Boyd was gone by sunrise.
Alder Creek sent a wagon.
Audra did not watch.
She had breakfast to make.
The camp settled again.
But something had changed.
Not because ten men had rejected higher wages.
Audra disliked when they repeated that story as though food had bewitched them.
It was more complicated.
The wage difference was real but Alder Creek had a reputation for injuries, long shifts, and cheating men on measurement bonuses.
Blackwater was smaller.
Reed paid on time.
Men trusted him.
Audra’s cooking mattered.
So did everything else.
Still, the story grew.
Within weeks, camps twenty miles away had heard.
“Blackwater men refused higher wages for a widow’s biscuits.”
Audra hated it.
“They did not refuse for biscuits.”
Jasper said:
“I did.”
“You're foolish.”
“Still true.”
Reed heard rumors too.
One evening he entered kitchen carrying a letter.
Audra looked up.
“What now?”
“Alder Creek wants you.”
She stared.
“What?”
“They offered forty dollars a month.”
Her knife stopped.
Blackwater paid twenty-six.
“That’s almost double.”
“Yes.”
“Room?”
“Yes.”
“Assistant?”
“Yes.”
Audra wiped hands.
“Give me.”
Reed handed letter.
She read.
Alder Creek employed thirty-two men.
The offer was real.
Very real.
More money than Audra had ever earned.
She looked up.
“Did Boyd recommend me?”
Reed’s expression tightened.
“No.”
“Then how?”
“Word.”
Audra reread.
Forty dollars.
After her husband died, she had lived on less than fifteen some months.
Forty would mean savings.
Security.
Perhaps opening a boardinghouse later.
Her own kitchen.
Her own business.
Reed leaned against door.
“You should consider.”
She looked at him.
“You want me to leave?”
“No.”
Too quick.
Both noticed.
Audra folded the letter.
Reed looked away.
“I mean financially.”
“It’s a strong offer.”
She studied him.
“What would you pay?”
His eyes returned.
“You negotiating?”
“Yes.”
“Thirty.”
“Thirty-five.”
“Thirty-two.”
“Room improved.”
“You have room.”
“I have a box with a mattress.”
“It has a stove.”
“It has mice.”
“One mouse.”
“He has relatives.”
Reed almost smiled.
“Thirty-two and I fix the room.”
“Thirty-three.”
“Thirty-two.”
“Fresh meat twice weekly.”
“Impossible.”
“Once.”
“Deal.”
They shook.
His hand engulfed hers.