The last voice, a man’s. A man who had never known Mama. Hanna’s hands curled into fists so tight that her nails cut into her palms.

She swallowed hard, then glanced at Sam. He had turned to face the wall, his ear close to the window. In the dim light from inside, she could see his lips pressed together, his brow rigid. He did not look at her.

She drew in a quick breath. Was Sam’s father the one who had said that?

Everyone seemed to be talking at once, their voices agitated. The commotion went on for a few moments, until the sharp rap of wood on wood.

“Order!” Mr. Harris shouted. “We’re going to talk about this as reasonable folks. As Christians, do you hear me? Now, Bill Baxter, you seem to want to speak, so go on ahead.”

Hanna remembered that Baxter was Sam’s last name. She kept very still, careful not to look in his direction.

“Harris, we’re all here to build new lives for our families,” said Mr. Baxter. “We’ve got the chance to make this town just the way we want it. And what we don’t want is trouble.”

At least we agree on that, Hanna thought grimly.

“I wouldn’t argue with a single thing you’ve said.” Mr. Harris’s voice again. “As far as I can see, neither Edmunds nor his daughter has bothered anyone in the least. Fact is, their family has already done quite a bit of good here in LaForge. Charlie? Charlie Hart, where are you?”

“Right here, Mr. Harris.”

“Charlie, where are you working these days?”

“Main Street, putting up Edmunds’s new store building.”

“Is he paying you fairly?”

“A good wage, and my dinner as well.”

“A new building,” Mr. Harris said. “You’ve all seen the site, across from Wilson’s Hardware. It’s going up right now, which means that Edmunds is a regular customer at Wilson’s store and the lumberyard. And the livery. And most of the other places in town. Anybody here got objections to taking his money? I sure don’t.”

A few guffaws.

“And likely you’ve heard by now that it’s going to be a shop for dress goods. I imagine that the ladies are looking forward to the grand opening.”

The room had grown quiet. There was a brief rumble of voices before Mr. Harris spoke again.

“I think it’s time we heard from Ben Edmunds now.”

Papa.

8

HANNA HELD HER BREATH. She heard Papa clear his throat.

“My wife’s name was May,” he began. “She passed away about three years ago, when Hanna was eleven.”

Hanna sensed surprise in the hush that followed. Then she heard a few murmurs of what might have been sympathy.