Lila smiled.
“There he is.”
Graham looked toward the window.
“I could build something here.”
“The land isn't much.”
“House needs work.”
“Pasture needs fencing.”
“There are horses for sale south of Glenwood.”
Lila understood.
“You're thinking of staying.”
“Yes.”
“Because of me?”
Graham looked at her.
“Partly.”
Her expression sharpened.
“Dangerous answer.”
He smiled.
“I learned from you.”
“Good.”
He continued.
“I also want this land because I hated it for six years.”
“That is an odd reason.”
“I want to find out whether it is actually the land I hated.”
Lila became quiet.
“And if it is?”
“Sell.”
“And if it isn't?”
“Build.”
She nodded.
Choice.
Again.
The Glenwood letter arrived in October.
Teaching position.
Winter term.
Temporary.
Four months.
Lila read it twice.
Graham sat across the table.
“What do you want?”
He asked.
She looked up.
“To teach.”
His chest tightened.
He nodded.
“Then you should.”
“And you?”
“Here.”
She frowned.
“That's all?”
“No.”
Graham rubbed his beard.
“I want to ask you not to go.”
Lila waited.
“But?”
“But I won't.”
She stared.
Graham continued.
“I will ask whether you want me to visit.”
Her expression softened.
“Yes.”
“How often?”
“As often as you can without neglecting whatever you're building here.”
Graham smiled.
“Specific.”
“Yes.”
“Can I write?”
Lila almost laughed.
“You'd better.”
The first letter he wrote her contained four sentences.
Lila returned eight pages.
Graham improved rapidly.
By December he was writing two pages voluntarily.
By January, three.
Silas visited Juniper Bend and laughed himself hoarse when Lila showed him the early letters.
Graham threatened murder.
Silas remained unconcerned.
Lila returned in March.
Graham waited at the station.
He had shaved.
That was her first observation.
“You look strange.”
Graham frowned.
“I missed you too.”
She touched his jaw.
“No.”
“Better strange.”
He kissed her in front of the station clerk.
Lila laughed against his mouth.
When they separated, Graham said:
“I bought six mares.”
Her eyes widened.
“Six?”
“Five good ones.”
“And?”
“One mistake.”
“Which?”
“The gray.”
Lila looked toward the tied horses.
The gray mare attempted to bite another horse through the rail.
“That one?”
“Yes.”
Lila smiled.
“I like her.”
“Of course.”
They returned to the house.
Except it felt different now.