"And now?"
"Now we're going to look at the mountains."
She looked toward the sled.
Then toward him.
"Will it hold me?"
His expression changed.
He approached the sled and placed one hand against the frame.
"I built it with oak runners and extra braces. Tested it yesterday with a load heavier than either of us."
Clara studied it.
The seat was broad.
The boards thick.
The rails reinforced.
He had clearly considered her comfort.
She felt warmth rise in her cheeks.
"You made this?"
He nodded.
"For me?"
"For us."
She looked up.
Caleb smiled.
"Would you like to go?"
For a moment, Clara thought of the church.
The inventory.
The families waiting for supplies.
Then she remembered Hester carrying the notebook away that morning.
Martha baking.
Peter counting grain.
The settlement managing without her.
She smiled.
"Yes."
Caleb helped her onto the sled.
He settled beside her.
Then guided the horse slowly along the packed meadow trail.
The ride was gentle.
They did not travel far.
Only to a small rise overlooking the valley.
But when Clara saw the mountains beneath the winter sun, something inside her loosened.
The peaks shone white.
The pines stood dark against the snow.
Smoke rose from the chimneys of Pine Hollow.
Beyond the creek, the fields lay sleeping beneath winter.
Clara breathed deeply.
"It's beautiful."
Caleb nodded.
"Yes."
She turned.
He was looking at her.
She laughed.
"You're not watching the mountains."
He smiled.
"Not at the moment."
Her cheeks warmed.
He took her hand.
For a while, they sat quietly.
Then Clara looked toward the valley.
"I've been afraid all winter that if I stopped working, people would stop needing me."
Caleb listened.
She continued.
"That's an ugly thing to admit."
He shook his head.
"No."
She looked down.
"I think part of me wanted to prove I was worth something."
Caleb's expression softened.
"Clara."
She turned.
He waited until she met his eyes.
"You were worth something before you chopped the first cabbage."
Tears filled her eyes.
He continued.
"Before the snow. Before the church suppers. Before anybody thanked you."
She swallowed.
"Then why didn't they see it?"
Caleb looked toward the mountains.
"Some people don't look closely enough."
He turned back.