“Your father was trying to find a peaceful way through this whole thing.”

I set the kettle on the burner and stayed standing by the sink.

“He filed an affidavit saying I abandoned the farm.”

“You were gone for six years,” my father said, resting his thick forearms on the table.

“I was on active duty in the United States Navy,” I said.

My father shifted his shoulders under his heavy dark coat.

“The county ledger doesn’t care about military orders, Evelyn.”