He was tall, well dressed, and smiling.
“Cole.”
Elias's expression hardened.
“Barrett.”
Nathan looked at Naelli.
“And this must be the bride.”
Naelli nodded.
“Naelli Cole.”
“Already using his name?”
“Soon.”
Nathan laughed.
“I heard you were desperate enough to marry a stranger.”
Elias took a step forward.
Naelli touched his arm.
He stopped.
She looked at Nathan.
“I heard you were desperate enough to buy land that isn't yours.”
Nathan's smile disappeared.
Elias looked at her.
Nathan stepped closer.
“You should be careful, Mrs. Cole.”
“I usually am.”
He stared at her.
Then he walked away.
Elias watched him disappear into the saloon.
“You shouldn't provoke him.”
Naelli looked at him.
“He provoked you.”
“I can handle Barrett.”
“I know.”
“Then why interfere?”
“Because I am not going to stand quietly while someone insults my husband.”
The word husband echoed in his mind.
They were not married yet.
But she had said it as though the decision had already been made.
Elias looked at her.
For some reason, his heart beat faster.
Five
Snow
Winter arrived early.
The first storm came in December.
By sunset, the road disappeared.
By midnight, snow had covered the fences.
The temperature dropped below zero.
Elias spent most of the night checking the cattle.
When he returned to the house, his coat was covered in ice.
Naelli was waiting by the stove.
“You're bleeding.”
He looked at his hand.
A cut ran across his palm.
“Fence.”
“Sit.”
“I have work.”
“You'll bleed on the floor.”
“I'll wash it.”
“Sit.”
Something in her voice made him obey.
She cleaned the wound.
Her hands were steady.
“You should be more careful,” she said.
“I usually am.”
“You're not.”
He looked at her.
She wrapped his hand.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then thunder shook the windows.
The lights went out.
Naelli looked toward the dark hallway.
“Is that normal?”
“Not the lights.”
She smiled.
“Good.”
They lit lamps.
The storm grew worse.
The house seemed tiny beneath the enormous sky.
Elias sat beside the stove.
Naelli brought him coffee.
“You should sleep.”
“So should you.”
“I'll sleep after you.”
“Why?”
“Because if the barn collapses, I need you awake enough to help.”
Elias smiled.
“That's your idea of romance?”
“I wasn't aware we had romance.”
He looked at her.
Neither spoke.
Then she laughed softly.
Elias realized he liked the sound.
More than he should.
The next morning, the storm had buried half the ranch.
A section of fence had collapsed.
Two calves were missing.
Elias saddled his horse.
Naelli came outside.
“You're not going alone.”
“Yes, I am.”
“No.”
“Naelli—”
“I know the eastern pasture.”
“You've been here six weeks.”
“I know it better than you think.”
He looked at her.
Then he handed her a coat.
“Stay behind me.”
She smiled.
“I wasn't planning to lead.”
They rode together.
For hours, they searched.
Near the creek, they found the calves trapped behind a fallen tree.
Naelli dismounted.
Elias grabbed her arm.
“Wait.”
“What?”
“There's thin ice.”
She looked down.
He stepped forward carefully.
The ice cracked.
He fell through up to his waist.
Naelli screamed.
“Elias!”
He grabbed the edge.
Naelli dropped to her knees and reached for him.
“Don't move.”
“I'm fine.”
“You're freezing.”
“Pull.”
She grabbed his wrist.
He pulled himself out.
Together they crawled toward solid ground.
Naelli's face was pale.
Elias looked at her.
“You all right?”
She nodded.
Then, unexpectedly, she slapped his shoulder.
“What was that for?”
“For frightening me.”
He almost smiled.
“You were worried?”
“Of course.”
“Why?”
She looked at him.
“Because you're my husband.”
He went quiet.
The storm wind moved around them.
Elias suddenly understood something.
He did not want to be rescued by her.
He wanted to come home to her.
The realization frightened him more than the ice.
Six
The Wedding
They married in January.
There were twenty-three people in the church.
The ceremony was simple.
No flowers.
No orchestra.
No expensive dress.
Naelli wore a cream-colored gown she had made herself.
Elias wore his best black coat.
When she walked toward him, he forgot how to breathe.
Not because she looked beautiful.
Though she did.
It was because she looked certain.
As though she knew exactly where she belonged.
The Reverend smiled.
“Elias Cole, do you take Naelli as your wife?”
“I do.”
“Naelli, do you take Elias as your husband?”
She looked at him.
“I do.”
Outside, snow began falling.
Inside, Elias held her hand.
Her fingers were cold.
He tightened his grip.
After the ceremony, the townspeople gathered at the ranch.
Someone brought a cake.
Someone else brought whiskey.
Elias's oldest friend, Samuel Pike, raised a glass.
“To Elias and his impossible wife.”
Naelli laughed.
“Impossible?”
Samuel nodded.
“She has already repaired half your life.”
Elias looked at her.
“I noticed.”
That evening, after everyone left, the house became quiet again.
Naelli stood by the window.
Elias entered the room.
“Are you tired?”
“Yes.”
“Regret it?”
She turned.
“No.”
“Neither do I.”
Silence.
They both knew the question that remained.
Elias stepped closer.
“I won't force anything.”
Naelli looked at him.
“I know.”
“I mean it.”
“I know.”
She reached for his hand.