"We've imposed on your hospitality long enough. I guess we'll be traveling on sometime today," Ruth informed Olive in the morning. She wasn't looking forward to being alone with Kid, since he'd promised to make things uncomfortable for her, but she saw no way around it.

"No need for it to be today, is there? I'd like you to do me a favor first."

"If I can," she said with an agreeable smile.

"Help my blockhead brother see that Maude would make a better wife." Her eyes added a silent plea to the request.

"I'm not sure I can do that," Ruth said, the smile gone. "That seems a mite meddlesome."

"He doesn't really love Dorothy, you know. She just comes in a pretty packaging."

"I'm sure there must be something else he loves about her. She's just at that stage where she thinks the world revolves around her. Fortunately, most people grow out of that."

"Age ain't a reason to treat people like dirt. She just makes me so mad. He was making a fool of himself over her yesterday, waiting on her hand and foot, paying her all kinds of compliments, and she just acted as if she barely even noticed he was there. If she just let him down, easy, mind but let him down. Anyway, you might not know it, but I can tell he respects you. If you could drop him some hints, maybe he'd listen, and I'm sure that if we could get him to spend time with Maude, he'd see what a wonderful person she is. And with the cake gone, we got a perfect excuse to go over there."

"I'll ask to speak with Dorothy privately in order to distract her, but it's up to you to get him to spend time with Maude. I don't have any problems pointing out Maude's virtues though."

Olive smiled. "You really are heaven-sent."

"I'm not at all sure about that," Ruth answered.

They told Loren of their plans to return the platter after breakfast, and he didn't even need to be convinced to come along.

Kid hadn't been privy to this news, but he noted the 3 of them coming out of the house with Loren toting the platter.

He pulled Ruth aside. "Where are you going?"

"Loren, Maude, and I are going over to return the Appleby's cake platter."

"With that Jones fellow over there? I don't think so."

"I think so, and to tell you the truth, recent circumstance being what they are, I'm certain I'll be a whole safer with him than you."

"Well, be that as it may, I'm at the very least going with you."

"I suppose I can't lock you up in the barn as much as much as the thought appeals to me."

The four set off for the neighboring ranch.

"Maude's a good Christian girl, very sweet," Ruth said, seemingly out of the blue.

"Oh, I suppose," Loren agreed. "Don't talk much though."

"That's cause she's doing such careful listening. Wish I was gifted that way myself. You observe a lot more that way. Makes you more careful with people's thoughts and feelings. I know I blather on way too much," Ruth said.

"Most ministers do," Kid said with a twinkle in his eye.

Loren gaffed appreciatively.

"I enjoy your blather though," Kid added.

"You're not helping," she muttered, and he shot her a confused look.

Christopher Jones was carrying a bucket of slop in one hand and a bucket of the water in the other to take to the pigs when they reached the ranch and judging from the sweat of his brow, he'd been working hard for awhile though the day was still young.

"I'm so glad to see you again, Miss Ruth," Christopher said, "I know I've only been a Christian a couple of days, but I ain't never been happier in my life, and I've got God to thank for that."

Ruth smiled. "I'm glad to hear it. You going to stay on here permanently then?"

Kid waited for the answer with a smirk on his face. Why wouldn't he be here for awhile? He'd found a nice little hideout here. No one from his past was likely to look for him here. When the heat cooled, he could go back to shooting for the pure heck of it and whatever else he did.

"I think I'll stay another week or two. The time's giving me a chance to think what I want to do with my life now and most importantly to study God's word and then I'm going back to Santa Fe. I've got some people down there I need to settle things with, and I need to go see my brother. I can't leave him high and dry; I got to share with him what's happened to me and hope he'll give his life over to God too, and I'll admit my part in everything to the law and see what happens then."

Ruth looked proud. "I believe you're doing the right thing. I'll be praying for you."

"Thank you, Sister Ruth. I'll need all the prayers I can get. Well, if you'll excuse me, I don't speak pig, but them squeals sound like I want my breakfast to me."

Kid could help feeling bowled over by the exchange he'd witnessed. It seemed the man's change was genuine, but how could a few words at a Sunday service change so much; it hadn't even been particularly eloquent words. It just didn't make any earthly sense. As if Ruth could enter his thoughts, he heard her voice as clear as a bell, 'That's because it doesn't; it makes heavenly sense. Only God could move a man into doing a complete turn around.' And he didn't like what he heard.

