Daylight broke over the fields surrounding the farm, with fingers of sunshine stretching in every direction. The morning was crisp as Domino led Corbin across to the neighbor's property with little puffs of fog escaping their mouths. He explained how their neighbor was a widower with a young child and how her husband passed away from a fever one night. From that day forward, they began looking after her.

"Around here, we take care of each other," Domino said, hovering his knuckles over Josephine's door. "And you can contribute by digging her a well."

The storm door rattled from his knock and fused with the buzzing of critters hissing in the cool morning breeze. Corbin leaned against the porch's railing as the sound of shuffling feet approached, and the door opened wide. To his surprise, the widow was young, with strawberry blond hair and somber hazel eyes. The dark circles living under them made her look even more exhausted, yet she was prettier than he'd expected, especially when the corners of her eyes creased with a smile.

"Domino!"

"Morning, Josephine. I brought my nephew to examine your property and dig a water-well."

"Oh..." She glanced at Corbin and patted her hair, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. "I didn't know you had family around here."

"I don't. Corbin is a bit of a wanderer. Ain't that right, nephew?"

"I don't enjoy anchoring to one place," Corbin replied.

"You just gotta find the right woman," Domino chuckled. "Anyway, we're going to dig, and by the end of the week, you'll have a home with running water."

"Thank you so much." She took his hands and squeezed. "It'll be great giving Lillett a bath without hauling water from your pond each time."

"It's our pleasure, and before I forget, Sarah wants you to come over for dinner tonight."

Another bright smile filled Josephine's face. "I'd love to! Is there anything I can bring?"

"Just bring that little girl of yours." Domino winked and stepped off the porch.

∆∆∆

As they surveyed the property for water, Corbin found it hard to concentrate. The frigid morning air had evaporated with the heat hovering over the field. Not only was the sun needling his back, but he couldn't shake the agitation he felt. Was his uncle playing matchmaker by having him meet Josephine? Despite her beauty, Corbin's didn't have his sights set on her. They were on Everleigh.

"Find anything?" Domino asked, and Corbin glanced up, realizing he'd stopped walking.

"No. Not yet."

"Then what's up? Did that girl keep you occupied last night?" Domino grinned. "Is that why you look so tired?"

"I guess you can say that." Corbin shrugged, and Domino chuckled with a heavy clap to his shoulder. "No, I don't mean it like that. She didn't sleep in the room last night. I tossed and turned, wondering where she was."

"I bet you did. A girl like that will burrow herself deep inside you. Drive you crazy. She's a good one to keep close."

"She's not mine to keep close. We just met a few days ago."

"Trust me, kid, she's yours. She's guarded, but I can see it in the glances she sneaks your way."

"If you say so..." Corbin bowed his head and continuing searching for water.

With the sun sizzling across his back, his mind drifted to thoughts of his grandfather. He was a stall, sturdy man, who had a slight hump on his back due to years of witching for water. For years, they'd been a team-hunting, gardening, and keeping each other company. After the man died, Corbin packed his bags, left home, and began wandering. Now, if he returned, it would be full of cobwebs, and an abyss of misery. His grandfather's death meant eating dinner alone and a constant quiet throughout the house.

Wandering the desert provided him with distraction from the endless ache of loneliness from that house-a house that became a skeleton of what used to exist there-a family.

"Feel anything yet?" Domino interrupted his thoughts.

"Almost." Closing his eyes to concentrate, Corbin wiggled his fingers over the ground, feeling for the magnetism. After a few more paces, he felt the water calling him and drove a shovel deep into the ground. "We dig here."

"Alright." Domino paused, setting a wheelbarrow full of tools down. "Let's get to work then."

∆∆∆

By noon they stood in a pit as deep as their shoulders. Sweat soaked their shirts, and Corbin paused from digging to stretch his back. He removed his shirt to wipe the droplets from his face, and Domino did the same as they took a moment to drink water. They had made significant progress, and mud squished beneath their boots-a good sign. However, something was still nagging Corbin's thoughts. He still couldn't shake the feeling his uncle had something up his sleeve with the widow.

"So, something's been bothering me all afternoon."

"Yeah, like what?" Domino asked, leaning against his shovel.

