The man withdrew.
Lucien’s eyes stayed on Sadie.
Pride.
Not possession.
Crane said:
“You don’t understand what’s happening in Oak Haven.”
“Then tell me.”
“Food is already running low.”
Sadie’s anger faltered.
“The six wagons?”
“Nearly gone.”
“That’s impossible.”
“Cobb distributed heavy first week.”
“People panicked.”
“More families came from outer farms.”
Lucien cursed quietly.
Crane continued.
“If railroad deal fails, bank closes mill.”
“Store credit ends.”
“Spring planting seed seized.”
Sadie understood trap.
Cobb had tied town survival to her compliance.
Maybe deliberately.
Maybe through desperation.
Either way, people would blame her.
Crane said softly:
“You sign, town survives.”
There it was.
Same bargain.
One woman.
Everyone else.
Sadie looked at Lucien.
He said nothing.
Good.
She looked at Clara.
Nothing.
Her choice.
Sadie asked Crane:
“What is railroad really paying?”
He hesitated.
“So you don’t know.”
“Cobb said enough.”
“Enough for whom?”
Crane looked away.
Sadie stepped closer.
“Tell him I’m coming.”
“To sign?”
“No.”
“To ask questions.”
Crane left.
Lucien waited until hoofbeats faded.
Then said:
“You were good.”
Sadie looked.
“Good?”
“He reached for you.”
“You handled.”
She smiled faintly.
“You wanted to break his arm.”
“Yes.”
“Thank you for not.”
“You said next time ask.”
“Would you have?”
“Probably while breaking.”
She laughed.
Finally.
Oak Haven appeared beneath snow at noon two days later.
People saw wagon.
News spread before they reached church.
By time they stopped in town square, nearly everyone was there.
Sadie climbed down.
Whispers.
Faces.
Mrs. Palmer began crying.
Horace Cobb emerged from municipal office.
He looked older than he had weeks earlier.
Gray beneath eyes.
But still controlled.
He walked toward Sadie.
“My dear.”
“Don’t.”
He stopped.
The town went quiet.
Cobb looked at Lucien.
“You’ve filled her head.”
Sadie said:
“My head was always full.”
“People simply mistook silence for emptiness.”
A murmur moved through crowd.
Cobb’s face hardened.
“Sadie, we need speak privately.”
“No.”
“This concerns estate.”
“Then town should hear.”
His gaze flicked around.
“This isn’t theater.”
“No.”
“You made it one when you married me off in church.”
That landed.
Cobb lowered voice.
“People are hungry.”
“I know.”
“Then sign.”
He held document.
Sadie looked.