“What did you do?”
“Nothing.”
“That seems suspicious.”
Samuel almost smiled.
“Pa wants me helping fence.”
“I’m supposed to meet the teacher in town.”
Clara remembered the unfinished school.
“Teacher?”
“Mrs. Avery teaches three days a week at the church.”
“Why does your father want you fencing?”
“Winter.”
Fair.
But so was school.
Clara poured coffee.
It was terrible.
She nearly spat it out.
Samuel looked amused.
“Pa makes it.”
“I know.”
“How?”
“Because it tastes like punishment.”
Samuel laughed.
Nathan entered with Ethan.
Both looked irritated.
Nathan saw the coffee in Clara’s hand.
“Something wrong?”
“Yes.”
“What?”
“This.”
He stared at the cup.
“Coffee?”
“Allegedly.”
Ethan laughed.
Nathan looked offended.
“You can make it tomorrow.”
“I intend to.”
Samuel said:
“She’s staying tomorrow.”
The room went quiet.
Clara looked at him.
“Four days.”
Nathan glanced toward her.
She noticed relief.
He hid it badly.
Breakfast became an argument about Samuel’s schooling.
Clara listened.
Nathan’s problem was not opposition.
It was labor.
Two sections of fence had collapsed.
Snow possible within weeks.
Cattle could drift.
Ethan already worked too much.
Nathan needed Samuel.
Samuel wanted school.
Both were right.
Clara asked:
“How long is class?”
“Morning.”
“How far?”
“Five miles.”
“Could he attend and work afternoon?”
Nathan answered:
“Daylight.”
“Could Ethan take the north fence and Samuel the nearer section?”
Ethan said:
“I already do south pasture.”
Clara looked at Nathan.
“How many hired hands?”
“One.”
“One?”
“Two left after Mara died.”
“Why?”
“I couldn't pay consistently.”
“How much money remains from your wife’s agency fund?”
Nathan stared.
“I don't know.”
“You truly do not know anything about this arrangement.”
“I tried not to.”
“Remarkable strategy.”
The children tried not to laugh.
Clara continued.
“If Mara prepaid six months’ wages, that is money you are already not spending from ranch income.”
“Yes.”
“What if I do house work mornings and fence repair afternoons?”
Nathan looked at her hands.
“You know fencing?”
“No.”
“Then—”
“I can learn.”
“This is not kitchen work.”
“Thank God.”
His mouth twitched.
Samuel watched.
Nathan considered.
“Half school.”
“Half fence.”
Samuel brightened.
Ethan frowned.
“What about me?”
Clara looked at him.
“What do you want?”
He seemed confused by the question.
“I work.”
“That is not what I asked.”
Nathan watched.
Ethan said:
“Horses.”
“You like horses.”
“Yes.”
“School?”
“No.”
“Reading?”
His face hardened.
“No.”
Samuel looked away.
Clara remembered what Nathan had said.