"And someone independent to verify them."
"Can you find that?"
"Possibly. But I want Lydia present when we discuss the records. She may understand the financial entries better than either of us."
Gideon looked surprised.
Abigail raised an eyebrow.
"She kept the copies, didn't she?"
"Yes."
"Then she's not merely a witness to someone else's story."
Gideon smiled slowly.
"No."
He looked toward the journal.
"She certainly isn't."
Before leaving town, Gideon visited the county clerk.
He obtained copies of his marriage record.
Then purchased paper, envelopes, ink, and a small locking box from the general store.
He also withdrew part of his savings from the local bank.
At the bank counter, the clerk looked surprised.
"Large withdrawal, Gideon."
He nodded.
"Need it."
"Buying supplies?"
"Something like that."
He placed the money inside an envelope.
Then wrote Lydia's name across it.
The clerk watched him.
"Your new wife?"
"Yes."
He smiled.
"Congratulations."
Gideon looked down at the envelope.
For a moment, the word wife hurt.
Because he did not know whether the law would allow him to keep using it.
Then he remembered what Abigail had said.
What does she want?
He placed the envelope inside his coat.
And went home.
Lydia was reading beside the stove when Gideon returned.
Fern lifted her head first.
Then Flint.
Lydia looked toward the door.
The mountain man stepped inside carrying a leather satchel.
Snow clung to his boots.
His beard was damp from the cold.
She stood immediately.
"You're home."
Gideon stopped.
For a moment, he seemed struck by the words.
Home.
He had returned to the same cabin thousands of times.
But nobody had ever greeted him with those words in that particular voice.
Lydia looked concerned.
"Is everything all right?"
He nodded.
"Yes."
He set down the satchel.
Ruth emerged from the pantry carrying a jar of preserved peaches.
"About time."
Gideon smiled.
"Good to see you too."
Ruth looked toward Lydia.
"She's been worried."
Lydia blushed.
"Ruth."
The older woman ignored her.
"And I expect you'll tell her what the lawyer said."
"I will."
Ruth nodded.
"Good."
She gathered her cloak.
Then turned toward Lydia.
"I'll come back when the weather allows."
Lydia hugged her.
"Thank you."
Ruth smiled.
"You're welcome."
Then she left.
Gideon watched her wagon disappear before returning to the table.
He placed the papers in front of Lydia.
"Miss Mercer says we need to establish the truth before anybody decides what the marriage papers mean."