Silas looked at Eleanor.
"You knew?"
"I knew your name only after you told me."
"But you knew mine."
"I didn't."
"You recognized Mercer."
"So did half the town."
The preacher looked between them.
"Perhaps we should discuss this in the morning."
"No," Eleanor said.
Her voice was quiet.
"But thank you."
Silas watched her turn toward the door.
"Wait."
She stopped.
Silas looked at Reverend Cole.
"Can you marry us?"
The preacher sighed.
"I suppose I can."
Twenty minutes later, the ceremony was over.
There were no flowers.
No music.
No family.
No celebration.
Only a small brass ring borrowed from the preacher's wife.
Silas made his promise.
Eleanor made hers.
Neither promised love.
Neither expected it.
They left before midnight.
The horses carried them north beneath a sky filled with stars.
For several hours, they rode without speaking.
Then Silas finally asked:
"Why did you agree?"
Eleanor looked ahead.
"Because I know what it means when children have nowhere to go."
Silas glanced at her.
"You have children?"
"No."
"Then what do you mean?"
She didn't answer.
The silence returned.
After another mile, she said:
"My father disappeared when I was twenty."
Silas's hands tightened around the reins.
"Amos Hart."
"Yes."
"You believe he was innocent?"
"I believe he wasn't the man people said he was."
"That's different."
"I know."
"What happened?"
"I spent six years trying to find out."
"Did you?"
"No."
She looked at the stars.
"But I found enough evidence to know someone wanted him blamed."
Silas didn't respond.
Eleanor turned toward him.
"You don't have to trust me."
"I don't."
"Good."
He looked at her.
She smiled faintly.
"At least we're honest."
They reached Mercer Ranch after sunset the next day.
The house was dark.
Too dark.
Silas jumped from his horse before it stopped moving.
"Anna!"
No answer.
"Thomas!"
The wind carried his voice across the yard.
Eleanor dismounted.
She noticed the barn door was open.
A horse whinnied.
Silas ran inside the house.
The kitchen was cold.
The fireplace had gone out.
A small wooden cup lay broken on the floor.
Then something moved.
A boy crawled from beneath the table.
"Uncle Silas?"
Silas dropped to his knees.
Thomas ran into his arms.
For the first time since Eleanor had met him, Silas broke.
He held the boy tightly.
"Where's Anna?"
The boy pointed toward the bedroom.
Anna emerged.
She was thin and pale.
But she didn't run to him.
She simply stared.
Silas opened his arms.
After several seconds, she crossed the room.
He held her too.
Eleanor watched.
Then she noticed something.
There were only two children.
"Where is Grace?"
Silas froze.
Anna began crying.
"She went looking for Mama."
"When?"
"This morning."
Silas turned toward the door.
Snow had begun falling.
"Why didn't you stop her?"
Anna cried harder.
"I tried."
Silas grabbed his coat.
Eleanor picked up a lantern.
"I'm coming."
"No."
"You'll need help."
"I said no."
"You have two children here."
He looked at her.
Then toward the snow.
Eleanor handed him the lantern.
"We're both going."
They followed tiny footprints into the darkness.
The tracks crossed the pasture.
Then the creek.
Then disappeared beneath fresh snow.
"Grace!"
Silas shouted until his voice cracked.
Eleanor kept looking.
She noticed something near a fallen tree.
Red cloth.
"There!"
Silas ran.
A tiny figure lay beneath the branches.
Grace.
Alive.
Cold.
Terrified.
Silas lifted her.
The child opened her eyes.
"Uncle Silas?"
"I'm here."
"Did you find Mama?"
Silas closed his eyes.
Eleanor stepped closer.
Grace looked at her.
"Who are you?"