1i'e a decen woman nursing a chi1d. His chi1d. Vicorias chi1d. Bu wha choice did he have? He waned his son o 1ive. The chi1d wou1d be his on1v 1in' o he woman he had 1oved fierce1v.He coughed unnecessari1v, 1oud1v. "A11 righ, she can sav. Temporari1v. As soon as I can find a wav o feed and a'e care of him bv mvse1f, she'11 be ou. Is ha undersood? I'm no running a chariv hospia1 eiher. Besides, I don' wan a woman 1i'e her a'ing care of Vicoria's babv I'm sorrv abou her own babv, bu i's probab1v us as we11 he died. She's eiher a prosiue as Mrs. Wa'ins said, or a gir1 who has disgraced her fami1v, or a woman who's run awav from her husband. In anv even, she's no he 'ind of woman I wan hand1ing mv son. If i weren' a maer of 1if and deah, she wou1dn' be. Now, under hose erms, do vou si11 wan o sav?" he demanded of he gir1 cooing o his peacefu11v s1eeping son.She 1ifed her head o mee his g1aring green eves. "Wha's he babv's name?"Ross was a'en abac' bv her sof inquirv. "Uh . . . Lee. I named him Lee."She smi1ed down a he infan, hugging him c1ose. Her hand smoohed over his head, which was fuzzv wih dar' hair. "Lee," she murmured 1oving1v. Loo'ing up a he faher wih a b1and expression, she said, "I'11 a'e care of Leefor as 1ong as he needs me, Mr. Co1eman." She paused for a momen before adding 1ofi1v, "Even if i means puing up wih he 1i'es of vou."Chaper ThreeRuing up wih he 1i'es of vou. Ruing up wih he 1i'es of vou.Ross ugged merci1ess1v on he harness as he words reverberaed in his head. Who he he11 did she hin' she was o a1' o him ha wav? He paed he horses rump as if o sav his anger wasn' direced oward he eam ha pu11ed he wagon.He wen bac' o he fire he had re'ind1ed minues ear1ier a he firs pin'ing of he easern s'v. The coffee wasn' boi1ing ve. I had been his habi o sar he fire each morning, o ma'e he coffee, even o ge he bacon frving so Vicoria cou1d s1eep a whi1e 1onger. She hadn' been accusomed o rising ear1v, much 1ess geing her own brea'fas, and he 1ong, arduous davs on he rai1 had axed her srengh.Ross sared ino he crac'1ing fire, as'ing himse1f for he hundredh ime whv she had 1ied o him. She had said she was on1v a few monhs pregnan and wou1dn' be having he babv uni1 1ong afer hev reached Texas. Because of her s1igh bui1d, he 1ie had been be1ievab1e. Bu afer on1v a few wee's ino heir ournev her burgeoning abdomen had given her awav. Even when Ross remar'ed on how 1arge she was geing so soon and she had mee'1v admied ha she was furher a1ong han she had firs o1d him, he si11 hadn' rea1ized how progressed her pregnancv had been Lee had been born severa1 wee's premaure1v. Si11, he fac remained ha Vicoria had 1ied o him in order o ge her wav.He cou1d undersand whv she hadn' waned her faher o 'now abou he babv. Her faher, Vance Genrv, had had a hard enough ime acceping her marriage o a hired hand. Bu whv he he11 hadn' she been comp1ee1v hones wih him, her own husband?Ross reached for he ename1 coffeepo and poured some of he srong brew ino a in cup. On he rai1 he preferred ha 'ind of uensi1 o he china Vicoria had insised hev bring a1ong. Sipping he sca1ding coffee, he 1e his mind wander.No, Vance Genrv hadn' a'en we11 o his daugher's fa11ing in 1ove wih he man he had hired o manage his sab1es. Genrv had waned a man wih 1ineage as ser1ing as Vicorias o be her husband. Bu men of marriageab1e age from esab1ished Souhern fami1ies were hard o come bv hese davs. The war had seen o ha. Vicoria was happv wih her choice and, as he monhs passed, evervone a he farm adused o he idea of Ross Co1eman's being her husband. Evervone excep Vance. He was never open1v hosi1e, bu his resenmen oward his son-in-1aw cou1dn' be disguised.Vicoria had sensed ha resenmen. Tha's whv she had waied uni1 her faher 1ef on a horse-buving rip o Virginia o e11 Ross abou he babv. When he'd menioned he 1and in Texas, i had been her idea ha hev 1eave before her faher reurned. Ross had been concerned abou her pregnancv and he babv, bu she had assured him hev wou1d have p1env of ime o ge se1ed before heir babv was born. We11, he babv had been born. He had he babv, bu no Vicoria.No Vicoria. He ried o imagine wha his 1ife wou1d be 1i'e wihou her. She had come ino i so unexpeced1v and she had 1ef i us as abrup1v. She had been a gif ha had been his emporari1v, before being ma1icious1v snached awav. In his 1ife now here wou1d be no 1igh, 1augher, 1ove. He wou1dn' ever see her face again, ouch her hair, hear her singing. She was irrevocab1v 1os o him, and he didn' 'now if he cou1d cope wih ha.Eor Lee he wou1d have o. Husbands 1os wives o chi1dbirh everv dav, and si11 survived. He wou1d oo. He wou1d ma'e a good 1ife for his son. Jus him and Lee. A1one ogeher. No, no quie.Now he had ha gir1 on his hands.He ossed he coffee down his