Paul looked up at the sky. The sun stung on his already red skin, the rays feeling like whips. He wiped his browbone and continued to plow the field. He had to plant enough wheat to make up for last year’s loss, after all, and the drought will likely be done soon.

Paul Whitlock was the son of Old Don, or Donald Whitlock, the owner of the farm. They lived alone in the small house on about three acres of land, which they used to cultivate wheat. Paul’s mother was an assimilated Omaha woman named Lucille, but she passed away when Paul was young due to pneumonia.

Paul was known in town for being a little meek. Despite being a well-built young man, having no mother had a severe impact on his development, and he only felt comfortable interacting with his father, who tended to coddle him.