"I should have told you."
"Yes."
She lowered her eyes.
"I was afraid you would send me back."
"Why?"
"Because every letter I received after you agreed to marry me told me I was running from a problem instead of solving it."
Gideon stared at her.
"What did Everett do?"
She said nothing.
"Clara."
"He hurt me."
The answer was almost inaudible.
Gideon's hand tightened around the rifle.
"How?"
She looked at him.
"I don't want to tell you."
His anger did not disappear.
But he lowered the rifle slightly.
"Then don't."
She blinked.
"I need to know you're safe."
"I am."
"You are now."
His eyes moved toward the door.
"But he's outside."
Clara swallowed.
"Yes."
Gideon stepped closer.
"Then listen to me."
She looked up.
"You came here as my wife."
She nodded.
"You don't owe me anything beyond what you choose to give."
Her eyes filled.
"But you do not have to face him alone."
A tear slipped down her cheek.
She quickly wiped it away.
Gideon saw it.
His expression softened.
"Stay behind me."
"What are you going to do?"
"Talk."
"He's dangerous."
"So am I."
She almost laughed despite herself.
"You really are."
He looked at the door.
Then he called out.
"Everett Hale."
Silence.
Gideon continued.
"You have five seconds to step away from my door."
Everett laughed.
"Your door?"
"Four."
"Clara doesn't belong to you."
"Three."
"She'll come with me."
"Two."
"She loves me."
"One."
The dogs snarled.
Gideon raised his voice.
"You leave this mountain before dawn."
Everett laughed again.
"Or what?"
Gideon opened the rifle's action.
The click echoed through the cabin.
"Or you'll find out."
Silence.
Then footsteps.
They moved away.
Clara stood frozen.
Gideon waited.
One minute.
Two.
Three.
He did not lower the rifle.
Finally he moved to the window.
He lifted the curtain slightly.
The storm made visibility nearly impossible.
But he saw movement.
A shadow.
Then another.
He lowered the curtain.
"There are two men."
Clara's face went white.
"Two?"
"Yes."
"Who is the other?"
"I don't know."
She sat heavily on the edge of the bed.
Gideon crouched in front of her.
"Clara."
She looked at him.
"Did you know he would follow you?"