Clara began crying.
Gabriel drew her close.
And the word settled into their lives.
Family.
Not because every legal question had been answered.
Not because the past had vanished.
Because two people had begun making a home together.
By March, the snow began melting in patches along the southern pasture.
Water ran beneath the ice.
The horses grew restless.
And the cattle began moving toward the places where green grass first appeared.
Clara's pregnancy had advanced.
She tired more easily.
Her feet sometimes swelled.
And the baby seemed particularly determined to become active whenever Gabriel tried reading beside the fire.
He found that endlessly amusing.
One evening, Clara was sitting in a rocking chair when the baby began kicking.
She laughed softly.
Gabriel looked up from his book.
"What?"
Clara smiled.
"Your little friend is awake."
Gabriel set the book aside.
Then approached.
He knelt beside her chair.
Rested one hand against her stomach.
And waited.
The baby kicked.
He grinned.
"Well, hello."
Clara laughed.
Another movement followed.
Gabriel looked delighted.
"That's a strong one."
She smiled.
"Perhaps it'll be a rancher."
He looked toward her.
For a moment, something gentle crossed his face.
"Perhaps."
Then he leaned closer.
And began speaking softly to the child.
He told the baby about Jasper.
About the horses.
About the mountains.
About the creek that ran through the southern pasture.
Clara listened with tears in her eyes.
Gabriel seemed embarrassed when he noticed.
"What?"
She shook her head.
"Nothing."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Clara."
She smiled.
"I like listening to you."
He looked toward the baby.
Then back at her.
For a moment, he seemed thoughtful.
Finally, he asked quietly, "Do you think the child will mind?"
Clara frowned.
"Mind what?"
He hesitated.
Then looked down.
"That I'm not the father by blood."
Her heart broke.
She reached toward his face.
"Gabriel."
He looked up.
She smiled through tears.
"This child will know who stayed."
For several seconds, he couldn't speak.
She continued.
"Who cared for me. Who made sure I ate. Who checked whether the baby was moving. Who spoke to my belly when he thought nobody was listening."
Gabriel's eyes filled.
Clara took his hand.
"Children need the truth. We'll never lie about where this child came from."