He said:
“And I would like to court you in daylight, while conscious.”
She smiled.
Then:
“Yes.”
His face changed.
Not triumphant.
Relieved.
“Yes?”
“Yes.”
“You’re certain?”
“No.”
He laughed.
“That seems honest.”
“It’s a yes to courting.”
“Nothing else.”
“Understood.”
“And you sleep in barn when we return.”
His eyebrows rose.
“I nearly died in your bed.”
“You’ve become healthier.”
“Cruel.”
“Still courting?”
“Yes.”
“Then start by carrying my trunk.”
He looked at heavy trunk.
“Perhaps I spoke too soon.”
She laughed.
He carried.
The investigation reached Helena.
Federal land office confirmed dozens of altered filings.
The cattle syndicate had bribed clerks.
Not all leadership knew.
One partner orchestrated.
The foreman had enforced.
Her brother’s evidence became central.
The spring parcel’s title was affirmed in the woman’s name.
More importantly, several families recovered land or received compensation.
The deputy lost office and served prison time for bribery and falsification.
The foreman was charged with her brother’s murder after the cowboy testified and a former ranch hand corroborated.
The case was not simple.
No photograph.
No modern forensics.
But witness accounts, threats, letters, and ledger built.
The foreman claimed self-defense.
Jury rejected.
He was convicted of manslaughter rather than murder, due uncertainties.
The woman hated that.
Then accepted law had limits.
Her brother remained dead either way.
The cattle company dissolved some holdings.
A new railroad survey eventually came.
The woman could have sold spring parcel for more money than she imagined.
She refused first offer.
Second.
Third.
The cowboy did not advise unless asked.
That mattered.
Finally she negotiated easement, not sale.
Railroad got water access under strict terms.
She kept land.
The payment changed her life.
Not into city heiress.
Enough to repair barn, hire seasonal hand, reduce debt, and install better well pump.
Town people suddenly found her interesting.
She hated that.
Men who had ignored her smiled more.
One widower hinted marriage.
She stared until he retreated.
The cowboy found it amusing.
“Jealous?”
She asked.
“No.”
“Why?”
“He looks afraid of you.”
“He should.”
The cowboy began work helping federal survey teams identify fraudulent claims.
He traveled some weeks.
He wrote.
Terrible spelling.
Honest letters.
Saw elk today. Thought you’d say I should have brought meat.
She wrote back:
You should have.
He returned with venison.
Courtship continued.
No rush.
No dramatic possession.
He repaired porch because she asked.
She baked because she wanted.
He cooked sometimes.
Badly.
The first stew he made could have repaired wagon axles.
She ate half bowl.
He asked:
“Good?”
She said:
“No.”
He laughed.