PART 2: THE PAPERS SILAS WANTED TO HIDE

The tears mixed with the cheek dust.

“He kicked her out yesterday.

Caleb squeezed his jaw.

Why?

“He said he was coming too often. That people were going to start talking.

He looked at his belly. Clara was pregnant, much more than the people knew. Much more than anyone could hide without fear, shame or a very well-fed lie.

How long has it been like this?

I don’t know. Since before noon.

Caleb felt the blood freezing in the heat.

He needs a doctor.

Not to the people.

“Clara.

“No to the people,” he repeated in panic. My father said that if someone found out before he fixed the papers, everything would be lost.

What papers?

She didn’t answer. His hand went into the pocket of the broken apron, as if looking for something that was no longer there.

At the door appeared a skinny, freckled, huge-eyed boy.

“Clara…

Caleb turned.

“Who are you?”

“Noah. His brother.

How old are you?

—14.

“Saddle the horse you have faster and go to Dr. Reeves.

Noah took a step back.

“My father said no one could leave the ranch.

Clara moaned.

Caleb advanced toward the boy, without raising his voice.

“Your sister is in labor on a barn’s floor. Your father’s not here. I do. And I’m telling you that if you don’t go now, maybe you won’t have a sister when the sun comes back.

Noah paled.

“He’s going to send me away.

“Then send me first.

The boy ran out. Seconds later, helmets were heard hitting the road.

Caleb went back to Clara. He took 2 horse blankets, cleaned the wet straw, and stopped before approaching.

Can I put this under you?

She nodded, shaking.

He didn’t pretend to know more than he knew. He helped her barely, just enough so that she was not on hard land. He then hung his coat on the door of the barn to cover the view from outside.

Clara looked at him with a mixture of shame and despair.

“He shouldn’t have come.

I came for a horse.

“Jasper.

“Now Jasper can wait.

She almost smiled. The smile died when another pain broke it in 2.

“My baby… my father doesn’t want him to be born yet.

Caleb bowed.

Why would a father want that?

Clara opened her mouth, but before she answered she heard the crackling of a wheel in front of the barn. A male voice, hard as a rusty nail, shouted from the outside:

Who the hell let that man in?

Silas Dawson was back.

Silas Dawson appeared at the door of the barn with his face unfitted.

First he saw Caleb.

Then Clara.

And finally the blankets spread out over the straw.

“Get out of my property,” he ordered.

Caleb didn’t move.

Your daughter needs a doctor.

My daughter is none of your business.

“It will be from Dr. Reeves as soon as he arrives.

Silas’ face changed.

Who was it for him?

Clara closed her eyes.

Silas immediately understood.

“Noah!