Julie R. Neidlinger: Lone Prairie Blog

Blogathon 2006: Chapter 27.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 0 comments link this post

Dove sat back in his chair, seeing Lily for the first time, understanding why her very presence made him feel as if he had already wasted away.

"I knew Garnet," he said softly. "I kissed her once."

Lily's face took on a look of sympathy, and she smiled ever so slightly at him. "I know. You were someone to her and there were lots that wanted to be in such a position. She was a beautiful woman."

"The settlers came, first. I can't begrudge them the coming, since my family had done so before, but I felt the loss of space keenly. They poured across the land leaving ruts and carcasses of cattle and loved ones who couldn't take the dry land. The crossed the land, hating it, only wanting to get to somewhere beyond, marking it up on their way through."

Her eyes flashed. "I hated them for it. I grew to hate them for coming and to hate them for not staying." She paused. "How can a person feel hate for being crowded and hate for being lonely at the same time?"

"It's the law of the desert born," Dove said. "Far blows the wind through this place, over on the dry side, until they get to where the long grass blows. It had nothing to do with you."

"But it did, because of what happened that changed my burning hills to the Ruby Hills. And it has everything to do with you because you were there."

< Start . Next >

Labels: blogathon