“You didn’t know?”
“No.”
“Your father never told you?”
“Mine died before I turned fifteen.”
Ruth returned to the letter.
Daniel had never recorded the deed.
He feared Harcourt would discover the transfer and seize the land through manipulated debt.
Instead, he hid the original.
His plan was to record it once the investigation became public.
He never had the chance.
Then came the paragraph that silenced the room.
If I fail, the land belongs to my daughter Ruth.
Her eyes blurred.
She stopped reading.
Jonah said nothing.
Ruth wiped her face angrily.
Then continued.
Do not seek her unless the bank moves against her or unless she seeks you first. If that day comes, give her what is hers and nothing more. Do not turn gratitude into a chain around either of you.
Jonah closed his eyes.
Ruth felt something painful twist inside her.
The next line hurt worse.
And Jonah, if you ever meet my girl, do not marry her because you think you owe me. A woman deserves to be wanted for herself, not inherited as another man’s obligation.
Silence.
Snow touched the window.
Ruth lowered the letter.
Jonah looked toward the floor.
Neither spoke.
Finally Ruth whispered:
“Well.”
Jonah’s voice was rough.
“I did not know that was there.”
“Convenient.”
“I swear.”
“On what?”
He looked up.
“Anything you believe I value.”
Ruth stared.
“Do you value me?”
“Yes.”
The answer came so quickly that it hurt.
“Then swear on me.”
Jonah looked almost angry.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because you are not mine to gamble with.”
That shut her up.
He stood.
Slowly.
Then picked up his hat.
Again.
Ruth looked at him.
“Where are you going?”
“The barn.”
“Again?”
“Yes.”
“After this?”
“Especially after this.”
Her anger returned.
“You do not get to escape every difficult conversation by sleeping with livestock.”
“I’m not escaping.”
“You are walking through the door.”
“So you have space.”
“I did not ask for space.”
His eyes met hers.
“What are you asking for?”
Ruth opened her mouth.
Nothing came.
That was the problem.
She did not know.
She wanted him near.
She wanted him gone.
She wanted him to tell her he had married her because he had wanted her from the first moment.
She wanted to hurt him for having any other reason.
She wanted to open every document in the trunk.
She wanted to burn it.
Jonah waited.
Ruth finally said:
“I don’t know.”
He nodded.
“That is why I’m leaving.”
His hand touched the door.
Ruth spoke before she could stop herself.
“Do you want me?”
He froze.
She hated how vulnerable the question sounded.
“Not as Daniel Holloway’s daughter.”
“Not as a woman the town treated badly.”
“Not as somebody you think needs shelter.”
Her voice lowered.
“Me.”
Jonah turned.
The expression on his face answered first.
Desire was not subtle in him when he stopped fighting it.
His eyes moved across the ivory lace.
Her hair.
Her face.
Her body.
Not quickly.
Not ashamed.
Ruth’s breath changed.
Jonah looked back into her eyes.
“If wanting you were the problem, I would have slept easier these last three months.”
She stared.
“Then why have you barely touched me?”
His jaw tightened.