Joe smiled weakly, for though he loved her words, he couldn't shake the feeling that much of their misfortune had been his doing. Joe shook his head, for he had blown her father's offer of vast wealth and a whole new life by running off half-cocked and marrying Pearl. No. That made it sound like a marriage forged by finishing a bottle of gin. He had whisked Pearl away to protect her. There was no shame there.

"For richer or poorer, that's what they said in Gretna, right?" Jo answered with a dash of bravado. "I'll go talk to Meekford at the station, maybe I can get me old job back." For that was the only plan at the moment.