She instructed two men to warm the barn and prepare stalls.
She kept everyone moving.
Near midnight, the first riders returned.
Then more.
The cattle were exhausted but alive.
Two men suffered frostbite.
One had a broken wrist.
And Elias—
Elias was missing.
Lara stood in the doorway.
“Where is he?”
The men exchanged looks.
Finally one answered.
“He went back for the last calf.”
She stared.
“Alone?”
“He told us to get the others home.”
Lara grabbed a coat.
A ranch hand stepped forward.
“Miss Lara, you can't go out there.”
She looked at him.
“Then saddle a horse for someone who can.”
“There's no visibility.”
“Then take lanterns.”
The man hesitated.
Lara's voice became firm.
“Every minute matters. Stop arguing and move.”
They obeyed.
Within ten minutes, three riders were searching the northern trail.
Lara stood on the porch with a lantern.
Snow lashed her face.
She barely noticed.
She kept thinking about his promise.
I'll come home.
An hour passed.
Then another.
The fire burned low.
The coffee turned bitter.
Lara's hands became numb around the lantern handle.
At last, through the storm, she heard hoofbeats.
She stepped forward.
A horse emerged from the darkness.
Then another.
Then a third.
Elias rode between them.
Bent forward.
One arm wrapped around a small calf bundled beneath his coat.
Lara nearly collapsed with relief.
The men helped him down.
His lips were blue.
His fingers barely moved.
But he was alive.
She rushed toward him.
“Elias!”
He looked up.
A tired smile crossed his face.
“Promised I'd come home.”
Then his knees buckled.
Lara caught his shoulders with help from a ranch hand.
They carried him inside.
She removed his frozen gloves.
Wrapped his hands.
Prepared warm broth.
Kept him near the stove without exposing him to sudden excessive heat.
For hours she remained beside him.
When he finally opened his eyes, she was sitting in the chair with her head resting near the bed.
He watched her for a moment.
Then whispered, “Lara.”
She woke immediately.
“Elias?”
“I'm all right.”
She laughed through tears.
“You're a terrible liar.”
He smiled weakly.
She touched his cheek.
“You frightened me.”
His eyes softened.
“I know.”
“You could have died.”
“Yes.”
She shook her head.
“And for a calf.”
He looked at her.
“The calf had a mother waiting.”
Lara stared.
Then laughed helplessly.
“Of course it did.”
Elias lifted one hand.
Touched her cheek.
“And I had someone waiting too.”