A cloud of dust coming down the road alerted Ally that she had a visitor. The smoke was heavy, but not so bad she couldn’t tell the difference between it hanging low in the sky and the dust rising off the road. She let out a sigh and went back to work. They’d find her, or not, either way she had too much to do to worry about someone who’d come out unannounced. She went back to carding the wool from her most recent sheering. She was behind schedule. Preparing for the fire, and keeping her precautions ready, had taken time she didn’t have to spare. She had orders and not much time to finish them. Even then she’d have to risk a trip to town to get them shipped. She watched as her sheep and goats ran through the pasture, leaping and playing in the mud as if they were thankful and happy just to
