Denver is a day's ride each way." "I'll leave tomorrow." "We'll leave tomorrow," Clara corrected. "This affects both of us. Besides, I might be able to help explain the contract issues we found. He looked like he wanted to argue, but then nodded. What about Sophie?
I can stay with Molly. Sophie piped up from where she'd been listening. I'll be good. I promise. It was the first time she'd volunteered to make things easier for Clara.
Another small victory. That evening, dinner was different. They still sat at opposite ends of the table, but Sophie joined them, chattering about what she'd learned making the salve. Ethan actually responded to Clara's questions about the ranch, explaining their water rights, the grazing rotation, the plans he'd had for expansion before everything fell apart. You could still do it, Clara said.
If we can get Morrison off our backs, those plans could work. We Ethan raised an eyebrow. Like it or not, we're partners now. Your success is mine. Your failure is mine.
That's a heavy burden to put on you. I've carried heavier, she said quietly. And again, he gave her that look like he was trying to solve a puzzle. After Sophie went to bed, only one request for Ethan instead of three. Progress.
Clara found herself alone with him on the porch. The evening was cool, stars beginning to emerge in the darkening sky. She'd brought out coffee and they sat in the two rocking chairs, not talking but not exactly uncomfortable either. Why did you really come west? Ethan asked suddenly.
Clara was quiet for a long moment, debating how much to reveal. My father died, she finally said suddenly. A heart attack. We discovered afterward that he'd been hiding debts, gambling debts. Everything had to be sold.
The house, his practice, everything. I had enough money to get away to start over somewhere where no one knew about the scandal. And you picked Silver Creek. I picked the farthest place from Boston I could afford to reach. She took a sip of coffee.
I thought I could disappear here, be anonymous. Instead, I became the town spinster, the subject of more gossip than I'd ever been back home. "I'm sorry," he said, and she could tell he meant it. Don't be. I made my choices just like you made yours.
I didn't choose to lose my wife. No, but you chose to marry me. You could have let Morrison take the ranch, started over somewhere else. This land is all Sophie has left of her mother. I couldn't take that from her, too.