Vane owned cattle.
Stores.
Warehouses.
Land.
And enough men to make problems disappear.
Nathan took the wounded attacker to Sheriff Amos Reed.
The sheriff listened.
Then looked toward the floor.
“He says Vane ordered it.”
“Then arrest him.”
Sheriff Reed sighed.
“You know it doesn't work that way.”
Nathan leaned forward.
“Why?”
The sheriff lowered his voice.
“Because Vane owns half this town.”
“And the other half?”
“Afraid of him.”
Nathan stared at him.
“You're the sheriff.”
“I have children.”
Nathan understood.
Fear had purchased silence.
Outside the office, Iona waited.
“What did he say?”
“He won't help.”
“Then we leave.”
“Where?”
“Anywhere.”
“They'll follow.”
“Then we keep moving.”
Nathan looked at her.
“I don't want to run.”
“Do you have another plan?”
Nathan hesitated.
“Yes.”
“What?”
“Marriage.”
Iona stared at him.
“You want to marry me?”
“No.”
She blinked.
Nathan sighed.
“That came out badly.”
“It certainly did.”
He explained.
A legal marriage would change her status.
Vane could no longer easily claim she was simply a prisoner or someone under Nathan's temporary protection.
But Nathan made one thing clear.
“You don't owe me anything.”
Iona crossed her arms.
“You are asking me to marry you for protection.”
“Yes.”
“That sounds like another transaction.”
“No.”
“What is it?”
“A choice.”
She looked away.
“Do you love me?”
Nathan froze.
“No.”
The answer hurt both of them.
“But I care about you,” he continued. “More than I know how to explain.”
She looked back.
“And if I say no?”
“You walk away.”
“And if I say yes?”
“I give you my name.”
Iona was silent.
Then she asked:
“Do you understand what that means?”
“No.”
She smiled sadly.
“That may be the most honest answer you've ever given me.”
The Wedding
They married two days later.
There was no celebration.
No music.
No large crowd.
Only a preacher, two witnesses, and the dry wind moving through the church windows.
Nathan wore his best coat.
Iona wore a simple blue dress.
She had borrowed it from the preacher's wife.
When the preacher asked whether she accepted Nathan Cole as her husband, Iona looked at him.
Nathan did not pressure her.
He simply waited.
“Yes,” she said.
Nathan answered quietly.
“Yes.”
The preacher pronounced them husband and wife.
Outside, Dry Creek immediately began to talk.
Some called Iona Nathan's purchased wife.
Others said Nathan had lost his mind.
Nathan ignored them.
So did Iona.
On the ride home, neither spoke.
At the ranch, Iona dismounted.
“Nathan?”
“Yes?”
“I said yes to the marriage.”
“I know.”
“But I did not say I love you.”
Nathan looked at her.
“I know.”
She smiled.
“Good.”
Then she walked inside.
Nathan remained in the yard.
He looked at the ring on his finger.
For years he had been afraid of losing people.
Now he was afraid of losing someone he had never intended to keep.
That was far more dangerous.
Learning to Be Husband and Wife
Marriage did not make them comfortable.
It made them honest.
They argued about money.
They argued about horses.
They argued about whether Nathan worked too hard.
“You cannot keep repairing fences in the rain.”
“The fence needs repairing.”
“You need rest.”
“I rested last winter.”
“You slept.”
“Same thing.”
“No.”
She won.
Nathan never admitted it.
They also laughed.
Sometimes unexpectedly.
Iona discovered Nathan could not dance.
Nathan discovered Iona sang when she worked.
Neither told the other.
One evening, a storm approached.
Iona stood outside watching the clouds.
Nathan came beside her.
“You smell rain?”
“Yes.”
“How much?”
“Enough to make the river rise.”
Nathan looked west.
“I'll move the cattle.”
“I'll help.”
“You're my wife.”
“I know.”
“You don't have to work.”
She looked at him.
“I know.”
Then she walked toward the corral.
Nathan smiled.
He finally understood.
Iona did not want protection that turned into imprisonment.
She wanted partnership.
And Nathan wanted the same thing.
The Storm
The storm arrived after midnight.
Lightning struck the old barn.
Fire climbed the roof.
Nathan woke to Iona shouting his name.
He ran outside.
The barn was already burning.
“Get to the creek!”
“I can help!”
“No!”
She ignored him.
Together they fought the fire.
Rain finally came.
The flames weakened.
The barn survived, but part of the roof collapsed.
Nathan fell against the fence.
Iona rushed toward him.
“You're hurt.”
“Just tired.”
Blood ran down his forehead.
She touched his face.
“You're bleeding.”
“So are you.”
She touched her cheek.
A small cut.
They both laughed.
Then Iona became serious.
“I was afraid.”
“Of the fire?”
“No.”
She took his hand.
“Of losing you.”
Nathan stared at her.
“Iona.”
“I know what you said before.”
He swallowed.
“I was wrong.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I was afraid love meant giving someone the power to destroy you.”