Women discussed recipes, crops, and the endless difficulties of keeping frontier households supplied.
Lara supervised the kitchen but allowed her employees to handle most of the cooking.
She was learning to trust people with the work she once believed she had to do alone.
Elias found her near the river just before sunset.
She was standing beneath a pine tree, watching the guests.
He approached quietly.
“Escaping your own party?”
She smiled.
“Only for a moment.”
He stood beside her.
The river moved steadily past them.
For a while neither spoke.
Then Lara said, “Do you remember what Caleb said at the station?”
Elias's expression tightened.
“Unfortunately.”
“He said I was big enough to pull your plow.”
Elias frowned.
“I wish you'd forgotten that.”
“I haven't.”
She looked toward the distant tables.
“But it doesn't hurt the way it used to.”
He took her hand.
“Good.”
She smiled.
“Because he thought he was sending you someone useless.”
Elias shook his head.
“He sent me the woman who saved my ranch.”
Lara looked at him.
“You saved it too.”
He nodded.
“We did.”
She leaned against him.
“That sounds better.”
“Yes, ma'am.”
They watched the sun fall behind the hills.
Then Lara noticed something.
A wagon approaching along the south road.
Dark green.
Expensive.
Pulled by two strong horses.
She straightened.
Elias followed her gaze.
His face hardened.
Caleb Ryland.
The former cattle baron had not visited Whispering Pines since losing the legal dispute.
Rumors suggested his business had weakened badly.
Several partners withdrew.
Creditors demanded repayment.
Two land purchases failed.
And some of the ranchers he had once intimidated began doing business elsewhere.
He was no longer the most powerful man in the district.
But he remained proud.
And dangerous in the way desperate men sometimes become.
The wagon stopped near the gathering.
Conversation quieted.
Caleb climbed down.
His coat was still expensive, but the man inside it looked thinner.
He noticed the crowd.
Then the kitchen sign.
Then Lara standing beside Elias.
His mouth tightened.
Elias stepped forward.
“What do you want?”
Caleb looked at him.
“I came to talk.”
“About?”
“The river.”
Elias laughed coldly.
“Of course.”
Caleb raised a hand.
“Not another purchase.”
“Then what?”
The cattleman hesitated.
“I need access.”
Elias stared.
“What?”
“My southern wells are failing.”
Several nearby ranchers began listening.
Caleb continued.
“The water table dropped again. The cattle need another source before August.”
Elias crossed his arms.
“You have land upstream.”
“Not enough.”
“And you came here?”