Chapter 23: The Fair Provision

I opened the box on the hall table with Cade and Hanna watching.

Inside was a silver-backed hairbrush, old and worn smooth, wrapped in a flannel shirt.

Under it lay a deed, and a letter.

"It was his grandmother's brush," Hanna said, and touched the handle. "She had the silver lock. She brushed it every night."

The deed was for the Haldane family cabin on the north ridge.

It had been signed over in full to Mabel, to be held by me until she was eighteen.

I unfolded the letter.

He had written it in blue pen, in capitals.

I took what I wanted, and I took it from you.

This can't pay for any of it.

I'm asking the Council to let me leave Ironwood for good.

When she's old enough, tell her I got out of the way.

I read it twice.

"Do you forgive him?" Cade asked.

"No."

"Do you want to?"

"Not yet." I folded it. "Maybe not ever. But I'll keep the brush."

At noon Bram stood in front of the Council, in his work coat, with a duffel bag at his feet.

He asked for exile.

The old elder asked if he understood what it meant.

No pack, no name on the rolls, and no crossing the border while the people he had wronged lived.

"I understand," Bram said.

"The Council grants it."

He turned to leave, and then he stopped and looked at me across the hall.

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