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"Megan, Justin, I got a ribbon!" Bonnie came running across the field holding a scrap of white ribbon in her hands.
"Good for you," Justin said, smiling as she approached. "Third place. That's wonderful. There were lots of kids bigger than you."
"I know." She quivered with pride. "I got a ribbon."
Megan bent down and gave her a hug. "I'm very proud of you, Bonnie. I saw how you concentrated on the race when other children were distracted by what was going on."
Bonnie grinned. "I'm gonna be in the sack race next. This time I'm going to win!" She pressed the ribbon into Megan's hand, then took off running, back to the center of the field.
"Is that them?" Justin asked, pointing.
Megan turned and saw a wagon driving away. She recognized the boy in the back and nodded. "Yes. The next time they come into town, I'm going to tell that woman what really happened." She glared at her brother-in-law. But he was across the crowded lawn and didn't even notice. "I can't believe he did that." She sat back down under the tree.
Justin flopped down next to her and picked up a piece of grass. "Believe it," he said, and started chewing on the short stalk. "People are basically bad."
"You can't mean that."
"No? Look at what just happened. Gene slapped a kid and no one will believe the boy."
"That's different. Gene is a minister. He's not supposed to behave that way.''
"People always act worse than you think they're going to. That's what I've learned."
She shifted against the bark of the tree. The scent of springtime drifted to her. The grass and flowers, the lingering smell of fried chicken and stew, of biscuits and ale from some barrel down by the stream. The calls of the children, the buzz of flies and conversation. It was all so normal.
"I refuse to think the world is a bad place."
"It's not the world, it's everyone in it."
"You're a cynic/'
"You're too innocent."
He lay next to her on the blanket, his long lean body stretched out, his booted feet crossed at the ankles. She was between him and the crowd on the lawn. She felt a faint tug on her sleeve. He pulled her hand down between them and covered it with his own.
She'd turned her wrist so they were palm to palm and their fingers laced. Only then did she think she probably should have pulled back rather than allow him the liberty. It wasn't safe. Then she leaned her head back and stared at the perfect Kansas sky. She was tired of doing the right thing. The right thing left her feeling alone.
"There's no news on Bonnie's family," Justin said, breaking into her thoughts.
"I didn't know you'd been checking."
"I promised her I would."
Justin's word meant everything, she thought sadly. When he made a promise, he kept it. Unlike herself. She'd given her word, then gone back on it.
"I've sent telegrams to several towns, but I'm beginning to wonder if Laurie Smith was her mother's real name."
"It would be easy to change it and start over," she said.
"Not as easy as you would think."
She glanced down at Justin, but his eyes were closed. If not for the thumb rubbing along the back of her hand, she might have thought he was asleep. "Did you try to start over?"
"Sure. And look where I ended up."
"Landing's not so bad."
"Maybe not for you. But for Bonnie and that boy Gene slapped, it's not perfect."
"I know it's not perfect, it's just..." She shook her head. Why was she defending this town? She had her own troubles, trying to find a balance between being respectable and living her life. As she grew older, she found she wanted more. Seven years ago, everything had been so clear. Now she wasn't sure.
She watched the children line up for the sack race. Bonnie looked over at her and grinned. Megan waved. Sunlight
caught the child's long dark hair, making it shine. Bonnie grabbed the edge of the sack and pulled it up to her chest. Her chin thrust out in determination.
Bonnie was six. Megan bit her lower lip. She could have had a child that age. If she'd married Justin and gone away with him. What would have happened to them? Her father would have disowned her. Colleen, as well. At seventeen she hadn't been able to imagine a worse fate. Better to live out her days alone than risk her family's and the town's disapproval.
