“She was ambitious.”
“And you?”
“I wanted whatever she wanted.”
Eliza looked at him.
“That's dangerous.”
“I know.”
He rubbed his hands.
“She was small.”
“Mean when hungry.”
“Afraid of thunderstorms.”
“Could shoot straighter than me.”
Eliza raised one eyebrow.
“That I doubt.”
“Everybody doubts until they see it.”
His voice became quieter.
“She kept talking about Samuel's first birthday.”
Caleb looked at the floor.
“Then she died before he was six days old.”
Eliza’s eyes filled.
Caleb looked toward her.
“What about your daughter?”
Eliza smiled through tears.
“Ruth.”
“You named her Ruth?”
“My mother’s name.”
“Tell me.”
Eliza looked at Samuel.
“She had black hair.”
“A ridiculous amount.”
“She made one squeaking noise whenever she sneezed.”
Caleb smiled.
“She hated being wrapped too tightly.”
“Margaret said babies liked that.”
“Ruth did not.”
Eliza’s smile disappeared.
“There was a dark mark behind her knee.”
Caleb nodded.
“I remember.”
“I only had fourteen days.”
“Fourteen is something.”
“Yes.”
She looked up.
“It was everything.”
Their eyes met.
Samuel slept between them.
Caleb reached across.
Not for Eliza.
For the edge of the blanket.
His fingers brushed hers.
Neither moved away.
The touch remained.
Two grieving people connected by the smallest possible point.
Eliza whispered:
“If I find her…”
“When.”
She smiled sadly.
“When I find her…”
“Yes?”
“What happens to this?”
Caleb looked confused.
She glanced down at Samuel.
Caleb understood.
“You'll leave.”
Her expression changed.
“I didn't say that.”
“No.”
“But you were thinking it.”
Eliza looked away.
Caleb’s chest tightened.
He had no right to ask her to stay.
She had her own child.
Her own future.
They had known each other days.
Yet the thought of the boardinghouse room without her felt strangely empty.
He stood.
“I should go.”
Eliza looked up.
“Caleb.”
It was the first time she had used his name.
He stopped.
Her voice softened.
“You don't have to run every time something matters.”
He stared.
Eliza seemed surprised by her own courage.
Caleb crossed back toward the bed.
He sat beside her.
Still not touching.
“I’m not good at this.”
“At what?”
“Anything that isn't repairing fences or keeping animals alive.”
Eliza smiled.
“You've kept Samuel alive.”
“With considerable assistance.”
“Still.”
Caleb looked at her.
“You matter.”
Her smile disappeared.
He immediately looked away.
“That's what I'm trying not to run from.”
Eliza’s heart began pounding.
Before either could say more, somebody hammered on the downstairs door.
Pritchard’s voice echoed through the boardinghouse.
“I FOUND IT!”
Both stood so quickly Samuel woke and began crying.