“I can.”
“Your last one bounced.”
“That was accident.”
She laughed.
Reed’s heart worsened at sixty-four.
The physician used words neither wanted.
Limited time.
Maybe a year.
Audra refused to turn year into funeral.
They traveled.
Victoria.
Vancouver.
Even Seattle.
Reed had never left interior much.
At hotel, staff stared at Audra’s size.
One narrow chair.
She requested another.
No apology.
Young Audra would have shrunk.
This Audra made furniture problem.
Reed smiled.
“You've become terrifying.”
“I always was.”
“No.”
“You became.”
She looked at him.
“Because of you?”
He thought.
“Partly.”
“Because of yourself more.”
Correct answer.
They returned Blackwater for final winter.
Reed wanted.
Snow began early.
One night they sat by cook shack stove—the original building preserved beside lodge though now secondary kitchen.
Audra ran hand over butcher table.
Scarred.
Same place Boyd insulted her.
Reed held tin cup.
“Remember?”
“How could I forget?”
“You looked like you might stab him.”
“I considered.”
“I know.”
She stared.
“You know?”
“You moved knife away before turning.”
Reed smiled.
“That's when I knew you were dangerous.”
“Self-control?”
“Yes.”
Audra laughed.
Then quiet.
“Were you attracted to me then?”
Reed raised eyebrow.
“Before.”
“When?”
“Wagon.”
She stared.
“You looked disappointed.”
“I was calculating whether trunk would kill me.”
“Liar.”
He smiled.
“I thought you were beautiful.”
“Then why stare like equipment?”
“Because I was owner.”
“Men worked for me.”
“I didn't want them thinking I hired cook because pretty.”
Audra’s mouth opened.
“You idiot.”
“Yes.”
“You could simply behave normal.”
“I have never.”
True.
She leaned head on shoulder.
Reed said:
“I’m glad Boyd was cruel.”
Audra pulled away sharply.
“What?”
He corrected.
“No.”
“Wrong.”
“I’m not glad.”
“I mean…”
“That day forced me to show you where I stood.”
Audra’s face softened.
“Don't give cruelty credit for good response.”
Reed nodded.
“You’re right.”
“Boyd's cruelty was his.”
“Your choice was yours.”
“Yes.”
They had spent lifetime learning distinctions.
Reed died in February.
Quiet.
Heart stopped while sleeping beside Audra.
She woke because room felt wrong.
Touched him.