Nathan’s face hardened.
“Because my wife was dying.”
There was no anger directed at her.
Only the defensive reflex of a man still ashamed of choices made while drowning.
He continued.
“The town bank wouldn’t extend us.”
“Feed prices climbed.”
“We lost calves in the winter.”
“Mara needed treatment.”
“Vale knew someone in Cheyenne willing to lend.”
“And you accepted.”
“Yes.”
“Did Mara approve?”
“No.”
That mattered.
“Why?”
Nathan stared toward the floorboards.
“She said Vale never offered help unless he could see where the profit would come from.”
Clara’s pulse quickened.
“What did you say?”
“That we didn’t have another choice.”
Nathan gave a small bitter laugh.
“She hated when I said that.”
Clara understood why.
People used no choice when they meant every available choice is terrible.
There was a difference.
She leaned against the opposite wall.
“Did Mara ever accuse Vale directly of anything?”
Nathan looked at her.
“What did the letter say?”
Clara held his gaze.
“I’m asking you first.”
His suspicion increased.
But he answered.
“She thought he was manipulating the feed merchants.”
“How?”
“Buying their notes.”
“Offering loans.”
“Encouraging them to tighten credit on smaller ranches.”
“Could she prove it?”
“No.”
“Did she try?”
“Yes.”
Nathan hesitated.
“She kept records.”
Clara’s breath nearly stopped.
“Where?”
“I don’t know.”
“After she died I searched her desk.”
“Nothing.”
“She might have destroyed them.”
Or hidden them under a floorboard.
Clara kept her face still.
Nathan noticed something.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“That wasn’t nothing.”
She almost smiled.
“You're learning.”
He did not.
“Clara.”
She exhaled.
“I found something.”
His entire body went rigid.
“Where?”
“In my room.”
“What?”
“Papers.”
His face drained.
“Mara’s?”
“Yes.”
Nathan moved toward her.
Clara immediately raised one hand.
“Stop.”
He did.
Good.
“She hid them.”
“Why?”
“I think because she was afraid of what you would do if you saw them before she understood what they meant.”
Nathan’s jaw tightened.
“That was not her decision.”
“She was dying.”
“She was protecting you.”
“I didn’t need protection.”
Clara stared at him.
“Of course you did.”
His eyes flashed.
“You don't know me well enough to say that.”
“No.”
“But I know you tried to walk after Vale yesterday because he mentioned Mara.”
Nathan stopped.
Point made.
Clara continued.
“She was right to worry.”
Nathan looked away.
“Show me.”
“Tomorrow.”
His head snapped back.
“Now.”
“No.”