Chapter 6: Letting Go

“Excuse me, sir, could you let Jason know if he still wants these things?”

I spread out the items from the bundle one by one.

Now that Jason was the senator’s son, I couldn’t even see him without going through his people.

The agent glanced lazily at me, went into Jason’s tent, and came out in less than a quarter of an hour. He said:

“Jason says he doesn’t want them. You may dispose of them as you wish.”

I nodded slightly.

He didn’t even look.

Without hesitation, I pulled the old pickup and sold everything to the pawnshop within half a day.

Then I bought new things, box after box.

When I returned home, I was fully loaded.

All were winter clothes, furs, and saddles.

But no one was interested in checking.

The Secret Service agents and the senator’s household staff looked straight ahead.

Only as I walked away did I hear disdainful voices:

“There aren’t many chances to become rich overnight. Suddenly flush, who can help themselves from buying things?”

“Pity our lady; in the future, she’ll have to call such a person her sister.”

...

I couldn’t help but quicken my pace, leaving those words far behind.

Now, all I needed was a good horse.

I gripped the receipts in my pocket, telling myself I was doing the right thing, even as shame threatened to creep up my neck.