Major Hannah Nolan Comes Home to Chesapeake and Discovers Nineteen Thousand Dollars Gone

“For ever and ever.”

At four thirty the backyard had turned gold and the swing ropes were warm under my hands.

Lily kicked her feet, and the wooden seat rose and dipped beneath us.

“Higher, Mama.”

I pushed her gently.

“Hang on to the rope.”

“I am hanging on.”

A little brown bird landed on the fence and hopped twice.