She looked at Harding directly. "If your conscience is bothering you about the situation that caused me to need this arrangement in the first place, that's between you and your conscience. I'm not interested in making you feel better about it." Harding's ears went red.
"Now, miss, I'm not—"
"I'm finished," she said, and something in her voice made him stop. "You brought me here from Missouri on a written promise. You made that promise in good faith, then broke it without adequate notice and left me stranded in the worst storm this territory has seen in a decade."
"I handled that situation myself. I found work and shelter through my own effort, and I intend to honor that arrangement until the coach runs." She paused. "So yes, Mr. Harding, I accept your apology, and I'd like you both to leave my employer's property now."
The silence lasted about four seconds. Briggs opened his mouth. The sound of the front door opening closed it again. Eli came out onto the porch.
He had clearly been inside long enough to have heard most of what had just happened. His coat was off, and his expression had the quality of a man who had been listening and had decided to wait and see if he was needed. He looked at Harding. He looked at Briggs.
Then he looked at Clara. "Everything all right?" he said. "Mr. Harding and Mr. Briggs were just leaving," Clara said. Eli came down the porch steps slowly and stood beside Clara.
Not in front of her. Not between her and the two men. Beside her. The distinction was not small.
Harding looked at Eli. Whatever he was reading in Eli's face made him put his hat back on. "We'll be going," he said. "Eli, no hard feelings, I hope."
"I don't have feelings about this particular situation, Tom," Eli said. "Miss Whitfield handled it." Harding nodded tightly. Briggs had nothing left to say.
They got back in the wagon. Clara and Eli watched it go down the road and through the gate without either of them speaking. When the wagon was out of sight, Eli said, "You didn't need me." "No," she said.
"But I was glad you were there." He looked at her. She looked at the road. After a moment, they went back inside.
Ruth was standing in the kitchen doorway. Jesse was behind her, and behind Jesse was Cole, who had gotten up from his rest and was watching with sharp, assessing eyes. "Well," Ruth said. "It's handled," Clara said.