The sun turned the grass golden as she snuck back over the fields to home. It rustled under her feet, soaking her socks with the melted frost of the night before. She tried to keep to the shadows of the trees as she carefully watched each window. She couldn’t yet see the hungry glow of the kitchen fire,usually the first sign of life in their cold mornings.

She held the hem of her dress, showing what she knew Mama would deem as far too much skin. But knowing that Ben was watching, she hiked it up a little farther, turning to smile at the familiar face in the shadows. He always watched to make sure she got in safe.

Creeping toward the door, she stepped on the corner of each step, then slowly opened the screen, wincing as it gave a tiny sqeak. Opening the inside door, she turned, gave Ben a last smile, and took one small creaking step onto the wood floor. Looking over, she saw that she was right;no one was up. One less night.

She was home safe. Back to the Plain life.