When Erica awakened the following morning, she couldn't remember where she was at first. Then she looked around and remembered. She tried to sit up and found that her whole body ached. She noticed that the others had awakened ahead of her. Her eyes met Yuri's, but neither of them said anything.
Willa Jean graciously cooked up a big batch of grits, eggs, toast, and bacon for everyone. Yuri stared at the grits, bewildered.
"What is it?" he whispered to Erica.
"Grits."
He still looked at her blankly.
"They're made from corn. Maize."
He nodded with understanding and began to eat.
The rest of the group all chatted excitedly with Tex and Willa Jean. Only Yuri and Erica were silent.
"How is it that your house is still intact?" Jed wanted to know.
"Not too many people know about this road," Tex told him. "It's a ways back from the main highway."
"An ideal place to last out the war," Matt commented.
"Except that we want more than just to last out the war," Jed reminded him. "We want to take back everything that's been taken from us and send the Commies running with their tails tucked between their legs."
The others all heartily agreed.
"You remind me of my boy Bud," Tex told Jed. "That there's his picture."
"Where is he now?"
"Commies killed 'im."
"I'm very sorry for your loss."
"In his memory, I won't rest 'till every Commie's in the ground."
"Tex." Willa Jean's voice held gentle admonishment.
"Well, 'till they're all sent back to where they came from, anyway," Tex amended.
After breakfast the guys all went to help Tex take care of the horses and cows and do other work around the ranch while Erica stayed inside to help Willa Jean with the housework. Willa Jean told Erica about her lost son Bud, and Erica told Willa Jean about Toni. The two women bonded through their shared sorrow.
At lunchtime the guys all came back in, and Willa Jean and Erica fed them. Erica couldn't help but wonder whether Tex suspected the truth about Yuri. If he did, he gave no indication of it.
After lunch, Willa Jean settled down to watch her soap operas while the guys all went back outside. Erica followed them, noticing that Yuri hung back a little from the others. He glanced back at her, and when she'd caught up to him, he took her hand and walked with her in the opposite direction from the others. They arrived at a bale of hay that was large enough for them to sit behind without being seen.
"Did it go all right this morning?" Erica asked anxiously.
"It was all right. I work just like the others. They leave me alone."
"Does Tex still think you're a West German named Franz?"
"He still think I am West German, yes. I feel bad to fool him. He is good man, and you are good woman. Very pretty too." Once again Yuri's lips began to move toward hers, and this time they met. Hips lips were warm and moist against hers, and she felt a thrill go down her spine as his arms went around her and held her close.
I just kissed a Commie. The thought flashed in her mind with startling clarity, and she stiffened.
"What is wrong, Erica?" Yuri's eyes were full of concern.
She shook her head as she backed away slightly.
"I am sorry. I did not mean to scare you," Yuri said.
"It's all right," she mumbled. "I suppose we should get back to work now." She could still feel her heart hammering madly in her chest as they went to rejoin the others.