Bexar County, Texas, 2010 As Scarlet racked her brain for another song to tap the tune of with her fingers, she leaned on the jewelry counter of Rachel’s Closet, the department store where she felt that she wasted most of her evenings. Between the boredom of the job itself—which boiled down to flattering elderly women…

Kinney County, Texas, 1862 The August sun was hanging high on the afternoon of what was sure to be the hottest day of the year. It had to be; there was no other reason why Thweed “Dewey” Fink could sweat this much and still feel so hot. “Mr. Fink”, he said, rising from the crate…