Island

From her place at the window she watched him, hatless, coatless, lead the mule to the wagon beneath an evenly gray sky. An empty pipe clamped between his teeth, he hitched the mule, and after she came out of the house, having kissed the children goodbye, he helped her up onto the wagon. She took the reins from him and settled herself on a seat of rags. He covered her legs with their oldest quilt, tucking it with care, and his hand lingered on the toe of her boot.“You think of anything you wa...