Jud

"Well, seems like I ought to thank you" Aunt Eller greeted him as he came in for dinner. "Laurey told me what happened."

"Just did what anyone else'd do. It really weren't anythin'—"

"Oh, that ain't true at all! Aunt Eller, you should've seen him!" Laurey interrupted as she descended the stairs. "He was so brave, he just burst right into the house. Didn't even think of himself, or see if they were armed or anythin', just came right in and rescued me."

"Awful lucky you was out in the fields at night 'stead of in the smokehouse"

He forced himself to meet her level gaze. "Yeah, I guess it was."

"I may've burned your pie a little bit." Laurey chirped, seemingly unaware of the tension, or maybe trying to diffuse it. "'M awfully sorry, but I can make you another one later this week, maybe. Gotta practice my baking some more before the social anyhow. Want my basket to go for more than it did last year."

They sat at the table and Laurey turned to face her aunt. "How was Kansas City? How's Mary feelin'?" She looked across at Jud, "Mary and Aunt Eller've known each other since they were girls. Moved out to the Territory around the same time, too. But then she got awful sick a little while ago." She filled him in, as though he were always a part of their conversations, as though he'd always had a right to know what was going on in their lives.

"Mary's feelin' better. Seems like it was just a scare."

"Did you go out at all? Heard there's lots to do in Kansas City. How'd you like it?"

"I liked it just fine, nice seein' new things sometimes. City's gotten awful crowded, though."

"Uh-huh" she turned to Jud again, resting her chin on her hand. "You ever been to Kansas City, Jud?"

"Uh" his mind slowed; she'd never asked him a direct question at dinner before. "Yeah, been to Kansas City a couple times. 'Fore I started workin' here."

"Did you also think it was too crowded?"

"Yeah, but I don't mind crowds too much."

She giggled, leaning forward slightly. "'Course not. Tall man like you could just see over everyone else."

"Uh-huh" he wasn't much taller than average, but he wasn't about to argue.

"If I ever go to Kansas City, I'll be sure to take you with me, so I can just sit on your shoulders and not get crushed by all the people."

Jud nearly dropped his fork—was she flirting with him? "Yeah" was all he could think to say, but she giggled and rubbed the back of her neck like he'd paid her a compliment.

"Laurey, eat up" Aunt Eller reminded her before she could say anything more, "been through a lot, but you can't forget to eat."

Laurey's eyes narrowed and slid over to her so fast, Jud half expected her to hiss like a kitten. But instead, she mumbled a yes. When they finished, Aunt Eller hustled her into helping clean up so she couldn't talk any more about sitting on his shoulders.

Before he could get annoyed, though, Laurey reached out and lightly touched his arm. "Don't forget your pie. And I will make another. Anytime you like."

"Right. Thank you" he took the pie pan and a fork and headed to the smokehouse.