Page 49 of Eleanor’s Earrings

“You ate our biscuit,” Lydia said.

“I resolved the dispute.”

“You stole it.”

“Leadership sometimes requires sacrifice.”

“Whose sacrifice?”

“Yours.”

Eleanor lost the battle and laughed.

Nathaniel handed the remaining half to Lucy.

Lydia gasped. “Favoritism.”

“You said you had already eaten two.”

“That information was confidential.”

Nathaniel looked at Eleanor. “I am beginning to understand why you count everything.”

“Do not encourage me.”

“I would not dream of it.”

Charlotte quietly made a mark in the inventory book.

Eleanor looked at her. “What was that?”

“Biscuit loss.”

Nathaniel laughed so hard he nearly choked.

Chapter Eight

April 8, 1854

Westward Trail

By the eighth morning on the trail, people had begun asking Eleanor questions.

Caroline moved stiffly after the wagon accident, but her bruises had darkened without worsening, and she insisted on taking her usual turn with the reins.

Not only her sisters. Everyone.

Mrs. Turner wanted to know how Eleanor stored flour to keep it from dampness. Mr. Coleman asked whether Rebecca could examine a sore place beneath his ox's yoke. Two women wanted Charlotte to help compare their provisions with the recommended amounts. A young mother asked Martha what to give a child with an upset stomach.

Eleanor answered what she could and sent people to the correct sister when she could not.

Nathaniel watched all of it.

That made her uncomfortable.

“Have I done something wrong?” she finally asked.

They were walking beside the lead wagon while Caroline drove. Nathaniel's horse followed behind him with its reins looped over his arm.