A man who admitted he had been wrong was more difficult.
She looked toward the deed.
“If this is mine…”
“It is.”
“…then you live on my land.”
The mountain man blinked.
Then nodded.
“I suppose I do.”
She nearly laughed.
“And if I tell you to leave?”
His gaze met hers.
“I’ll sleep in the barn tonight.”
“No.”
He waited.
“I mean if I tell you to leave permanently.”
His expression tightened almost imperceptibly.
Then:
“I leave.”
“Without demanding your money back?”
“Yes.”
“The horses?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“They’re already your father’s problem.”
A laugh escaped before she could stop it.
The mountain man smiled.
Only for a second.
She hated that she noticed how his entire face changed when he did.
The pain beneath her ribs returned sharply.
She gasped.
The mountain man immediately moved.
Then stopped himself before coming too close.
“The corset.”
She gripped the table.
“I can manage.”
“Can you reach the laces?”
Silence.
No.
Her aunt had pulled them from behind and tied the knot so tightly the bride had been unable to loosen it before leaving town.
The mountain man turned away.
“There’s a knife beside the trunk.”
Her eyes widened.
He realized how that sounded.
“For the laces.”
She almost smiled again.
He continued quickly:
“You can cut them yourself if you can reach.”
“I cannot.”
He went still.
They both understood what the next option required.
The bride’s heart accelerated.
The mountain man spoke first.
“I can fetch Mrs. Vale from the lower valley.”
“In this storm?”
“She’s three miles.”
“You’ll freeze.”
“Probably not.”
She looked toward the window.
Snow already obscured the trees.
“You cannot ride in that.”
“I can walk.”
“For a corset?”
“For you not to feel trapped.”
The sentence settled between them.
The bride looked at him.
Then at the knife.
Then the nightgown.
Finally:
“Turn around.”
He did.
“Take off the gun belt.”
He unbuckled it immediately and placed it on the floor near the fireplace.
“Knife.”
He slid it across the table toward her.
She picked it up.
Her fingers shook.
Then she set it down again.
“I cannot reach.”
The mountain man remained facing the wall.
“I know.”
She closed her eyes.
Every warning from her aunt returned.
A husband owns the bedroom.
A husband takes what marriage gives him.
A woman endures.
A large woman should be especially grateful any man wants her.
She opened her eyes.
“Can you cut it?”
The mountain man did not turn.
“If you’re sure.”
“I’m not.”
He nodded.