For a moment, she smiled to herself.
Neither spoke of it.
But something had changed.
Their conversations grew more personal.
They shared memories.
Told stories.
And began speaking about the future in ways that no longer sounded like a practical business arrangement.
Nathaniel asked whether Clara wanted roses planted near the porch.
She laughed.
โRoses?โ
He nodded.
โYou mentioned them in your letter.โ
Her expression softened.
โYou remembered?โ
โOf course.โ
Clara looked toward the winter-dark garden.
For a moment, her eyes filled.
Then she smiled.
โI would love roses.โ
Nathaniel nodded.
โThen we'll plant them when the weather warms.โ
She looked at him.
He'd said we.
Not I.
For a moment, she wanted to take his face in her hands and kiss him.
But she waited.
Their relationship had grown slowly.
Carefully.
And she didn't want their first kiss to feel like something borrowed from fear.
She wanted Nathaniel to choose her.
Not because she could repair the ranch.
Not because she had savings.
And not because she understood the documents Hawthorne wanted hidden.
She wanted him to look at her and see the woman he'd come to love.
That moment arrived during the first snowstorm of November.
Nathaniel had ridden to inspect the lower pasture before the weather worsened.
Mateo urged him to wait.
The rancher refused.
The cattle had been restless.
One section of fencing needed attention.
And he wanted to make sure the temporary watering arrangement remained secure.
He returned after dark.
His horse reached the yard without difficulty.
But Nathaniel dismounted slowly.
His coat was covered in snow.
His left hand was held close to his body.
And there was a dark stain near his shoulder.
Clara saw him through the window.
She immediately called for Mateo.
Together, they helped Nathaniel inside.
He insisted he was fine.
Then nearly collapsed into a chair.
Clara knelt as carefully as she could beside him, examined the visible injury without forcing movement, and helped arrange prompt assistance from the local doctor when the weather permitted.
Nathaniel had slipped while working near the fence and struck his shoulder against a wooden rail.
The injury was painful but not life-threatening.
He was exhausted.
Cold.
And embarrassed.
Clara helped him settle near the fireplace.
She brought warm tea.
Elena prepared food.
Mateo secured the horses.
Then, when the cabin became quiet again, Clara sat beside him.