"You spent a lot of time with your sister," Kid observed when she finally came out with the dirty dishes.

"We had a lot to talk about."

"Trying to convince you she's innocent with some sob story?" he asked, taking the dishes for her as they made their way to the kitchen.

"She didn't have to convince me. I believe her." The rest of the dishes had been washed up. Ruth rolled up her sleeves and added more hot water from the kettle to the lukewarm dishwater.

"Why?" he asked, picking up the towel to dry.

"Call it sisterly intuition. You never know until you know, I guess, but I really don't think it's anyone in my family. I think it's—"

"Samuel," he finished for her.

"He was the only nonfamily member who made tracks in the snow, although he's looking to change that. He wants to marry Anna, but don't say anything about that to anyone. She's not ready to announce it." She handed him the last wet dish.

"And hopefully won't ever be if it was Samuel. Did you tell her of your suspicions?"

"I just got her on friendly terms with me again. She'll close up if I accuse her fiancé. She loves him." She picked up one end of the wooden tub and Kid got the other. They carried it outside and dumped it in the brittle winter grass.

"Well, I wouldn't be quick to prove her innocent then before I catch Samuel. Her punishment is keeping her away from him for the time being."

"Amen to that, but how are we going to catch him?"

"You mean how am I going to catch him. I'm working on a plan."

"And you ain't going to tell me what it is, are you?"

"You told me to trust you that it's not one of your family. Trust me to take care of this."

"I already do," she said, slipping her still wet hand into his.

sss

The following day was nippy, not really the kind of day for walking, but when you had spent as much time outdoors as Kid and Ruth, a house had a way of closing in on you after awhile, making you feel claustrophobic.

They walked past Robert's cabin.

"You seen inside?" Ruth asked.

She knocked on the door when he confirmed that he hadn't, but her brother wasn't there. "Robert won't care if we poke around inside."

She swung the door open, revealing a small but efficient space. Just enough room for a bed, stove, a table to eat at and a chair or two besides with a little floor space left in the middle. Not much light though. Just two small windows.

"So this is where you were born?"

"Yeah, Granny delivered me, Robert, and Laura right over there in that corner. I don't remember living here, but it made a great playhouse."

He smiled. "I'm sure it did. There's plenty of yard space. Why didn't he just expand the cabin when ya'll outgrew it?"

It flooded one year being so close to the river, so he decided to build on top of the hill instead. Don't think it's ever flooded so bad since, but you can't be too sure and you can't beat the view up there either."

"That's true."

"It suits Robert good though. He'll inherit the farm one day, and this way he gets to get some solitude, and if he ever marries, they'll have a nice little bungalow to themselves."

There was no fire going in the cabin, so they quickly left it and went on their way.

The barn wasn't far from the cabin. Robert and Clyde were inside feeding the animals.

They said hi to Ruth and then proceeded to kid her about her rundown horse.

"Carmel and I don't have to stand around and listen to your jabs," Ruth said teasingly indignant. "I believe I'm going to take her on a short walk. She's libel to get too used to a warm stable and refuse to pull the wagon."

Kid realized she was trying to give him the opportunity to get to know her brothers. He hadn't talked to them much and he wanted to learn everything he could about Samuel.

The barn became silent again except for the sound of hay being pitched. Kid grabbed a shovel and added to the pile that was being saved for the fields in spring.

"You two know Samuel very well?" he queried after a couple minutes. It wasn't a subtle question, but he was used to being direct.

"Why?" Robert asked guardedly.

"Just wondering is all. Wondering if your father banned him because he thinks he's a bad influence on your sister."

"Samuel's alright and Anna's alright too. Muddled about some things maybe, but I don't appreciate your gloating over it. You've done enough. This is a family matter."

"He's just trying to help, Robert," Clyde said. He didn't speak up often but when he did he had something to say. "It's not like he wanted Anna to be caught."

"Maybe not, but Ruth's having trouble believing it, ain't she, and you're trying to find another answer for her. Is that it?"

"More or less."

"See? He doesn't care a thing about Anna," Robert said to Clyde.

Kid returned the shovel to its spot. "You're wrong. I care a lot about this family because I care about Ruth."

Ruth returned with her horse and they were both ready to go warm up. Back inside, she led him to the bedroom. It was still daylight outside, but he had no complaints. He was grinning like a Cheshire cat as she slipped out of her dress until he saw she was simply putting on her good dress.

She caught his puzzled look. "Don't you know it's New Year's Eve? We go to church on New Year's Eve."

"Your family goes to church on New Year's Eve?" Kid echoed.

"Of course, it keeps people from being out drinking; it's the Methodist way. You can't get into trouble if you're in church, at least not much anyway," she replied, eyes sparkling with humor.

"Well, it sure ain't the Baptist way. Reckon I can stand it though," he said, moving to change out of his barn-smelling clothes.

"Course you can. It's good for the soul."

sss

They milled around the outside of the church, waiting for Laura and her family and the older Mrs. McKenzie, whom they hadn't yet informed of the latest events involving Anna. Anna had been released from her prison to attend church. She looked hopefully around for Samuel but didn't see him there. Though she reluctantly believed her daughter's guilt, Mary mothered Anna as much as Anna would allow.

The church service was about to start just as Mrs. McKenzie made it. They started filing their way in with Ruth and her grandmother last in the group.

"Where's Laura?" Ruth asked.

"Resting. Her feet and legs are swollen. Her time's getting near. And what about you? You going to be giving me some great grandbabies soon?"

"Granny," Ruth said, her cheeks warm.

"You're a married woman and you've helped deliver more than one baby into the world. No reason to be so prim," she said with a grin. More seriously she asked, "You two thought about what you going to do if you are blessed with a baby? I know you both got itchy feet, but you planning on settling down somewhere with your child?"

"Don't know. Never really talked about it, but we haven't been blessed yet. Plenty of time to talk about it."

"Ain't from lack of trying though, is it?" she continued with a sly grin.

"Granny, you're terrible," Ruth chastised, embarrassed and amused, hoping Kid, who was no more than a foot in front of them, wasn't hearing the conversation.

"What? I was young once. I know what it's like to be newlyweds in love."

Ruth just shook her head, smiling to herself.

"People say you're more like me or your daddy, but you got plenty of your mother in you with that staunch puritan streak of yours. Don't worry about me though. I'll spend the whole service repenting."

Ruth laughed as they took a seat on the pew.

The pastor sermonized on making the new year, a year for the Lord and encouraging them to add more prayer time, Bible reading, and good deeds to their new year's resolutions.

It was dark when they returned. Farm chores came whatever day it was and there was no use wasting candlelight or oil to see the new year come in, so everyone went to bed at a decent hour as per normal.

Kid had trouble sleeping. He watched the hours melt away as he periodically checked his pocket watch, which finally showed midnight.

"Happy New Year, baby," he said, waking Ruth with a kiss.

"It's 1829 already?" she mumbled sleepily, eyes still shut.

"Yeah," he said with a tender smile.

"Happy New Year, honey," she said with a yawn.

He kissed her forehead and then she turned back onto her side, facing the window. He nestled in behind her, a definite perk to the small bed. He knew one thing. Thanks to her, it was the first New Year's in a long time that filled him with hope and anticipation of what lay in store. There was only one dark mar to it, but he didn't intend to let her be alone until they left this place.