He would secretly leave the farmhouse at dusk with Joan and when Hughie knocked on his bedroom door, ready to say that the old man was lonely and in pain, he would be safe and serene in the cabin in the pines.

Was it fated to be his refuge too?
Torrential rain woke him in the morning.

Kenny stared out at the wet valley in tragic unbelief.

It simply could not be; for he wanted a dusk flecked with stars.

But the rain gave no promise of abating and late that afternoon he altered the detail of his rebellion.
Fortunately there were other ways.