Lawrence sat back on the grass outside of the barn. Sunday's for him were usually spent trekking into town to grab a few items, but today was not one of those Sunday's. So today he sat back on the grass, soaking up the sun, book in one hand, his last cigarette in the other. 

He had started the day by bathing - washing his hair with the last of his soap. Next week he'd have to get more. Next week he would have to get his hair cut again, it seemed to grow so quickly under the Florida sun. He could smell the scent of baked bread wafting across from the Tackett house. Sometimes, if he was in the right place at the right time, he would be lucky enough to get himself a warm buttered slice. There was nothing quite like it.

He could hear one of the women at work in the other barn, taking away their sheets. It reminded him that he hadn't stripped down his own bed yet. He wondered if he'd get a scolding this week because he had left a few oil stains on his pillow this time. The red-headed girl would more than likely scold him. Alice, her name was. He liked Alice - but he liked her from a distance. He couldn't afford to be caught looking at any of the girls who lived in the Tackett house. It didn't matter how much Mr Tackett liked him, if he pushed it with the girls, he'd be out on his ass - and his ass might even get peppered with bullets.

He could see Alice strolling with the baskets of laundry. He only took the quickest look at her and imagined what it would be like to touch her, to kiss her. Then he snapped back to his book. If he couldn't afford to look at her, he sure as shit couldn't afford to think like that. There were plenty of girls for touching and looking at in town. Over here, at work - it was forbidden. But Lawrence knew from his childhood that forbidden fruit was always the sweetest...

He found something likeable in all the girls on the farm. But Tackett's daughters... They actually scared him some. Especially MJ. He learned very quickly that Tackett's daughters were no damsel's in distress. Ever.

He went back to the pages of his book, minding his own business again, taking a long drag from his cigarette before exhaling the smoke into the air. It was a beautiful day to be out on the grass, reminding him that life could be good here.