Eleanor laughed.
"Is it the first?"
Silas hesitated.
"Possibly."
She shook her head affectionately.
Then stood.
She reached beneath the tree and brought out a small package wrapped in brown paper.
Silas looked surprised.
"What's that?"
"A present."
"For me?"
She raised one eyebrow.
"No, Silas. For the stove."
He laughed.
Then accepted it.
Inside was a leather-bound ledger.
Not one of the inexpensive books used for everyday accounts.
A well-made volume with sturdy pages, reinforced binding, and his initials carefully pressed onto the cover.
Silas stared.
For a moment, he seemed uncertain.
Then he opened it.
On the first page, Eleanor had written:
For the work we have built, and the work we have yet to do.
Eleanor.
He looked toward her.
His throat tightened.
"Where did you get this?"
"I asked Mr. Wilkes at the general store to order it."
He examined the cover.
Then the carefully written words.
For several seconds, he couldn't speak.
Eleanor became nervous.
"If it's too grand for cattle accountsβ"
"No."
He shook his head.
"It's perfect."
She smiled.
Silas closed the book.
Then reached toward her hand.
"Thank you."
Eleanor nodded.
He looked toward the tree.
"Well, I've got something too."
She brightened.
"You do?"
Silas seemed embarrassed.
He crossed the room.
Removed a narrow wooden box from behind the mantel.
Then handed it over.
Eleanor opened it.
Inside lay a silver brooch shaped like a small wildflower.
It wasn't expensive.
But the workmanship was delicate, and a tiny pale stone had been set at its center.
Eleanor stared.
Silas cleared his throat.
"There's a jeweler in Cheyenne."
She looked up.
"I see."
He shifted awkwardly.
"Told him I needed something simple."
She smiled.
"And?"
Silas looked almost uncomfortable.