She did not yet call it love.
That word felt too dangerous.
But she began noticing things.
The way he remembered how she liked her coffee.
The way he brought a chair outside when she wanted to watch the horses.
The way he listened when she spoke rather than waiting for her to finish.
The way his eyes softened whenever she laughed.
And the way he never seemed embarrassed to be seen beside her.
One evening, they sat on the porch while the sun sank behind the mountains.
The woman wore her favorite brown dress.
The cowboy had brought out a wide wooden chair with a comfortable cushion.
A blanket rested across her knees.
The valley stretched before them in soft evening light.
The cowboy watched the horses grazing near the creek.
She watched him.
Finally, she asked, “Have you ever been married?”
He shook his head.
“No.”
“Why not?”
He considered the question.
“Never found the right woman.”
She smiled.
“That's what men say when they don't want to explain their romantic failures.”
He laughed.
“Maybe.”
She waited.
He leaned back.
“I came close once.”
Her expression changed.
“Oh?”
“A few years ago. A widow from a neighboring ranch.”
“What happened?”
“We were friends. Good friends. But we wanted different lives.”
“Did she want to leave Montana?”
“Yes.”
“And you couldn't?”
“I could have.”
“Then why didn't you?”
He watched the distant trees.
“Because I realized I was trying to convince myself that friendship was enough for marriage.”
The woman nodded.
“That's a kinder answer than most.”
He looked toward her.
“What about you?”
She smiled without humor.
“I've been proposed to several times.”
“Then there must have been a great many foolish men who let you go.”
She laughed.
“You haven't heard the stories.”
“I've heard enough to know the merchant was a fool.”
She turned away.
The memory still hurt.
The cowboy noticed.
“Sorry.”
“No. It's all right.”
She looked toward the fading sunlight.
“I thought he wanted me.”
The cowboy remained quiet.
She continued.
“He wrote such beautiful letters. He said he wanted a woman who could think for herself. He said appearance mattered less than honesty.”