“North half.”
Evelyn ran.
She did not remember reaching wagon.
Only road.
Smoke smell greeted her before house.
The barn roof had collapsed at one end.
Black timbers.
Mud.
Water.
Cattle alive in temporary pen.
House untouched.
Evelyn climbed from wagon and stood.
Two years of work.
Hay loft.
Tack.
Tools.
Gone.
For a moment she could not breathe.
Then an arm came around her shoulder.
Jonah.
She turned.
He stood beside her.
Still in sling.
Unshaven.
“How?”
“Sheriff released on examiner statement.”
She stared.
Then struck his chest with both palms.
Not hard.
Emotion.
“You were in jail.”
“Yes.”
“You’re here.”
“Yes.”
She hit him again.
He caught her wrists gently with left hand.
“Evelyn.”
Tears came.
“I can’t do this.”
His expression changed.
It was first time he had heard those words from her.
Not “I’m fine.”
Not “I can manage.”
“I can’t.”
Jonah moved carefully.
“Then don’t.”
She stared.
“What?”
“Not tonight.”
“You don’t have to save ranch tonight.”
“You don't have to rebuild barn tonight.”
“You don’t have to know next month.”
“Just stand here.”
Her face crumpled.
Jonah opened left arm.
Evelyn stepped into him.
Careful of injured right.
He held as best he could.
She cried against his dusty coat.
For father.
Barn.
Fear.
Money.
And maybe because someone finally told her strength could stop for one night without becoming weakness.
Jonah pressed cheek into her hair.
“I’m sorry.”
Evelyn whispered:
“Did Crowell do this?”
“I don’t know.”
“Don't promise.”
“I won’t.”
The next morning, neighbors arrived.
Not because Evelyn asked.
Gideon Webb.
Mrs. Bellamy.
Two ranch boys.
Blacksmith.
Even men who had laughed at her years earlier.
Some came from kindness.
Some because scandal.
Work still got done.
They cleared charred beams.
Raised temporary shelter.
Evelyn tried paying.
Nobody accepted first week.
Mrs. Bellamy said:
“You can be stubborn after roof.”
Evelyn cried again.
She hated becoming emotional in public.
Then decided she no longer cared.
Jonah worked one-handed.
Poorly.
Evelyn mocked.
He called her cruel.
Their rhythm returned.
At sunset on third rebuilding day, Evelyn found him sitting on porch.
His injured hand looked worse.
She sat.
“You need doctor.”
“Yes.”