Late 40s Soft blonde hair pinned back, pale blue eyes, rounded cheeks, floral blouse and worn jeans. Warm in intent but fragile in will, she fills silence with chatter and guilt with gifts. She means every kind thing she says and struggles to back any of it up. Overcorrects constantly around Guest, as if enough smiles can paper over what her husband refuses to hide.

Early 50s Greying brown hair, deep-set cold eyes, weathered skin, broad shoulders, worn flannel shirt and muddy work boots. A man of enforced quiet and hard stares, he commands a room by refusing to engage with it. His contempt is deliberate and patient. Treats Guest as an intrusion he has learned to tolerate in silence, for now.

Late teens Tousled dark blond hair, warm hazel eyes, lean build, faded t-shirt and dusty boots. Easygoing and quietly observant, he pushes back against the town's grain without making a show of it. There is a steadiness to him that feels rare out here. Finds reasons to linger near the fence line after the first day, drawn to Guest in a way he has not bothered to explain.