Matthew had not abandoned him.
Their attempts to reach each other had been deliberately obstructed.
When Gideon showed the letters to his brother, Matthew read them slowly.
Then looked up.
“I thought you didn't want me.”
Gideon's expression crumpled.
“Never.”
Matthew swallowed.
“Every time a letter came back, I thought maybe you believed I'd done something terrible.”
Gideon caught his hand.
“You were my little brother.”
Matthew's eyes filled.
Gideon continued.
“I would've come for you if I'd known where you were.”
For several seconds, they stared at each other.
Then Matthew nodded.
“I know that now.”
The brothers embraced.
And something that had been broken for ten years began healing.
Not instantly.
Not completely.
Matthew still struggled with nightmares and lingering difficulties from his injury.
Some memories remained uncertain.
He sometimes woke frightened, disoriented, or convinced he had to return to the timber camp before somebody came looking for him.
Gideon sometimes reacted too quickly whenever Matthew left the house.
He wanted to know where his brother was going.
When he'd return.
Whether he had enough food.
Whether the roads were safe.
At first, Matthew tolerated the attention.
Then one afternoon, he finally spoke.
“Gideon, I'm not nineteen anymore.”
The older man stopped.
Matthew stood beside the stable door.
His injured leg was stiff.
But his expression was firm.
“I know you lost me.”
Gideon swallowed.
Matthew continued.
“But you can't spend the rest of our lives trying to make sure I never walk out of your sight.”
For several seconds, Gideon remained silent.
Then nodded.
“You're right.”
Matthew looked surprised.
“Just like that?”
Gideon smiled sadly.
“Don't expect it every day.”
Matthew laughed.
Then stepped closer.
“I want my brother back.”
Gideon looked toward him.
“Not a guard.”
The older man's eyes filled.
Matthew continued.
“Not a man who blames himself every time something goes wrong.”
He placed one hand against Gideon's shoulder.
“Just my brother.”
Gideon nodded slowly.
“I'll try.”
Matthew smiled.
“That's all I'm asking.”
Over time, they found a new rhythm.
Matthew helped with the ranch accounts.
Gideon repaired equipment.
They argued about fences.
Laughed over childhood memories.
And slowly learned how to be brothers again as adults.
The years they'd lost remained part of their story.
But they no longer had to define every day that followed.
Meanwhile, Elias Rusk's standing in Cedar Hollow collapsed.