Linden Golding ran his hands through his hair in frustration. Life had become unbearable. There hadn't been a moment of peace at home since the New Year, so it was no wonder his wife had gone back to her parents' house. When he thought about it, this was all his mother and sister's fault. Sigh!
"Let her go. See what kind of trouble she can stir up. She'll be crawling back in a few days!" Linden's mother muttered resentfully, only to get kicked again, this time by Silas Golding.
"I think *you're* the one trying to raise hell! Now get in there and cook!"
Silas Golding stormed into the house in a rage. He tore a page from a calendar, rolled some shredded tobacco in it, and began to smoke sullenly. Linden Golding sat smoking in the courtyard. Both father and son wore grim expressions, not saying a word. Linden's mother washed her face and, enduring the pain, went to cook.
