“Too much work for any man foolish enough to marry me.”
Elias’s jaw tightened.
She smiled sadly.
“So perhaps we’ve both been listening to people who had no business deciding what we deserve.”
He stared at her.
Then looked at their joined hands.
“Martha.”
“What?”
“If I kiss you, I’m not sure I’ll be able to pretend tomorrow that I don’t want you here.”
She stepped closer.
Her body nearly touched his.
“Then stop pretending today.”
Elias raised his free hand.
Stopped before touching her face.
Asked silently.
Martha leaned into his palm.
Permission.
His thumb moved gently along her cheek.
She closed her eyes.
He bent toward her.
Then a voice thundered from below the porch.
“THORNE!”
Elias’s entire body changed.
The tenderness disappeared beneath instinct.
He released Martha’s hand and turned.
A rider approached hard along the lower trail.
Dust.
Gray horse.
Dark coat.
Martha’s heart still hammered from the almost-kiss.
She stepped backward.
Elias glanced at her.
Regret crossed his face.
Then the rider reached the cabin.
He pulled hard on the reins.
The horse stopped near the woodpile.
The man dismounted without greeting.
He was around fifty.
Thin.
Well dressed for a frontier road.
Black frock coat.
Brown leather document case.
City boots coated in mountain dust.
Elias recognized him.
That was obvious.
“What are you doing here, Halbrook?”
The stranger removed his hat.
“Wish I had better news.”
“You usually do.”
The man looked toward Martha.
Elias noticed.
“This is Martha Bell.”
The stranger nodded politely.
“Samuel Halbrook.”
“Territorial land clerk.”
Martha’s stomach tightened.
Land clerk.
Nobody rides four hours into the mountains on a good-news errand carrying a document case.
Elias stepped down from the porch.
“What happened?”
Halbrook opened the case.
Removed several folded sheets.
“You remember the federal survey completed in sixty-eight?”
“Yes.”
“And the amended territorial claim filed after the river boundary shifted?”
Elias’s expression hardened.
“Yes.”
Halbrook looked uncomfortable.
“The amendment was never properly certified.”
Elias stared.
“That was eleven years ago.”
“I know.”
“I’ve paid tax every year.”
“I know.”
“I built on it.”
“I know.”
“Then say what you rode here to say.”
Halbrook handed him a paper.
“A competing claim was filed.”
Silence.
Elias looked at the document.
Martha moved closer.
“Competing claim by whom?”
Halbrook glanced at her.
“Caldwell Timber and Development.”
Elias laughed once.
No humor.
“Of course.”
Martha knew the name.
Everyone did.
Caldwell was buying land throughout the region.
Timber.
Coal rights.