She laughed through it.
“I hate you.”
He clearly did not know what to do.
She moved closer.
Wrapped both arms around him.
He held her.
There.
Better.
By March, winter weakened.
Icicles shortened.
The creek ran louder.
Mud returned.
The Mountain Woman began talking about planting.
The Mountain Man listened with the expression of a man being informed that vegetables were now a military campaign.
“Beans here.”
She pointed.
“Potatoes farther out.”
“Herbs by the cabin.”
He looked toward the slope.
“Deer.”
“Fence.”
“Rocky soil.”
“Improve it.”
“Short growing season.”
“Then stop arguing and start digging.”
The Mountain Man looked at her.
She smiled.
He built the garden.
Spring also brought a letter.
The Mountain Woman recognized her brother’s handwriting.
She sat at the table.
Read.
Her brother apologized.
Not fully.
People rarely did.
He wrote that the children missed her.
That his Wife had been overwhelmed.
That they had not realized how much work the Mountain Woman carried.
That if the marriage arrangement had failed, she could return.
The Mountain Woman stared at that sentence.
If it failed, you can return.
Months earlier, it would have felt like rescue.
Now it felt strange.
The Mountain Man entered.
Saw the letter.
Said nothing.
The Mountain Woman folded it.
“My brother.”
The Mountain Man nodded.
“He says I can go home.”
His expression disappeared.
The Mountain Woman noticed.
Home.
Wrong word.
She watched him turn toward the shelf.
He picked up something that did not need picking up.
Then set it down.
The Mountain Woman waited.
He asked:
“You want to?”
“No.”
The speed of her answer made him look over.
She smiled.
“Apparently I already am home.”
The Mountain Man froze.
Her own words surprised her.
Then became true as she heard them.
The Mountain Man crossed the room.
No hesitation.
He kissed her.
The Mountain Woman laughed against his mouth.
When they separated, he rested his forehead against hers.
“Woman.”
“Yes?”
“Marry me.”
She stared.
“You're supposed to ask more gracefully.”
“No.”
“Flowers?”
“Snow killed them.”
“Ring?”
“Town’s six miles.”
She laughed.
The Mountain Man frowned.
“You saying no?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“Wait.”
His face fell.
The Mountain Woman smiled.
“I said I'm not saying no.”
“That's different.”
“Yes.”
She stepped back.
“I want a proper question.”
The Mountain Man looked personally offended.
“You answered the advertisement.”