The woman's mouth opened.
No sound.
Daniel appeared beside Emily.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
Mrs. Fennel said quickly.
Emily answered:
“Mrs. Fennel was leaving.”
The woman left.
Daniel looked at Emily.
“You're shaking.”
“I’m fine.”
“No.”
Emily turned toward wagon.
Then saw Clara.
The girl was staring at her.
Later that afternoon, Clara found Emily hanging laundry.
“Is it true?”
Emily looked over.
“What?”
“You can't have babies.”
There was no accusation in the girl's voice.
Only directness.
Emily set down the clothespin.
“Yes.”
Clara absorbed that.
“Did Uncle Daniel know?”
“Not before we married.”
Clara frowned.
“Was he mad?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
The question stung.
Emily tried not to show it.
“Because he married me.”
Clara looked down.
“Mr. Bell said men only marry women because they need sons.”
Emily felt anger.
“Cyrus told you that?”
“He said Papa was foolish because Mama only gave him two children and one was a girl.”
Emily took a breath.
“Your father loved your mother?”
“Yes.”
“Then Mr. Bell sounds like he misunderstood your father too.”
Clara looked toward the hills.
After a moment she asked:
“If you can't have children, do you want us?”
Emily’s heart stopped.
There it was.
The real question.
Not biology.
Belonging.
Emily walked closer but did not touch her.
“I want you to be safe.”
“That isn't same.”
“No.”
Emily nodded.
“It isn't.”
Clara looked at her.
Emily continued:
“I don't know yet what we will become to each other.”
“You lost your mother.”
“I cannot replace her.”
“I would never try.”
Clara’s eyes filled.
“But if you stay here, I would like very much to know you.”
“To feed you.”
“To teach you.”
“To argue with you when you're impossible.”
A tiny flicker crossed Clara’s face.
Emily smiled.
“And perhaps someday you'll want me for something too.”
Clara looked down.
“I already want you to fix my sleeve again.”
Emily laughed.
That was the first time Clara smiled.
Two weeks later, Cyrus Bell rode onto the Mercer ranch.
Emily knew who he was before Daniel said the name.
He resembled Nathan only vaguely.
Tall.
Narrow face.
Brown beard cut short.
Expensive coat for a man claiming to work timber.
Two riders followed him.
Daniel stepped from the barn.
His expression changed.
“Cyrus.”
“Mercer.”