That felt revolutionary.
Over the next three days, the mountain pass remained closed.
Josephine learned the cabin.
Then the ranch.
Harlan gave her the key to the iron box.
She kept it.
He showed her every document connected to the land.
Josephine read them carefully.
Her mother’s deed appeared legitimate.
Another document showed Edwin had attempted to mortgage the property two years earlier but failed because the title examiner discovered Josephine’s ownership.
That apparently explained the sudden urgency.
The suspected copper deposits had increased interest from investors.
Edwin needed Josephine’s signature.
Marriage to Harlan had been meant to create a path for control.
But one detail bothered Josephine.
“Why you?”
Harlan looked up from repairing a harness.
“What?”
“My father could have married me to someone who actually wanted to help him.”
“He tried.”
Josephine went still.
“Who?”
“Two men.”
“Names.”
“Caleb Thorn and Douglas Merritt.”
She recognized both.
Caleb had once called her “the walking pantry” during a church picnic.
Douglas had pinched her arm and asked whether she had “stored winter there.”
Josephine felt ill.
“They refused?”
“Caleb wanted too much money. Merritt wanted half the copper rights.”
“And you?”
“I asked for two horses.”
Josephine looked at him.
“And twenty dollars.”
“That was your father’s idea.”
“Why?”
“He wanted the agreement to resemble a legitimate bride arrangement.”
Josephine’s mouth twisted.
“Legitimate.”
Harlan put down the harness.
“I know.”
She studied him.
“You made yourself cheaper.”
“Apparently.”
“Why?”
“So he’d pick me.”
The words hung between them.
Josephine’s heart shifted.
“You wanted him to pick you.”
“Yes.”
“To protect the land?”
Harlan hesitated.
“And you.”
There it was.
Josephine looked down at her hands.
Her large hands.
Hands people called clumsy despite the fine embroidery she could produce.
Hands Harlan had watched without judgment.
“How did you know what I looked like?”
He returned to the harness.
“Photograph.”
“What photograph?”
“Your father had one on his mantel.”
Josephine stared.
“You saw me before agreeing?”
“Yes.”
“And still—”
She stopped herself.
Harlan’s head lifted.
“And still what?”
Josephine’s cheeks burned.
“Nothing.”
“No.”
His voice became firmer.
“Finish it.”
She hated him for noticing.
“You saw how large I was.”
“Yes.”
“And still agreed.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Harlan looked genuinely perplexed again.
“Why wouldn’t I?”
Josephine laughed bitterly.
“You cannot possibly be that unaware.”
“Of what?”
“Men don’t want women built like me.”
His expression hardened.
“Some men.”
“Most.”
“Maybe you’ve met poor-quality men.”
Josephine folded her arms.
“My father spent years telling me—”
“Your father is an idiot.”
“You haven’t even let me finish.”
“Didn’t need to.”
Despite herself, she smiled.
Harlan returned to the harness.
Josephine watched him.
“Do you find me attractive?”