“You admit?”
“I’m evolving.”
She smiled.
Jonah looked at mountains.
“Bank examiner believes Crowell fled toward Canada.”
“Good.”
“You don’t mean.”
“No.”
“I wanted him standing in courtroom.”
“So did I.”
Silence.
Then Jonah asked:
“What happens to ranch if stay holds?”
“I keep.”
“Mortgage discharged?”
“Clara says likely.”
“And stolen payments?”
“Bank receivers may reimburse.”
He nodded.
Evelyn looked at him.
“What happens to you?”
He was quiet.
“After hand heals?”
“Wherever work.”
Something cold touched her.
“You came for Samuel’s promise.”
“Yes.”
“Promise fulfilled.”
“Mostly.”
“So you leave.”
Jonah looked toward her.
“Unless there’s work.”
Evelyn’s heartbeat changed.
“I still cannot pay hired hand.”
His mouth twitched.
“I remember another position.”
Her face warmed.
“You are very bold for man who sleeps in my barn.”
“Half barn.”
She laughed.
Then became serious.
“Jonah.”
“Yes?”
“I proposed because I was afraid.”
“I know.”
“I don't want answer to that proposal.”
He looked down.
“All right.”
“I mean…”
She took breath.
“I don't want marriage because bank.”
He met her eyes.
“Neither do I.”
“Or because ranch needs man.”
“It doesn’t.”
That mattered.
She asked:
“Do you think I need one?”
“No.”
“Then why stay?”
Jonah looked at her as if answer was obvious.
“Because I want to.”
Evelyn’s throat tightened.
He continued:
“You are terrifying.”
She blinked.
“Excuse me?”
“Beautiful.”
“Stubborn.”
“Better at numbers than anyone I know.”
“Mean with splints.”
“And you laugh like you haven't decided whether joy is allowed.”
Evelyn could not speak.
Jonah looked embarrassed now.
Good.
She whispered:
“That was almost romantic.”
“I’ve had practice in jail.”
She laughed and leaned her shoulder against his.
Not a kiss.
Not yet.
Enough.
Crowell was found eleven days later near Fort Benton.
He had not burned barn.
At least evidence never proved.
A hired man named Mercer confessed setting fire after being paid fifty dollars by an intermediary connected to Crowell’s development company.
Crowell denied.
The territorial case became larger than Hart Ranch.
Auditors found six mortgages with payments diverted.
Three widows.
Two immigrant families.
One elderly ranch couple.
Crowell had used foreclosures to acquire water and timber parcels cheaply.
Hart Ranch was not first.
Only one that fought before auction.
Jonah testified.
So did Evelyn.
So did Clara.
The missing page 115 was found inside Crowell’s locked cabinet.
Samuel Hart’s payment sat there.