He was perhaps forty-five, with a narrow face, a short gray beard, and a dark traveling coat torn along one shoulder.
Blood stained his sleeve.
His boots were coated in ice.
One hand clutched a leather document case.
The other gripped the doorframe to keep himself upright.
He stared at the mountain man.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then the visitor whispered, "You really are alive."
The mountain man's jaw tightened.
"Who sent you?"
The stranger looked toward the room.
His gaze settled on the woman in blue.
Then on her wedding ring.
His expression changed.
"Oh, Lord."
The woman felt something cold settle in her stomach.
The stranger looked back at the mountain man.
"You married again."
The mountain man said nothing.
The wounded man gave a bitter laugh.
"Of course you did. Seven years is a long time."
The woman stepped forward.
"Sir, you're bleeding."
He looked surprised.
Then glanced toward his sleeve.
"Not badly."
A moment later, his knees buckled.
The mountain man caught him beneath the arms.
Together, they helped him toward the wide bench near the stove.
The stranger tried to protest.
The woman ignored him.
She fetched a clean towel and warm water.
Then examined the wound.
It appeared to be a deep graze along his upper arm.
Painful.
Bleeding.
But he was conscious and able to speak.
She wrapped it carefully.
"Who did this?"
The stranger looked toward the window.
"Two riders."
The mountain man's expression darkened.
"Where?"
"South trail."
"How far behind you?"
"An hour. Maybe less."
The woman looked toward her husband.
His face had become hard.
Controlled.
Dangerously quiet.
He moved to the window and lifted the curtain slightly.
Outside, snow moved sideways through the darkness.
The trees were almost invisible.
He lowered the curtain.
Then turned toward the stranger.
"Start talking."
The man leaned back.
He seemed to recognize that tone.
"The doctor at the eastern mining settlement sent me."
"What doctor?"
"The one who treated your wife."
The mountain man's jaw tightened.
"She died in the depot fire."
The stranger shook his head.
"No."
The woman felt the room grow smaller.
The visitor looked directly at her husband.
"She was carried out through the coal shed. Badly burned. Barely conscious. The people who took her told everyone she had died."
The mountain man stared.
The stranger continued.
"She's alive now. She's been asking for you."