Clara wanted to believe him.
But fear had a way of turning every possibility into a certainty.
She pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders.
The fire crackled.
Outside, the wind continued to rage.
And somewhere in the storm, Bell was still waiting.
Clara did not sleep.
She sat in the chair nearest the stove, her feet wrapped in dry wool socks, the blanket drawn around her shoulders. The belt lay across her knees.
Silas kept watch from the other chair, the rifle resting within reach.
Every time the wind shifted, Clara startled.
Every time a branch scraped the roof, she looked toward the door.
Near midnight, she finally asked the question that had been troubling her.
“Why did you agree to take me to Bellwether?”
Silas looked up.
“Mr. Bell said you needed an escort.”
“But you didn’t know me.”
“No.”
“Then why?”
He considered the question.
“Because you were alone, the road was closing, and leaving you at the depot would have been dangerous.”
“That’s all?”
“That’s enough.”
Clara studied him.
She had expected some hidden bargain, some private motive, or at least an explanation involving money.
Instead, he had offered a reason so plain that it seemed almost impossible.
“You could have refused.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you?”
Silas looked toward the stove.
“My wife used to say a person should be judged by what they do when nobody’s watching.”
Clara’s expression softened.
“She sounds kind.”
“She was.”
He paused.
“She also believed people could be foolish for a long time before they learned to be kind.”
A faint smile touched Clara’s mouth.
“Was she speaking about you?”
“Usually.”
The small exchange eased something inside her.
Then the wind rose again, and the cabin door gave a low groan beneath its bar.
Clara’s smile vanished.
Silas stood and checked the latch.
No footsteps.
No voice.
Only the storm.
He returned to his chair.
“You should try to rest.”
“I can’t.”
“Then close your eyes for a while. I’ll wake you if anything changes.”
She hesitated.
“Will you stay awake?”
“Yes.”
“Even if I sleep?”
“Yes.”
She looked at the fire.
“Thank you, Silas.”
He nodded.