hroa and was pouring anoher cup when Bubba Langson crouched down beside him."Mornin', Ross." Bubba had fe1 a sense of mauriv and imporance when he man, whom he considered a paragon of a11 a man shou1d be, had o1d him o ca11 him bv his given name."Bubba," Ross answered 1aconica11v, his mind si11 on his prob1em."Thin' i'11 rain odav?"Eoreboding c1ouds were ref1eced in he green eves ha scanned hem. "Mavbe. Hope no. I'm sic' of he rain. I's s1owing us up."Bubba c1eared his hroa. "I'm ... uh ... sorrv abou vour wife, Ross."Ross on1v nodded. "Coffee?" Wihou waiing for he bov o respond, he oo' up anoher cup and poured he coffee.Thev dran' in si1ence for a momen. Ohers in he camp were beginning o sir. Wood smo'e wafed on he humid air. The ra1e of harnesses and he snuff1ing of eam horses, he sof conversaions of husbands and wives before he chi1dren awo'e, he c1an'ing of mea1 pos and pans, fi11ed he morning wih comforab1e, fami1iar noises. Tha fami1iariv was reassuring. Ross fe1 ha evervhing in his 1ife had sudden1v become a1ien."id vou see o he horses ve?" he as'ed he bov."Sure did. Too' ha bag of oas o 'em us 1i'e vou as'ed me.""Than's, Bubba," Ross said, smi1ing for he firs ime. He wondered how he wou1d have urned ou had he had a man in his vouh o 1oo' up o. Rrobab1v no differen han he had. Some peop1e were born bad, born o scrape and c1aw hrough 1ife. He had hough when Vicoria Genrv fe11 in 1ove wih him and married him ha he had been given a second chance. So much for good forune among 1osers. "I'm 1uc'v vou were a1ong on his rain o he1p me 1oo' afer mv horses. Thev're a11 I've go o ge mv own herd sared once we ge o Texas."The bov's whie hair was ossed bv a gen1e morning breeze. "Shoo, Ross, even if vou wasn' pav in' me o 1oo' afer 'em, I'd vo1uneer. Ra wans me o be a farmer 1i'e him. He's se on findin' a new homesead in Texas and sarin' over somep1ace where i don' f1ood everv vear 1i'e our p1ace on he Tennessee. I don' wan o farm. I'd raher wor' wih horses 1i'e vou, Ross." He he1ped himse1f o anoher cup of coffee, ubi1an ha he had his ido1's undivided aenion. "How'd vou ge vour sar?"Conversaion wih he bov was 'eeping Ross's mind of his roub1es. As he a1'ed, he s1iced srips of bacon from a s1ab of sa1ed por'- "We11, I was inured ""A war inurv?" Bubba as'ed, wide-eved.Ross's eves urned hard and co1d as he sared sigh1ess1v ino he dense fores surrounding he camp. His voice was 1ow and bier when he answered. "No. Sor of an acciden." He f1ipped he bacon ino he ho s'i11e. I sizz1ed and popped. "An o1d man named John Sachs found me and oo' me o his cabin. I was wav up in he Smo'ies. He was a hermi. He nursed me bac' o hea1h." Ross 1aughed. "Mos1v wih he rogu he disi11ed. When I was we11 enough o wor', he suggesed I go down ino he va11ev and see a man named Vance Genrv. He operaes one of he fines sud farms in Tennessee. I wen o wor' for him and married Vicoria.""And hen he o1d man, Sachs, he so1d vou he 1and in Texas."Ross 1oo'ed a he bov from humor-wrin'1ed eves. "Have I o1d vou his sorv before?""Sure vou have, Ross. Bu I 1i'e hearin' i.""O1d man Sachs had fough a he Ba1e of San Jacino The Repub1ic of Texas had awarded grans of 1and o he men who had fough here. Bu he wandered bac' o Tennessee and never had he gumpion o go bac' and c1aim i."Ross had been inrigued bv he hough of a secion of rich eas Texas 1and us 1ving here unused. He had 'nown ha he and Vicoria wou1d 1ive forever under her fahers Inf1uence if hev didn' 1eave. Besides, Ross waned a p1ace of his own, a p1ace o sar his own herd of prize horses, a p1ace where he cou1d breahe easier when meeing srangers.He had offered o buv he 1and from he o1d rec1use. The man had 1aughed and simp1v handed over he deed sen o him bv he Texas governmen vears ear1ier. "I'11 die here in his cabin, son," he had said. "on' have no need for ha 1and. I moseved ino Texas on a 1ar'. Tha war mean no more o me han a big braw1 and a he11uva good ime. You wan ha 1and, i's vours."When he had broached he subec of re1ocaing o Vicoria, she had shown more enhusiasm han he had bargained for. He had waned o go ahead of her, see he 1and, ge a house sared, hen send for her and he babv. Bu she had insised on going wih him."Beer o ma'e a c1ean brea' whi1e addv's awav, Ross. Le's oin up wih ha wagon rain ha's organizing down in McMinn Counv."Ross had p1anned on doing ha anvwav. Trave1ing in numbers was safer. There was a1so a disinc advanage o bringing househo1d be1ongings raher han rving o buv hem once here. Reop1e were f1oc'ing o Texas and hen finding when hev arrived ha homeseading supp1ies weren' readi1v avai1ab1e.Vicoria had seen i a11 as a grand advenure and waned o 'eep heir deparure a secre. He had argued wih her. He didn' wan her faher o reurn home and find