Prairie Widow by Harold Bakst Read Free Book Online

it. It was better than remaining out there when the sun set. In the dark she would never find her way home. And then the wolves would come…
    Before she could yell however, she saw, several yards to her left, as if rising out of the very ground, Nancy Camp, who was climbing up the rise. “Thank God,” murmured Jennifer, and she hurried over to her neighbor. When she got closer, she once more saw the dark stove pipe. “My husband, is he…”
    â€œHe’s asleep,” said Nancy. “I’m afraid we must wait a little longer.”
    For a moment, the two women stood side by side, silently watching the setting sun. Nancy Camp was slightly taller than Jennifer and not, so thought Jennifer, a particularly pretty woman. Her face was long, her hair, parted in the middle and drawn tightly back, was a brown, mousy color, and her skin, like almost everyone’s out there, was weathered—indeed hers seemed to have particularly suffered, since she was of a naturally delicate complexion and better suited for bosky regions.
    â€œI must thank you for coming to my place like this,” said Jennifer. “I don’t know what I would have done otherwise.”
    â€œOh, it’s Lucy, really,” said Nancy. “I’m just an extra pair of hands for her.”
    â€œStill, it was nice of you to come.”
    Nancy nodded graciously. “You’re quite welcome.”
    The two women stood quietly once more, watching the western sky turn a pastel pink. Then Jenifer had to ask, “How long have you lived out here?”
    â€œSix years. I’m from Maryland.”
    â€œDo you miss it?”
    Nancy seemed reluctant to answer. “Very much.”
    â€œSo I’m not the only one.”
    Nancy seemed hesitant to continue, but then she did. “I often dream I’m back there on our little, no-account farm.” She grew wistful.
    â€œThen it was your husband’s idea to come out here?”
    â€œI’d like to blame him. But, at the time, I thought it was a wonderful idea.”
    â€œAnd now?”
    â€œNow I’m not so sure.”
    The two women grew reflective. Streaks of red appeared in the sky as the sun began to sink in the distant grass.
    â€œKansas is a strange place,” said Jennifer.
    â€œIt struck me that way, too, when I arrived.”
    â€œI just saw an owl,” continued Jennifer, growing excited at having found a sympathetic ear. “When I approached it, it didn’t fly away like a normal bird, but dropped down a hole.”
    â€œYes, that’s the way it is out here. With no trees or rocks, creatures tend to hug the ground, or go below it.”
    â€œLike some people.”
    â€œYou know,” said Nancy, also apparently appreciating a sympathetic ear, “even after all these years, I find it unnerving at times—like right now—to be the tallest object around.”
    â€œYes, yes, I know what you mean,” said Jennifer. “I feel so—exposed.”
    â€œNow, what this prairie needs is a nice, tall church spire!”
    â€œWe had a lovely one back home. I used to be able to see it poking up among the tree tops from my upstairs window.”
    â€œAre you a churchgoer?”
    Jennifer hesitated. “Not the most conscientious, I’m afraid.”
    â€œWell, my husband, Will, and I read from the Bible each Sunday. You and your family are welcome to join us.”
    â€œThank you, I’ll—keep that in mind.”
    â€œFolks live so far from each other, it’s hard to gather for any purpose. It’s not natural.”
    â€œI quite agree.”
    â€œAt least you have two lovely children to keep you company when your husband is out. Will and I haven’t been so lucky, and now that I’m nearing forty, well…”
    Jennifer was surprised. Her neighbor looked more like fifty. “Tell me, Mrs. Camp…”
    â€œNancy, please.”
    â€œâ€¦ Nancy.