But when she glanced up suddenly and caught him staring, he nearly struck the fence post with his hammer.
Faith smiled just a little.
Only the corner of her mouth moved, but it was enough to show that she knew.
That evening, she did something else different.
She placed her small valise in the corner of the room and left it there.
For the first time since arriving, she did not keep it beside her feet.
She did not carry it from place to place.
She simply left it resting quietly against the wall.
"I'm tired of carrying it," she said softly.
Silas understood more than the words themselves.
Some burdens did not need to be explained.
Seven days later, they rode into town together.
Faith wanted to send a letter to a friend back in Ohio to tell her she was safe.
But Silas could sense the tension in her even before the town came into view.
Her hands twisted a handkerchief again and again until the cloth looked like rope.
Her shoulders were stiff with worry.
"Nobody's going to bite you," Silas said gently.
Faith tried to smile, but it did not reach her eyes.
Willow Creek appeared slowly over the rise.
The church steeple stood tall near the center of town.
The general store sat beside the dirt road with two wagons parked outside.
A few horses were tied along the wooden rail.
People moved along the boardwalk in small groups.
Silas felt Faith stiffen slightly behind him on the horse.
When they stepped inside the general store, the bell above the door rang softly.
Three women turned at the sound.
Their voices stopped at once.
Every pair of eyes settled on Faith.
Silas felt the heat climb slowly up his neck.
He had known this might happen.
Martha Perkins stood behind the counter.
Her smile looked sweet, but her eyes were sharp.
"Well now," she said slowly. "Silas Carter. Been a while."
Her gaze slid toward Faith.
"And who might this be?"
"She's helping out at my place," Silas answered.
"Helping?" Martha repeated carefully.
Faith met her stare calmly.
"Good morning, ma'am," she said politely.
Martha blinked, slightly thrown by the quiet confidence in Faith's voice.
"Good morning."
Faith stepped forward and mailed her letter.
But the whispering began before they even reached the door.
The women spoke behind their hands, their eyes never leaving Faith.
Silas felt every second of it.
When they stepped outside onto the boardwalk again, the voices drifted through the open window behind them.
"Mail-order bride," Martha whispered. "Left at the depot like unwanted baggage."
Another voice joined in.
"And now living with Silas Carter alone."
Low laughter followed.
Faith's shoulders tightened, but she kept walking.
She did not turn around.
She did not answer them.
The ride home was silent.
Dust rose behind the horse as they crossed the open valley.
Faith stared straight ahead.
"They think I'm a fallen woman," she said finally.
Her voice did not tremble.