"He did."
"Did he deny being Everett Bowman?"
"No."
Abigail made another note.
Ruth leaned forward.
"What happens now?"
The attorney set down her pen.
"First, we preserve what we know. Then we obtain independent confirmation of his identity and the false death record."
Gideon folded his arms.
"And the marriage?"
Abigail looked toward Lydia.
"That question cannot be resolved merely because Mr. Bowman announced himself on the street."
Lydia nodded.
Abigail continued.
"We need to establish the prior marriage, the circumstances of the supposed death, and the legal options available. I will not promise a simple process."
Lydia stared at her hands.
"What if he tries to force me back to St. Louis?"
Abigail's expression softened.
"Lydia, a marriage does not give a man unlimited authority to seize another adult person and carry her across the country."
Tears filled Lydia's eyes.
"He used to say I belonged to him."
Abigail leaned forward.
"That was not a statement of your worth."
Lydia looked up.
The attorney continued.
"And it is not a substitute for law."
For several moments, Lydia said nothing.
Then she took a deep breath.
"I want to file whatever petition is necessary."
Abigail nodded.
"Good."
"I want the truth of his supposed death examined."
"Yes."
"And I want to remain in Wyoming."
Gideon looked toward her.
Abigail smiled faintly.
"Then we'll proceed with those goals clearly stated."
Lydia's hands trembled.
She placed them flat on the desk.
"And I want to earn my own living while we do it."
For the first time that afternoon, Abigail smiled broadly.
"Mrs. Bowman, I think we can arrange that."
The next several weeks tested Lydia in ways she had not expected.
Everett did not immediately become violent.
He became respectable.
He attended church in Calder's Crossing.
He shook hands with merchants.
He spoke politely to the county clerk.
He introduced himself as Edward Vane to anyone unfamiliar with his past.
And when questioned about Lydia, he described her as a confused woman who had suffered a difficult period following an unfortunate business catastrophe.
He implied that Gideon had taken advantage of her grief.
He suggested that her remarriage was improper.
And he portrayed himself as a concerned husband attempting to resolve a delicate family matter.
The performance was familiar.
Lydia had watched him conduct similar campaigns in St. Louis.
Everett rarely began by threatening someone publicly.
He preferred to make the person seem unreliable.
Then, when they protested, their anger appeared to confirm his account.
Lydia understood the strategy.
But understanding it did not make it easy to endure.
One afternoon, she entered the general store to collect fabric.
Two women were standing near the counter.
They stopped speaking when she approached.
One looked at her body.
Then whispered something to the other.
Both glanced toward Lydia's wedding ring.
Lydia felt her cheeks burn.
She wanted to leave.
Instead, she approached the counter.
"Good afternoon."
The storekeeper's wife smiled.
"Mrs. Bowman."
Lydia nodded.
"I've come for the blue wool."
"Of course."
The woman reached beneath the counter.
Then lowered her voice.
"Don't trouble yourself about what people are saying."
Lydia went still.
The woman continued.