Dear Sweet Journal, May 21st 1897

Today was lovely. I gave Sam, the onion picker, a jar of my spiced peaches in return for a sack of his onions. I was happy to have the onions because I could use it as another ingredient in my award winning peaches. I also hope that if I get sick, the onions could help me get better.

Dear Sweet Journal, May 22nd 1897

The School house has gone through a lot of damage lately. Sam came by this afternoon and gave me another sack of onions. The roof of the school house leaks, therefore Sam offered to fix it, in exchange for six jars of spiced peaches. Although Trout walker asked me to ride on his new boat, today is turning out to be a perfect day!

"It was many and many a year ago. In a kingdom by the sea. That a maiden there lived whom you may know. By the name of Annabel Lee. And this Maiden she lived with no other thought. Then to be loved and be loved by me. She was a child and iwas a child. In this kingdom by the sea. But we loved with love that was more than love. I and my Annabel Lee."

Dear Sweet Journal, May 23rd 1897

I ran out of things Sam could fix in the classroom. The roof, the window, and the door have all been fixed by Sam. As I write there are my tears on the page. I am sitting listening to the pitter patter upon the roof top.

I ran to Sam on the street with the rain soaking my clothes. My heart was breaking and I knew that Sam could fix it. Then he kissed me. I didn't care which race e was of. Under our skin we are the same. "We are all equal under the eyes of God."

Dear Sweet Journal, May 24th 1897

Tonight I am especially sad. Someone must have seen Sam and I kissing because the town's people, including Trout, burned down the school house. The sheriff was no help—and drunk. A few minutes later Sam was shot. Now not a single drop of rain falls on Green Lake. Not one drop.

Dear Journal, May 27th 1897

I have decided to change my choice of clothing. Instead of a long skirt and a button down, I wore a red dress with blood red lipstick. I killed the sheriff with my gun and planted tat kiss he wanted on him. I thought that that would be the last time I'd ever kill a person. I knew Sam wouldn't have liked it but I felt different now.

Dear Journal, May 24th 1917

Exactly 20 years after Sam was killed.

"Kissin' Kate charged with Robbery and Murder!" "Elude Posse!" "Dead or Alive?" Kissin' Kate Barlow is my new name. I haven't written in this journal for about twenty years now. Still not a drop of water touched Green Lake. My hat is my only shade. Being here next to Sam's boat makes me remember why I am Kissin' Kate Barlow. I know that I'm crazy, and I'm only going to get crazier. Heck, I've been wishin' I was dead for a long time. I buried all the loot I've stolen, in shame. Without Sam, how can I protect myself against yellow-spotted lizards? All the peach trees died and there was nothing left in the Lake except for a pond of dirty water. Now all I can do is wait. Wait to be dead and wait to be with Sam…

"You and your children, and their children can dig for the next hundred years. And you'll never find it….."