Every barrel weighed.
Every sack sealed.
Every contributor signed.
Caleb watched her work from the doorway.
“You planned this from the contract.”
“I hoped we would never need it.”
“That is not the same thing.”
“No.”
He smiled.
“You’re terrifying.”
“Useful?”
“Also that.”
At three forty in the morning, three wagons left the Hart ranch.
That was how Mara arrived at the depot beneath lantern light, nine months after stepping into a stone yard she was forbidden to touch.
Chapter 12: Crowe’s Contract
Elias Murray finished inspecting the wagons before five.
“Every count is correct.”
Mara handed him the cooperative ledger.
“Sign there.”
He did.
Crowe’s regular shipment was due before seven.
At six fifteen, the first wagon arrived.
Then another.
Then five more.
The depot crew began counting.
By six forty, the shortage was obvious.
Crowe’s flour shipment was nearly one hundred sacks light.
Vegetables were short by more than a quarter.
Two meat barrels listed on the invoice did not exist.
Elias Murray looked toward Mara’s wagons.
Then toward his workers.
“Unload the Hart cooperative.”
Nobody cheered.
They did not have time.
Workers started moving flour toward the railroad storehouse.
Then hoofbeats came from the road.
Silas Crowe arrived first.
Sheriff Owen Pike rode behind him with two deputies.
Crowe dismounted before his horse stopped moving.
“What exactly are you doing?”
Elias Murray answered.
“Buying supplies.”
“You have a contract with me.”
“A contract you failed to meet this morning.”
“My remaining wagons are coming.”
Murray shook his head.
“Your shipping clerk confirmed that was the full load.”
Crowe turned toward Mara.
His practiced calm disappeared.
“You.”
Mara closed her ledger.
“Good morning, Silas.”
Sheriff Pike moved forward.
“Mrs. Hart, we have a report that property belonging to Crowe Provision was stolen.”
Caleb stepped beside her.
Mara remained still.
“What property?”
“Contracts.”
“Company records.”
“Private commercial material.”
Mara looked at Crowe.
“Did you lose something?”
His eyes hardened.