Amanda looked at him and felt sorry that she'd showed temper to him. She brushed her arm over her forehead, and turned to her work. Without looking up, she pleaded softly; "Sug you just gotta' fix the fence." Sug walked over to the table and put his long arm around her waist. She dropped her head and just stared down at the big knife and the partly cut ear of corn in her hands. "Now, Mandy, don't cha fret," he said soothingly. "Them's Zeke's cows and Zeke's dog kin keep 'em off my property. No need me mendin' that fence. Why, them's the only critters in miles of us." He gave her a little squeeze and patted her gently as he withdrew his arm, then turned and tramped back to his shaving. Amanda bit her lip and gathered up her flowered apron to wipe the corner of her eye before the tear came out- and started cutting another ear of corn. She could hear Sug humming a teasing tune and wondered if he could catch him when he had finished shaving to help carry out the corn cobs and maybe spread the corn on the sheets to dry. Most people figured Sug didn't amount to much, but he was company to Amanda, and he could play the guitar and sing real pretty. And sometimes he would help with the chores. He was real clever about thinking up little things to lighten her work - like the time he whittled the churn paddle and fitted it into an old coffee can, so she could churn the cream easier than shaking it in a jar. But he always did just the things that has to be done znd with the least possible effort, so he could enjoy himself in simple pleasures. And Amanda knew that he loved her constantly, and deeper that most men were capable of - and she felt inadequate to return it. She could only let this simple love pour into her in silence, and only know the ectasy of just being in his presence. But Amanda was frightened. Brother Zeke was losing patience with Sug, and she knew that he would do something desperate if Sug didn't get the fence fixed. 20 She wanted Sug to understand. "When Zeke asked us to come in here in these pretty Colorado Mountains, he figured we'd work hard like him and make this place into a home. He helped us, too. Remember, Sug? 'member he let his own work go to help us get started?" Sug just shrugged his shoulders. He didn't want to hear. "He's a lonesome man, and needs neighbors to show off fer," Amanda went on. "Zeke's real proud of them cows. 'Em near as well as he does Viney and the kids. He 'spects to get a good bit for 'em this fall. Put if the dog keeps chasin' 'em, they won't amount to much, time he gets 'em to the sales place in Dillon." Sug still didn't answer, so she went on: "He showed ya' the hole in the fence afore the garden got planted. Ain't like ya' didn't know 'twas there." Amanda didn't like scolding Sug, even mildly, but she figured this had to be said. "That fence gotta' be fixed 'fore there's blood shed." Amanda's voice trailed off into a whisper. What good to nag Sug, she thought. He was what he was, and she didn't really expect him to fix the fence, anyway. After finishing his shaving, Sug slipped outside. Amanda would figure out some useless task for him to do if he stayed in underfoot. As he stepped out into the warm September sun, he glanced along the worn path where the dog and the cows had disappeared. The golden day seemed to precious to ignore. With winter so close, how could anyone resist the temptation to loaf in the soothing warmth that poured down from the azure sky. Sug 21