Page 38 of Caroline’s Compass

“That would require another apology.”

His laugh brushed warmly across her face. He admitted the fog had frightened him because a bearing could be corrected, but a person lost in low ground could not. Caroline told him she had trusted the compass because he taught her to read it, then corrected herself: she had trusted her reading. Thomas's expression made clear that distinction pleased him.

He asked whether she regretted kissing him back. Caroline said no before caution could answer for her. The certainty surprised them both. Nothing practical had changed, but the knowledge between them had become impossible to fold away with the maps.

Caroline looked around the wagon and found all seven sisters standing at various badly chosen distances, pretending to be occupied.

Lucy held an empty water bucket upside down.

Grace examined a harness strap that was not attached to anything.

Eleanor smiled.

Caroline closed her eyes. “Unfortunately, it may have changed what everyone knows.”

The sisters did not allow Caroline's courtship agreement to remain private for the full twelve-foot walk.

Lucy met her at the wagon step. “What are the rules?”

“There are no rules.”

Charlotte appeared behind Lucy. “Every practical arrangement has rules.”

“It has one,” Caroline admitted. “Honesty.”

Rebecca frowned. “That seems broad.”

“And dangerous,” Grace said.

Lydia joined them. “Does honesty require you to tell us when he kisses you?”

“No.”

“Then it is poorly designed.”

Eleanor folded her arms. “Will any of you permit Caroline to enjoy being courted?”

Seven faces turned toward her.

“You watched Nathaniel cross half the camp for six weeks,” Martha reminded her.

“I was concerned about his shoulder.”

“Before he injured it?” Charlotte asked.

Eleanor considered this. “I withdraw the question.”

Caroline picked up her compass and studied it carefully. “Good afternoon.”

Lucy called after her, “That is not an answer about kissing.”

“It was not intended to be.”

Chapter Nine

May 6, 1854

Prairie Camp