Caleb ignored him.
“Railway passenger had a case?”
The sheriff frowned.
“Henry Mason.”
“Yes.”
Crane spoke too quickly.
“Probably lost in the ravine.”
Caleb looked at him.
“How do you know the case?”
Crane stopped.
Silence.
Sheriff Brooks turned.
“Silas?”
Crane recovered.
“Mason worked freight contracts.”
“Didn't answer him.”
Caleb stepped closer.
“How do you know he carried a case?”
Crane smiled thinly.
“Everyone knows railway men carry documents.”
Evelyn watched.
Something cold moved through her.
Sheriff Brooks decided they would inspect the wreck.
Crane insisted on going.
Caleb refused to leave Evelyn alone.
She became irritated.
“I can remain in a cabin for six hours.”
“No.”
“Caleb.”
“Whoever cut that rail may not know you survived.”
“Exactly.”
His expression hardened.
“Which is why you aren't alone.”
Sheriff Brooks hid a smile.
Evelyn crossed her arms.
“Then I come.”
Caleb stared.
“With bruised ribs?”
“They are improving.”
“No.”
She raised one eyebrow.
He sighed.
“Damn it.”
She rode with him.
Slowly.
At the wreck, snow had settled.
The bodies were recovered.
Mason's case remained missing.
Then Evelyn found something.
Near a broken trunk lay a brass button.
She picked it up.
Crane saw.
His face changed.
Caleb noticed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Evelyn examined the button.
A small stamped symbol.
S.C.F.
Silas Crane Freight.
Sheriff Brooks looked at Crane.
He laughed.
“My company employs forty men.”
“Any reason one was here before the wreck?” Caleb asked.
“No.”
The sheriff pocketed the button.
Crane's charm disappeared.
The investigation moved quickly after that.
One of Crane's freight drivers, Samuel Rusk, vanished.
Another admitted Crane had learned Mason was carrying evidence of fraudulent rail contracts and inflated freight charges.
Crane had ordered the road sabotaged to force the stagecoach to stop.
The plan had been robbery.
Not murder.
The storm arrived earlier than expected.
The weakened rail broke.
Four people died.
Evelyn almost became the fifth.
Crane fled before arrest.
He made one mistake.
He rode north.
Toward Caleb's land.
Caleb found the tracks.
Sheriff Brooks prepared a posse.
Caleb joined.
Evelyn tried to stop him.
“You do not owe them this.”
“He crossed onto my land.”
“That is not a reason to get shot.”
“He knows you're alive.”
Her face changed.
Caleb stepped closer.
“He may think you heard something.”
“I didn't.”
“He doesn't know that.”
Evelyn touched his coat.
“Then promise me something.”
“What?”
“You come back because you want a life here.”
Caleb frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“Do not go out there thinking you have nothing to lose.”
His eyes held hers.
Evelyn's voice softened.
“You do.”
Caleb touched her cheek.
“Say it.”
“What?”
“That I do.”
Her cheeks flushed.
“You have me.”
He kissed her forehead.
Then left.
They found Crane inside an abandoned line shack.
He fired first.
One shot passed through Caleb's coat.
Sheriff Brooks returned fire.
Crane dropped his gun.
Nobody killed him.
Caleb was glad.
Years earlier, he might not have been.
Crane was arrested.
The documents recovered from his saddlebag proved fraud, attempted robbery, and conspiracy.
The wreck deaths turned the matter darker.
He would stand trial.
When Caleb returned to the cabin after midnight, Evelyn was waiting.
She wore the blue dress.
Her hair loose.
The fire low.
He stepped inside.
She looked at him.
Blood stained his sleeve.
Evelyn crossed the room immediately.
“You're hurt.”
“Scratch.”
“Sit.”
He did.
She cleaned the cut.
It was shallow.
Her hands shook anyway.
Caleb noticed.
“Evelyn.”
“Do not.”
“What?”
“Do not tell me not to worry.”
He smiled faintly.
“I wasn't.”
“Good.”
She finished wrapping the wound.
Then stood between his knees.
Caleb looked up.
Evelyn placed both hands against his face.
“You came back.”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
He put his hands at her waist.
“Still your choice?”
She understood.
Always.
“Yes.”
He kissed her.
There was nothing cautious about the first second.
Then Caleb slowed.
Evelyn smiled against his mouth.
“You still ask without words.”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
That night, they finally stopped pretending the attraction between them was temporary.
Nothing was rushed.
Nothing owed.
Evelyn chose every step.
Caleb listened to each one.
What happened belonged to them.
Morning arrived with snowlight reflecting through the windows.
Evelyn woke with her head against Caleb's shoulder.
For several minutes she remained still.
He was awake.
“You stare.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Still surprised.”
“That I'm here?”
“Yes.”
She smiled.
“Get used to disappointment.”
Caleb laughed.
Evelyn had never heard anything better.
The road reopened five days later.
She had to return to Black Creek.
There were legal questions.
Her luggage.
Her cousin expected word.
Caleb drove her.
The moment they entered town, people stared.
Evelyn felt old instincts return.
Shoulders inward.
Chin down.
Become smaller.
Caleb noticed.
His hand remained near hers on the wagon bench.
Not touching.
Available.
Evelyn took it.
Conversation stopped when they reached the hotel.
Mrs. Amos Hall stood outside the general store.
Her eyes widened.
“Evelyn.”
“Yes.”
“We heard you survived.”
“So I noticed.”
Mrs. Hall's gaze moved toward Caleb.
Then back.
“You stayed with him?”
Evelyn smiled.
“He saved my life.”
The woman lowered her voice.
“People say he is dangerous.”
Caleb began to step away.
Evelyn tightened her hand.
Stay.
He did.
Mrs. Hall continued.
“And after two engagements already...”
There it was.
The old poison.
Evelyn looked at her.
“What about them?”
Mrs. Hall shifted.
“I only mean perhaps you should be careful attracting another tragedy.”
Caleb's expression changed.
Evelyn felt it beside her.
She spoke first.
“Charles died of influenza.”
Mrs. Hall blinked.
“Thomas survived his accident and chose to leave.”
“Evelyn—”
“My brother drowned because a bridge collapsed.”
People nearby stopped pretending not to listen.
“My mother died because pneumonia does not care about gossip.”
Her voice remained calm.
“And that stagecoach crashed because a greedy man ordered a road sabotaged.”
Mrs. Hall's face reddened.
“Of course.”
“No.”
Evelyn stepped closer.
“Not of course.”
Silence spread.
“For five years, you have taken every grief in my life and turned it into proof that there was something wrong with me.”
Mrs. Hall glanced around.
Evelyn continued.
“You called me cursed because randomness frightened you.”
No one spoke.
“You mocked my body because cruelty was easier than admitting you simply did not understand a woman who refused to disappear.”
Mrs. Hall's mouth tightened.
“I never mocked—”