Sam knew the driver on the bus of course. It was Henry. He greeted Sam like a long-lost friend even though they’d shared a pizza and watched a hockey game on the wide screen, in the bar at Siding Twenty-three only yesterday lunchtime. Katie was pleased. Her parents less so. Sam didn’t introduce anybody to Henry. Sam had fallen pretty silent. The new family unit sat at the back of the bus, Sam at the window and Katie in the aisle so that she could touch and speak to her parents sitting stiffly on the two seats opposite.

He held Katie’s hand all the way back to Silver as though she were his protector. And in a way she was. He knew how to deal with ugly prejudice when it came from strangers. His tongue and fists had been his defence for long enough. But he was lost when it came from two people he wanted desperately to like him. He sat and watched out the bus window, as the prairie turned into mountains and the hopes and dreams of success for their only child turned to dust for two retired middle-class Canadians.

At the Crosbys’ house, he waited alone in the parlour for its owners to settle back in. He heard Katie speak to them in the kitchen, after a long silence where the only sound had been of tins being moved around on shelves and plastic bags being rustled into drawers.

‘Isn’t he fabulous?’

Mrs Crosby’s low voice. ‘You’re going to have to give us time, Peach. Married, a baby, everything. Let us catch our breath.’

‘Are you mad I fell in love with a Native Canadian?’

A sarcastic laugh from Frank. ‘Native Canadian. Is that how we have to address them now?’

‘How would you like to Daddy? Wagon-burners? Squaw-fuckers?’

‘Katie! That’s enough.’

‘No, it’s not enough. I know I’ve put you through it, what with running out on Tom and all.’

Her mother sounded close to tears. ‘That’s a bit of an understatement.’

‘I know. I’m not sorry about any of it except the bits that hurt you. But you’re hurting me now. Is that what you want?’

‘Oh, darling. We don’t want to hurt you. Try and see this from our point of view.’

Sam felt like a spy. He couldn’t help overhearing and he was rooted to the spot.

‘Which is?’

‘Which is we want the best for you. We always have.’

‘And you don’t think that sweet, darling, funny, generous, clever man out there is the best thing for me. Is that it?’

Her father sounded tired. ‘What does it matter what we think, Katie? You’ll just do as you please anyway.’

There was a silence again. Sam could only imagine what was happening. He felt utterly and completely impotent. Katie sounded composed when she broke that silence.