She still said no.
“You help most by staying here and keeping Samuel calm.”
Clara’s eyes filled.
“That isn't fair.”
“No.”
“It isn't.”
That surprised her.
Emily touched her shoulder.
“But fair is not same as safe.”
Clara looked away.
Then nodded.
Emily climbed onto sled.
The storm erased road.
Snow struck her face like sand.
The ranch hand shouted directions.
They reached Daniel near dusk.
He was sitting against a pine, pale with pain.
His left leg lay awkwardly.
Tom had wrapped it.
Emily jumped from sled.
Daniel looked at her.
“What are you doing here?”
“Lovely to see you too.”
“You shouldn't be out.”
“You are sitting under a tree in a blizzard.”
“I noticed.”
She crouched.
“Can you feel your foot?”
“Yes.”
“Move toes.”
He did.
Relief.
“Probably not broken badly.”
Tom said.
“Maybe knee.”
Emily looked at Daniel.
“You're going to hate next part.”
“What?”
“We're putting you on sled.”
“I can stand.”
He tried.
Nearly collapsed.
Emily caught his shoulder.
“No.”
Daniel swore.
“Very romantic.”
she said.
He laughed despite pain.
They got him home.
Doctor arrived the next day.
Severe sprain.
Possible small fracture.
Six weeks with minimal weight.
Daniel stared at doctor like sentenced to prison.
After he left, Emily placed crutches against wall.
“No.”
Daniel said.
“Yes.”
“I have cattle.”
“You have hired men.”
“I have work.”
“You have a leg.”
“Emily.”
She leaned down.
“You told me on our wedding night I owed you nothing because preacher said wife.”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
“Then I am not obeying you because you say husband.”
Daniel stared.
From doorway, Clara laughed.
Daniel looked betrayed.
“You're supposed to be on my side.”
Clara smiled.
“I like hers.”
That became the first week Emily truly ran the ranch.
Not alone.
Never alone.
Tom and Ben handled livestock.
Mrs. Lawson helped with meals.
Daniel advised from chair until Emily threatened to hide the ledgers.
But decisions came through her.
Feed deliveries.
Repairs.
Missing cattle.
Three cows returned on their own.
Thirty-seven remained gone.
Then Tom found tracks leading deliberately toward Bell grazing land.
Daniel wanted sheriff.