Hired widow seamstress to make practical garments, including adjustable dresses.
Not business yet.
Just need.
Women came for hot spring.
At first friends.
Then travelers.
Elena realized White Pine Basin could become boarding retreat.
Not resort for rich.
A waystation.
Warm baths.
Beds.
Food.
Women traveling alone could stay without hotel harassment.
Families.
Workers.
She developed slowly.
Caleb advised building.
Elena controlled books.
Their courtship restarted.
Properly.
He visited Sundays.
Knocked.
Even though legally husband.
Elena teased:
“You know door opens.”
“I know.”
“Why knock?”
“You like.”
She did.
He brought flowers once.
Wildflowers crushed in his enormous fist.
Elena looked.
“Did you fight bear for these?”
“Worse.”
“What?”
“Bees.”
She laughed.
They walked.
One evening at spring, Caleb asked:
“Do you still want annulment?”
Elena sat on reinforced bench she had commissioned.
“No.”
He went still.
“But.”
He waited.
“I want proposal.”
He blinked.
“We are married.”
“Badly.”
“Elena.”
“You never asked.”
He looked genuinely distressed.
She enjoyed.
“Ask.”
“Now?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t have ring.”
“I have land.”
“That’s not ring.”
“Caleb.”
He stood.
Then knelt.
Snow had been hard; spring mud now.
His knee sank.
Elena burst laughing.
Caleb cursed softly.
“Continue.”
He looked up, mud on trouser.
“Elena Whitaker…”
“Holt?”
She raised eyebrow.
“Not yet.”
He smiled.
“Elena Whitaker.”
“I have loved you longer than you knew me.”
“I have made decisions I had no right to make and spent every day since trying not to repeat.”
“I want mornings, arguments, ledgers, your terrible opinion of my cooking, and every version of future you’re willing to share.”
“Will you choose me now?”
Elena cried before he finished.
She reached down.
“Stand.”
“Answer.”
“Stand, fool.”
“Answer.”
She laughed through tears.
“Yes.”
He stood.
She pulled him down by coat.
Their first kiss was gentle.
Then not.
When Elena pulled back, Caleb looked stunned.
She smiled.
“Curiosity had permission.”
He laughed against forehead.
They remarried in June.
Not because first invalid necessarily.
Because Elena wanted a day that belonged to them.
No father bargaining.
No twenty dollars.
No horses.
Reverend Pike offered officiate.
Elena declined.
He accepted.