"Miss Bennett."
She looked up.
"Amos."
He handed it over.
The letter stated that the bank had concerns about the pledged inventory and required a formal explanation of the emergency grain arrangement.
It did not immediately foreclose.
But it demanded documents and warned that the store's debt might be called if the situation remained unresolved.
Clara read carefully.
Then looked toward Pike.
"Have you told the bank about the old association agreement?"
He nodded.
"Sent copies."
"And the temporary release terms?"
"Yes."
She looked toward the final paragraph.
"They're asking for someone to come and review the records."
Pike sighed.
"With the road closed."
Clara nodded.
"We may have to wait."
He looked frightened.
"What if waiting costs me the store?"
She considered that.
Then said, "We need to keep the accounts accurate and make sure they know the supplies weren't simply given away."
Pike looked at her.
For a moment, his expression softened.
"You still mean to help me?"
Clara seemed surprised.
"Of course."
He lowered his eyes.
"After how I treated you?"
She took a breath.
"Amos, helping you keep a fair business doesn't mean pretending you were kind."
He nodded slowly.
She continued.
"And I don't want the people who depend on the store to lose it because everyone was too proud to work out the debt."
Pike looked toward the letter.
Then sighed.
"Your mother would've liked that answer."
Clara smiled faintly.
"She would've demanded a better ledger."
Amos laughed.
For the first time, the sound held no mockery.
March brought thawing days and freezing nights.
Snow slid from roofs.
The creek began moving beneath its ice.
The mountains remained dangerous, but the lower roads slowly became passable.
A small team finally reached Pine Hollow from the eastern rail connection with news that road repairs were progressing.
The main pass was still unsuitable for heavy wagons, but crews were clearing debris and preparing a safer temporary route.
Supplies began arriving in limited amounts.
Flour.
Salt.
Tools.
Medicines.
And letters from relatives who had spent months worrying about the isolated settlement.
Families cried when they received news.
Children crowded around packages.
The church held a thanksgiving gathering even though it was not a holiday.
For the first time, Clara could revise the inventory without calculating how quickly the last stores might disappear.
The danger had not ended.
But the settlement had survived the hardest months.
No one had gone completely without shelter.
No family had been abandoned because it could not pay immediately.
Illness had caused frightening weeks.
Several animals had been lost.
Homes required repairs.
Debts remained.
But the people were still there.
The children were growing stronger.
And spring was beginning to show itself beneath the snow.
The first green shoot appeared behind Clara's cabin in early April.
It was a small onion that had survived beneath a layer of straw.
Clara discovered it while inspecting the garden.
She crouched carefully.