“No.”
“Martha.”
“You cannot take my business ledger.”
“The pages concerning me.”
“You're leaving?”
That was the first time Martha sounded genuinely afraid.
Not emotionally.
Financially.
Clara understood.
She did more work than Martha admitted.
Laundry.
Kitchen.
Sewing.
Cleaning.
Deliveries.
Losing Clara cost more than nineteen dollars.
Clara looked toward Nathaniel.
“You said wait until Samuel was better.”
“He's better.”
Her heart began pounding.
Nathaniel removed his hat.
Not kneeling.
Not theatrical.
“I would like you to come to Black Pine Ridge.”
“For a week.”
“Bring your aunt.”
“Bring Reverend Alden if that makes you feel safer.”
“Meet the ranch.”
“Meet the children when we're not surrounded by a town.”
“See what the life actually is.”
“And if you hate it, I'll bring you back.”
Martha muttered:
“This is madness.”
Clara ignored her.
“What happens after a week?”
“You decide whether you want another.”
“And after that?”
“We continue until one of us knows.”
“Knows what?”
Nathaniel met her eyes.
“Whether we can build a marriage without pretending either of us forgot the one we had before.”
Clara’s throat tightened.
It was perhaps the least romantic proposal Red Hollow had ever heard.
It was also the most honest.
She looked toward the wagon.
The children waited.
Ruth looked hopeful and terrified.
Elias guarded.
Daniel curious.
Rose openly excited.