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filled the room. Every time she closed her eyes, her mind filled with the image of a poor bunny in the grip of a predator. She’d tossed and turned until finally falling asleep in the early hours of the morning.
    Tightening the belt on her robe, she squared her shoulders. Buck up, she told herself firmly. This wasn’t the city. There’d be a lot of different sights and sounds, and if she wanted to fit in, she needed to learn how to adapt. She couldn’t go running to her husband every time she was faced with something strange.
    Problem resolved, she made her way out of the bedroom and down the hall. At the top of the stairs, she paused. The smell of fried bacon and fresh coffee drifted up the stairwell and her stomach growled in response. At least there was one advantage to her mother-in-law staying with them . . . Breakfast.
    As she approached the kitchen, she heard Joe’s chuckle and stopped.
    “It was a rabbit, Ma,” he said, his voice filled with humor.
    Trudy answered in a low voice, but Kate was too far away to make out her words. She took a few steps and stopped.
    “Superstition and old family legends,” Joe said, the humor gone. “And I don’t want you filling Kate’s head with a bunch of nonsense.”
    “I tell you, it’s a sign,” Trudy replied, her voice louder.
    “Don’t be silly—”
    Kate heard the clatter of something hitting the sink.
    “Your grandmother heard that scream, and two months later, she received word that your uncle had been shot down over Vietnam.”
    A chill tickled the back of Kate’s neck.
    “Grandma was a flake. She wound up in the nursing home not knowing which way was up,” he shot back. “And according to Dad, she never mentioned that old tale until after Uncle Fred was killed.”
    “I don’t care what you say. For over one hundred and forty years, people in this family—”
    A chair scraped across the kitchen floor.
    “Come on, Ma. Do you really believe some rabbit meeting its fate is a harbinger of doom?”
    “My boy . . .” Trudy’s voice took on a tone Kate had not yet heard her use—soft, gentle, and full of love. “I raised you strong, and you’ve always made me proud. I couldn’t bear it if something happened to you.”
    “Ah, Ma,” Joe replied sheepishly, “I’ll be okay. Don’t fuss over those silly old stories.”
    “I can’t help it. Your new wife—”
    “Hey,” Joe cut her off, his voice teasing, “haven’t I always told you that you’re my best girl?”
    Kate felt a stab of jealousy.
    “Yes.”
    “Look, Kate’s my wife—and I love her—but you’re my mother.” The teasing tone was gone and he sounded deadly serious. “You think I’m going to forget everything that you did for me growing up?”
    “No.”
    “You and Kate just try and get along, and everything will be fine. No more talk about that stupid legend, okay?”
    Kate strained to hear Trudy’s low reply, but she was too far away.
    “I’ve got to get going. When Kate gets up, tell her—”
    No, he couldn’t leave before she had the chance to see him. Hurrying into the kitchen, Kate shoved the overheard conversation out of her mind.
    “Good morning,” she said brightly and quickly crossed to where her husband stood at the counter. She stood on tiptoes and raised her face for a kiss. When Joe bussed the side of her cheek, her smile slipped.
    Kate turned and greeted her mother-in-law.
    Trudy’s eyebrows lifted in response and flicked a hand toward the table. Any softness she might have shown during her conversation with Joe had disappeared. “Have a seat. The bacon’s getting cold.”
    Joe pulled out the chair for Kate and, once she was settled, looked first at his mother, then at Kate.
    “I’m going into town,” he said, draining the last of his coffee. “I’m meeting Tom, then we’re driving over to the Rodman place to see if we can talk some sense into Ed.”
    “Humph,” Trudy snorted, “that’ll be the day. He’s known all along that fence line