The Town Laughed at Her Empty Market Stall. One Lonely Cowboy Bought Everything
Chapter 4
For three weeks, Thomas continued buying.
Every morning, Anna brought more.
Vegetables.
Bread.
Eggs.
Honey.
Handmade candles.
Dried herbs.
Sometimes cloth.
Thomas purchased whatever remained.
Soon people began whispering.
“He’s keeping her stall alive.”
“He’s wasting money.”
“Perhaps he wants something.”
Anna heard all of it.
One afternoon, she confronted him.
“You don’t have to keep doing this.”
Thomas was examining a basket of apples.
“I know.”
“Then why?”
He looked at her.
“Because you work hard.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
“It is for me.”
She folded her arms.
“You spend more money than the goods are worth.”
“Not by much.”
“Thomas.”
He sighed.
“Your stall is not empty anymore.”
Anna looked at the table.
“No.”
“And you’re not sitting there waiting for people to laugh.”
She looked away.
“That was humiliating.”
“I know.”
“How?”
He was silent.
Then he said:
“My father died owing money.”
Anna looked at him.
“Your father?”
“Mercer took our farm.”
Her eyes widened.
“Silas Crowe?”
Thomas nodded.
“He forged the debt.”
Anna’s expression changed.
“My father…”
“Your father knew.”
She froze.
“What?”
“He tried to stop Crowe.”
“Why didn’t he tell me?”
“Because he died before he could.”
Anna’s hands trembled.
Thomas stepped closer.
“There are things you don’t know about your father’s death.”
She looked at him.
“What things?”
Thomas lowered his voice.
“Your father didn’t lose your farm because he couldn’t pay.”
“Then why?”
“Because someone wanted it.”
