Chapter 76

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The next day, we finished sowing the fields on our—that is, James’s farm—and then went to take care of a few minor chores on Andre’s cabin. Those done, I was unwilling to call a halt to the work, so we went for the horse and plow and started to work his forty acres. Andre was as meticulous about the straightness of his rows as I was. He was a good farmer. Absent some disaster, he and Bella would prosper. By distracting my mind from thoughts of James, I had come round the other way with a stinging reminder they would do so without me in their lives.

Although there was a nip to the air by the end of the day, we had worked up a good sweat. Andre laid a fire in the fireplace, and pumped water in his available pots and kettles so we could christen the new bathing room. As we filled the tub, Andre stopped me with a hand on my arm.

“What’s the matter, Otter? You’ve been driving us like a madman.”

“There is a lot of work to be done.”