Lara nodded.
But before they entered, she looked toward the fading riders.
Caleb had wanted to make her a burden.
He had wanted Elias to resent her.
He had wanted winter to become the weapon that destroyed the ranch.
Lara looked toward the smoke rising from the chimney.
Then toward the barn.
Then toward the broad valley beyond.
And a thought began forming.
Caleb believed she would consume resources.
What if she could help preserve them?
What if everything people had mocked her for had hidden abilities they never bothered to see?
She followed Elias inside.
And made herself a promise.
She would not spend another winter apologizing for being alive.
Chapter 5: The Winter Ledger
The first real test arrived three days later.
Elias brought the ranch accounts into the kitchen.
He spread the papers across the table.
Lara was kneading bread.
At first, she paid them little attention.
Then she noticed his expression.
“You look troubled.”
Elias rubbed his eyes.
“I'm trying to make twelve weeks of feed last sixteen.”
Lara stopped kneading.
“May I look?”
He glanced at her.
“These are ranch accounts.”
“I know.”
“Cattle accounts.”
“Yes.”
He hesitated.
She smiled.
“I can read numbers, Elias.”
He gave a sheepish laugh.
“I didn't mean—”
“I know what you meant.”
She wiped flour from her hands and sat.
The ledger was disorganized.
Hay purchases.
Grain orders.
Salt blocks.
Feed quantities.
Wages.
Repairs.
Transportation costs.
Some figures were written twice.
Others had been scratched out.
Lara studied the pages.
“Who manages these?”
“Me.”
“Always?”
“Since my father died.”
She nodded.
“How many cattle?”
“Just under four hundred.”
“How many hands?”
“Twelve, including two hired for winter.”
“How much hay do you have?”
He gave the number.
She compared it with the estimates.
Then frowned.
“Your daily consumption figure is inconsistent.”
Elias leaned forward.
“What?”
“You're counting some animals twice.”
He stared.
She pointed toward the ledger.
“These replacement heifers appear in the main herd and again in your winter group.”
Elias took the page.
Read it.
Then another.
His eyebrows rose.
“Well, I'll be damned.”
Lara smiled faintly.
“That improves the numbers.”
“How much?”
“Not enough to solve everything.”
He leaned back.
“But enough to matter.”
“Yes.”
She continued.
“And your food expenses for the ranch hands seem unnecessarily high.”
Elias laughed.
“They eat like wolves.”
“Then perhaps the wolves need better cooking.”
He smiled.
“How much could you save?”
She began calculating.
Salt beef.
Flour.
Beans.
Potatoes.
Preserved vegetables.