But my footsteps slowed when I saw that he was with Judge Nagle. The two exchanged some quiet words in the vestibule.Then Henry sucked in a breath as he followed Judge Nagle out the door. I walked briskly after them—reaching the door just in time to see them crossing the street and disappearing together into the courthouse across the road.

I hesitated for a split second before I slipped from the church, jogging unsteadily in Mother’s old shoes until I stood beneath the windows of Judge Nagle’s office. At first I couldn’t hear anything, but a sudden sliding sound fixed that—the judge was muttering about the heat and had opened the window. That allowed me to hear the low murmur of voices.

“…son, I understand. But I know you’ve seen Main Street. More than half of the businesses gone bust are in buildings I hold mortgages on. I still have to pay the bank, but no one is paying me rent. I can’t even sell those stores because this town is dying. I need you to repay me that money. All of it. Some of it. Whatever you can come up with.”

“I’m really sorry, sir,” Henry said. I could imagine my brother maintaining eye contact, looking cool and calm, as he started to panic inside. Part of Henry’s magic charm was his ability to appear neutral even when he was guilty as hell. “As I’m sure you know, the harvest isn’t looking so good this year for us either.”

“Surely you have an asset you can sell.”

“Sir, we don’t even have a tractor anymore. And I tried to sell the car, but no one was buying.”

“Then we find ourselves at an impasse,” the judge said heavily. There was a pause. Then his voice was barely above a whisper as he said, “Henry. I don’t think you appreciate how desperate I am. It’s been almost two years, son. In all of that time you’ve done no more than throw a few pennies my way—you owe me hundreds of dollars.”

“I know, Judge,” Henry said urgently. “I’ll think of something. I really will.”

There was a terse pause. I pressed my hand to my mouth.

“Do you know what would happen if I tried to sue you, Henry?”

“No, sir.”

“The case would go before the court in Dalhart. And do you know who the judge is there?”

“No, sir.”

“Judge Nolan Wickingham. I’m not saying he’d rule in my favor, Henry, but I am saying I went to law school with him and I was best man at his wedding.”

“Sir, I promise you. I’ll do everything in my power to pay you back as soon as I can. But I have nothing for you to take even if you did decide to sue me.”

“You have land.”