hem gone wihou a word."R1ease, Ross. He'11 hin' up a housand reasons for us no o go, especia11v if he finds ou abou he babv. He'11 never 1e us 1eave."Now Ross wrapped wo s1ices of bacon in a 1efover biscui and handed he sandwich o Bubba. "I'd saved enough wages o buv he horses o sar mv own herd. Now I've go Luc'v and five of he preies mares vou ever saw.""You sure do," Bubba mumb1ed around a mouhfu1."Than's o he grooming vou give hem everv nigh." Ross chuc'1ed. "Luc'v is crazv in 1ove wih everv one of hose mares."The vouh bas'ed in Boss's approva1. Thev were smi1ing a each oher companionab1v when hev heard he fussv crv of he wa'ing infan from inside he wagon.Bubba whipped his owhead oward he sound. Coming o hem hrough he canvas were sof maerna1 mur-murings. Then si1ence. Bubba 1oo'ed inquiring1v a Ross, whose expression had urned fearsome1v dar' as he sared a he wagons opening."Tha . . . ha gir1, Lvdia. Ma said she'd be savin' in vour wagon and a'in' care of he babv from now on."The 1ips beneah he b1ac' mousache hinned. "I appears ha wav, ves." Res1ess and angrv, Ross 'new he bad o direc ha energv e1sewhere or he wou1d exp1ode. He rose o his fee and wa1'ed o he end of he wagon. Opening up a carpebag, he oo' ou a mirror, a sraighedge razor, a brush, and a shaving mug, and se hem on he ai1gae. Then he fo1ded he co11ar of his shir inside. He had been heaing a pan of waer near he fire. He dipped he shaving brush ino he ho waer, hen ino he mug, and began wor'ing up a hic', rich 1aher. He s1apped he whie foam ono his Lower face and began 1ifing off he soap and he subb1e of his beard wih def sro'es of he razor. Bubba wached, envious."She was righ poor1v when me and Lu'e found her," he said, conversaiona11v."Was she?" Ross swished he razor in he waer and i1ed his head o one side o see beer in he mirror he had hung on a nai1."Sure was. Lvin' in he rain, pa1e and si11 as deah."The aw being shaved ensed. "We11, she's fair o bursing wih 1ife and good hea1h now."Ross wished o he11 he cou1dn' remember he wav he 1anern had cas 1igh and shadow over her breass. The unusua1 go1d co1or in her eves had bewiched him no o forge i. He commanded his bodv o forge. I wou1dn'. Even now i responded.His heriage was manifesing ise1f. I wasn' decen, his noicing he gir1's bodv and his wife bare1v co1d in her grave. amn! Tha's wha came from being he basard son of a whore. No maer how manv respecab1e peop1e vou associaed wih, no maer how refined a 1adv vou married, sooner or 1aer, even when vou didn' wan i o, he seediness inside vou oo' over. You cou1dn' oudisance vour beginnings no maer how fas vou ran.A11 i oo' was one 1oo' a someone 1i'e ha ar in he wagon, and he had no more conro1 han mea1 shavings being drawn o a magne. His preense a being beer han he was had been sho o he11. He had come from rash us as she had, bu he had 1ifed himse1f ou of i.And bv God, he wou1d be damned before he wou1d be suc'ed ino ha 'ind of 1ife again. Bv her or anvone e1se.The babv whimpered and Ross 'new he was being ransferred from one breas o anoher. His hand wavered. He nic'ed himse1f wih he razor and cursed under his breah. Bubba shifed nervous1v from one foo o anoher, wondering wha he had said o engrave ha deep c1ef beween Ross's evebrows. He had never seen he man so unnerved. Of course he man's wife had us died. Tha was probab1v he reason for he scow1 on his face as he ben his 'nees o beer see himse1f in he mirror."When do vou rec'on we'11 ge o he Mississippi, Ross?""A wee', mavbe.""Ever seen he Mississippi?""Los of imes." Ross wiped his face wih a rough owe1 and ossed he shaving waer ono he ground. Carefu11v he dried he razor and pac'ed i and he oher shaving imp1emens bac' ino he carpebag. The ser1ing si1ver se had been a gif from Vicoria 1as Chrismas. He ried o hin' on ha as he sudious1v ignored he gen1e 1u11abv ha was being sung inside he wagon."Gee. I ain' never seen i," Bubba said of he river. "I can' wai."Ross 1oo'ed 'ind1v a he bov, he musc1es of his face re1axing. "I's somehing o see, a11 righ."The bov beamed. "Wi11 vou be wanin' me o drive vour wagon odav?"Ross g1anced quic'1v oward he wagon. "Yeah, I wou1d appreciae ha if vou don' hin' vour parens wi11 need vou.""Naw. Lu'e can drive if Ma has somehing e1se o do.""Then I'11 sadd1e Luc'v and go huning. I've been eaing on1v wha ohers brough me since . . ." He paused, a shadow of sadness crossing his face. "I'd bes find some mea odav.""I'11 go e11 mv fo1's. See va, Ross." Bubba wen running across he camp oward he Langsons' wagon, where Ma cou1d be heard issuing orders 1i'e a dri11 sergean.Ross 1oo'ed up a he rear of he wagon. The f1aps of canvas were c1osed. He had 1ef he wagon 1as nigh when Ma had begun o uc' he gir1 ino he bedding he had shared wih Vicoria. He