He almost smiled.
“No.”
She waited.
Wyatt thought.
He had never budgeted food.
His mother handled it.
After she died, Higgins simply bought whatever seemed necessary whenever someone complained.
Wyatt pulled a ledger from the shelf.
“Sit.”
Avalene hesitated.
He opened the book.
“This is the ranch household account.”
She stared.
He pushed it toward her.
“You're better at this than I am.”
“You don't know that.”
“You made twelve men voluntarily wash plates last night.”
“That has nothing to do with arithmetic.”
“It's stronger evidence.”
Avalene smiled despite herself.
Wyatt looked at her.
That smile.
He wanted another.
The thought surprised him.
He looked down.
“Spend what makes sense.”
Avalene examined the ledger.
Her expression changed.
“You paid seventeen dollars for coffee last month?”
Wyatt shrugged.
“I suppose.”
“From whom?”
“Hobbs Mercantile.”
“That man robbed you.”
Wyatt stared.
Avalene turned pages.
“And flour.”
She frowned.
“Why are you buying flour in twenty-pound sacks?”
“I don't know.”
“Your ranch feeds twelve working men and you.”
“And you.”
Avalene looked up.
Wyatt had added her without thinking.
Something softened in her eyes.
She returned to the ledger.
“We should buy by the barrel where possible.”
Wyatt leaned against the table.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And dried beans from the Miller farm directly.”
“You know the Millers?”
“No.”
“But I know what Hobbs charges.”
Wyatt actually smiled.
Avalene saw.
For the first time, she smiled back without immediately hiding it.
That afternoon they rode to town.
Not romantically.
Nothing about Avalene and Wyatt was romantic yet.
They argued about flour.
Wyatt wanted convenience.
Avalene wanted value.
By the time they reached Hobbs Mercantile, Wyatt had discovered his quiet bride was only quiet until she had numbers.
Mr. Hobbs greeted Wyatt warmly.
Then looked at Avalene.
“Mrs. Calder.”
She nodded.
“I need a price on fifty pounds of flour.”
Hobbs named it.
Avalene stared.
“That is not the price.”
Hobbs smiled.
“Ma’am?”
“You charged the Calder account forty-two cents more per sack last month than Miller Grain charges retail.”
Hobbs looked toward Wyatt.
Wyatt folded his arms.
This was entertaining.
Hobbs cleared his throat.
“Freight.”
“Your freight shipment and Miller’s came on the same wagon.”
Silence.
Avalene continued.
“I checked the depot book.”
Wyatt turned.
“You checked the depot book?”
She ignored him.
Hobbs looked uncomfortable.
“Perhaps I can offer a ranch discount.”
Avalene smiled sweetly.
“I thought you might.”
Wyatt fell slightly in love with her right there.
He did not know it yet.
He only knew the ride home felt shorter than the ride into town.
Their first real problem arrived the following Sunday.
Her name was Cecilia Ward.
She came after church wearing dark green silk.
Everything about Cecilia appeared expensive.
Her gloves.
Her hat.
Her carriage.
Even the expression with which she looked at Avalene suggested she had paid extra for it.
Wyatt saw the carriage from the porch.
His jaw tightened.
Avalene noticed.
“You know her.”
“Yes.”
“Friend?”
“No.”
The answer came too quickly.
Avalene looked at him.
Wyatt sighed.
“Our families know each other.”
“That sounds like a careful sentence.”