Then more because human beings possessed a supernatural ability to detect scandal from impossible distances.
Clementine stared at Harrison.
Then Mabel.
Then the space between them.
Her face changed.
“What is going on?”
Mabel immediately stepped backward.
Harrison reached for her hand.
Not possessively.
Questioningly.
His fingers touched hers.
Mabel could pull away.
She knew it.
Instead she let him hold them.
Flour and all.
Martha gasped.
“Harrison.”
He looked at her.
“Mrs. Higgins.”
“You should be in the ballroom.”
“I was bored.”
Clementine’s face went white.
Martha looked horrified.
Mabel whispered:
“Harrison.”
He turned back.
His attention returned completely to her.
That frightened her more than the crowd.
Clementine said:
“You were meant to dance with me.”
“I did.”
“You know what I mean.”
Harrison’s jaw tightened.
“No.”
“I don't.”
“You've been calling.”
“On the family.”
“Yes.”
“Mother said—”
Martha interrupted.
“Clementine.”
Too late.
Harrison understood.
The entire town understood.
Mabel wanted the floor to open.
Instead Clementine looked at her.
Humiliation transformed quickly into anger.
“For her?”
Mabel flinched.
Harrison’s hand tightened around hers.
Not painfully.
Reassuringly.
Clementine saw.
“How could you humiliate me like this for her?”
Harrison’s face changed.
Mabel tried to withdraw.
He let her hand go immediately.
That mattered.
Then he stepped slightly toward Clementine.
“I have not promised you anything.”
“You knew.”
“Knew what?”
“What everyone expected.”
“That is not an engagement.”
Martha whispered:
“Mr. Cole, please.”
Harrison ignored her.
Clementine’s eyes filled.
“You danced with me.”
“Yes.”
“You called me beautiful.”
“You are.”
“Then what does she have?”
Silence.
Mabel’s heart broke.
Not for herself.
For Clementine.
Because beneath the cruelty was terror.
All her life, Clementine had been taught beauty guaranteed value.
Now the guarantee was failing publicly.
Mabel said:
“Stop.”
Everyone looked at her.
She stepped forward.
“Harrison, go.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Mabel.”
“This isn't helping.”
Clementine laughed bitterly.
“Listen to her.”
“Always so noble.”
“Mabel hiding in the kitchen so the rest of us can feel guilty.”
Mabel’s face hardened.
“Clementine.”
“No.”
Her sister’s tears came now.
“You think I don't know?”
“Know what?”
“That Mother sends you away.”
“That Father talks about you like you’re work.”
“That everyone compares us.”
Mabel stared.
Clementine’s voice cracked.
“You think being the pretty one has been pleasant?”
Silence.
Martha said:
“That’s enough.”
Clementine turned on her.
“No.”
“You spent ten years telling me my face would save this family.”
Martha went pale.
Harrison’s eyes shifted.
Mabel’s stomach dropped.
There it was.
The debt.
Public.
Clementine continued:
“You bought this dress with money we don't have.”
“You told me if Harrison married me, Father’s notes would disappear.”
Harrison became very still.
Mabel closed her eyes.
Martha whispered:
“Clementine.”
Her daughter laughed through tears.
“Now he wants Mabel.”
“What happens?”
“Do you put her in blue silk and send me to the kitchen?”
That broke something open.
Mabel crossed the room.
She took her sister’s hands.
Clementine tried pulling away.
Mabel held.
“Look at me.”
“No.”
“Look at me.”
Clementine finally did.
Mabel said:
“I never wanted you humiliated.”
Her sister cried harder.
“I know.”
“I never asked him to come here.”
“I know.”
“You are beautiful.”
Clementine laughed.
“That’s all anyone says.”
Mabel stopped.
There.
The same cage.
Different shape.
Harrison stood silently.
Good man.
For once, he knew the scene was not his.
Mabel squeezed Clementine’s hands.
“You're also clever.”
“You hate stupid people.”
“You sew better than anyone I know.”
“You remember every person’s birthday.”
“You can enter a room full of strangers and make them feel comfortable.”
“You're terrible with money.”
Clementine laughed despite tears.
Mabel smiled.
“Truly terrible.”
“I know.”
“And you don't owe this family a marriage.”
Martha stiffened.
“Mabel.”
She turned.
“No.”
Her mother stared.
Mabel continued:
“Clementine is not collateral.”
“Mabel—”
“Neither am I.”
The kitchen went silent.
Harrison’s expression changed.
Something like pride.
Martha looked toward the crowd.
“Everyone out.”
Nobody moved.
Harrison turned.
“Out.”
They moved.
Interesting.
Within seconds only the Higgins women and Harrison remained.
Martha looked exhausted.
“We are going to lose the house.”
Clementine whispered:
“I know.”
Mabel said:
“I know too.”
Her mother stared.
“You know?”
“I keep the books.”
Martha sat heavily in a chair.
“Your father thought he could recover.”
“He couldn't.”
“We needed time.”
“So you offered Clementine.”
“I offered nothing.”
Mabel looked at her.
Martha’s face collapsed slightly.
“Not officially.”
Clementine laughed bitterly.
Harrison finally spoke.
“How much?”
Mabel immediately turned.
“No.”
He looked at her.
“I asked a question.”
“And I answered.”
“I’m not paying your family’s debt.”
Martha’s eyes fell.
Clementine stared.
Mabel’s chest loosened.
Good.
Harrison continued:
“But I need to know whether your father’s cattle note is held by Whitley Bank.”
Mabel frowned.
“Yes.”
“How did you know?”
“I heard Thomas asking about refinancing.”
He looked toward Martha.
“Your husband purchased forty acres south of Miller Creek?”
She stared.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Investment.”
Harrison almost sighed.
“Miller Creek is worthless for cattle.”
Mabel said:
“I told Father.”
Martha looked at her.
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't—”
“I did.”
“Three times.”
Silence.
Harrison rubbed his jaw.
“I can help restructure the debt without marrying anyone.”
Mabel’s expression hardened.
“No.”
He looked at her.
“Why?”
“Because then Oak Haven will say you bought me.”
His eyes sharpened.
“I said restructure.”
“Not pay.”
“Doesn't matter.”
“It does to me.”
“It will matter to me when every person in town says the rich cowboy rescued the fat sister because he wanted something from her.”
Harrison went still.
Martha looked away.
Clementine looked furious on Mabel’s behalf.