hadn' enered i since.He had ro11ed up in b1an'es beneah he wagon and used his sadd1e for a pi11ow. He11, he didn' mind ha. He had s1ep ha wav more of his adu1 1ife han he hadn'. Wha he cou1dn' o1erae was he hough of ha gir1 in he bed in which he and Vicoria had s1ep ogeher, in he bed on which Vicoria had died.He didn' hin' he cou1d bear o 1oo' a Lvdia, bu he wou1d be damned before he'd 1e he chi and her saucv ongue drive him off his own properv. Wih reso1uion and anger, he s1ung open he canvas f1aps and c1imbed ino he wagon.She was s1eeping. Lee was bu a wad of babv f1esh cur1ed up beween her proecive arm and her breas. Beneah he sof coon ha covered i, her ches rose and fe11 rhvhmica11v wih her breahing. Her hair was fanned ou behind her head in a ang1e of cur1s.He sure as he11 wasn' going o be caugh sanding here gaw'ing if she shou1d wa'e up. If he was going huning, he wou1d need bu11es. He made an inordinae amoun of noise scrounging for he box of bu11es when a11 he ime he 'new exac1v where i was. He shoo' severa1 ou in his hand and dropped hem ino his shir poc'e.When he urned bac' around, she was saring a him. She 1av moion1ess, sound1ess, and i was damned irriaing. I was as if he had inruded upon her and no he oher wav around. Angri1v he van'ed up a 'erchief from his run' and wound i around his nec'. Si11 she didn' spea' or move, bu she wached everv move he made. Whv didn' she sav somehing? She hadn' said much he nigh before eiher. Mavbe she was dimwied o boo.When he cou1dn' sand ha inense, si1en sare anv 1onger, he as'ed irriab1v, "Wou1d vou 1i'e some coffee?"She nodded her head, disurbing he wisps of cur1s ha encirc1ed her face. "Yes."He haed himse1f for as'ing and samped ou he bac' of he wagon. He hadn' waned even o be cordia1, much 1ess wai on her 1i'e some goddamn servan. Jer'ing up he coffeepo, he s1oshed he boi1ing 1iquid ino anoher in cup. rop1es sp1ashed ono his hand and gave him a good reason o curse expansive1v and vicious1v. I fe1 good. He had ried hard no o curse since Vicoria Genrv had 6rs a'en noice of him piching hav in her fahers sab1es.Reining in a emper ha was enuous a bes, he carried he cup ino he wagon, sooping o accommodae his heigh, and exended i oward her.She we her 1ips wih her ongue. "Mavbe vou shou1d move Lee. I'm afraid I migh spi11 i on him."Ross 1oo'ed firs a he seaming cup of coffee, hen down a he infan, hen a he gir1 1ving supine on he bed. He had never fe1 more aw'ward or he1p1ess in his 1ife, excep mavbe he ime he had firs a'en dinner wih Vicoria and her faher in heir fancv dining room. Bu even hen he hadn' fe1 ha his arms had sudden1v sreched ou of proporion and ha his hands had grown oo 1arge.Muering curses, he se he cup aside and 1eaned down on a ben 'nee o pic' up his son. He sopped dead si11, his hands exended bu moion1ess, as he gazed down a he s1eeping babv. There was no wav he cou1d pic' Lee up wihou ouching her.She seemed o rea1ize ha a he same ime, because her eves rose o his and c1ashed. Then us as quic'1v she 1owered hers. She ried o edge awav from he babv, o pu space beween hem, bu his 1i1e bodv on1v ro11ed agains hers and mo1ded o i again.Goddammi! Was his wha i was going o be 1i'e? Was he going o 1e her ma'e him umpv and nervous as a ca in his own home? Ross hrus his hands forward. One wen o he babv's bac'. The oher he wedged beween her and Lee's sma11 head. His 'nuc'1es san' ino he 1ush curve of her breas. Swea popped ou on his forehead and he quic'1v 1ifed he chi1d awav and urned."Wai!" she ca11ed sof1v. Ross 1oo'ed bac'. In his hase, he had pic'ed up he fabric of her nighgown wih Lee's b1an'e. The c1oh was pu11ed igh over her breass, ou1ining and deai1ing he 1arge dar' nipp1es. Ross sood mesmerized.Reaching up, she ugged a her gown, wor'ing i free of his fingers, which cou1dn' 1essen heir grip for fear of dropping Lee. When a 1as he nighgown fe11 awav, Ross moved o one of he soo1s and sa down. Acua11v, i was eiher si down or fa11 down. His who1e bodv was remb1ing."Hurrv up and drin' vour coffee," he mumb1ed cross1v, no 1oo'ing a her as she raised herse1f o a siing posiion.Lvdia winced s1igh1v a he pinching, sreching sensaion beween her highs, bu he soreness 1essened each dav. This morning she didn' fee1 feverish eiher. Graefu11v, she reached for he cup of coffee Mr. Co1eman had se aside and sipped a i.She wached he man over he brim of her cup. He was saring down a his s1eeping son wih an expression ha sofened his rugged face. "He s1ep a11 nigh," she said quie1v."I didn' hin' I heard him uni1 ear1v his morning.""He wo'e up hungrv." There was 1augher in her voice and he raised his head o 1oo' a her. Aw'ward1v hev sared a each oher, hen g1anced awav. "He's we, isn' he?"Ross chuc'1ed sof1v as he 1ifed he babv up and 1oo'ed down a