Eleanor asked:
“And if they prove that?”
“North Slope transfers.”
He mounted.
Before leaving, he looked at Eleanor again.
“I do hope you enjoy the mountain while it lasts.”
Caleb waited until he disappeared.
Then:
“Damn.”
Eleanor read the notice.
“What constitutes genuine?”
“Shared household.”
“We have one.”
“Marriage in good faith.”
“That is vague.”
“Intentionally.”
“Witnesses?”
“Possibly.”
“Financial interdependence?”
“Maybe.”
“Public presentation?”
“Yes.”
She looked at Caleb.
“You're terrible at pretending.”
“I don't pretend.”
“You married a stranger for land.”
“I noticed.”
Eleanor paced.
“We need evidence.”
“Of marriage?”
“Yes.”
“We are married.”
“But our private agreement proves motive.”
His face changed.
“Where is it?”
“Locked desk.”
“Good.”
Eleanor thought.
Then:
“We attend town events together.”
“I hate town events.”
“Marriage requires sacrifice.”
“I reject marriage.”
“Too late.”
Caleb almost smiled.
“We need visitors.”
“No.”
“People who see us functioning as a household.”
“No.”
“Caleb.”
“No.”
She folded her arms.
“You’ll lose the mountain because you're antisocial.”
“Possible.”
“Absolutely impossible man.”
“Temporary husband.”
That was the first time he threw her words back.
She stared.
Then laughed.
It startled him.
They began building a believable marriage.
On paper at first.
Joint supply orders.
Joint correspondence.
Eleanor’s name added to household accounts.
Then public.
They traveled to Silver Hollow.
The town nearly injured itself turning to stare.
Eleanor wore a deep burgundy dress Margaret had altered for her.
Long.
Below the knee.
Full skirt.
Cream shawl.
Caleb wore black.
They entered O’Malley’s general store together.
Conversation stopped.
The same women who had whispered when Eleanor slept above the tavern now studied the ring on her hand.
A clerk asked Caleb:
“Anything else?”
Caleb looked toward Eleanor.
“Ask my wife.”
Eleanor felt every eye.
“Coffee.”
Caleb sighed.
“We have coffee.”
“We have insufficient coffee.”
“We have twelve pounds.”
“Eleven.”
“You counted?”
“I manage household stores.”
The clerk tried not to smile.
Caleb surrendered.
“Coffee.”
People laughed.
Not at Eleanor.
At them.
As a married couple.
It felt startlingly normal.
Outside, Caleb leaned close.
“You did that intentionally.”
“What?”
“The coffee.”
“We need witnesses.”
“You humiliated me.”
“Excellent marriage evidence.”
His eyes narrowed.
Then his mouth twitched.
At the tavern Margaret hugged Eleanor.
“How is he?”
“Difficult.”
Caleb said from behind:
“I can hear.”
“Useful.”