And suddenly, the twenty-seven-five-dollar payment in the notebook seemed much more important.
The mountain man looked toward the young woman.
"Your father may have been trying to sell something that wasn't his."
She swallowed.
The widow nodded grimly.
"Then he'd better pray the documents haven't already been signed."
The discovery changed everything.
Until that morning, the young woman believed her future depended entirely on the mountain man's generosity.
She had no money beyond the few dollars remaining from her stolen savings.
No property.
No home that welcomed her.
No respectable position in town.
Now she might own a valuable tract of land that her father had concealed from her for years.
But the possibility frightened her almost as much as it excited her.
On the wagon ride back to the cabin, she remained quiet.
The mountain man noticed.
"Thinking?"
She nodded.
"Too much."
He smiled faintly.
"That happens."
She looked toward the snowy hills.
"What if it's true?"
"What?"
"That the land belongs to me."
He considered the question.
"Then you decide what to do with it."
She gave a nervous laugh.
"Just like that?"
"Not quite. There'll be paperwork."
She smiled.
He continued.
"Maybe lawyers. Probably arguments."
Her smile faded.
"And Father."
The mountain man nodded.
"Yes."
She looked down.
"He won't let it go."
The mountain man remained silent.
She continued.
"He'll tell everybody I'm lying. He'll say I stole the documents. He'll claim you turned me against him."
The mountain man looked toward the road.
"Then we answer with evidence."
She studied him.
"You're not afraid of him?"
"No."
"Why?"
The mountain man's expression grew serious.
"Because I've seen what fear of him has done to you."
She looked away.
He continued.
"And I won't help him keep you frightened."
Her eyes filled.
For several minutes, they rode in silence.
Then she reached toward his hand.
He took it.
She leaned closer.
"Can I tell you something?"
"Always."
She looked up.
"I don't know whether I want to leave."
He glanced toward her.
"Leave the valley?"
She shook her head.
"Leave you."
The mountain man went very still.
She laughed nervously.
"I know it's foolish. We've only known each other a few days."
He remained quiet.
She continued.
"But I've never felt this way before."
He turned slightly.
"What way?"
She swallowed.
"Like I can breathe."
His expression softened.
She looked down at their joined hands.
"And when you kiss me..."
Her cheeks flushed.
He smiled faintly.
"What happens when I kiss you?"
She looked up.
"I stop worrying about everything for a little while."
The mountain man let out a slow breath.
He drew the wagon to a gentle stop beside the snowy road.
Then turned toward her.