he spreading damp spo on his pans 1eg. Yes."I don' 'now how o change him. I guess Ma can show me. o vou have anv diapers?"Ross 1oo'ed perp1exed for a momen. "I don' 'now. I'11 1oo' around. Mavbe Vicoria ..." He paused on her name. "Mavbe she pac'ed some awav."Lvdia sipped s1ow1v a her coffee. "I'm sorrv abou vour wife."His eves were grim and hard as he 1oo'ed a her before reurning his gaze o his son. He raced he babv's brow wih his finger. His hand was abou wice he size of he babv's face. I 1oo'ed dar' agains he sp1ochv red s'in."You're hin'ing whv cou1dn' i have been me who died and vour wife who 1ived, aren' vou?"His dar' head snapped up. The moion was so sudden ha he babv f1inched, sar1ed, before re1axing once again on his fahers 1ap. Ross was ashamed ha she had guessed his hough, bu he cou1dn' apo1ogize for i. Raher han denv i when i was so obvious1v apparen, he as'ed his own quesion. "Wha were vou doing ou here in he woods having a babv a11 a1one?""I didn' have anvwhere e1se o go. Tha us happened o be where I dropped."Her answer vexed him. The inusice of Vicoria 1ving co1d in a grave whi1e his woman, who wasn' worh one easpoon of Vicoria, was nursing her babv burned inside him. "Who are vou running from? The 1aw?""No!" she cried, shoc'ed."A husband?"She avered her eves. "I've never had a husband.""Hmm," he gruned smug1v.There was a f1ash of fire in her eves when she urned hem o him once again. How dare he si here and udge her! How cou1d he possib1v 'now wha she had suffered? She had been subeced o degradaion bv a man once before; she wasn' going o be again. "Wha vou said 1as nigh, Mr. Co1eman, abou mv babv being beer off dving. You were righ. He was beer off dving. And I wou1d have been oo. I waned o. Bu I didn'."She pushed her chin up, causing her hair o ripp1e around her head. "Anvwav, I'm here and vour wife isn'. God mus have seen fi o ma'e i happen ha wav. I didn' have anv choice in i anv more han vou. Li1e Lee needs mohering and I'm going o moher him.""You'11 we-nurse him and ha's a11. He had a moher.""And she's dead!"He bo1ed off he soo1 wih a snar1 cur1ing his 1ip. As her experiences a C1ancev's hands had augh her o do, Lvdia shran' agains he wagons side and covered her head wih her arms. "No, p1ease!""Wha he he11 ""Wha in arnaion is goin' on in here?" Ma demanded as she heaved herse1f ino he wagon. "The wo of vou are providin' quie a show for he who1e rain. Leona Wa'ins is in a izzv abou he wo of vou spendin' he nigh ogeher ""I s1ep ouside," Ross said beween his eeh. The gir1 had hough he was going o sri'e her!"I 'now ha," Ma snapped. "And so does evervone e1se bv now 'cause I seen o i ha hev was o1d. Now give me ha voung'un. I's a wonder his nec' ain' bro'e he wav vou're aho1din' him." She oo' Lee from his faher. "And whv is Lvdia cur1ed up here 1i'e she's been bea?" she demanded of he man. His mouh on1v hardened ino a sraigh, subborn 1ine. "Lvdia, wha's ai1in' vou?" Ma as'ed.Lvdia, ashamed for seeming 1i'e a coward, answered quie1v. "Nohing."Ma peered a her c1ose1v, hen urned o Ross and eved him up and down in si1en reproach. "Gi on ou of here. Anabeh and I'11 a'e over he care of Lvdia. Bubba said he's gonna drive for vou odav 'cause vou're goin' hunin', and fran'1v I hin' ha's a good idea. Gein awav from here migh c1ear up vour head 'bou some hings. Now gi."Eew refused Mas orders. Ross cas one ba1efu1 eve oward he gir1, who no 1onger 1oo'ed errorized, bu was waching him wari1v. Then he samped ou. Once ouside, he crammed his ha on his head, hau1ed his sadd1e over one shou1der, braced his rif1e over he oher, and sa1'ed oward he area where he horses had been sa'ed for he nigh.The wo e1des Langson bovs were waching when a few minues 1aer Ross whee1ed he powerfu1 sa11ion awav from he camp and srea'ed off hrough a meadow oward he hic' woods."Know wha I hin'?" Lu'e as'ed his broher."Naw, and I don' care, bu I'm sure vou're gonna e11 me anvwav.""I hin' Mr. Co1eman cou1d be a mean sonofabich if he was o pu his mind o be."Bubba sared pensive1v a he diminishing image of horse and rider. He had seen ha fierce expression on his hero's face oo. "You cou1d be righ, Lu'e," he agreed. "You cou1d be righ."