Chapter 5

I want to say yes,I want to shout it out at the top of my lungs,but this isn’t my folks’barn in the lower field,this is the county fair,and with Jolene around,there’s nowhere we can be alone.Unsure,I start,“Where…”

Davis nods towards the front of the truck,and for a moment I think he means for us to get in thecab.How private is that?But then I see the split rail fence and the wave of tall grass growing beyond the edges of the fairgrounds.“Out there?”I want to know.

In lieu of a reply he takes my wrist,his hand slipping easily into mine as he helps me off the tailgate.Over my shoulder I call out,“Hold down the fort,Jo.I’ll be back.”

We only take two steps towards the fence before my sister cuts in front of me,blocking the way.“Oh,no,mister,”she says with an angry shake of her head.“My job was the pigs and they’reall gone so don’t try to dump the crops on me,too.Where y’all going anyway?Don’t you dare run off and leave me here.I’ll tell Pa.”