One afternoon, a wagon arrived carrying six hungry travelers.
Among them was a woman from Deadwood.
The same woman who had laughed outside the mercantile when Lara arrived.
She stood awkwardly in the doorway.
Lara recognized her immediately.
The woman lowered her eyes.
“I heard you were serving meals.”
“We are.”
“I wondered whether there was enough for us.”
Lara studied her.
Then stepped aside.
“Come in. It's cold.”
The woman looked surprised.
“You remember me, don't you?”
“Yes.”
Her cheeks reddened.
“I behaved terribly.”
Lara said nothing.
The woman continued.
“I laughed that day.”
“I remember.”
“I've regretted it.”
Lara looked toward the steaming pot.
“Have you?”
“Yes.”
There was a long silence.
Then Lara nodded.
“There's stew on the stove. Six places at the table.”
The woman blinked.
“You're letting us eat?”
Lara met her eyes.
“I'm feeding customers. I'm not pretending nothing happened.”
The woman swallowed.
“Thank you.”
Lara returned to the stove.
She did not need revenge to prove she had dignity.
She had spent too many years begging for acceptance.
Now she could decide how to offer kindness without surrendering self-respect.
By the end of February, the kitchen income covered most of the ranch's household expenses.
By March, it contributed toward feed and wages.
Elias secured limited water-access agreements with neighboring ranchers.
The additional income gave Whispering Pines time to recover.
Caleb Ryland heard the news.
He was furious.
The woman he had sent to ruin Elias was helping save the property he coveted.
He had expected hunger.
He found prosperity.
He had expected humiliation.
He found respect.
And he had expected Elias to reject Lara.
Instead, the rancher was falling in love with her.
Caleb decided the time for small tricks was over.
Chapter 10: The Man Who Tried to Buy a Marriage
Thomas Higgins arrived in Deadwood in early April.
Lara did not know he was coming.
She was preparing bread when a wagon stopped outside.
A man stepped down wearing a fine traveling coat.
He carried a leather suitcase.
His hair was neatly combed.
His boots were polished.
For one terrible moment, Lara felt seventeen again.
Her older brother stood in the yard.
Thomas looked toward the farmhouse.
Then toward her.
His expression changed.
“Lara.”
She froze.
He smiled.
“There you are.”
Elias stepped out of the barn.
His expression hardened immediately.
“Who are you?”
Thomas extended a hand.
“Thomas Higgins.”
Elias did not take it.