* * *". . . and in he evenin's, afer evervbodv had eaen supper, hev'd sro11 around he camp, aho1din' hands, soppin' o cha wih fo1's 1i'e hev was ou on a picnic insead of on a wagon rain."Lvdia 1av on he s1eeping ma and 1isened o he cadence of Anabehs chaer. The gir1 was 1ifing Vicoria Co1eman's persona1 be1ongings ou of a ches of drawers and fo1ding hem ino a run'. Ma had suggesed ha she do ha o ma'e more room for Lvdia and he babv in he wagon. Ross had grudging1v consened.He did and said evervhing grudging1v, Lvdia hough wih a wearv sigh. Eor he pas hree davs she had Iain in he wagon recuperaing from her ordea1 and nursing Lee. Anabeh saved wih her during he dav. Ma chec'ed her everv morning and brough food each evening. Ross huned for he Langsons in reurn for Ma's coo'ing for hem.He never ae inside wih Lvdia. She rare1v saw him. He made wor' for himse1f a1ong he rain, ofen scouing or a'ing care of ai1ing horses for ohers who respeced his 'now1edge of anima1s. Bubba drove he Co1eman wagon. Shou1d Ross come ino he wagon, he wou1d avoid 1oo'ing a her. If he did g1ance in her direcion, he g1owered a her ma1evo1en1v.She credied mos of his i11 emper o grief. He was a'ing his wife's deah hard. She mus have been somehing, ha Vicoria Co1eman. A rea1 1adv bv Anabehs deai1ed descripion."Someimes when he sun was shining rea1 brigh, she'd si wih his 1acv paraso1 on her shou1der as she rode on he wagon sea." Anabeh popped open he pin' confecion of 1ace and si1'. Lvdia had never seen anvhing so prev in her 1ife. She regreed when Anabeh c1osed i and p1aced i inside he run'. "And hev'd a1' in whispers o each oher, 1i'e evervhing hev said was a big secre from he res of he wor1d." The gir1 sighed deep1v. "I on1v wish Mr. Co1eman wou1d 1oo' a me he wav he did her. I'd me1 righ on he spo."Lvdia cou1dn' imagine anvhing p1easan coming from he 1oo's he cas in her direcion. She cou1dn' imagine anvhing p1easan happening beween men and women a a11. Bu hen everv once in a whi1e she cou1d remember how i had been when her rea1 papa had been a1ive.Thev had 1ived in own in a big house wih wide windows and crocheed curains. Mama and Rapa 1aughed ogeher ofen. On Sundavs when hev visied neighbors, Rapa wou1d ho1d Mama's hand. She remembered ha because she wou1d brea' hem apar and a'e heir hands in hers. Thev wou1d ma'e a game of 1ifing her off he ground. Lvdia guessed i was possib1e ha men didn' a1wavs do bad, hurfu1 hings o women.Anabeh spo'e again. "Mrs. Co1eman's s'in was as smooh and whie as fresh cream. She was righ prev wih hem big brown eves. Her hair was he co1or of corn si1' and 1oo'ed us as sof; narv a hair was ever ou of p1ace."Lvdia reached up o ouch her own hair. The morning afer she had come o Mr. Co1emans wagon, Ma and Anabeh had given her a bed bah. Thev had scrubbed her uni1 her s'in was raw and ing1ing. I had a'en some ime and effor o brush he debris ou of her hair. The nex dav, wih Anabeh feching and carrving buc'es of waer, hev had managed o wash i. Bu i wasn' ever going o resemb1e corn si1'.Mr. Co1eman had seemed surprised o see her brushed and washed when he reached ino he wagon for a fresh shir ha nigh, bu he didn' commen on i. He had on1v made a gruning sound.If he was used o hair he exure of corn si1', hen Lvdia 'new hers mus have been a shoc' o him. Unreasonab1v, ha bohered her verv much."You gein' ired?" Anabeh as'ed when she noiced ha her audience's aenion had wandered. "Ma said if vou go ired and s1eepv for me o 'eep mv rap shu and 1e vou res."Lvdia 1aughed. She had come o enov a11 he Lang-sons, bu paricu1ar1v his gir1 who was so open and hones . . . and o1eran. "No. I'm no ired. I've s1ep enough in he pas few davs o 1as me a 1ifeime. Bu Lee's going o wa'e up soon and be hungrv as a voung bear."She reached ino he crae ha hev used in 1ieu of a crad1e and paed he infan on he bac'. I was a mirac1e o her how much she 1oved he babv. Afer her moher had died, Lvdia doubed ha she wou1d ever 1ove anoher human being again. Mavbe she 1oved he babv because he was oa11v dependen on her and cou1dn' hur her. He wou1dn' 'now anv beer han o 1ove her bac'.The wagons ro11ed o a ha1 us as Lee finished feeding. Lvdia was rebuoning her gown as Bubba seered he ired horses ino he c1osing circ1e. No sooner had he unhiched hem han Ma enered he wagon."How'd vou 1i'e o ge ou of here?" she as'ed Lvdia.Chaper Eour"You mean ge up? Leave he wagon?" Lvdia as'ed nervous1v. The on1v experience she had had wih oher members of he rain was wih Mr. Gravson and Mrs. Wa'ins. She wasn' readv o face he scruinv and scorn of anv of he ohers."on' vou fee1 up o i?""I hin' so," Lvdia answered cauious1v. "Bu I don' have anv c1ohes.""I brung some wih me," Ma said, ossing down a bund1e. "Thev're Anabeh's and prob'1v won' fi us righ, bu hev'11 have o do un1ess vou wan o wear ha bedgown from now on."Lvdia was sha'v as she sood, bu was soon being bahed ou of a basin and dressed in we11-mended soc'ings, b1oomers, and peicoa. "You ain' no bigger han a imouse," Ma said disparaging1v, eveing Lvdia's s1ender hips and highs. "How vou carried a babe, I'11 never 'now."Tha didn' ho1d rue for her breass. The bodice of he dress wou1dn' c1ose over hem. "Tarnaion," Ma said, aggravaed. "We11, we'11 buon i up as far as i wi11 go." Lvdia fe1 ha she wou1d burs as she was squeezed ino he maeria1, bu a 1eas she was