Sun shines through the square window in Granddad's loft. It's the mornin' of our last full day at the farm. Our final goat-sled test day. I watch Ro sleepin', his fair head adrift in dreams, and I recall my own, or parts of it, anyways. I cain't deny the truth now—that I am meant to go out into the world with this man. Everything about being with him feels right. But there was more to that dream, wasn't there? I'm purdy sure Granddad made an appearance, but that part's hazy now. All I cain see is Ro walkin' next to me toward a blue horizon.

I got me a faint nigglin' that I should feel a sense of urgency, but I cain't seem to push that feelin' all the way to the surface. Instead, I finger Ro's glossy hair, then rub the golden stubble grown back on his chin. He smiles and them blue eyes open, givin' me the once over.

"Good morning." He traces the outline of my bare shoulder with his fingers.

I give him a good morning all right, a very good morning judgin' from his reactions, and when that's over I lie back down with my head buried in his chest.

"I never did tell you how pretty you looked in that blue dress, May." His voice is still sleepy, peaceful. "I'm sorry it got ruined."

"Ain't like I need it now." What good would it do me out there on the dust? But I must confess, I've packed Ma's silver hair clip to take with us. There're some things you just cain't leave behind.

A poundin' on the door sets us both bolt upright. Shit. That's the only word that comes to mind fer about five seconds. And then it hits me all at once—Granddad's warnin', the farm fallin' to pieces and me runnin' fer my life. Ain't it just like Granddad? Even in a dream, he shows up too late to do any good. Had he gotten himself into my brain one day earlier, we could have heeded his warnin' and been gone by now.

Well, there's no sense in dwellin' on all that. I gotta calm myself, keep from panickin'.

"Stay up here," I tell Ro while pullin' my coveralls on. "Hide yerself. Whoever it is, I'll git rid of 'em."

"May, wait." He pulls on my arm as I move to go down the ladder. The poundin' on the front door repeats itself.

"Whoever it is is gonna invite himself in soon, Ro. He ain't gonna go away simply cuz we don't respond." Ro sets his face to one of dissatisfaction, but he lets me go and hugs Frank to his chest instead.

I climb down from the loft, and head to the front door. When I open it, there stands Orin's pa, just like I suspected.

"Why, Mr. Longbow, hello there." I give him a big smile. "You must've read my mind about how lonesome I've been out here. How nice of you to pay a visit. You wanna come in?"

"Miss Stebbins." Jacob Longbow removes his hat and enters the house. "Don't mind if I do. Been walkin' all night to git here."

"And with that wind against you, too. Well now, you must be exhausted. Yer welcome to sleep in my folks' old room, case you're in need of a rest."

"I thank you kindly." He slumps into a seat at the table and adjusts his belt to compensate fer his repositioned girth. "I wish I had time fer sich luxuries as rest, but I'm afraid I've business with you of a pressin' matter."

"Is it my Granddad?" I cain't feel no dread at what his response might be. I only wanna know fer certain his life is over, so I cain get on with my own.

"No, Miss Stebbins, it's not yer Granddad, though I'm afraid his absence don't look too promisin'. I'm not sure in good conscience I cain let a young lady remain out here on her own. I told him as sich, on account of all the time he spent at my tavern that he'd have to tend to you better or else find you a husband. But he flat out refused." He raises an eyebrow like he really hopes I'm understandin' what he's sayin' and maybe what he's leavin' unsaid too. "I know you love yer Granddad, he's yer kin and that means something. But his obstinance in regards to yer welfare went against what I know is right, you see?"

I nod like I cain't see, in fact. Play it like I'm too dumb to know where this is goin'. Course, he's just lookin' out fer me, just like his son was, sich upstandin' gentlemen as they are. Did Granddad git in the way of those honorable intentions of his? It seems likely. I cain't believe I hadn't thought of this before, especially after Orin showed up and made his own intentions known.

"Anyways, prospects fer yer future is a conversation to have after I've discussed that pressin' matter with you first."

"Well, all right." It takes all the strength I cain muster not to burst into tears. I have my answer, just like I wanted. I know it even if it don't make no sense to feel such a certainty after months of nothing but uncertainty: Granddad's dead. No way would he leave me to deal with the likes of Jacob Longbow and his son all on my own. Granddad may have been a lot of no good things, but he loved me, in his way, and he hated the Longbows' unsettlin' interest in me. Jacob knows more about Granddad's last moments then he's lettin' on, but as much as I wanna, it'd be unwise to press the issue at this juncture.

"Seems we have a dangerous lawbreaker in our parts. You know anything about that?"

"A lawbreaker?" I hold my hand up to my heart fer effect. "Am I in danger out here all by my lonesome?"

"You might be, Miss Stebbins. You probably are in fact. You sure you ain't heard about this criminal?"

"How could I have? Yer the first person I've seen since I came to town lookin' fer Granddad."

