Porcelain struck saucer.
The sound made Lena flinch.
Dawson looked toward her again.
Her throat had tightened.
She wished he would stop.
Not because she disliked the words.
Because wanting them was dangerous.
She stepped one pace into the parlor.
“What did you say?”
Dawson’s entire expression softened.
“I came to ask whether you would allow me to court you with the intention of marriage.”
Eliza made a small sound that might have been disbelief.
Lena barely heard.
She stared at Dawson.
“Me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
It escaped before she could stop it.
A terrible question.
Too naked.
Too honest.
Why would you?
Every insult she had ever pretended not to hear lived inside those three words.
Dawson saw it.
He took one step toward her.
“Because I know who repaired the south stable gate after Harold’s foreman said it would have to wait until spring.”
Lena’s eyes flickered.
Dawson continued.
“I know who stayed awake all night with the Morgan calf when the veterinarian said it probably wouldn’t stand.”
He took another step.
“I know who noticed the creek rising two hours before anybody else during last year’s flood and got the lower pasture opened before the cattle were trapped.”
Lena looked toward Harold.
He said nothing.
Dawson’s gaze stayed on her.
“I know who actually keeps the Hail ranch books balanced.”
Harold stiffened.
“And I know who sent flour to the Wilson widow last January while pretending the sack had been damaged so she wouldn’t feel she owed you.”
Lena’s face heated.
“How do you know that?”
“Mrs. Wilson talks.”
Despite everything, Lena almost smiled.
Dawson came closer.
“I’ve watched you for three years.”
The room seemed to shrink.
“Not because I was searching for a wife.”
“I wasn’t.”
“But somewhere along the way, I started noticing whether you were at church.”
“I noticed when you laughed.”
“I noticed when you didn’t.”
“I noticed that you always stand near the kitchen door at gatherings, as though you expect someone to ask you to carry something.”
Lena’s fingers tightened around the dish towel.
Dawson’s voice became quieter.
“I noticed that everyone in this house depends on you so completely that they’ve mistaken dependence for permission to overlook you.”
Eliza’s eyes flashed.
“That is unfair.”
Dawson turned.
“I’m not trying to humiliate you.”
“You just rejected me in front of my family.”
“I never asked for you.”
Eliza’s face crumpled for one second before anger restored it.
Lena felt guilt immediately.
That too was automatic.
Someone else hurt, and Lena looked for what she should fix.
She stepped backward.
“This is a mistake.”
Dawson turned back.
“No.”
“You don’t need to say anything now.”
“I think I do.”
“You don’t.”
Her voice broke.
Dawson stopped advancing.
Good.
He understood boundaries even when emotions were high.
Lena swallowed.
“I need air.”
She started toward the side door.
Harold moved suddenly.
His hand closed around her wrist.
Hard.
“Stay.”
Lena froze.
Dawson’s expression changed instantly.
“Let her go.”
Harold ignored him.
“Lena, don’t make this worse.”
“Father.”
“Stay here.”
His fingers tightened.
Dawson crossed the space between them in two steps.