Page 39 of Caroline’s Compass

By the fifteenth necessary conversation, Thomas began inventing reasons to answer. Caroline informed him that the Bell wagon's left trace had been checked. He thanked her and reported that the right trace appeared emotionally neglected.

“Leather has no emotions.”

“Then it resembles you this morning.”

Caroline stared. Thomas bowed and moved out of reach.

Her sisters kept count. Charlotte made marks in the margin of the supply page until Caroline confiscated the pencil. Grace announced each exchange like a horse race. Lydia placed Thomas ahead by two lengths because he had made Caroline blush. Caroline threatened to assign all three to dung gathering.

Lucy followed Caroline with a bucket. “If you speak to him twenty times, are you courting?”

“No.”

“What number makes it courtship?”

“There is no number.”

“Mr. Reed will be disappointed. He likes numbers.”

Thomas, passing within hearing, said, “I am adapting.”

At noon, Caroline deliberately sat on the opposite side of the fire. Thomas discussed wheel grease with Coleman and never looked toward her. She resented his cooperation. Eleanor watched the entire performance with the calm of an older sister storing evidence for later use.

Caroline avoided Thomas Reed with such determination that she spoke to him fourteen times before breakfast.

Each exchange was necessary. He needed to know the west ox had rubbed a sore beneath its yoke, the Hall wagon required a new pin, and the creek two miles ahead might be too muddy for watering teams. None of those conversations required Caroline to look at him directly.

Thomas accepted her sudden fascination with harness leather without protest.

Her sisters were less merciful.

“Would you pass the salt?” Charlotte asked.

Caroline handed it over.

“Thomas is standing beside it,” Lydia observed.

“The salt is not involved in anything.”

“Neither is the spoon, but you have polished it three times,” Grace said.

Caroline put the spoon down.

Lucy leaned close. “Was it a good kiss?”

Seven heads turned toward Caroline.

“We are not discussing this.”

“That means yes,” Rebecca said.

Eleanor rescued Caroline by announcing that Nathaniel needed help with the wagon list. Caroline rose too quickly and nearly overturned the coffee pot.

Nathaniel did not need help with the wagon list. Eleanor led Caroline past him, beyond the picketed animals, and stopped beside a low rise.

“You lied,” Caroline said.

“I am married now. Apparently, it has corrupted me.”