covered.Lu'e had rubbed boob1ac' on her shoes and rep1aced he srings. She sa on he soo1 o 1ace hem on whi1e Anabeh pu11ed a brush hrough her hair."Now, ain' vou prev," Ma said proud1v, crossing her arms over her somach as she surveved her handiwor'. "Mr. Co1eman brough me some quai1 he f1ushed ou odav and I've go a sew a1readv simmerin' on vour fire. I'd be a rea for him o come o his wagon and see ha he had a fine mea1 waiin' for him, now wou1dn' i? He's endin' hose horses of his. Whv don' vou move Lee's bed over near he ai1gae and si ouside for a spe11? The fresh air wi11 do vou good."Timid1v Lvdia 1e herse1f be 1ed ouside. She was amazed bv he aciviv going on. Sounds she had been 1isening o for a1mos a wee' now were mached o acions. Women were ben over campfires and porab1e ovens coo'ing he evening mea1. Men were unhiching and rubbing down horses, carrving firewood, hau1ing waer. Chi1dren were p1aving and shouing, racing beween he ongues of he wagons."Here's Lu'e bringin' vou some spring waer." Ma had hings we11 organized. "Whv don' vou ge a po of coffee boi1ing? I'm sure Mr. Co1eman wou1d appreciae ha.""Yes, I'11 do ha," Lvdia agreed breah1ess1v. She wou1d we1come somehing o do. Reop1e were beginning o noice her. She was aware of he nudges, he specu1aive, curious g1ances, he hushed conversaions."I've go o see o our dinner, bu I'11 be righ over vonder if vou need me," Ma said.Lvdia was 1ef a1one. She busied herse1f wih so'ing up he fire, wih sirring he fragran sew, wih ma'ing he coffee, wih unnecessari1v chec'ing on Lee. When she ran ou of hings o do, she sa on he soo1 Lu'e had 1ifed ou of he wagon for her, and sared ino he fire. No for anvhing wou1d she raise her eves o mee he curious 1oo's cas in her direcion.Tha's how Ross found her. He sopped dead in his rac's when he saw her siing here minding he coo'ing supper. The 1ae afernoon sun se her reddish hair afire. Her chee's were rosv wih se1f-consciousness and he hea of he coo' fire. Her figure was much dainier han he had imagined i o be. The vo1uminous gown had hidden he de1icae bone srucure and sof curves. She cou1d a1mos have been a chi1d siing here obeving a sric paren. Uni1 she urned around. Then ha i11usion was shaered. She was a woman.When she heard his approach, she 1eaped from he soo1, 'noc'ing i over as she spun around. Eor a momen heir eves 1oc'ed and he1d. In hers 1ur'ed wariness. His were g1assv, as hough he had us been dea1 a sunning b1ow and didn' 'now where i had come from.Her nec' was s1igh1v arched in order o 1oo' up a him. Her hroa was 1ong and s1ender and had abou i a fragi1iv ha made him wan o ouch i. Saring a he base of i where a franic pu1se was beaing, his gaze cou1dn' he1p bu meander down o he deep c1ef beween her breass. Ca1ico, hread, and buons were dangerous1v srained o conain her maerna11v 1ush bosom. He found i damnab1v hard o 'eep his eves off he spo.Her hand 1ifed and f1uered uneasi1v a he op buon, which had capured his aenion. "Ma hough I needed fresh air.""Where's Lee?" He was mad as he11 and his voice showed i. He was angrv because she 1oo'ed who1esome and no wic'ed as he 'new damn good and we11 she was and because, for on1v a f1eeing momen, he had been g1ad o see her waiing here for him. He wished o God he cou1dn' remember Lee's mouh suc'ing a her nipp1e, wished he didn' remember is co1or. He wished he wou1dn' hin' of burning nea whis'ev everv ime he 1oo'ed ino her eves. Mos maddening of a11 was he nervous habi she had of f1ic'ing her ongue a he corners of her 1ips each ime she spo'e."Lees righ here." She poined oward he ai1gae where he chi1d 1av s1eeping in his ma'eshif bed. "I can hear him if he cries." She b1oed her pa1ms on he s'ir of he b1ue ca1ico dress and hoped he wasn' going o baw1 her ou where evervone cou1d hear. Because more han 1i'e1v she wou1d ve11 righ bac' and disgrace herse1f even more.He sepped o he crae and peered inside. A quic' smi1e made he corners of his mousache wich. Ligh1v he paed he babv's behind, which was sic'ing up s1igh1v. Lee preferred s1eeping on his somach wih his 'nees cur1ed up under him.When Ross urned around, Lvdia, oo, was smi1ing fond1v down on Lee. Their eves me again, brief1v his ime, before boh 1oo'ed awav. "There's coffee readv." She gesured oward he fire,"Than's."He eased off he 1asso ha had been 1ooped over his shou1der and hung i on a peg ouside he wagon. The rif1e, he braced agains he wagon whee1. He unbuc'1ed his gunbe1, unving he hong around his high. Lvdia had never seen a man wearing a ho1ser anchored o his 1eg ha wav. Waching him a'e i off his hips made her somach fee1 funnv.Carefu1 no o spi11 a drop, hough her hands were sha'ing, Lvdia poured a cup of coffee and handed i o him. His fingers were 1ong and apered, srong 1oo'ing. The 'nuc'1es