About the whispers and the stares and the accusations. About every reason she had to walk away and let Dust Hollow burn. But she also thought about Levi's harmonica drifting through the night. About Jonah's quiet loyalty. About Caleb's terrible jokes and Cain's rare smiles.
About Holden standing in the doorway of her room with a key in his hand, offering her safety without asking for anything in return. Because you care, she said simply. And I'm tired of being the kind of person who doesn't. Holden smiled then. Tired, but real.
All right. Let's do something stupid. By dawn, the whole household was awake and arguing. It's suicide, Cain said flatly. We don't have the equipment, we don't have the manpower, and we sure as hell don't have the time.
We have shovels and desperation, Caleb countered. That's worked before. When? I'm sure there's been a time. Name one.
Boys. Holden's voice cut through the bickering. Enough. We're doing this. The question isn't whether it's how.
Jonah had been studying the maps in silence. Now he looked up, his expression thoughtful. The biggest blockage is going to be at the junction point here. He tapped the map. Where the three channels converge.
If we can clear that, the rest might flush out on its own once the water starts moving. Might? Levi repeated nervously. That's not exactly reassuring. Nothing about this is reassuring, Evelyn said.
But it's the best shot we've got. She's right. Holden started gathering the maps. We leave in an hour. Bring every tool we've got.
Shovels, picks, pry bars. Dress warm. This is going to take all day, maybe longer. What about the livestock? Cain asked.
They'll have to wait. If we don't get that water flowing, the livestock won't matter anyway. The brothers dispersed to gather supplies, and Evelyn headed to the kitchen to pack food and water for the journey. Her hands were steady, but her mind was racing. She'd convinced them to try this.