“That sounds like her.”
Clara felt an unexpected ache.
Elena.
A woman she barely knew.
Dead.
Five children behind her.
Nathaniel looked toward the Reverend.
The Reverend seemed surprised too.
Martha did not enjoy being excluded from the connection.
She spoke sharply.
“Well, this is touching.”
Clara’s eyes moved toward her.
Martha continued.
“But Mr. Cole should perhaps know that Clara is not merely childless.”
Clara felt something inside her turn cold.
“Martha.”
The woman ignored her.
“She has debts.”
Clara stared.
Nathaniel looked at her.
“Do you?”
Clara’s face heated.
“Yes.”
“How much?”
“That is private.”
Nathaniel nodded.
“Fair.”
Martha seemed disappointed.
Then added:
“Enough that running off to some ranch might prove inconvenient.”
Clara turned toward her.
“I am not indentured to you.”
“No.”
“But I extended credit.”
“For rent.”
“Food.”
“Medicine.”
“And you agreed—”
“I agreed to repay.”
“I did not agree to spend the rest of my life scrubbing your sheets.”
Martha stiffened.
Nathaniel remained silent.
Again.
Good.
Clara did not need rescue.
She needed room.
Martha hissed:
“You owe twenty-three dollars.”
Clara’s stomach tightened.
Nathaniel looked toward her.