“We won’t let you starve,” he said.

“Just swallow your pride and let Ranata handle the math.”

He walked out the back door without waiting for an answer.

I stood in the kitchen and watched his red taillights disappear down the long gravel driveway.

I picked up the piece of firewood he had put down.

I dropped it into the metal bin next to the iron stove.

The house was completely quiet after Desmond left.