He was the only person on earth she was glad to see in her space. “I had it fixed.”

He came down the stairs and looked around. There was an old bookcase on the far wall. He picked up a rock off the top. “I found this by the barn.”

“You painted that bookcase.”

He ran his thumb over the peeling paint. “I think it’s ready for a new coat.”

“I like it as it is.”

He went to the table and looked at her sheets of poster paper. Together for McGovern. Another Woman for McGovern. McGovern Will Stop the Killing!

There was a poster that had something drawn on it, but he couldn’t tell what it was. He looked at her, puzzled.

“It’s supposed to be a peace dove,” she said.

“It looks like a ghost with one eye.”

She handed him a pencil. “Then you do it.” She knew that Miguel was good at drawing and watched with a smile as he quickly sketched a big dove.

It was when he held up the sign that he saw the list of names. He put the poster down and went to them. There was a scroll hanging on the wall, with rolled silk fabric at each end. He didn’t ask, but he was fairly sure the fabric was Vietnamese in origin. On the paper were the names of young men and women, their birth dates next to them. Their death dates were next.

“I knew him,” Miguel said softly. “He lives just a mile away.”

“Lived,” Vera said.

“And him. And her.” Miguel looked at Vera.

“Susan. She was in my high school class. She had some quick training in medicine, then was killed on her second day there. She was an only child.”

Miguel went to the bottom and saw the empty space. “Left blank for more names?”

“Yes.” She looked back at the signs. “McGovern promises to end the war but I don’t think he’ll win. Most people want Nixon. They think he’s more of a man than McGovern. They think—”

Miguel covered the space between them in two steps and put his hands on her shoulders. “You must try to keep more names off your scroll.” He looked into her eyes. “Don’t lose courage.”

She stepped away. “Right. Do what I can.”

“We,” he said. “When’s this rally?”

“Friday. I got the afternoon off. It’s in Wichita. I have to—”

“I’ll drive you. You and Gabby can ride in the back.”

Vera’s eyes widened.

“Just kidding. I’ll have to come up with a story about why I’m to be allowed out of her sight for a whole afternoon.”

“Still bad?”

“It gets worse every day. I, uh, hinted that I was taking on outside jobs to make money to buy her a ring. Forey is hoping for a double wedding in the fall.”

“With Kelly?” Vera was frowning. “Is that still on?”