"Did you bring me here to meet Josephine?"

Domino chuckled. "No. It was to witch water for her. Had you crossed my mind for her a while ago? Sure, but now that I see you've got your eye on someone else, I think when Armis is better, I'll introduce them."

Now Corbin laughed, "When did you become a matchmaker?"

"Since government officials came here a few months ago and took a census of the single women within childbearing age."

"What?" Corbin choked on a swig of water. "I thought they only did that crap in the big cities!"

"Yep. I thought so too, but the regulations are changing. Hoards of people have flooded every coastal city, thanks to the desalination factories. Now they're overcrowded, which means those people are moving into areas like these. There isn't enough water to support the surge of people. Cascade used to be a destination for lake-goers. But not anymore. It's dry as a bone now."

"I know. I saw it on the way here. What about your girls?"

Domino released a deep sigh. "If they come back and draft our daughters for surgery, we're crossing the border. No one is going to butcher their insides so they can't have babies. NO ONE. As for Josephine, we care about her too, and we worry they'll draft her. She already has a child, and she's a widow, so that makes her fair game for surgery."

"So you want Armis to meet her and fall in love? Save her from being drafted?" Corbin laughed.

"Or at least fake it! All the government needs is a legal marriage certificate, and they'll back off."

"That easy, huh?"

"You realize this whole thing means your little girlfriend isn't safe either. So if I were you, I'd start taking this situation more seriously and start making plans. Plus, you're not getting any younger. Don't you think it's time you stop wandering and settle down? Start a family?"

"I can't control what Everleigh will decide. She goes wherever her brother goes. If he leaves tomorrow, she'll follow him. They only think about each other. It's how they survive."

"We need to tell him about the draft during supper," Domino replied. "He loves his sister. I doubt he would want her getting butchered."

"Hopefully, you're right."

"I'm always right," Domino said with a gentle squeeze of Corbin's shoulder. "Leave it to me. I'll set him straight."

When they returned to the house for supper, Everleigh was helping Armis down the creaky wooden stairs, and when their eyes met, the corners of her mouth lifted into a smile. Corbin froze in the archway connecting the kitchen to the living room, his boots scraping the wooden floor. It was the second time she'd smiled at him. Maybe his efforts to charm her were working? However, he'd misread situations in the past, so it was possible her smile was friendly and not a sign of hope.

"Well, you're looking better," Domino said as he entered the home through the kitchen entrance. A warm glow from the fireplace cast light across the living rooms' wood flooring where the kids sat around reading. He leaned against the wooden archway. "Did Sarah put some new dressings on your wounds?"

"She did," Armis replied, his hand palming the dull wood paneling as they made their way down the steps. "Thank you."

Trying to be a gentleman, Corbin made his way to the stairs to offer help. "I've got him."

"It's ok," Everleigh replied and didn't let go.

"Everleigh..." Armis countered. "Let him take over so you can help Sarah set the table for dinner."

"Fine." She kissed her brother's cheek.

As she made her way to the kitchen, Josephine arrived with her daughter in an explosion of greetings as Sarah planted kisses on both of their cheeks before escorting them to the living room. Corbin eased Armis onto the couch and Sarah fluffed the cushions next to him, motioning for Josephine to sit. The window nodded and sat with Lillett on her lap-her lips stretching into a half smile at Armis.

"This is Armis," Sarah said to her. "He and his sister Everleigh are friends of Corbin's. They'll be staying with us for a little while."

"It's a pleasure to meet you." She extended her hand.

"Likewise," Armis replied, and his eyes shimmered as he shook her hand, which seemed to please Sarah as she watched on proudly.

While sitting around waiting for dinner to be ready, Domino led the conversation amongst them with hunting stories. He didn't go on long trips anymore, but enjoyed reminiscing about old times with his friend, who lived up north. Every now and then, Armis would steal glances at Josephine, then dart his eyes to his hands. It was a good sign. Convincing him to protect Josephine would be easier with an established attraction.

