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hopeful or optimistic. I might even call it brave.”
    “Brave? What’s brave about getting married?”
    Emily laughed. “Oh, my dear, it’s the bravest thing two people can do at any age. To pledge yourself to someone forever—no matter what comes—that takes nerve. I suppose the Lord made us to have all the fluttery, falling-in-love feelings because He knew we’d never hitch up otherwise.”
    Mayfair jumped in. “They’re too old to have children, aren’t they?”
    Emily laughed again, and Margaret joined in, although she flushed a little when she saw Henry grinning behind the steering wheel.
    “Yes, they’re well past that age, but they may not be past, well,” she glanced around the car. “Other things.”
    Margaret’s blush deepened, and she faced forward, trying to avoid everyone’s eyes, most particularly Henry’s. She’d readabout the sexual revolution, birth control, and feminism, but she didn’t want any part of it. She wanted to simplify her life, not complicate it. And she certainly didn’t want to think about those things when two people old enough to be her great-grandparents were involved.
    “Grandma, when are you thinking of getting a cow?”
    Margaret could have hugged Henry for the sudden change in conversation.
    “Oh, I’m in no hurry. I’ll need someone to milk her every day, so I’ll have to sort that out first. I could manage most days, but mornings can be hard on these old joints of mine.”
    “I can do it,” Henry offered.
    “Henry, I still have hopes of you finishing college. You have only a year and a half to go. But maybe you could take it over while you’re at home.”
    “I could learn,” Margaret offered. “Is it hard?”
    Henry snorted. “It is if you’re prissy about it.”
    “Who says I’m prissy?”
    Henry darted a glance at her. “I’m just saying you’ve got to let the cow know who’s in charge. Be ready to throw an elbow or block her when she tries to put a foot in the bucket.”
    Margaret rolled her eyes. He was just trying to intimidate her. “Guess my teacher had better be pretty good, then.”
    Henry puffed his chest out a little.
    “Miss Emily, think you could teach me?”
    “Oh, a hard worker like you would be a natural.” Emily patted her on the shoulder.
    Margaret was pleased to see Henry deflate.
    “And you’ve always been good with animals. Not sentimental, either. I think slaughtering the hog last fall was harder on me than it was on you, and you’re the one who fed that critter most days.”
    “Well, it made me a little sad, but I do like bacon. I justreminded myself that was his purpose every time I went out there to feed him.”
    Emily turned to Mayfair. “Child, you think you might like some fresh milk and homemade butter?” Mayfair nodded, eyes shining. “Just like Heidi—except she drank goat milk and ate toasted cheese. Do you think we could make cheese?”
    Emily laughed. “That’s a tall order, but we could give it a try.” She slapped her knee. “Well, then, I think between the four of us we might manage a cow. Henry, you and I will go to the stockyards next week and see what we can find.”

5
    A T HOME THAT EVENING , Henry considered what it was Frank asked him as they were leaving. Frank didn’t have any family left, and he told Henry he’d always thought Casewell would stand up with him if he ever got married. But since Casewell was gone, he wondered if Henry might do the honors.
    Henry sat out on the porch, feet up on the railing, breath clouding the air as he pondered the question. He liked Frank, had known the old man since he could remember. Somehow Frank and his dad seemed to have a special bond. Henry remembered his father saying Frank saved his life once, but Henry always assumed it was an exaggeration. Still, who knew? Maybe the old guy really had saved him. Probably kept him from getting kicked in the head by a cow or something. He couldn’t picture Dad doing anything really dangerous.
    He thought