Grief.
“He died.”
Nathaniel’s anger shifted.
He waited.
Adeline took a breath.
“His name was Samuel Price.”
“We were engaged.”
“He worked railroad construction near Laramie.”
“We were supposed to marry in June.”
Nathaniel remained still.
“There was an accident.”
“Bridge support collapsed.”
“Three men died.”
“Samuel was one.”
Nathaniel closed his eyes briefly.
“I’m sorry.”
Adeline shook her head.
“I found out about the baby nine days after his funeral.”
She laughed once, bitterly.
“Perfect timing.”
“What happened to his family?”
“They blamed me.”
“For being pregnant?”
“For everything.”
“They said Samuel would never have gotten himself trapped into marrying someone like me unless I had seduced him.”
Nathaniel’s jaw tightened.
Adeline continued.
“His mother said the child probably wasn’t his.”
“His brother said if I came asking for money, he’d have me run out of town.”
“Were you?”
“No.”
“Did you ask?”
“No.”
“Where did you go?”
“A boarding house.”
“I sewed.”
“Cooked.”
“Washed linens.”
“Then the owner discovered I was expecting.”
“She told me married women could stay.”
“Unmarried women could not.”
Nathaniel turned toward her.
“So you saw my advertisement.”
“Yes.”
“And because I said I couldn’t father children…”
Adeline looked ashamed.
“I thought you might want the child.”
The words nearly broke something inside him.
Nathaniel stepped backward.
“You thought you could arrive pregnant and I’d be grateful?”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“You said I was your only chance.”
Adeline’s tears fell.
“I was afraid.”
“So was I.”
That stopped her.
Nathaniel’s voice rose for the first time.
“Do you think writing that advertisement was easy?”
“No.”
“I told the entire territory the thing I was most ashamed of.”
“I wrote it because I refused to bring a woman here under false pretenses.”
Adeline lowered her head.
“And you answered with one.”
“I know.”
Nathaniel walked toward the door.
Adeline panicked.
“Where are you going?”
“Barn.”
“In this storm?”
“I need air.”
“Nathaniel.”
He stopped.
Adeline looked at him.
“If you want me gone tomorrow, I’ll go.”
He stared.
“Where?”
She had no answer.
That angered him more.
“Where will you go?”
“I’ll find somewhere.”
“No.”
She blinked.
“No?”
“You are not leaving in this weather.”
“I don’t mean tonight.”
“I know.”
Nathaniel rubbed his beard.
“You are staying until I decide what I’m angry about.”
Adeline stared.
He opened the door.
Then looked back.
“And if you think I’m angry about the baby, you have not listened to one thing I’ve told you.”
He disappeared into the storm.
Adeline stood beside the fire crying.
Nathaniel reached the barn furious.
At her.
At himself.