He looked again at the document. "How much did you pay?"
She told him. The sum was vast enough to make a wealthy merchant hesitate, though smaller than the face value of the debt. He was silent for so long that she feared she'd destroyed his trust. Then he shook his head slowly.
"You could have built another workshop with that money."
"I still have the workshop. I kept reserves to pay my workers. I didn't empty the business to impress anyone with a grand gesture." She reached toward him. "Listen, I have spent six years trying to become a woman whose choices are respected. Please respect this one, even if it frightens you."
He raised her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers. "I respect you. I just don't want a husband to become an obligation you purchased at a discount."
She laughed in spite of her tears. "You were considerably more difficult to acquire than the note."
His mouth twitched. "Was I?"
"I had to wait through two months of letters before you admitted you'd missed me. A good lender would never tolerate such poor communication."
He laughed, and the sound broke the tension enough for her to move closer. She rested a hand against his bare chest beneath the fur vest. His heart was beating quickly, and he looked at her with an expression more intimate than any declaration he'd made before the preacher.
"May I kiss you?" he asked.
She smiled through tears. "I was beginning to wonder whether you'd ask."
He leaned down carefully, and their first kiss as husband and wife was gentle, full of hesitation and relief. It lasted only a moment, but when they separated, the shame had loosened its grip on his face. He pressed his forehead against hers and whispered that he loved her. She told him she loved him too, then laughed when he asked whether she would give him a moment to learn what happiness felt like without being afraid it would vanish.
They stayed awake long past midnight, speaking honestly. He told her that he'd invited an attorney to the wedding because he expected to need help surrendering the ranch the next day. He'd hidden the notice because he couldn't bear to make