Because too many people were watching.
He turned toward Shaw.
“Get the horses.”
The two men retreated toward the road.
Amily remained still until they disappeared beyond the trees.
Then her knees began trembling.
Harlon turned.
“Amily?”
She looked toward him.
For one terrible moment, the world seemed to shift beneath her.
Then she laughed shakily.
“I think I'm going to sit down.”
Harlon moved closer.
“Can you make it to the porch?”
She nodded.
He offered his arm.
This time, she took it immediately.
They reached the steps.
Amily sat.
The metal case rested in her lap.
Her hands were shaking.
Harlon crouched beside her.
“You were magnificent.”
She stared.
Then laughed through tears.
“I was terrified.”
He smiled.
“I know.”
She looked toward him.
“You weren't?”
Harlon glanced toward the road where Pike had disappeared.
“Very.”
She stared.
He continued.
“Bravery doesn't mean fear disappears.”
Amily smiled faintly.
Then whispered, “I thought he was going to shoot you.”
Harlon's expression softened.
He reached toward her hand.
Stopped.
Then asked, “May I?”
Amily nodded.
He took her fingers gently.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then she whispered, “I don't want to lose you.”
Harlon became still.
The words seemed to strike him harder than anything Gideon Pike could have done.
He looked into her eyes.
“Amily.”
She swallowed.
“I know we've only known each other a few days.”
He nodded.
She continued.
“And I know we're in the middle of something terrible.”
Her voice trembled.
“But when I heard that gunshot outside your cabin, I wasn't thinking about the documents.”
Harlon's breathing changed.
She looked toward their joined hands.
“I was thinking about what it would feel like if you never walked through that door again.”
For a long moment, he couldn't speak.
Then he lifted her hand.
Pressed it gently against his cheek.
And whispered, “I was thinking the same thing.”
Amily's eyes filled.
The world seemed suddenly very quiet.
Snow drifted from the farmhouse roof.
A horse moved somewhere beyond the fence.
And the man who had opened his door to a freezing stranger looked at her as though she had become the most important thing in his world.
Then the demolition supervisor approached.
“Miss Ward?”
Amily slowly released Harlon's hand.
“Yes?”
The man held his cap respectfully.