"An appropriate name?"
"Very."
She smiled.
Then noticed the faint scar near his eyebrow.
A recent one.
He caught her looking.
"Something wrong?"
She shook her head.
"No."
He studied her.
For a moment, he seemed uncertain.
Then he picked up the remaining wood.
"I'd best finish."
Clara stepped aside.
But as he passed, she gathered her courage.
"Mr. Hart, may I ask you something?"
He stopped.
"Depends."
"Do you know the old northern survey trail?"
His expression changed.
Not dramatically.
But enough for her to notice.
"Which one?"
"The route near Blackpine Ridge. North of the old granite quarry."
Caleb's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Why?"
Clara hesitated.
"My father made surveys in that area."
He looked toward her.
For a moment, she thought he might ask more.
Instead, he said, "Trail's mostly abandoned."
"Is it passable?"
"In places."
"Do you know where the original stone markers are?"
Caleb slowly set the wood down.
His expression became serious.
"Miss Whitmore."
She swallowed.
"Yes?"
"That country isn't safe for a woman traveling alone."
She tried to smile.
"I wasn't planning to go alone."
He stared.
For a moment, his eyes searched her face.
Then he shook his head.
"No."
Clara blinked.
"Excuse me?"
"If you're asking me to take you up there, the answer's no."
Her cheeks flushed.
"I haven't explained why."
"You don't need to."
He lifted the wood again.
Clara felt irritation rise.
"Mr. Hart, you don't even know what I want."
Caleb looked down at her.
She stood only a few feet away, her hands clenched beneath her shawl and her chin lifted stubbornly.
For a moment, he almost smiled.
Then his expression hardened.
"I know those mountains."
"So do I, from the survey records."
"Paper doesn't show you every ravine."
"I understand that."
"Or every place a horse can break its leg."
"I understand that too."
Caleb sighed.
"Then understand this. Winter's coming. Don't go looking for trouble up there."
Clara stared.
Then asked quietly, "What if trouble is already looking for me?"
The words stopped him.
For several seconds, he studied her face.
She regretted speaking so openly.
Then Caleb glanced toward the schoolhouse.