“What?”
“She decides what she wants.”
The Former Husband laughed.
“She’s my wife.”
The Young Woman stepped beside the Mountain Man.
“I chose him.”
Silence.
The Mountain Man turned slightly toward her.
Surprise.
The Young Woman saw it.
Good.
She had surprised herself too.
The Former Husband’s face changed.
He understood what the sentence meant.
Not legally.
Personally.
“You ruined yourself.”
The Young Woman smiled.
“For you?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’m glad.”
The Former Husband looked toward his men.
Neither moved.
Winter ridge.
Mountain Man.
Armed woman.
Bad ground.
No good outcome.
He spat into the snow.
“This is not finished.”
The Mountain Man answered:
“For today it is.”
The Former Husband mounted.
Turned.
Rode away.
The hired men followed.
The Young Woman kept the rifle raised until they disappeared.
Then her knees failed.
The Mountain Man caught her.
She grabbed his shirt.
“I thought I’d shake.”
“You did.”
She looked up.
“After.”
He nodded.
“After counts.”
The Young Woman laughed weakly.
Then cried.
The Mountain Man held her.
Not tightly.
Enough.
That evening, she threw the wedding ring into the canyon.
The Mountain Man stood several feet away.
The Young Woman watched gold disappear.
Then turned toward him.
No regret.
She walked closer.
“You said this cabin isn’t forever.”
He nodded.
“What if I want it to be?”
The Mountain Man stared.
“For you?”
“For us.”
He looked away.
The Young Woman reached for his hand.
He did not close his fingers.
Not yet.
“Say something.”
The Mountain Man’s voice was rough.
“You’re scared.”
“Yes.”
“You almost died.”
“Yes.”
“A man chased you into the mountains.”
“Yes.”
“You might be choosing the first person who feels safe.”
The Young Woman swallowed.
“That bothers you?”
“Terrifies me.”
She looked at him.
The Mountain Man continued:
“I don’t want gratitude pretending to be love.”
Her chest tightened.
“I don’t know if it’s love.”
He looked down.
She moved closer.
“But I know it’s desire.”
His eyes lifted sharply.
The Young Woman’s face warmed.
Good.
Let it.
She continued:
“I know I think about your hands.”
The Mountain Man went very still.
“I know I watch you when you split wood.”
His jaw flexed.
“I know I wanted you to kiss me beside the stove.”
He closed his eyes briefly.
The Young Woman almost smiled.