Page 104 of Eleanor’s Earrings

By the end of the day, the work-debt arrangement had turned the Whitaker sisters into the busiest women in camp.

Martha helped Mrs. Turner with a coughing child. Rebecca repaired two harness straps and a cracked singletree. Charlotte compared provisions with three families. Grace and Lucy watched five children under the age of eight and looked as if they had survived battle.

Lydia returned carrying a basket of wet stockings. “I have reconsidered community,” she announced.

“Already?” Eleanor asked.

“It contains too much laundry,” Lydia said.

Mrs. Bell, seated nearby, snorted. “You wanted independence? Then wash independently.”

Lydia stared at her. “I liked you better when you were criticizing Eleanor’s courtship.”

“So did Eleanor,” Mrs. Bell said.

“I heard that,” Eleanor said.

“That was the intention,” Mrs. Bell answered.

Thomas Reed helped Caroline calculate the redistributed weights. They stood over his map board with their heads close together.

“You write very small,” Caroline said.

“Paper is expensive.”

“So is eyesight.”

“Would you like to copy the figures?”

“Yes.”

Thomas blinked, apparently having expected her to refuse.

Caroline took the pencil from his hand and rewrote the columns in larger figures.

“Better,” she said.

Thomas smiled. “Much.”

Eleanor decided Caroline's next book might be entertaining.

*****

THE TRAIN TRAVELED a short day to protect the lame ox.

At camp, Eleanor found Nathaniel checking the redistributed loads. She waited until he finished with the Turner wagon.

“Thank you,” she said.

“For what?”

“The solution.”

“It was Martha's solution.”

“You made the company accept it.”

“No. You earned enough goodwill that they wanted to help.”