Gideon objected when she tried to give him part of the money.
“The cream came from your cows.”
“You churned it.”
“The feed costs money.”
“So does your time.”
Their arguments became rituals.
Something else changed too.
Mabel began hearing Gideon laugh.
The first time happened when Elsie attempted to saddle a goat.
The sound startled everyone.
Even Gideon.
June announced, “You should do that more.”
“Do what?”
“Sound human.”
Mabel laughed so hard she had to sit down.
Gideon stared at her.
And something passed between them.
Warm.
Dangerous.
Alive.
It frightened Mabel enough that she avoided his eyes for the rest of the evening.
She had loved one man.
She had buried him.
She did not know whether loving again would betray the grave.
The trouble began in town.
His name was Silas Vane.
Mabel had met him once before without realizing who he was.
He was the well-dressed man who had stood outside the general store on her first day, smiling while the others laughed.
Vane owned the store.
And the freight company.
And most of the town’s outstanding loans.
According to Gideon, he was the sort of man who never touched mud because other men were paid to stand in it for him.
Mabel entered the store one Saturday with butter to sell.
Vane examined the jars.
“Mabel Harlo.”
She stiffened.
“I don’t remember introducing myself.”
“You’ve become something of a topic.”
“I’d rather be paid than discussed.”
His smile widened.
“So Cross has you living out there.”
“I work there.”
“Of course.”
Mabel heard the implication.
“Is there a reason we’re having this conversation?”
Vane leaned closer.
“You should be careful around Gideon Cross.”
“Why?”
“Some men collect strays because it makes them feel powerful.”
Mabel picked up her butter.
“I’ll sell these elsewhere.”
Vane reached beneath the counter.
He placed a piece of paper in front of her.
Mabel stopped breathing.
It was a promissory note bearing Samuel’s name.
Her husband’s signature.
“What is this?”
“A debt.”
“No.”
“Your husband borrowed eight hundred dollars from one of my companies before he died.”
“He never told me.”
“Men often hide financial failures from their wives.”
Mabel stared at Samuel’s signature.
Vane tapped the bottom.
“As his widow, his remaining estate is liable.”
“I have no estate.”
Vane smiled.
“Not yet.”
A chill passed through her.
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing.”
But Mabel knew better.
That evening, she showed Gideon the paper.
His face turned white.
“Where did you get this?”
“Silas Vane.”
Gideon stood so quickly the chair fell backward.
“Stay away from him.”
Mabel stared.
“Why?”
“Because he’s dangerous.”
“You know him?”
Gideon walked to the window.
“Everybody knows Vane.”
“That isn’t what I asked.”
He said nothing.
Mabel’s fear became anger.
“You lied to Lottie.”
His shoulders tightened.
“What?”
“She asked if you knew Samuel.”
Slowly, Gideon turned.
Mabel’s voice shook.
“Did you?”
Silence.
“Gideon.”
Before he could answer, hoofbeats thundered outside.
