Elena raised eyebrow.
“You told me to cut corset.”
“Different.”
“Hand.”
He obeyed.
His palm was rough.
Much smaller than hers? No, Caleb had huge hands but Elena's were large too. His fingers callused.
She cleaned cut.
Caleb watched her face.
Elena felt gaze.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“That is not nothing.”
He looked away.
“You’re gentle.”
She stopped.
“So?”
“People talk like size and gentleness are opposites.”
Her eyes hardened.
“People talk too much.”
“Yes.”
She wrapped hand.
He said:
“Thank you.”
Elena tied cloth.
“You’re welcome.”
Neither moved.
Fire cracked.
Their hands remained together a moment too long.
Elena felt it.
So did Caleb.
She released first.
“Go to loft.”
He stood.
Then:
“Elena.”
“Yes?”
“If you ever want me closer…”
She looked up.
He struggled.
Words mattered.
He was choosing carefully.
“You will have to tell me.”
A strange ache opened.
She whispered:
“Good.”
He climbed.
Elena remained by fire, heart beating much too hard for woman alone in chair.
On eighth morning, storm broke.
Sunlight transformed snow into blinding white.
Caleb saddled one horse and prepared sleigh.
Elena watched from doorway.
“You’re taking me to town.”
“If you want.”
She hated how often he returned decisions.
Because she no longer knew what she wanted.
Part of her expected freedom to feel obvious.
Leave.
But leave where?
Not father.
Not aunt.
Maybe Helena.
She had land.
Money eventually.
An attorney.
She could build life.
Without Caleb.
That was important.
She needed to know that before choosing him.
“I want to see White Pine Basin.”
Caleb looked.
“Road may be bad.”
“I did not ask road.”
He smiled.
“No.”
“Can we reach?”
“By lower trail.”
“Then take me.”
The basin lay four miles west, higher but sheltered.
The sleigh moved slowly.
Elena wrapped in heavy buffalo blanket.
Caleb walked beside horse on steep grades instead of adding weight.
She noticed.
“Get in.”
“I’m fine.”
“You think horse will collapse with both?”
“No.”
“Then get in.”
He looked.
Elena patted seat.
“That was order.”
“You promised no orders.”
“I promised you no such thing.”
He laughed and climbed.
White Pine Basin appeared beyond ridge.
Elena forgot cold.
A wide valley surrounded by pine-covered slopes.
A creek cut through snow.
Steam rose from one section where warm spring met air.
An abandoned cabin stood near tree line.
Caleb pointed.
“Your mother was born there.”