They spotted Mr. Appleby over by the barn. Kid and Loren went over to say hi while Olive and Ruth went on up to the house.

Maude answered the door and invited them in. Judging from her apron, she'd been doing some cleaning.

"Where's your mother and sister?" Ruth asked after she'd invited them to sit down.

"Dorothy's still in bed and Ma's gathering the eggs."

"Knew that girl was lazy," Olive said.

"No, it's just she had a fight with our parents over Marcus last night, and well, sometimes she sleeps a little later than normal when she's upset."

Olive sniffed. "You mean she sulks in her room when she don't get her way. Don't improve my opinion any."

"Everybody's got their quirks," Maude said patiently. "They make us human."

"Amen, sister," Ruth said.

Kid and Loren had joined them again.

"Where's Dorothy?" Loren asked immediately.

"In bed," Olive was quick to answer.

"Well, she's got to get her beauty sleep," Loren said, making excuses for her.

Mrs. Appleby returned with the eggs. "It's so good of you all to stop by. You must have some cookies and lemonade," she said, looking on them kindly. "It's a long way to come on foot with summer here."

It didn't take Mrs. Appleby any time to wash up and bring the lemonade and cookies out. Ruth took a seat between Olive and Maude, feeling secure since she hadn't been forced to sit by Kid. Unfortunately, he managed to snag the seat across from her, but what could he do at a table full of people. Nonetheless, there was a mischief in his eyes that worried her.

She hadn't been at the table long when she about spilled lemonade on herself. She quickly set her glass down before she did and took a subtle peek under the table. The man had taken one of his shoes off and was rubbing her leg with his foot in a most inappropriate manner. Heat traveled up her body both in embarrassment and because the action didn't disgust her like it should have.

She pushed her chair away from the table, placing herself out of his reach, but eliciting a few curious stares in the process.

"I'm a little hot. Just trying to catch a breeze," she explained, hoping it would explain the redness away. She prayed to the Lord to forgive her for the white lie.

She looked at Kid who was looking amused and most pleased with himself. In her distraction, she bit into a cookie and then drank some more of her lemonade, souring the drink for her.

"You young people visit. I'll clear everything away," Mrs. Appleby said when they'd finished, and she refused to let anyone help when they tried.

They went back into the living room where they made idle chit chat. They were interested in hearing how Ruth had grown up since none of them had ever been east with the exception of Kid. It brought homesickness to Ruth again, but it wasn't as sharp as it had been at the first.

"You know I'm still a little hot. I believe I'd like to take a walk outside," Ruth said. "Kid, would you walk with me?"

Kid expected it was a trick of some sort, but he certainly wasn't going to say no to time alone with Ruth. "Of course."

That left Olive, Loren, and Maude.

"I believe I'll see how Mrs. Appleby is doing. I feel guilty leaving her to clean up by herself," Olive said, standing up.

Loren stood up with her. "I'll go with you."

"No, Mrs. Appleby don't seem likely to let a man into her kitchen," Olive said. When Loren stepped closer anyway, she whispered harshly, "You stay with Maude. It would be rude to leave her by herself."

Loren had no choice but to stay. He sat down again, alone with Maude. Silence hung heavy in the air. Neither quite knew what to say to the other.

"Your mother sure knows how to make tasty cookies," Loren said, breaking the uncomfortable silence at last.

Maude gave him a small smile. "She does, but I made this particular batch."

"Oh, well. They're really very good."

"Thank you."

More silence hung in the air.

"I know this is going to be a little personal, but can I ask you something?" Loren began.

A small ray of hope appeared in Maude's eyes. "You can ask me anything."

"I'm not very fancy with words, and I'm probably not the most exciting man around. Do you know how I could get that sister of yours to take notice of me?"

Maude looked deflated, but she tried her best to mask her emotions. "You summed it up in a nutshell. She wants pretty speech and a man who can make life exciting for her, but you shouldn't try to be something you're not. You'd wear yourself out trying if you even succeeded. My best advice is to find a girl who likes you for you."

"How can I when I'm already head over heels for Dorothy?" He sighed. "Do you have any idea what it's like to be over the moon for somebody and to feel like you're invisible to them like faded wallpaper or an old shoe?"

She smiled sadly. "I think I do. Let me go see if my sister's up."

Loren brightened and waited with anticipation, but Maude returned alone with a distressed look on her face. "Dorothy's not there, and from the look of things, she hasn't been there all night."