Chapter 2

She had flattered him, cooked for him, and given him the praise and admiring glances that had worked so well on her father when she wanted something from him. She had found out which colours Herd liked best and had endeavoured to wear those when he was around. She wore her luxuriant dark hair several ways when he was around at first, and she watched to see which style pleased him the most. And when she saw that special look of favour for a particular style, she henceforth wore her hair down, flowing free to beneath her shoulders—ignoring her father's looks of disapproval. And then the other special looks from Herd began, and she returned them demurely, as she hoped. Herd was an outspoken man in the book, and she didn't want to scare him off.

But Herd was also a man. And she was a young, beautiful, and ripe woman. It didn't take much. A few warm apple pies, a dress in cornflower blue, a special smile, and fluttering eyelashes. Then moments alone on the porch swing after a good dinner,