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month?’’ Then her face puckered. ‘‘What is that?’’
    ‘‘What is what?’’
    ‘‘A month.’’
    ‘‘Oh . . . a month?’’
    ‘‘Uh-huh.’’
    Harley cocked one eyebrow, searching for a way to explain. ‘‘A month is about four weeks.’’ Dottie’s expression didn’t clear. ‘‘You know what months are. They’re on your mama’s calendar in the kitchen—January, February, March . . .’’
    Dottie brightened. ‘‘Oh! You mean I’d get gumdrops in Janarary and Febeeary and all the months?’’
    Harley blew out a breath of relief. ‘‘That’s right.’’
    ‘‘I’d like that, Daddy.’’
    Harley grinned. Good. This would be easy, then. ‘‘Well, guess what, doll? Daddy’s gonna take a job that’ll give us enough money for me to buy you gumdrops every month.’’
    Dottie squealed and bounced her bottom against the bed. The noise startled Margie, whose lower lip poked out. Harley lifted her and placed her on his stomach. She toyed with his nose and lips as he spoke to Dottie. ‘‘Daddy’s gonna go build a castle.’’
    ‘‘Like in my storybook?’’
    Harley remembered the fairy tale book Annie had read to the girls. ‘‘Yeah. Just like in your book.’’
    ‘‘Can I be the princess in it? And let my hair grow real, real long like in the story?’’
    Harley had a hard time answering this time. Dottie’s brighteyed innocence nearly broke his heart. It would be plenty hard to walk down the road, away from his sweet-faced little girl. ‘‘Well, Dottie-doll, you’re gonna have to stay here with Mama instead of livin’ in that castle. The castle’s pretty far away.’’
    Dottie chewed her lower lip, and her forehead wrinkled. Finally she said, ‘‘You aren’t building the castle here?’’
    Harley swallowed. ‘‘No.’’
    Dottie sat up on her knees. ‘‘Where you gonna go, Daddy?’’
    ‘‘A place called Lindsborg. It’s a far walk, but I’ll be back when the castle’s done.’’
    Dottie threw herself against his chest, dislodging Margie, who set up an immediate howl of protest. ‘‘I don’t need gumdrops every month, Daddy. You stay here. Okay? Okay, Daddy?’’ Her shrill voice pierced Harley’s ears. And his heart.
    If Harley had been a praying man, he’d have started seeking the Lord’s help right then. Margie squalled in one ear and Dottie begged in the other while he patted and cajoled, but nothing he did seemed to help at all.
    Annie rushed into the room. She took the baby, leaving Harley the task of comforting Dottie. Harley wrapped both arms around the little girl and rocked her back and forth.
    ‘‘Listen to me, Dottie-doll. Daddy’s only gonna be gone for a little while. An’ when I come back, I’ll get you those gumdrops, just like I promised, okay?’’
    Dottie pushed her hands against his chest, freeing herself. Hooking her heels on the edge of the mattress, she pulled herself from the bed, then stood, glaring at him. Her look of betrayal stung worse than his daddy’s belt ever had. ‘‘I don’t want no gumdrops!’’ She ran from the room.
    Harley pushed himself off the mattress and took two steps toward Annie. Margie, in Annie’s arms, put her fingers in her mouth. Plump tears quivered on her lower lashes. Harley toyed with the baby’s hair as he stood silently beside his wife.
    ‘‘Annie, I—’’
    ‘‘Don’t talk to me, Harley.’’ Her voice, like Dottie’s, stung like a lash. ‘‘You said you were going, so just go.’’ Without a glance in his direction, she charged down the hall, carrying Margie with her.
    He stood in the middle of the floor, his hands balled into fists. Follow her, his thoughts urged. Make her understand . He swallowed his own temper and followed, but he stopped at the end of the hall and watched Annie plunk Margie into the high chair and tie a bib around the baby’s neck. She yanked out a kitchen chair, seated herself, and slid a fried egg onto a plate. Using a fork, she chopped the