Poverty was often most frightening when it remained organized. Harness was repaired instead of replaced. Fence posts leaned. Barn shingles had been patched with flattened oil tins. Two…
“What condition?” He pushed another document toward her. The writing was old. Brown ink. Formal script. She read slowly. To be delivered to the first surviving woman of…
Hannah noticed his face. “What?” He did not answer. “Elias?” He crossed the cabin slowly. His hand rose toward the coat but stopped before touching it. “Whose is…
“And the baby?” “Comes with the cook.” Walker looked toward Bidwell lying beneath the wagon canvas. From inside came a weak voice. “Hire her, Boone.” The crew erupted.…
The Bennett house looked worse than Clara had imagined. The porch leaned. One chimney had lost several bricks. A length of canvas covered part of the roof. The…
“What would you have done?” “Worried.” “Exactly.” He stared at her. Maggie returned to slicing onions. “You are a difficult woman.” “You employ a hundred difficult men. I…
Her knees hurt from kneeling on the dirt. But lined along one wall were covered tins containing more than two hundred pounds of clean, dry flour. She sat…
“What are they?” “I’m not entirely sure yet.” Lucy looked delighted. “You planted something and don’t know what it is?” “I know what family it belongs to. Your…
“Then why me?” His gaze stayed on the trail. “Because you’re capable.” “You’ve known me four days.” “I’ve known enough.” Something about the answer troubled her. But the…
“What do you want?” The stranger reached inside his coat. Rufus raised the barrel. “Easy.” Silas slowly produced an envelope. “I’m looking for a woman.” Dela felt the…
