Not unfriendly. Simply the manner of a man who has learned to hold himself at a certain distance from new things. Clare Bennett, she said and stood. You walked up from town, he said. He had noticed her boots, the mud on the hem of her coat.
I did. That's a hard walk. I didn't mind it. He pulled out the chair at the head of the table and sat down. And Emily put a cup of coffee in front of him without being asked.
A small practiced ritual. Clare watched it happen and understood this girl had been running this house. Thomas wrapped his hands around the cup and looked at Clare directly. Not unkindly, just honestly. Miss Bennett, he said, I'm going to tell you plainly what I need and what I can offer because I don't have time to talk around things and I don't reckon you'd appreciate it if I did.
I'd appreciate the plain version, Clare said. Something in him seemed to relax, barely perceptible. I need someone who can manage this house, he said. Cooking, cleaning, mending laundry, keeping some order to things. Emily's been carrying too much and she shouldn't have to.
That's my fault. He said this last part without self-pity. Just fact. I can offer room in the house, small room off the kitchen. It's clean and three meals a day and $8 a week.
That's what I've got right now. Might be more come spring if the cattle prices hold. $8 a week was not generous. It was not insulting either. It was honest.
And the children, Clare asked. Thomas blinked. What about them? I'd be living in the house with them, Clare said. I'd want to know.
Do you want someone who keeps to the housework and leaves the children to you? Or do you want someone willing to be part of the daily life of this house? A silence opened up. Thomas looked at his daughter. Emily was looking at the table.
My children are not a job requirement, he said carefully. I understand, Clare said. I'm asking because I want to know what kind of work I'd actually be doing. Managing a household where I don't engage with the people in it, that's one kind of work. Being part of a house the way a house needs, that's different work.
I can do either. I want to know which one you need. Thomas was quiet for a long moment. Jacob without looking up from the ledger said quietly. The second one paw Thomas looked at his son the 12-year-old who did not look up who kept his pen moving down the column of numbers but whose jaw had said what his words said.