"No."
Her voice became firm.
"Inside. Now."
For a moment, he stared at her.
Then obeyed.
Eleanor settled him beside the fire.
Helped him remove his frozen gloves.
And brought warm water and dry cloths while watching carefully for signs that he needed urgent medical attention.
Jonah looked embarrassed.
"Mr. Boone won't be pleased if I don't come back."
Eleanor crouched beside him.
"Your employer would be much less pleased if you collapsed halfway across the pasture."
The young man considered that.
Then nodded slowly.
She brought him coffee and food.
Once his hands were working more normally, she asked what the other men needed.
He described the damaged fence, the frightened cattle, and the route Silas was attempting to use.
Eleanor listened.
Then she walked toward the storage room.
There, hanging beside several tools, were two spare lengths of heavy rope.
She examined them.
Then returned.
"Could Owen use another team and the small sled?"
Jonah looked surprised.
"Probably."
She nodded.
"Then we'll prepare them."
He began standing.
She raised one hand.
"You remain here until you're warm enough to work safely."
Jonah hesitated.
Then sat again.
Eleanor went toward the back door.
She knew where the sled was stored.
Knew which horses were accustomed to pulling it.
And knew enough to understand that she shouldn't try guiding an animal through a blizzard alone.
So she found the two workers who had remained near the main barn and explained the situation.
Together, they prepared the sled with rope, blankets, and additional supplies.
By the time Jonah was fit to help, everything was ready.
Eleanor watched the men leave.
Then returned to the kitchen.
She had not rescued the cattle herself.
Hadn't ridden recklessly into the storm.
Hadn't pretended to know more than the experienced ranch hands.
She had done something quieter.
Listened.
Organized.
Recognized what needed preparing.
And helped people work without sacrificing their safety.
For the first time, she understood that being Silas Boone's partner didn't mean copying everything he did.
It meant bringing her own strengths to the work.
Silas returned shortly before sunset.
His coat was covered with ice.
One sleeve had torn.
And a purple bruise spread along his jaw where a frightened steer had struck him with its head.
But he was walking.
Eleanor rushed toward him.
"Silas!"
He looked up.
The exhaustion in his face softened when he saw her.
"Hello, wife."
She almost cried