Chapter 10
Ric lay in the airless bedroom, gazing out the window, as night slipped away from morning, taking the stars with it. An orange band already outlined the trees along the river, warning of the scorcher to come. He’d barely slept. When he had finally nodded off at piccaninny dawn, the big red c**k had crowed, again and again, waking him and throwing his mind back into wonder and turmoil. It didn’t matter how many times he went over things in his head, he always came to the same conclusion. There’d be no leaving at the end of the month when Sophie went home. He wanted Nina, and Nina was here. For the time being, at least, that meant staying on at Donnalee and working for his father, something that he’d vowed all his life never to do.
It wouldn’t be for long. He’d find work on anot
