That evening Dawson arrived at the boardinghouse.
She met him outside.
“I need the letter.”
He knew immediately.
His sister’s letter.
He reached inside coat.
“I brought it last week.”
“Why didn’t you show me?”
“You said later.”
Lena stared.
That simple respect nearly undid her.
He handed it over.
Envelope postmarked four days before the Hail visit.
Addressed to his sister in Bozeman.
Dawson had retrieved it unopened after telling her why.
Lena read.
Mae,
I am going to the Hail ranch Sunday to ask Lena Hail whether she will allow me to court her. Before you begin laughing, yes, I know her father expects me to ask Eliza. That is his problem.
Lena’s mouth twitched.
She continued.
You asked once what I admired about Lena. I gave you poor answers because I did not want to admit how often I had thought about it.
She is kind without making kindness theatrical. She is strong without using strength to frighten people. She sees work before anyone asks. She laughs rarely enough that I’ve become greedy for the sound.
Lena stopped.
Dawson looked away.
She read on.
I do not know whether she likes me. Sometimes I believe she does. Other times I believe she merely tolerates me because I repair hinges.
She laughed.
Dawson smiled.
If she says no, I will survive it and behave like a gentleman even if it kills me. If she says yes to courtship, I intend to spend however long she requires proving I’m not asking because she keeps a better ranch than half the men I employ.
I’m asking because the thought of coming home to her feels more like home than my own house has in years.
Lena folded the paper slowly.
“When did you know about North Star?”
“After Harold said Vale.”
“Truly?”
“Yes.”
“You knew the ranch existed.”
“Yes.”
“You didn’t know I was connected.”
“No.”
She looked at him.
“What if I get nothing?”
He shrugged.
“Then your uncle remains richer than he deserves.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
“I know.”
He looked at her steadily.
“I still want you.”
“What if I get all of it?”
“Then you’ll be richer than you expected.”
“And?”
“And I’ll still want you.”
“What if I decide not to marry you?”
His face tightened.
“Then I’ll dislike it.”
“But I’ll survive.”
She nodded.
Something inside her settled.
Not completely.
Enough.
The court issued the injunction.
Harold could not sell or mortgage disputed acreage.
His cattle sale went forward only for animals proven part of original Hail stock.
That distinction required brand records.
Lena knew those records better than Harold.
For years she had kept them.
Margaret hired her to assist her own case.
The irony pleased everyone except Harold.
Then Evelyn arrived at Margaret’s office carrying another box.
Harold had ordered her not to.
She came anyway.
Inside were Samuel Vale’s journals.
Ruth’s recipe book.
A lock of infant hair tied with blue thread.
Lena sat at the table touching the ribbon.
Evelyn said:
“I should have given these years ago.”
“Yes.”
“I know.”
Eliza stood beside window.
Nobody protected Evelyn from consequences now.
Still, Lena looked at the woman who had raised her.
“You were twenty-four when I came?”
“Yes.”
“You had no children yet.”
“No.”
“Did you want me?”
Evelyn cried.
“Yes.”
“At first?”
“Yes.”