Caleb insisted on helping. He took the tarnished spoons from the drawer one by one, wiping each carefully with the hem of his shirt before placing them on the table. When they sat down, Elias reached for his bowl without a word.
Caleb glanced at him, hesitant. “Do we pray or something?” Elias paused, looked to Nell. She gave a small nod.
So Elias bowed his head and said, “Thanks for the food and the company.” The room felt warmer after that. During the meal, Caleb giggled when Elias pretended to taste the soup, made a dramatic face, then added a pinch of salt with exaggerated precision. Nell laughed, not out of politeness, not forced, real, honest.
the kind of laughter that hadn’t touched her mouth in a long, long time. As the fire crackled and the bowls emptied, Caleb’s eyelids began to droop. He slumped forward in his seat, cheek resting on the table.
Elias rose, walked over, and lifted the boy in his arms, careful, gentle. He cradled Caleb like he was made of something precious, something remembered. Nell watched her breath catching.
He hasn’t laughed like that since his father died,” she said softly. Elias didn’t turn around, but his voice reached her. Low and certain.
“Then let’s give him more days like this.” The sky hung heavy with low clouds, the air still but tense, like a pause before a sentence too long held back. The sharp clatter of hooves on the frozen road, broke the morning hush. A wagon creaked to a halt outside the cabin.
Elias stepped out, rifle in one hand, only to lower it as he recognized the man on the seat. “Harlen Fitch,” he said simply. The visitor jumped down, brushing snow from his coat.
“He was taller than Elias, stockier, with a quick, narrow gaze that scanned the surroundings. His arms were full. Sacks of flour, a tin of coffee, dried beans.
“Brought what you asked,” Harlon said. Then his eyes landed on Nell, who had come to the door, Caleb, clutching the edge of her skirt. He blinked.
“Well,” he muttered, “That’s new.” Nell nodded politely, then disappeared inside. Harlon leaned in toward Elias. “You sure about this?
Folks might start talking.” Elias did not flinch. Let them. They unpacked the supplies in silence, but Harland could not hold back long.
As Elias reached for the last sack, he said quietly. Heard talk in town. Wade Collier’s offering money.
A bounty. Elias stilled. For who?
Harlon glanced at the cabin door. Woman and a kid. Descriptions match.
Word is. She took something of his. Elias turned, walked inside without a word.
Nell sat by the fire, hands folded in her lap. Why would he put a price on you? Elias asked, voice low.
Leave a Comment