thirstday's excerpt

Carter thought he caught a glimpse of a bird entering a birdhouse—one of the three that he built when the boys went off to war. He watched as he passed, but failed to detect movement. He craned his head as long as he could, then decided that he had seen but a shadow.

Hattie stood when she heard the hooves. Carter touched the brim of his hat, and she waved. One by one, the others stood to see the man returning on horseback, each waving.

And behind him, while his eyes were on the help, the house wren peeked from its new home—Tad’s house—then flew to catch another moth.