Chapter 11 - What Sarah Had Never Told Them
Victor wanted nothing.
At least that was what he claimed.
“You expect me to believe you rode through snow to give me this from kindness?” Elias asked.
“No.”
Victor brushed snow from his coat.
“I did it because Crowe damaged my reputation.”
Sarah almost laughed.
“That is more believable.”
Victor nodded approvingly.
“I continue to like her.”
Elias did not.
“What does Morris's letter say?”
Victor handed it over.
Morris confessed to manipulating bank records.
Crowe paid him.
False advances were added to struggling ranchers' loans.
When owners could not pay, Crowe acquired the notes cheaply and pressured them into selling.
“How many?” Sarah asked.
Victor's expression darkened.
“At least four.”
Elias stared.
“And the bank?”
“May not know.”
“Convenient.”
“Yes.”
Victor pulled on his gloves.
“Take the letter to Helena.”
“You could.”
“I am.”
Victor met his eyes.
“But you should come.”
After he left, Sarah sat silently.
Elias noticed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Sarah.”
She looked toward Lahi.
The girl was upstairs.
Sarah took a breath.
“There is more about Crowe.”
Elias waited.
She had hoped never to tell him.
Not because it was shameful.
Because being pitied was sometimes worse than being misunderstood.
“After Mrs. Bellamy lost the boardinghouse, Crowe offered me work.”
Elias's face hardened.
“Why?”
“He said he admired loyalty.”
Sarah laughed bitterly.
“He meant he wanted someone who understood household accounts.”
“Did you accept?”
“For three weeks.”
Elias looked surprised.
“I needed money.”
“What happened?”
Sarah stared at the table.
“Crowe asked me to alter invoices.”
Elias went still.
“I refused.”
“And?”
“He accused me of stealing.”
The words hung between them.
“Did you?”
“No.”
Elias's jaw tightened.
“Of course not.”
Sarah looked at him sharply.
“You don't have to say it that quickly.”
“Yes, I do.”
“You weren't there.”
“I know you.”
Her eyes filled before she could stop them.
Elias softened.
Sarah looked away.
“Nobody else believed me that quickly.”
He sat opposite her.
“What happened?”
“The accusation never reached court.”
“Why?”
“Because he offered a bargain.”
“What bargain?”
“Leave Kansas City. Keep quiet. He wouldn't press charges.”
Elias stood so suddenly the chair scraped.
“That son of a—”
“Lahi.”
He lowered his voice.
“That man threatened you.”
“Yes.”
“He destroyed your reputation.”
“In certain circles.”
“And you've been carrying that alone?”
Sarah's expression hardened.
“I carried it because I had to.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“You were my employer.”
Elias flinched.
“I still am.”
“Yes.”
The reminder hurt both.
Sarah continued.
“I had no intention of arriving at a stranger's ranch and announcing I'd once been accused of theft.”
“I would never have believed him.”
“You keep saying that.”
“Because it's true.”
Sarah's voice rose.
“You cannot know!”
Lahi appeared on the stairs.
Both stopped.
She looked frightened.
Elias exhaled.
“We're all right.”
Lahi slowly descended.
She walked to Sarah.
“Sad?”
Sarah forced a smile.
“A little.”
Lahi touched her hand.
“Crowe?”
Sarah looked at Elias.
He nodded.
“Yes.”
Lahi's forehead wrinkled.
“Bad man.”
Elias almost smiled.
“That's becoming a useful category.”
Lahi climbed beside Sarah.
For several minutes, she simply leaned against her.
No advice.
No questions.
Sarah realized the child had learned exactly what Sarah had tried to teach her.
Stay.
Later Elias found Sarah outside hanging laundry even though the temperature was below freezing.
“These will become boards.”
“I need air.”
He stood beside her.
“I owe you an apology.”
“For what?”
“For making you tell me.”
“You didn't.”
“I pushed.”
Sarah pinned a sheet.
“Some things improve after they're said.”
“And some?”
“Don't.”
He nodded.
“Did that?”
She considered.
“Yes.”
Then she faced him.
“Elias, I need to tell you something else.”
His stomach dropped.
“The St. Louis offer?”
She nodded.
“I haven't accepted.”
Relief.
Then:
“Yet.”
Pain followed.
“When do they need an answer?”
“Before Christmas.”
“That is ten days.”
“I know.”
He stared toward the mountains.
“You want to go?”
“I want security.”
“I understand.”
“And money enough to help my sister.”
“I understand that too.”
She waited.
“Are you asking me to stay?”
Elias looked at her.
Every selfish instinct screamed yes.
But if he asked because he needed a housekeeper…
If he asked because Lahi needed her…
If he asked before he understood his own heart…
He might trap Sarah inside another life built around other people's needs.
So he said the hardest honest thing.
“I want you to choose what is best for you.”
Sarah's face revealed nothing.
“Thank you.”
She walked inside.
Elias cursed silently.
That was apparently the correct answer.
It felt terrible.
Christmas approached.
The quilt neared completion.
Lahi spoke more each day.
The sheriff prepared documents for Helena.
Victor Hale arranged transportation once the pass cleared.
And Sarah had nine days to decide whether she would leave.
Then a telegram arrived from St. Louis.
Mr. Whitcomb increased the offer again.
Thirty-five dollars monthly.
A private room.
Transportation paid.
Sarah read it alone.
Lahi entered.
“Letter?”
“Yes.”
“Good?”
Sarah looked at the child she had never planned to love.
“I don't know.”
Lahi climbed beside her.
“Stay Christmas?”
Sarah swallowed.
“Yes.”
“After?”
Sarah had no answer.
Lahi understood.
Her face fell.
Sarah's heart broke.
That night, for the first time since she had arrived at Thorne Ranch, Sarah cried.
May you like
And Elias heard her through the kitchen door.
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