But something had shifted.
Not healed.
Opened.
Perhaps that was enough for one day.
Margaret Boone left that afternoon after tea.
Mr. Lyle returned to Cheyenne with the satisfied note.
Samuel celebrated by opening a bottle Gideon had apparently hidden from everyone.
Mrs. Bell made beef stew.
The ranch hands discovered the debt had been paid and pretended not to know Abigail had done most of the arithmetic.
After dinner, Gideon found Abigail alone in the tack room.
She stood beside the emerald saddle.
Eleanor's letter lay on a bench.
Gideon entered quietly.
“Want company?”
“Yes.”
He came beside her.
Not touching.
After a while Abigail said:
“You knew nothing about my mother’s order.”
“No.”
“And still designed almost the same thing.”
“Yes.”
“That's unsettling.”
“Extremely.”
She looked at him.
“Why emerald?”
“You wore green at the livestock exhibition.”
Abigail stared.
“You remember what I wore three years ago?”
Gideon looked uncomfortable.
“Apparently.”
She smiled slowly.
“Oh.”
“What?”
“You liked me.”
He frowned.
“I married you.”
“No.”
“Before.”
She stepped closer.
“You liked me.”
“I was interested.”
“That's a coward's word.”
Gideon sighed.
“Yes.”
Abigail smiled.
“How much?”
“Do we need measurement?”
“Yes.”
He looked at her.
“A great deal.”
Her smile softened.
“Why?”
He thought.
“Because you were the only person near that panicked mare who stopped trying to prove you weren't afraid.”
Abigail frowned.
“I was terrified.”
“I know.”
“You could see?”
“Yes.”
“You were still afraid.”
“And you moved carefully anyway.”
Gideon touched the saddle.
“I thought that was the bravest thing I'd seen all summer.”
Abigail stared.
Nobody had ever described her that way.
Brave.
Not beautiful.
Not large.
Not difficult.
Not surprisingly competent.
Brave.
She looked down.
Gideon added:
“And you were beautiful.”
She laughed through tears.
“There.”
“I knew vanity would return.”
“Healthy balance.”
Abigail touched his shirt.
“What about the money?”
“What?”
“My father’s dowry.”
“Still yours.”
“Twenty-five thousand dollars.”
“Yes.”
“What should I do with it?”
Gideon shrugged.
“Anything.”
“Buy half your ranch?”
He stared.
Abigail smiled.
“I'm serious.”
“No.”
Her smile vanished.
“Why not?”
“Because you shouldn't need to buy what I already consider yours.”
She stared.
Gideon continued.
“But if you want legal ownership, we'll have a lawyer draw papers tomorrow.”
“That was easier than expected.”
“You think I want to explain to you why your work is valuable?”
“Good answer.”
She stepped into him.
His hands settled at her waist.
Abigail looked toward the saddle.