When dinner was ready, Sarah called them to the dining table, and they gathered around to begin feasting. It was another finger-licking meal made of roasted chicken in a creamy mushroom wine sauce. At first, Domino complained Sarah was wasting excellent wine again, but he sang praises as soon as it touched his lips. While everyone minded their manners as they ate, Corbin, Armis, and Everleigh forgot theirs and they practically inhaled the food. The table filled with sounds of lip smacking and chewing-for a moment causing all eyes to fall on them before everyone laughed and Sarah served them a second plate. Being on the road with little food had them behaving like ravenous dogs. Even Josephine's presence didn't waver their voraciousness.

After their meal, Josephine excused herself for the night when her daughter became fussy. Armis followed her with his eyes as the door closed behind her, disappointment pulling his shoulders downward. All through dinner, they exchanged glances, their cheeks warming in color each time. Another good sign.

Right as Sarah returned from seeing Josephine out, Domino urged the kids to go upstairs. They protested at first, but then did as they were told and rose from the kitchen table with their chairs scraping against the wooden floor. Domino tilted his head towards the archway connecting the kitchen to the living room, listening for their fading footfalls up the stairs, and then dove into explaining the draft.

The room fell silent as Armis and Everleigh listened, and when he finished, he asked if they had questions.

"So you're saying Everleigh is in danger?" Armis leaned forward.

"Yes." Domino nodded. "About three years ago, Josephine came here with her husband to escape the city."

Sarah clamped her hand over Domino's. "This isn't suitable dinner talk."

"They need to know. Besides, we're done eating."

"Can't this wait for tomorrow?" Sarah tightened her grip. "We've just had a lovely dinner."

"No, it can't."

"Domino, I think-"

"Sarah, they need to know the severity of the situation!"

"Fine. I don't want to argue," she sighed.

"Josephine and her husband lived on the Oregon coast in Seaside when they drafted her sister. They performed a complete hysterectomy on her. The girl was only eighteen. She had her entire life ahead of her, but the so-called surgeons weren't trying to do a good job. The goal is to make women sterile, so the government doesn't care if they die. After surgery, Josephine's sister was feverish, and in so much pain, she could barely walk. Plus, she was still bleeding."

"Good grief!" Armis exclaimed, and Everleigh muttered a prayer.

"The hospital did very little to care for her after the procedure, and Josephine's sister died that night," Domino concluded.

Tears fell from Sarah's eyes. "She was so young, and there are dozens of stories like hers. That's why I'd rather not discuss it."

Domino squeezed her hands. "We would be foolish to ignore it. Especially because of the census taken in this area last year. Which is why we're crossing the border if they come back for our girls."

"Have you already talked to Coyote about this?" Corbin asked.

"I sent him a letter, but he hasn't written back, and now that you're here, I think it's time I visit my old friend. Make sure he's ok."

"I was about to say. It's not like him to not write back."

"Which is why I need to visit him." Domino leaned forward and focussed on Armis. "You and Everleigh should think about your next move."

The two siblings glanced at each other. Their goal had always been the coast, to reunite with Armis's sweetheart, Nina, and her family, who moved to Oregon. Now it was as if someone stamped a giant red hazard sign on their map.

"Until you figure out a solid plan, I recommend getting a legal marriage certificate. Authorities will back off. As strange as it sounds, they leave married couples alone."

"Sounds like there's a catch," Armis replied. "If that's all it takes, wouldn't the government figure out people are getting hitched just to avoid the draft?"

"You are correct. There are new regulations in the cities, such as providing proof you're an actual couple. Photos, grocery receipts, witnesses who can attest to your relationship. Things like that. But, out here in the middle of nowhere, the local courthouse doesn't require that."

"Yet," Armis emphasized.

"Right again. That's why now is the time to figure it out. At least think it over. Anyway, I'm tired and going to bed."

Domino rapped his knuckles on the table and excused himself while the others remained with their heads bowed as if soaking in the information. Sarah cleared her throat.

"He's right. The two of you should think about your next move once Armis recovers."

"What do you think?" Everleigh glanced at him.

"I think we'll discuss it in private," he replied. "Help me to bed?"

"Of course."

The chair screeched as Everleigh stood and helped him to his feet. Despite the silence that consumed the night as the moon glowed over the house, the truth about the draft blared in all of their thoughts.

It was like a ticking clock, and soon, the countdown would end.