“This land creates complications.”
Nathaniel said:
“For you?”
Edward ignored him.
“Clara, listen carefully.”
“No.”
“You are legally my wife.”
“For now.”
Edward froze.
Clara continued:
“I filed for dissolution in Helena.”
His face went white.
“When?”
“Six weeks ago.”
“You cannot—”
“I did.”
Nathaniel’s mouth almost smiled.
Edward saw.
“You think this man will marry you?”
Clara’s cheeks burned.
Nathaniel said nothing.
Edward stepped closer.
“He will use you.”
Clara stared.
“Like you did?”
“That isn't what happened.”
“You investigated my mother’s property and hid it from me.”
“Because you didn't understand it.”
There.
The old sentence.
The old Edward.
Clara smiled.
Not kindly.
“There you are.”
He frowned.
“What?”
“The man I left.”
Edward’s face hardened.
“I’m not leaving without those papers.”
Nathaniel moved.
One step.
Clara raised her hand.
He stopped.
She looked at Edward.
“You are leaving without me.”
“Yes.”
“Without the papers.”
“Yes.”
“And without touching one board of this house.”
Edward stared.
“Or?”
Clara lifted the rifle from beside the door.
Not aiming.
Holding.
Edward looked at Nathaniel.
“Control your woman.”
The clearing became silent.
Nathaniel’s face changed in a way Clara had never seen.
He looked almost amused.
“She isn't mine to control.”
Edward laughed.
“All men say that until the door closes.”
Nathaniel’s smile disappeared.
“Then you've known the wrong men.”
Clara looked at him.
Something moved inside her.
Dangerous.
Tender.
Adult.
Edward mounted.
Before leaving he looked at Clara.
“The child is mine.”
“Yes.”
“You can't erase that.”
“I have no intention of lying to her.”
His expression flickered.
Her.
He had not known.
Clara continued:
“She will know your name.”
“She will also know why her mother left.”
Edward rode away.
Clara stood perfectly still until he disappeared.
Then her rifle lowered.
Her hands began shaking.
Nathaniel did not touch her.
Not immediately.
He waited.
That mattered.
Finally Clara whispered:
“Come here.”
Nathaniel crossed the distance.
She put both hands against his chest.
Then pressed her forehead there.
His arms came around her.
Carefully.
One across her back.
The other at her waist above the child.
No demand.
No claim.
Clara breathed.
Nathaniel’s mouth touched her hair.
“That was magnificent.”
She laughed once against him.
“I nearly vomited.”
“Still magnificent.”
She looked up.
He was close.
Too close.
Not close enough.
“You wanted to hit him.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you?”
“You said stay.”
“That simple?”
Nathaniel looked at her.
“Yes.”
Clara’s eyes burned.
She hated crying.
Nathaniel was becoming accustomed to it.
He brushed one tear with his thumb.
Then stopped.
Their faces were inches apart.
His gaze dropped to her mouth.
Clara saw.
“Don't.”
Nathaniel immediately moved back.
The speed hurt.
She caught his vest.
“I didn't mean don't want me.”
His breathing changed.
Clara continued:
“I mean don't make me want something I cannot choose yet.”
Nathaniel’s expression softened.
“You're still married.”
“Yes.”
“And afraid.”
“Yes.”
“I can wait.”
“That sounded confident.”
“I've waited thirty-eight years for most things worth having.”
Clara swallowed.
“You think I’m worth having?”
His expression sharpened.
“No.”
Her face fell.
Nathaniel corrected:
“That came out wrong.”
She stared.
“I don't want to have you.”
“I want you to choose me.”
Clara’s breath caught.
He continued.
“Those are different things.”
She looked at him for a long time.
Then placed her hand against his chest again.
“I hate you.”
“I know.”
“Not very much.”
“I know that too.”
“You're arrogant.”
“Frequently.”
She smiled.
Nathaniel did not kiss her.
That was exactly why she wanted him to.
Amos Bell was found alive.
Ninety-one.
Half deaf.
Mind sharp enough to frighten everyone.
Nathaniel, Clara, and an independent attorney traveled to his daughter’s farm.
Clara carried the deed.
Amos stared at it.
Then laughed.
“About time.”
Nathaniel frowned.
“You recognize it?”
“I notarized it.”
Clara sat forward.
“You remember Miriam Vale?”
Amos’s face softened.
“Best head for numbers Gideon ever met.”
Nathaniel stared.
“My father spoke of her?”
“Constantly for about two years.”
Clara’s heart tightened.
Amos continued.
“Not romantically.”
Clara almost laughed.
Nathaniel looked relieved for reasons he refused to examine.
Amos explained.
Miriam had reviewed Cross freight accounts for a shipping firm.
She discovered that Gideon was paying inflated feed prices and being cheated by a supplier.
She helped him reorganize debts.
Then invested her inheritance when banks refused further credit.
“Saved Cross Ranch.”
Amos nodded.
“Plain as rain.”
Nathaniel looked stunned.
“My father told me a partner saved us.”
“Miriam didn't want her name everywhere.”
“Why?”
“Men.”
Amos shrugged.
“An unmarried woman with money attracted the wrong sort of attention.”
“Gideon offered repayment.”
“She wanted land.”
“Smart.”
Nathaniel almost smiled.
“The spring?”
“Her idea.”
Amos nodded.
“She knew water better than cattlemen.”
“Gideon joked she should own the ranch.”
Clara looked toward the deed.
“Why wasn't it recorded?”
Amos’s face darkened.
“Kincaid.”