Rushing to the farm, the tractor driver handed his house keys to a vagrant woman with a kid. But when he returned from his shift, he peeked through the window and WAS STUNNED…

From that day, Will changed his lifestyle. First, he sold off all the livestock, and then let the house go. No one suspected for a while what was happening to him.

Then rumors started spreading. He went to work, but got a couple of warnings. He didn’t respond.

Just that day when his boss talked to him, he took not a fifth, but two right away. Will sighed, looked around again. Oh, how he wanted to close his eyes to all this.

A couple of times he even started cleaning, but the first time he came across Natalie’s hairpin, and the second—their wedding album. So he gave up on it. He went outside, shivered.

The frost was such that it nipped at his nose. He’d have to fiddle again to start his tractor. How many times he argued with the boss that the watchman doesn’t heat the garage.

«Excuse me!»—he flinched. It was still dark outside, and he certainly didn’t expect to hear an unfamiliar voice at this hour, especially in his own yard. He turned sharply.

Before him stood either a woman or a girl, and behind her huddled a child. «Lord, what are you doing here so early and in such frost? And with a child!» The female figure shrugged indefinitely. «It just happened that way.

Can you tell me if we can find shelter with anyone for a while? Johnny is completely exhausted. We have no money though.» William tried to peer at her face.

Exhausted, thin, and seemingly quite young, though he could be wrong. Knowing his townsfolk, he could assume they’d sooner call the sheriff than let some vagrant stay for free. Will cast a quick glance at the child huddled against the woman.

«The boy was no more than five.» Then he looked at his watch. «No, he couldn’t help.

If Will is late, everyone will decide right away that it’s because of drinking.» He shoved his hand in his pocket, pulled out the house keys. «Here, take them.

Go to my house. I’ll be back after six. The house is warm, if you get cold, you can stoke the furnace.

There should be food. Well, should be, but God knows. Just, my place is a mess, no time for everything.

Don’t stick your nose out much, or there’ll be a lot of questions. Alright, I’m off, no time.» He handed the stunned stranger the keys and dashed down the path toward the garages.

For some reason, the thought didn’t even cross his mind that they were strangers, that they could rob him. The day flew by quickly. Worry appeared in the evening when he habitually turned toward the store but didn’t stop…