Price asked Lenora to repeat her statement.
She did so with her hands clasped tightly at her waist.
Silas interrupted twice, but Price ordered him to remain silent.
The merchants looked at one another in disbelief.
Curtis tried to leave again.
This time Pritchard stood in the doorway.
“Move,” Curtis ordered.
Pritchard shook his head.
“You will stay until we understand what happened to the machine.”
Curtis reached for the cane beside the workbench.
Gideon picked it up first.
He held it away from Curtis without swinging it.
Price turned to Silas.
“If Mrs. Fenwick is being detained against her will, I am leaving this property to inform the magistrate.”
Silas laughed harshly.
“You are taking the word of a frightened woman over mine.”
“I am taking the word of your wife.”
“She is unwell.”
Lenora flinched.
Price looked at her.
“Do you wish to withdraw your statement?”
“No.”
Silas’s face darkened.
“You do not understand what you have done.”
“I understand more than I did yesterday,” she replied.
Price closed his leather case.
“I will not purchase this machine.”
Silas stepped toward him.
“You cannot walk away after making promises.”
“I promised to examine it.”
“You will ruin me.”
Price glanced at the broken wheel.
“You began that work without my help.”
Isaiah watched Curtis edge toward the window.
He knew the man was measuring escape routes.
He also knew the kiln remained guarded by Abel, whose family could be threatened at any moment.
“Mr. Price,” Isaiah said.
Price turned.
“If you go for the magistrate, Curtis will reach the kiln first.”
Curtis laughed.
“You think I need permission to walk across my employer’s land?”
Isaiah ignored him.
“Mrs. Fenwick needs someone to go there now.”
Price hesitated.
The merchants shifted uncomfortably.
Neither offered to help.
Lenora looked toward Silas.
“Give them the key.”
Silas’s face went blank.
“What key?”
“The key Curtis carries.”
Curtis’s hand moved toward his belt.
Isaiah saw the motion and stepped forward.
Curtis swung at him with his elbow.
Isaiah stumbled against the bench but caught himself.
Gideon shouted.
Pritchard seized Curtis’s arm.
The two men struggled beside the door.
A wooden box fell and scattered tools across the floor.
Curtis shoved Pritchard away and ran into the yard.
Isaiah followed him without thinking.
Behind him, Price shouted for someone to bring horses.
Curtis reached the stable first.
He grabbed a bridle and threw it over the nearest horse.
Isaiah stopped at the doorway.
He had no weapon and no intention of fighting a mounted man.
Instead, he pulled the stable gate shut.
Curtis cursed and turned toward him.
“You cannot keep me here.”
“I only need to keep you long enough.”
Curtis looked over Isaiah’s shoulder.
Price and the merchants were running across the yard.
For the first time, Curtis looked uncertain.
