He had no quick answer.
She stepped closer.
“Silas has grain.”
“Silas charges.”
“Others have stores.”
“Not enough.”
“The meeting house could ration.”
“Who organizes it?”
“Reverend Hale.”
“He’s seventy.”
“Then the council.”
“Half of them listened to Silas and thought the pass would reopen.”
Caleb’s voice lowered.
“Clara.”
“No.”
“You don’t get to tell me not to feed children because you’re afraid.”
His face changed.
“Yes.”
“I’m afraid.”
The admission silenced her.
Caleb stepped closer.
“I have spent twenty years living where nobody cares whether I come home.”
“That was easy.”
“I thought.”
Clara’s anger dissolved slowly.
He continued.
“Then I started coming here.”
His eyes held hers.
“And now every time the ridge turns white, I think about whether you have wood.”
“Whether your roof holds.”
“Whether you locked barn.”
“Whether some fool says something cruel in town.”
She whispered:
“Caleb.”
“I don’t want to stand here in March and look at an empty chair because you decided everyone else deserved your food more than you.”
The room became very quiet.
Clara’s breath trembled.
He reached for her hand.
Stopped before touching.
Waited.
She let him.
His fingers closed around hers.
Large.
Rough.
Warm.
Clara looked at them.
“I don’t know how to do this.”
“What?”
“This.”
He smiled slightly.
“Neither.”
“I was married.”
“I know.”
“That was different.”
“I know.”
“You aren’t Benjamin.”
“No.”
“I don’t want you to be.”
“Good.”
“I’m not competing with dead man.”
Her eyes filled.
Caleb raised her hand.
Pressed his mouth against her knuckles.
Gentle.
No demand.
He said:
“I didn’t stay for your cooking.”
She laughed through tears.
“Liar.”
“I stayed because I want every winter after this one with you.”
Clara stared.
For once, words failed.
Then somebody pounded on the door.
Hard.
Repeated.
Caleb closed his eyes.
Clara almost laughed at the timing.
Then another knock.
Voices outside.
Many.
Too many.
Caleb’s expression changed.
He moved toward window.
Clara followed.
Through snow, lanterns moved along path.
Dozens.
Families.
Silhouettes.
Clara’s stomach dropped.
“No.”