Page 6 of Caroline’s Compass

By noon, the new arrangement worked. Eleanor rode the company line with Nathaniel instead of returning to solve every Whitaker problem. Each time Caroline looked back, she expected to see her older sister checking the decision. Eleanor merely waved. The trust felt suspiciously like abandonment until Caroline recognized it as freedom.

Supper confirmed that no practical subject remained practical once seven sisters learned Thomas was involved. Martha passed the stew. Charlotte asked whether surveyors charged by the mile or by the argument. Lydia wanted to know if a compass could locate a husband. Grace said it would need a stronger needle.

“Maps are not courtship,” Caroline said.

Mrs. Bell leaned over from the next fire. “Neither are pies, but Mr. Bell proposed after my apple.”

“He remembered the pie better than the proposal,” she added, with the fond certainty of a woman who had told the story many times.

Thomas kept his attention on the route papers, though the corner of his mouth betrayed him. Caroline asked him three questions about the missing crossing in quick succession. He answered each with professional gravity. That was almost worse than teasing. It made their exchange feel like something private occurring in full view of the camp.

After supper, Caroline divided the changed chores. Rebecca would handle both teams at morning hitching. Charlotte would keep the supply tally. Martha would assign cooking instead of doing it all herself. The younger girls objected in descending order of usefulness. Eleanor listened without taking over, then said, “That sounds settled.” The simple support steadied Caroline more than approval should have.

Caroline wrapped the compass again, then stopped. She removed the wool and placed the instrument in the pocket of her dress.

“I will need to know how to use it,” she said.

“It points north.”

“I had gathered that much.”

“A promising beginning.”

Her gray-blue eyes narrowed. “You may teach me at the next break.”

Thomas smiled. “Immediately?”

“You are learning.”

The lesson had not yet begun, but Caroline's sisters had already decided how it should proceed.

“He should teach you to find east first,” Lucy said. “That is where breakfast comes from.”

Charlotte looked up from folding a blanket. “The sun comes from the east. Breakfast comes from Martha.”

“Usually after someone finds the frying pan,” Martha added.

Rebecca leaned against the wagon wheel. “Teach her how to find water.”

“She can find water,” Lydia said. “She found the creek yesterday.”

“The creek was forty feet wide.”

“That made it easier.”

Thomas regarded the seven younger Whitakers arranged around him. “Does every lesson attract an audience?”

“No,” Caroline said. “Sometimes they attract labor.” Seven sisters disappeared with impressive speed.

Thomas watched them go. “Your authority is remarkable.”

“It improves whenever work is mentioned.”

He opened the compass in her palm and showed her how to hold it level. His fingers brushed hers only once, but Caroline noticed. She also noticed three bonnets reappearing beyond the wagon corner.

Without looking up, she said, “Charlotte, the water barrel needs filling.” The bonnets vanished again.

Thomas cleared his throat. “Remarkable.”