Large Marge stared at Mama a long time, disappointment etched in the lines of her face. “Well. These things take time. Just know that we are here. We’ll help you. All you have to do is ask. I don’t care if it’s the middle of the night in January. You come to me, okay? I don’t care what you’ve done or what he’s done. You come to me and I’ll help.”

Leni couldn’t help herself. She launched herself around the coffee table and into Large Marge’s arms. The woman’s comforting bulk enfolded her, made her feel safe. “Come on,” Large Marge said. “Let’s get you to school. There aren’t many days left before you graduate.”

Leni grabbed her backpack and slung it over her shoulder. After a fierce hug for her mother, a whispered, “We need to talk about this,” Leni followed Large Marge outside. They were halfway to the truck when Dad appeared, holding a five-gallon jug of gasoline.

“Leaving so soon?” he said.

“Just a cup of coffee, Ernt. I’ll drive Leni to school. I’m heading to the store.”

He dropped the plastic jug. It sloshed beside him. “No.”

Large Marge frowned. “No, what?”

“No one leaves this place without me anymore. There’s nothing out there for us.”

“She’s five days away from graduating. Of course she’s going to finish.”

“Fat chance, fat lady,” Dad said. “I need her at the homestead. Five days is nothing. They’ll give her the damned piece of paper.”

“You want to fight this battle?” Large Marge advanced, bracelets clattering. “If this young woman misses a single day of school, I will call the state and turn you in, Ernt Allbright. Don’t think for one second I won’t. You can be as batshit crazy and mean as you want, but you are not going to stop this beautiful girl from finishing high school. You got it?”

“The state won’t care.”

“Oh. They will. Trust me. You want me talking to the authorities about what goes on here, Ernt?”

“You don’t know shit.”

“Yeah, but I’m a big woman with a big mouth. You want to push me?”

“Go ahead. Take her to school, if it means so damned much to you.” He looked at Leni. “I’ll pick you up at three. Don’t keep me waiting.”

Leni nodded and climbed into the old International Harvester, with its ragtag cloth-covered seats. They drove down the bumpy driveway, past the newly skinned log poles. Out on the main road, rambling through a cloud of dust, Leni realized she was crying.

It felt overwhelming suddenly. The stakes were too high. What if Mama ran and Dad really did find her and kill her?