There was talk about the accident, but it revolved around how it could have happened with little comment about Laura herself. Erik called the Fairfield funeral home about the burial. It would be held in Billings on the next Thursday. He would be there. All three, Mary, Henry and John, insisted that they help Erik drive to Billings. “It’s too long for you to make in one day by yourself.” Erik insisted even harder and drove himself. It had been fifteen years since he had been at a funeral, but they were all the same. To Erik, death was death no matter who lay in the coffin. This was a simple graveside ceremony for Laura while his dad had both a church and graveside, but that made little difference. Someone with unfinished hopes had died. He always wanted to prove himself to his dad, but he died too early. He wanted to share his thoughts and maybe even his life with Laura, and she was gone. Nothing changed in his life. The prairie winds blew each day, the drought would never leave, and those he loved were taken away.
