“And?”
“And I wanted you safe before Vane arrived.”
“And?”
He looked away.
Elena waited.
“Caleb.”
His jaw tightened.
“I saw you years ago.”
“Where?”
“Mercantile.”
“When?”
“You were eighteen.”
“What did I do?”
“You argued with shopkeeper.”
Elena smiled slowly.
“About flour weight.”
“Yes.”
“He cheated widows.”
“Yes.”
“You remember?”
“You stood there half hour until he reweighed every sack.”
Elena laughed.
“Everyone stared.”
“I know.”
“You were there?”
“Corner.”
“You didn't say anything.”
“You did not need help.”
That answer landed.
He continued:
“I thought you were brave.”
Elena looked at snow.
“No one called me that.”
“They were wrong.”
“Then why wait?”
“Because admiring woman is not reason to intrude.”
“Sarah papers changed.”
“Yes.”
“You agreed to marriage because you already liked me.”
Caleb’s face reddened beneath beard.
“I agreed because you were in danger.”
Elena smiled.
“Coward.”
He looked.
She had teased.
First time.
He smiled back.
“Probably.”
Something between them changed in White Pine Basin.
Not marriage.
Possibility.
They went to town two days later.
Caleb had been right about reaction.
People stared before Elena even stepped from sleigh.
Not only because of size.
Because she wore blue dress instead of tight bridal cream.
Because Caleb Holt stood beside her.
Because rumors had already arrived.
At mercantile, Aunt Beatrice stood near counter.
Her mouth dropped.
“Elena.”
Elena stopped.
Aunt Beatrice’s eyes swept her body.
The loose wool dress.
No corset.
Her expression turned horrified.
“What are you wearing?”
Elena smiled.
“Clothes.”
“You look enormous.”
Caleb went still.
Elena lifted one hand without looking at him.
A warning not to interfere.
He obeyed.
Aunt Beatrice continued.
“Has that man no concern for how his wife presents herself?”
Elena stepped closer.
“Can you hear me breathing?”
Her aunt frowned.
“What?”
Elena inhaled deeply.
Then exhaled.
“No fainting.”
“No ribs bruised.”
“No laces.”
Aunt Beatrice’s mouth tightened.
“Decency requires structure.”
Elena looked her up and down.
“Then build a barn.”
Someone behind counter coughed to hide laugh.
Caleb looked at floor.
His shoulders moved.
Aunt Beatrice flushed.
“Elena!”
Elena leaned.
“You will never lace me again.”
Something in her voice ended discussion.
Aunt Beatrice left.
Caleb waited until she exited.
Then burst out laughing.
Elena stared.
“Barn?”