Opening: Day 15

Word Total: 90,001

Year to Date: 540,014

Summary of Events:
Chapter 29:
Keiller arrived at home and discovered Sophia, and then went and got Dr. Carrigan. Sophia ended up miscarrying her child — but not dying as she'd feared. Keiller and Dr. Carrigan buried the child in Keiller's backyard and discussed various things.
Chapter 30:
Dr. Carrigan wanted to take Sophia to be monitored at his house, but Sophia didn't want to leave Keiller. Keiller took her into the house until she fell asleep, then he put her on Dr. Carrigan's wagon and Dr. Carrigan headed home.

Excerpt of the Day:
"As he stood still, Keiller heard the horse start walking, along with the wagon wheels turning on the ground as it headed away. Keiller felt a twinge of sadness; but he stepped forward and opened the door.
The sadness came over Keiller stronger; Miss Hagerson had left. She was just over a mile away as the crow flew — which wasn't too far off how the roads actually went — but still, Keiller was going to have to make his own breakfast in the morning, and he'd have to make his own supper when he got home.
His stomach growled. Come to think of it; he hadn't even had supper tonight. Keiller walked over to the hoosier and felt around. He came across a jar and took it up. Shaking it, he heard the sound of liquid contained within; it was pickles of some kind.
Walking over to the fire, Keiller moved the stools away and laid out his blanket; pausing when he released he could sleep in his own bed again. He didn't want to sleep in his own bed again.
Keiller finished setting out the blanket and sat down. Opening up the pickle jar, Keiller reached inside and found that it was pickled carrots. Pulling one out, Keiller ate it and thought about Miss Hagerson.
He was surprised at how sad he was that she'd left — of course it wasn't like he'd really wanted her to leave in the first place — it unsettled him too. The more he thought about it, the more he had a distinct feeling that when he'd opened his back door and ushered Miss Hagerson inside he'd been opening more than his home to her.
No. No, he couldn't; he'd sworn that he never would. He didn't want to. It was too raw, it was too sore. He wouldn't. But was it already too late? No; it couldn't be. He didn't want to.
Keiller looked at the glowing coals; Miss Hagerson was still a puzzle he wanted to solve; he wanted to know as much about her as he possibly could — but he also didn't want to visit her now that Dr. Carrigan was suggesting such ridiculousness as he was.
But was it really ridiculous? Was it false? No. No; Keiller didn't want to think about it anymore. Rose had burned him with fire, and he wasn't going to risk being burned twice, or more. He'd played with fire, and he knew the consequences — literally and figuratively.
Fire was so attractive, though; it was somewhat of an enigma itself, how and why it danced, the smoke it sent up, it seemed always to tempt one to play with it. It didn't want to be left alone. It wanted to be poked, prodded, and fed.
Figurative fire was much the same, and Keiller was starting to have a dreadful feeling within himself that maybe he'd been lured by the figurative fire again in opening his back door and opening his heart simultaneously."

Essential Information for the June novel will be posted on May 26.