“I Feel Sorry for the Man Who Marries Her,” He Said — By Autumn, He Was the One Saying the Vows
Chapter 2
Clara Bennett lived at the edge of Bellweather County with her younger brother Thomas.
Their father had died three years earlier.
Their mother had followed the previous winter.
The small farm was heavily mortgaged.
Clara had taken responsibility for everything.
She planted.
She harvested.
She repaired fences.
She milked the cows.
She sold eggs and butter in town.
Thomas helped when he could, but at seventeen he was still learning.
People admired Clara from a distance.
Few understood her.
She rarely attended dances.
She did not flirt.
She did not spend hours choosing ribbons.
She simply worked.
Daniel Whitmore knew her because their families had known each other for years.
His father owned the largest mill in the county.
Daniel had inherited land, horses, and money.
He had never needed to worry about whether there would be food on his table.
Clara had.
Perhaps that was why he had spoken so carelessly.
Three days after the tavern incident, Daniel found himself at the Bennett farm.
He had come to purchase grain.
Clara met him outside.
“You’re late.”
Daniel looked at her.
“For what?”
“You owe my brother for the last delivery.”
He reached into his coat.
She held up her hand.
“Not yet.”
He frowned.
“You said I owed you.”
“I said you were late.”
She pointed toward the barn.
“Your horse kicked through our fence last week.”
Daniel stared.
“That wasn’t my horse.”
“It was your horse.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I repaired the fence.”
He almost smiled.
“You remember everything?”
“I have to.”
Daniel looked around.
The farm was poor.
But everything was orderly.
The tools were clean.
The animals healthy.
The roof repaired.
Clara had done all of it.
He suddenly remembered the tavern.
“I owe you an apology.”
She looked at him.
“For what?”
“You know.”
“I heard what you said.”
Daniel’s face reddened.
“I shouldn’t have said it.”
“No.”
She turned toward the barn.
“You shouldn’t have.”
He followed.
“I’m sorry.”
Clara stopped.
“Do you actually feel sorry?”
“Yes.”
“For saying I’m difficult?”
“For saying no man could live with you.”
She studied him.
“Maybe you were right.”
Daniel shook his head.
“I don’t think I was.”
She looked surprised.
Neither spoke.
Then Thomas called from the barn.
Clara turned away.
Daniel watched her walk off.
For the first time, he wondered why a woman he had supposedly found unbearable had suddenly become impossible to stop thinking about.
