"She's still my daughter."
"She's twenty-five years old."
"I raised her!"
The mountain man's voice remained low.
"That doesn't make her your property."
The man carrying the lantern shifted awkwardly.
Her father looked toward him.
"Tell him what we came for."
The man hesitated.
Then said, "There's a document."
The mountain man's eyes narrowed.
"What document?"
"Something the young lady may have taken from her father's house."
Her father quickly interrupted.
"Family papers. Nothing to concern you."
The mountain man studied him.
"Then why bring two men into the mountains during a storm?"
The older man's face reddened.
"Because she stole from me!"
Inside the cabin, the young woman heard every word.
Her stomach tightened.
She hadn't stolen anything.
She had brought only a small bundle of clothing, her mother's silver locket, and the notebook in which she'd been recording household expenses.
The locket belonged to her.
Her mother had given it to her shortly before dying.
The notebook contained figures she'd copied while helping with the ranch accounts.
Her father had never shown much interest in it.
Until recently.
Now he was standing outside in a snowstorm demanding family papers.
The young woman rose.
She pulled the wool blanket around her shoulders and walked toward the door.
The mountain man heard her approaching.
He turned.
"You don't have to come out."
"I know."
She stopped beside him.
Then looked directly at her father.
"What papers?"
The older man stared.
For a moment, he seemed surprised by her calmness.
Then he pointed toward her.
"That account book you've been scribbling in."
She frowned.
"Why?"
"Because it's mine."
"It's my notebook."
"The information belongs to this family."
She looked at him.
"I copied expenses so we could understand why the ranch was losing money."
Her father's jaw tightened.
"You had no right."
The mountain man glanced toward her.
She continued.
"I've been keeping those accounts for years."
Her father stepped closer.
"Give it to me."
"No."
The word startled everyone.
Her father went still.
"What did you say?"
She swallowed.
Her knees were trembling beneath the skirt.
But she repeated herself.
"No."
The older man's face darkened.
He reached toward her.
The mountain man moved between them.
"That's close enough."
Her father stared at the broad chest blocking his path.
Then he gave a bitter laugh.
"Well, look at that. Already defending your new bride."
The mountain man's expression hardened.
"Leave."
The older man looked past him.
"You think this beast will keep you happy?"
The young woman's cheeks flushed.
Her father continued.
"He's a wild man living alone in the mountains. You don't even know what he does out here."
She looked toward the rugged figure standing beside her.