nail. “Next Seamus Kelly will raise his prices for blacksmithing and shoeing,” he said. “Then both sides will decide that is reason enough to be at one another’s throats. That is the cycle of life in Hope Springs.”
“But if someone among us responded to the mercantile by swapping needs with Mr. Johnson, like you’ve done, rather than punishing the Red Road, maybe that cycle would stop.”
He tested the sturdiness of the newly repaired drawer and found it much improved. “The key isn’t finding just any need, but one that holds equal weight as his reason for raising prices.”
“His reason is he hates the lot of us. What could possibly be traded to outweigh that?”
Joseph realized she wasn’t speaking in hypotheticals. He slid the mended drawer back into the chest and looked at her, reminding himself to remain simply friendly, helpful, emotionally neutral.
“Are you hoping to get the Irish prices down to what the Red Road pays?” That was, he knew all too well, a fool’s errand. “He’ll never do it.”
She gave him a worried, pleading look. It was too much. He set his eyes on the next drawer. Work was as good a distraction as any.
“Things weren’t supposed to turn out this way, Joseph.”
You have no idea. “Turn out what way, exactly?”
He heard her sigh. “I gave up home for this. I stayed here because I love it, because I thought it would be a happy place to live.”
He thought she’d decided to stay because of Tavish. That had worried him. His late wife had given up the only hometown she’d ever known to come with him to Wyoming, and she had regretted it every year she’d spent there. She’d been miserable. He didn’t want that for Katie.
Joseph focused on the next drawer. He didn’t look up at her. Seeing her upset would eat away at him. “Are you unhappy?” he asked quietly.
“Not un happy. I’m more frustrated, I suppose. Between Ian’s troubles and Biddy’s worries and the Irish not knowing if they can afford to survive the winter, I’m weighed down. And . . . I—”
She stopped. Joseph looked up and immediately wished he hadn’t. Her chin quivered and a tear coursed down her face. He had to grip his hammer tight to keep from reaching out for her.
Katie pressed her eyes closed, turning her face toward the ceiling. “I never used to be a crier, Joseph. Hope Springs has ruined me for it, I’m afraid.”
She was smiling a little, even through her tears. Joseph had never known anyone quite like Katie Macauley. “What has brought the tears on this time?”
She shrugged with one shoulder, but Joseph didn’t believe the dismissive gesture for a moment. Katie wasn’t one to grow upset over something small.
“I was only thinking of my father.” Her voice broke on the last word. She pushed out a breath and composed herself on the spot. “He’s dying, and I’m so far away.”
“Do you regret staying?” He hoped she didn’t.
She shook her head. “I only feel helpless. I can’t do anything for him, and nothing I do here seems to help anyone either.” She picked up a few of the spare nails, fiddling with them in an absentminded way. “I used some of my savings to get Ian medicine—Mr. Johnson was asking five dollars instead of two bits, and the O’Connors couldn’t afford it.”
“Five dollars?”
“Aye. That’s the new Irish price.”
Joseph bit back a curse. Johnson had no conscience. “I wish you had told me, Katie. I could have bought the medicine for two bits.”
“I didn’t even think of that.” She pushed out a puff of air, her expression falling. “Now I feel foolish and helpless.”
He hadn’t meant to add to her burdens. What Katie needed was encouragement.
“You did a good thing, Katie. You helped Ian and Biddy when they needed it.”
She didn’t look reassured. “It doesn’t solve the bigger problem, though. You can’t purchase everything that every Irish family is overcharged for. And I haven’t the means of buying
“But if someone among us responded to the mercantile by swapping needs with Mr. Johnson, like you’ve done, rather than punishing the Red Road, maybe that cycle would stop.”
He tested the sturdiness of the newly repaired drawer and found it much improved. “The key isn’t finding just any need, but one that holds equal weight as his reason for raising prices.”
“His reason is he hates the lot of us. What could possibly be traded to outweigh that?”
Joseph realized she wasn’t speaking in hypotheticals. He slid the mended drawer back into the chest and looked at her, reminding himself to remain simply friendly, helpful, emotionally neutral.
“Are you hoping to get the Irish prices down to what the Red Road pays?” That was, he knew all too well, a fool’s errand. “He’ll never do it.”
She gave him a worried, pleading look. It was too much. He set his eyes on the next drawer. Work was as good a distraction as any.
“Things weren’t supposed to turn out this way, Joseph.”
You have no idea. “Turn out what way, exactly?”
He heard her sigh. “I gave up home for this. I stayed here because I love it, because I thought it would be a happy place to live.”
He thought she’d decided to stay because of Tavish. That had worried him. His late wife had given up the only hometown she’d ever known to come with him to Wyoming, and she had regretted it every year she’d spent there. She’d been miserable. He didn’t want that for Katie.
Joseph focused on the next drawer. He didn’t look up at her. Seeing her upset would eat away at him. “Are you unhappy?” he asked quietly.
“Not un happy. I’m more frustrated, I suppose. Between Ian’s troubles and Biddy’s worries and the Irish not knowing if they can afford to survive the winter, I’m weighed down. And . . . I—”
She stopped. Joseph looked up and immediately wished he hadn’t. Her chin quivered and a tear coursed down her face. He had to grip his hammer tight to keep from reaching out for her.
Katie pressed her eyes closed, turning her face toward the ceiling. “I never used to be a crier, Joseph. Hope Springs has ruined me for it, I’m afraid.”
She was smiling a little, even through her tears. Joseph had never known anyone quite like Katie Macauley. “What has brought the tears on this time?”
She shrugged with one shoulder, but Joseph didn’t believe the dismissive gesture for a moment. Katie wasn’t one to grow upset over something small.
“I was only thinking of my father.” Her voice broke on the last word. She pushed out a breath and composed herself on the spot. “He’s dying, and I’m so far away.”
“Do you regret staying?” He hoped she didn’t.
She shook her head. “I only feel helpless. I can’t do anything for him, and nothing I do here seems to help anyone either.” She picked up a few of the spare nails, fiddling with them in an absentminded way. “I used some of my savings to get Ian medicine—Mr. Johnson was asking five dollars instead of two bits, and the O’Connors couldn’t afford it.”
“Five dollars?”
“Aye. That’s the new Irish price.”
Joseph bit back a curse. Johnson had no conscience. “I wish you had told me, Katie. I could have bought the medicine for two bits.”
“I didn’t even think of that.” She pushed out a puff of air, her expression falling. “Now I feel foolish and helpless.”
He hadn’t meant to add to her burdens. What Katie needed was encouragement.
“You did a good thing, Katie. You helped Ian and Biddy when they needed it.”
She didn’t look reassured. “It doesn’t solve the bigger problem, though. You can’t purchase everything that every Irish family is overcharged for. And I haven’t the means of buying
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