“I haven't said what.”
“Still no.”
His smile thinned.
“You're behind on taxes.”
Meadow's stomach tightened.
“I paid autumn assessment.”
“County added road levy.”
“When?”
“Last month.”
“Nobody told me.”
“Notice posted.”
“Where?”
“Courthouse.”
Meadow stared.
Abernathy smiled.
“That's the law.”
“How much?”
He named the figure.
High.
Too high.
Meadow's chest tightened.
“You're lying.”
He put a paper into her hand.
Official seal.
Maybe real.
Maybe not.
“If unpaid by spring, liens begin.”
Meadow looked toward Jedediah.
Abernathy followed.
“Farm looks useful now.”
There.
Meadow understood.
“You want the land.”
“I might buy.”
“No.”
“Fair price.”
“No.”
“Widow—”
“The land isn't for sale.”
A horse approached.
Jedediah rode toward them.
The mayor's expression changed.
He had not seen Jedediah upright since Founders Day.
Jedediah stopped beside Meadow.
Tall in the saddle.
Broad shoulders beneath a fur vest.
His legs strapped firmly.
Pale eyes cold.
“The lady said no.”
Abernathy looked upward.
“Boone.”
“Mayor.”
“I see charity agreed with you.”
Jedediah smiled.
“I see power made you uglier.”
Meadow nearly laughed.
Abernathy's cheeks flushed.
“This doesn't concern you.”
Jedediah looked toward Meadow.
Then back.
“The land ain't for sale.”
“Not yours.”
Jedediah's eyes sharpened.
“No.”
He rested one hand on the saddle horn.
“But I work it.”
“Protect it.”
“Sleep on it.”
“Eat from it.”
“Seems concerned enough.”
Abernathy stepped closer.
“You think because you've built a few toys you're a rancher?”
Jedediah looked toward the enormous stump chained behind his horse.
Then at the mayor.
“Want to pull that yourself?”
Abernathy said nothing.
Jedediah lifted the whip.
Cracked it through the frozen air.
The mayor's horse startled.
Abernathy jumped backward.
Jedediah laughed.
“Go.”
Abernathy left furious.
Meadow waited until the buggy disappeared.
Then turned toward Jedediah.
“You shouldn't have done that.”
“What?”
“Scared his horse.”
“I scared him.”
“Horse caught some.”
Jedediah grinned.
Meadow tried not to.
Failed.
They returned to the barn.
Lowering him from the saddle required the pulley.
Meadow attached the sling.
Jedediah shifted.
Something caught.
He cursed.
“Hold still.”
“I am holding.”
“You're moving.”
“My arms move.”
“Stop those too.”
“You command everybody?”
“Only heavy stubborn men hanging above the ground.”