Lara whispered:
“I don't want to be alone.”
“All right.”
He sat again.
She sat inside the doorway.
Neither crossed the threshold.
For a long time, they said nothing.
Then Lara asked:
“If the contract had been real…”
Elias looked toward her.
“What?”
“If you had actually sent for someone.”
“What kind of woman would you have requested?”
Elias thought.
“I wouldn't.”
“That's avoidance.”
“I never intended marriage.”
“Why?”
He looked toward the dark room.
“My mother died giving birth.”
“Father became something worse after.”
“Drank.”
“Married again.”
“Second wife left.”
“I decided family was mostly people finding new ways to hurt each other.”
Lara studied him.
“You believed that until thirty-five?”
“Mostly.”
“Lonely?”
“Yes.”
She appreciated the answer.
“What changed?”
Elias looked at her.
“Ask me later.”
Her heartbeat shifted.
She knew what he meant.
Too soon.
He knew it too.
Lara whispered:
“Good night.”
“Good night.”
He stood.
She touched his sleeve.
He froze.
“Thank you.”
“For sitting?”
“Yes.”
He nodded.
“No charge.”
She laughed softly.
The door closed.
The next morning, they rode to Deadwood and sent a telegram to Boston.
TO HIGGINS & BARNES LAW OFFICES STOP
REQUEST CERTIFIED COPY RICHARD HIGGINS WILL TRUST INVENTORY AND ACCOUNTING FOR LARA HIGGINS STOP
URGENT STOP
SEND DEADWOOD TERRITORY STOP
Elias paid.
Lara protested.
He said:
“Business expense.”
She said:
“It concerns me.”
“It concerns my river.”
She stared.
Then smiled.
“Fine.”
At the telegraph office, a boy handed Elias another message.
Arrived that morning.
From Caleb Ryland.
COME GOLDEN SPUR NOON. BRING GIRL. WE CAN END THIS.
Lara read over his shoulder.
“Girl.”
“I noticed.”
“I’m twenty-eight.”
“I know.”
“Bring girl.”
“I know.”
She folded the telegram.
“We're going.”
Elias frowned.
“No.”
“You said we expose the lie.”
“Yes.”
“Then I want to hear him.”
“He's dangerous.”
“So am I when irritated.”
Elias almost smiled.
“Lara.”
“No.”
“You don't decide for me.”
He stopped.
She held his gaze.
That principle mattered.
He nodded.
“All right.”
“But I sit between you and door.”
“Why?”
“Because I'm irritating too.”
The Golden Spur went quiet when they entered.
Caleb sat at a rear table.
Two men nearby.
Not obvious guards.
Obviously guards.
Lara walked beside Elias.
People stared.
She kept her head high.
Caleb stood.
“Mrs. Montgomery.”
Lara answered:
“Miss Higgins.”
His smile weakened.
“So the ceremony hasn't happened?”
“There will be no ceremony.”
Caleb looked toward Elias.
“That disappoints me.”
“No, it doesn't.”
Caleb sat.
“Join me.”
Lara chose a chair.
Too narrow.
Caleb watched.
A familiar humiliation.