“Where are Mama’s things?”
The room changed.
Daniel looked toward Clara.
The girl stared at her bowl.
“What things?”
he asked.
“Her trunk.”
Clara said.
“It was sent separately.”
Daniel nodded.
“Then it may arrive later.”
“No.”
Clara's voice sharpened.
“Mr. Bell said it was going with us.”
“Who is Mr. Bell?”
“Our father's brother.”
Daniel frowned.
“Cyrus Bell?”
Clara nodded.
Daniel’s jaw tightened slightly.
Emily noticed.
“What?”
Daniel shook his head.
“Later.”
Clara noticed too.
“You know him.”
“I've met him.”
“Papa didn't like him.”
Daniel looked at her.
“Why?”
Clara lowered her eyes.
“I don't know.”
That was not true.
Emily could tell.
But she said nothing.
After supper, Samuel fell asleep at the table.
Daniel carried him upstairs.
Clara followed immediately.
Emily began washing dishes.
When Daniel returned, he leaned against counter.
“Cyrus Bell.”
“What about him?”
“Nathan's older brother.”
“You don't like him.”
“No.”
“Why?”
Daniel dried one plate.
“Because he tried to take over Nathan’s timber business after Abigail died.”
“Maybe he wanted to help.”
“Maybe.”
“But?”
“Nathan wrote me in spring.”
“Said Cyrus wanted him to sign some land into a partnership.”
“Nathan refused.”
“What land?”
“I don't know.”
Daniel looked toward stairs.
“I assumed family quarrel.”
“Now?”
“Now Nathan dies in a sawmill accident, and his brother apparently handled the children's belongings.”
Emily felt unease.
“Do you think he had something to do with Nathan’s death?”
“No.”
Daniel answered quickly.
“I have no reason to think that.”
“But I want to know why Abigail’s trunk isn't here.”
The trunk arrived four days later.
Broken lock.
No letter.
Clothes.
Family Bible.
Abigail’s hairbrush.
Nathan's tools.
Several photographs.
But no papers.
Clara stood beside it with her fists clenched.
“Something's missing.”
Daniel looked at her.
“What?”
She glanced toward Emily.
Then away.
“Nothing.”
Daniel crouched.
“Clara.”
“I said nothing.”
She ran upstairs.
Samuel followed.
Daniel started after her.