Caleb looked toward the window.
The firelight flickered over his face, and for a moment his expression was unreadable.
“Did he ever claim you belonged to him?” he asked.
“Not in those words.”
“But he treated you as though you did.”
She nodded.
Caleb was silent for several seconds. Then he asked, “Does he know where you are?”
“I don't know.”
“Did you write to anyone in Chicago after you arrived?”
“No. I was afraid that a letter might find its way to him.”
“Did your aunt know the exact address?”
“She knew the town, but I don't think she knew the trail to the cabin.”
Caleb studied the fire. “Then we don't know whether he's coming. But we can make sure you're prepared if he does.”
Josie felt a chill that had nothing to do with the storm.
“What would we do?”
“We'd decide what you want. We could send a letter to your aunt. We could speak to the sheriff. We could ask the minister to confirm the marriage and help establish your circumstances. We could also arrange for you to stay with a family in town if you preferred not to remain here.”
“You would let me leave?”
“If you wanted to.”
She searched his face. “Even if you wanted me to stay?”
Caleb met her gaze. “Especially then.”
The words were simple, but they loosened something deep inside her.
She had believed that the only way to keep a man from becoming angry was to conceal her own wishes. Yet here was Caleb, offering her choices that might take her away from him, even though he had brought her west and married her.
It was difficult to understand.
“Why are you being so kind to me?” she asked.
He looked at her for a long moment. “Because you deserve kindness.”
“That's all?”
“That's enough.”
Josie looked away, overwhelmed.
Outside, the storm grew louder. A gust struck the cabin with such force that the shutters rattled. Caleb glanced toward the window, and Josie instinctively tightened her grip on his hand.
He turned back to her.
“Would you like me to check the latch?”
“Not yet.”
“All right.”
She took a breath. “Could you tell me something about yourself?”
“What would you like to know?”
“Anything.”
Caleb considered the request. “I was born in a valley north of here. My father trapped and traded furs. My mother kept a small garden and raised chickens. We weren't wealthy, but we had enough.”
“Do you miss them?”