"Well, that just makes what I've gotta discuss with you that much more difficult fer me. Cuz I sent my son Orin out this way to check on you over a week ago, and no one's heard from him since. But you say you ain't seen him, huh?"

"I think I'd remember that, sir." I cluck my tongue and shake my head. "I cain't believe this. Do you suppose Orin had a run-in with this lawbreaker yer talkin' about on the way out here?"

"Cain't say fer sure. That's the assumption we're goin' with, though. I sent word to the officer's camp and they agreed to come out this way to search the area. Should be here sometime later today. Thought I'd let you know, 'fore you get alarmed at the presence of all them strangers."

"I appreciate you thinkin' of me, especially in light of yer son's disappearance. I cain't even begin to imagine how tryin' this must be fer you." I place my hand on his arm and give it a pat. Jacob puts his other hand on mine and holds it there.

"You know, gettin' to the rest of our conversation, I gotta tell you Miss Stebbins, ain't no need fer you to stay on this dust-blown no-good farm ferever. Not when there's opportunities in town fer a purdy girl sich as yerself." He gives me a tar-filled grin, just like his son's. I try to pull my hand back, but he holds it there.

"Oh yeah? What kind of opportunities?"

He leans in towards me. "I think you know, Miss Stebbins. Girl like you could make me some money and do well fer herself besides. You'd be taken real good care of. Now, I know Orin has a fancy fer you, and who cain blame him. Soon as he's found, I'm sure he'd be glad yer takin' up residence above the tavern. Him and me, 'tween the two of us, we could teach you real good how to be pleasin' to the menfolk." He licks his lips, takes in a real heavy breath, like he's picturin' just what kind of teachin' he's gonna give me.

"I'm not sure I'm the kind of girl yer lookin' fer, Mr. Longbow."

"Oh, come now Miss Stebbins. Yer young and poor and desperate. Yer exactly the kind of girl I'm lookin' fer."

I close my eyes and pray that Ro stays hidden up in that loft, cuz I cain just imagine him goin' all Frank on Jacob Longbow's ass after listenin' to him shoot his mouth at me. But I don't need no more messes to clean up, not with the lawfolk descendin' on my farm later today. What I need is fer Jacob Longbow to go away.

"Mr. Longbow, I promise you I will take yer offer into consideration. But right now, the goats need milkin' and I've gotta think about hostin' a group of hungry men in a few hours. Now, yer welcome to stay and rest here, like I said previous, but I really must attend to my chores."

"Of course." Finally, Jacob lets go. He must think he's got me right where he wants me. "I'd love to stay, but I need to meet them officers four miles north of here so we cain investigate the area 'round Simmons Crossing 'fore headin' back to yer place. Now, won't them lawfolk gawk when they catch sight of you, purdy girl. Might even want to think 'bout startin' yer job early. I cain set that up fer you, just keep that in mind. Make sure none of 'em git too rough."

"Like I said, I'll consider it." I walk him to the door. "I hope you find Orin, Mr. Longbow."

Jacob puts his hat back on and gits to the act of leavin' my property. "Don't you worry about that, Miss Stebbins. Me and eight lawfolk—I think we cain handle it. Bye now."

I wait till he crosses the yard, cuts through the used-to-be fields, and passes over the horizon 'fore shuttin' myself back inside. Eight lawfolk. Eight! They must want Ro in shackles real bad fer what he done. I lean against the door, and here comes Ro down from his hidin' spot. He clings to me, breathes in the scent of my hair.

"You don't know how close I was to leaning Frank over the railing and blowing his head apart. The things he said to you...."

I kiss him and gently push him away. "You showed real restraint. But now we gotta pick up and go. If we hurry, we cain git out of here 'fore we ever gotta deal with that man again."

There won't be no more test runs. It's now or never. Just like in my dream, there ain't no time to say goodbye to the only home I've ever known. And Granddad? He's dead, I'm sure of it, but as to who's responsible, I'll never have that answered neither, though I will always suspect Jacob Longbow had a hand in it.

Much as I might like to, this ain't no occasion to wallow. We make our preparations, harvest everything from the garden that we cain, harness the girls, and hope the desert will protect us, cuz surely, there ain't no one else who will.

A/N: Orin Longbow's absence has been noted, the lawfolk are coming, and if May and Ro don't get out of there NOW, they're in big trouble. Of course, just to complicate my characters' lives further, there's also a storm brewing. Will our young couple escape in time? Will the lawfolk catch up with them or will the storm take out May and Ro first?

Votes this chapter will go to the Official Committee to Recall Jacob Longbow. Unfortunately for May, there aren't too many people in town brave enough to challenge the likes of Town Leader Longbow. Are you one of the brave? If so, please give to the recall campaign by clicking that golden star. Thank you!!!

Today's dedication is for a tremendous talent, _Ahna_ . Her fantasy, THE FATES really is one of the best things on Wattpad. Stellar writing meets an original plot involving three mortal young women who also happen to be immortal Fates. I can't recommend this Watty-winning story highly enough!