Love is not a house with one room.
The existence of what came before did not make less room for her.
That was the insecurity the postmaster’s wife had tried to exploit.
Lena no longer wanted to live by it.
Then winter arrived early.
Three days of snow buried roads.
The temperature fell so low that water froze inside the barn pails between checks.
Reid left before dawn on the second morning to locate two missing cattle.
He should have taken another man.
He did not.
By noon he had not returned.
Lena was at the ranch because travel into town had become impossible.
She tried not to worry.
At one, she worried.
At two, she ordered two ranch hands to saddle.
One hesitated.
“Boss said nobody leaves in this weather.”
Lena stared.
“Your boss is currently in this weather.”
That ended discussion.
Emma stood near the window.
“Papa is okay.”
Lena looked at her.
“Yes.”
The child knew a lie when she heard one.
“You don’t know.”
“No.”
Lena crossed the room.
“I don’t.”
Emma’s eyes filled.
“Then don’t say it.”
Lena nodded.
“You’re right.”
She knelt beside her as much as she could.
“We are going to look.”
“I’m staying here with you.”
“No.”
Emma stiffened.
“I’m not leaving.”
“You are staying with Mrs. Doyle next door.”
“No!”
“Emma.”
“No!”
Panic arrived.
Not stubbornness.
Abandonment.
Reid gone.
Now Lena trying to send her away.
Lena understood.
She took the child’s face between both hands.
“Listen to me.”
“I am not leaving you.”
“You are going to Mrs. Doyle because I need both hands and all my attention to help your father.”
“I am coming back.”
Emma cried.
“Promise?”
Lena hated promises about things she could not control.
So she chose carefully.
“I promise I will do everything I can to come back.”
Emma stared.
Then nodded.
The ranch hands found Reid’s horse first.
Empty saddle.
A quarter mile later they found Reid in a shallow ravine beside an injured cow.
His left leg was pinned beneath a fallen branch.
He was conscious.
Barely.
Moving him required more strength than the two men had safely.
One rode back.
Lena organized ropes, a sled, blankets, and a team.
One ranch hand looked at her.
“You’re coming?”
“Yes.”
“Ma’am, the snow—”
“I heard you.”
Travel was difficult for Lena.
The deep snow made every step punishing.
She knew it.
Everyone knew it.
That did not mean she was useless.
She rode on the reinforced supply sled until they reached terrain too uneven.
Then she walked.
Slowly.
Breathing hard.
Refusing help unless necessary.
They reached Reid at dusk.