He said.
“Durable.”
They laughed.
Courtship lasted eighteen months.
Town grew impatient.
Women asked.
“When wedding?”
The woman said:
“When I decide.”
Men asked cowboy:
“You waiting forever?”
He answered:
“If she asks.”
Some laughed.
He did not.
One autumn evening, they sat beside repaired shed.
The cowboy said:
“I want to marry you.”
The woman looked at sunset.
“I know.”
“That feels unfair.”
“You’re obvious.”
“Then what are you waiting for?”
He regretted immediately.
She turned.
His hands rose.
“Bad question.”
“Yes.”
He corrected.
“What do you need before you can decide?”
Better.
She thought.
“Proof I can still be myself after.”
“What does that mean?”
“My land stays mine.”
“Yes.”
“My money.”
“Yes.”
“I don’t become your cook because wife.”
“Yes.”
“You don’t become my hired hand because husband.”
He smiled.
“Yes.”
“If you take work away, you tell me where.”
“Yes.”
“If danger—”
“I tell.”
“Yes.”
“And if we someday hate each other?”
The cowboy flinched.
She continued.
“We should say.”
“Not stay from debt.”
He was quiet.
“That’s frightening.”
“Yes.”
“Still true.”
He nodded.
“Yes.”
She looked at him.
“I’m waiting until marriage feels like adding something, not surrendering something.”
He let out slow breath.
“That may be most romantic thing you’ve said.”
“It wasn’t.”
“I know.”
Months passed.
Then one winter morning, she woke before dawn.
The cowboy was asleep by hearth after late return from surveying.
She watched.
For first time, she did not think:
Someone needs me.
She thought:
I want him here tomorrow.
That was difference.
At breakfast she said:
“Ask again.”
He froze.
“What?”
“Ask.”
He stared.
Then stood too fast and hit knee on table.
She laughed.
He cursed.
Then limped around table.
No kneeling.
“You’ve seen what happens when I move quickly.”
She smiled.
He took her hand.
“Will you marry me?”
“Yes.”
His eyes filled.
She added:
“After spring thaw.”
He laughed.
“Of course.”
The wedding was small.
The brother’s letter stayed tucked inside her dress, folded near heart.
Not for permission.
For company.
The cowboy wore dark coat.