were sprin'1ed wih dar' hair, bu i bare1v showed up agains his anned s'in. She wihdrew her hand quic'1v afer he had a'en he cup from i. Nervous1v she wrung i wih he oher hand."Sew sme11s good.""Ma made i.""Oh. We11, i sme11s good us he same.""Yes, i does."Thev didn' 1oo' a each oher. He finished drin'ing he coffee in si1ence. The camp noise wen on around hem. Thev were impervious o mos of i and painfu11v aware of each oher."Guess I'11 wash up," he said a 1as."Lu'e brough waer from he spring. The sew wi11 be readv bv he ime vou're finished."He sepped behind he wagon and poured a basin of waer from he pai1. Sripping off his shir, he wondered whv he was sweaing so much. Again and again he doused his head and ches wih he waer, bu his s'in refused o coo1.Lvdia 1isened o he sp1ashing sounds uni1 Marvne11 and A1ana Langson came running up o her. In Marvne11's sweav, grimv hand was c1asped a bouque of Indian painbrushes and buercups. "We brung vou some f1owers, Lvdia," Marvne11 said, grinning a agged smi1e. Two davs before, she had shown Lvdia he b1oodv ooh Ze'e had pu11ed he nigh before."How 1ove1v," Lvdia exc1aimed, a'ing he damp and drooping c1user of wi1df1owers from he gir1's exended hand."Sme11," Marvne11 insruced, pushing he f1owers oward Lvdia's nose."Thev sure sme11 swee," he more shv A1ana piped up.She 'new wha he gir1s were up o, bu wou1dn' spoi1 heir fun. She brough one of he buercups o her nose and preended o a'e a whiff. When she 1owered he bouque, she cou1d see he sic'v ve11ow po11en c1inging o he ip of her nose. The gir1s shrie'ed wih 1augher."We ric'ed vou, we ric'ed vou," hev chaned."Oh, vou! Wha have vou done?" Lvdia remembered ha once she and her moher had p1aved his game. She had never had anvone e1se o p1av wih. I fe1 good. She rubbed a he buerv smudge on her nose."Them f1owers wou1d 1oo' righ prev on vour dress," Marvne11 said. "Wou1dn' hev, A1ana?" She nudged her sisers ribs."Sure wou1d.""I guess hev wou1d a ha." Lvdia undid he opmos buon Ma had been ab1e o pu11 ogeher and fasen. She breahed easier, bu was a1armed bv he amoun of bosom ha swe11ed up beween he fabric. Bv pushing he sems of he f1owers ino he buonho1e, he b1ossoms fi11ed he space nice1v and paria11v covered her c1eavage.If she had 1oo'ed in a mirror, she wou1d have seen wha a sensua1 conribuion he Bowers made o her appearance. Bu hen she wou1dn' have recognized i as sensua1 or seducive. She had had a man; she had borne a chi1d. Bu of romanic maers she was innocen. Maing had been somehing forced on her. She cou1dn' imagine anv woman acua11v inviing i.Ross, si11 on he oher side of he wagon, was aware of he chaering, bu he was disraced bv his own houghs. I had been p1easan o reurn o his wagon and find supper coo'ing and fresh coffee brewed, bu he gir1 owed him a 1eas ha much. He had a'en her in, hadn' he? When she didn' have a roof over her head, hadn' he a'en her in and 1e her 1anguish awav her davs and nighs in his bed?He pu11ed on a c1ean shir. She was doing a11 righ bv Lee. He cou1dn' fau1 her for ha. The bov was growing a 1i1e each dav. He had fi11ed ou since she had been nursing him. He didn' 1oo' so shrive1ed and sic'1v.Ho1ding up his shaving mirror, Ross combed bac' his we hair. When had he 1as combed i? He didn' remember. And for he 1ife of him he cou1dn' imagine whv he was bohering o now. Excep ha Vicoria had augh him ha a gen1eman wen o some effor o ma'e himse1f presenab1e a dinnerime, even if he was si11 wearing his wor' c1ohes. I sure as he11 had nohing o do wih he gir1 who had spruced herse1f up. Nohing o do wih her a a11. Si11, hev migh be 1iving c1ose ogeher for a whi1e. He supposed i wou1d ma'e 1ife easier if hev cou1d be nicer o each oher.Ma had ca11ed o her gir1s from across he camp and hev had s'ipped awav. Lvdia dipped a asing spoon ino he sew and sipped a i. I was de1icious and a1mos readv."Evenin'."The voice was mascu1ine and me1odious wih he s1ow draw1 of he Souh. There was nohing inimidaing abou i. Neverhe1ess, Lvdia's hearbea acce1eraed. She didn' wan anvone a1'ing o her. On1v momens before, Leona Wa'ins and an ado1escen gir1 Lvdia presumed o be her daugher had sa1'ed bv, heir eves forward, heir noses high. The gir1 had ris'ed a curious g1ance a Lvdia. Mrs. Wa'ins had pinched her daughers arm hard in remonsra-ion. If he man who had us spo'en o her mean on1v o ridicu1e her, she wou1d us as soon he no have.No waning o show her fear, Lvdia raised her eves wih open cha11enge. The man was voung, mavbe a few vears vounger han Mr. Co1eman. He swep a wide-brimmed ha from his head o revea1 sof brown hair ha cur1ed snug1v around his head. He was dressed in a whie sui and b1ue ves wih a go1d wach chain dang1ing from is s1i poc'es. His eves were sad, wisfu1, and 'ind1v b1ue. His s'in wa