Spring arrived late in the mountains.
Snow lingered beneath the pines while wildflowers appeared in exposed meadows.
Anna loved every sign of thaw.
She opened windows whenever the temperature rose above freezing.
Cole complained.
“You’re letting the heat out.”
“That’s the point.”
“I spent six months keeping heat inside.”
“It smells like six months of keeping heat inside.”
The cabin changed.
Not dramatically.
A blue cloth appeared over the table.
Curtains appeared around the windows.
Cole found wildflowers in a chipped jar beside his bed.
He complained about those too.
Anna ignored him.
She planted onions, carrots, beans, and potatoes beside the cabin.
Cole watched her struggle with a shovel.
“Ground’s still frozen.”
“I noticed.”
“Wait two weeks.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because spring is here.”
“The soil disagrees.”
Anna stabbed the shovel into the earth.
“The soil is wrong.”
Cole walked away before she saw him smile.
Weeks became months.
They received letters from Barrett.
Victor Hale’s case had expanded.
Officials in Denver, Oakhaven, and several mining settlements were arrested.
More than thirty fraudulent contracts had been identified.
Twenty-three women were located.
Some had already escaped.
Others had believed they were legally bound.
Barrett wrote that Anna’s testimony would be essential.
The trial was scheduled for August.
Anna folded the letter.
Fear returned.
Cole watched from across the table.
“You don’t have to go.”
“Yes, I do.”
“You can submit a statement.”
“No.”
“Anna.”
“If I don’t look at him and say what he did, part of me will always believe I’m still running.”
Cole nodded.
“All right.”
“You’ll come?”
He almost looked insulted.
“You think I’m letting you ride Daisy to Denver alone?”
Anna smiled.
“Daisy likes me now.”
“Daisy tolerates you because you carry apples.”
“That is the foundation of many healthy relationships.”
They traveled to Denver in late summer.
The trial lasted twelve days.
Anna testified on the fourth.
Victor Hale sat behind his attorney wearing an expensive gray suit.
He looked exactly as he had before.
That disturbed her more than if he had looked monstrous.
Monsters were supposed to look different from ordinary men.
But Hale’s hair was combed.
His fingernails were clean.
He thanked the bailiff when handed water.
Then Anna took the witness stand and told the room what he had done.
She described her mother’s illness.
The debt.
The contract.
The transfers.
Jeb.
The threats.
The ledger.
Hale’s attorney attempted to suggest Anna had understood the arrangement.
She looked directly at the jury.
“I understood that my mother was dying.”
The courtroom became silent.
“I understood a man offered help. I did not understand that accepting medicine meant someone could own the next years of my life.”
The attorney shifted.
“Miss Reed, you signed the document.”
“Yes.”
“Then you agreed.”
Anna looked at him.
“If a man holds someone underwater and offers air in exchange for her signature, would you call that agreement?”
Nobody moved.
The attorney changed questions.
Victor Hale was convicted on multiple federal charges.
Jeb Robinson received a separate sentence.
Sheriff Tobias was convicted of bribery and conspiracy.
The newspapers covered the case throughout the region.
One headline referred to Anna as “THE WOMAN WHO BROKE THE CONTRACT RING.”
She hated it.
“I didn’t break anything,” she told Cole.
“You helped.”
“Barrett did more.”
“Barrett wasn’t sold for twenty dollars.”
Anna glared.
Cole raised his hands.
“You started it.”
After the trial, Barrett gave Anna an envelope.
Inside were banknotes.
“What is this?”
“Restitution.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Money seized from Hale. Judge approved partial repayment to identified victims.”
Anna stared.
“How much?”
“Three hundred and twelve dollars.”
Her knees nearly weakened.
Cole whistled softly.
“That’s more than my winter pelts.”
Anna looked at him.
“Is that jealousy?”
“Absolutely.”
They left Denver two days later.
At Martha Bell’s ranch, Anna made an announcement over dinner.
“I’m buying land.”
Cole stopped chewing.
Martha smiled.
“Good.”
Cole swallowed.
“Where?”
“Near your cabin.”
He blinked.
“Why?”
“Because I want something with my name on it.”
Understanding replaced surprise.
“How much?”
“Forty acres if Mr. Parsons still wants to sell the south meadow.”
“He does.”
“I want it.”
Cole nodded.
“Good land.”
“Will you help me build?”
“Yes.”
“A house.”
His fork stopped.
Martha suddenly became very interested in her pie.
Cole looked at Anna.
“You’re moving?”
“I’m building.”
“That doesn’t answer the question.”
Anna fought a smile.
“Maybe I want my own house.”
Cole looked down at his plate.
“Fine.”
The word sounded anything but fine.
Anna waited until they left Martha’s ranch.
They rode for half a mile.
Then she asked, “You’re sulking.”
“I don’t sulk.”
“You’ve spoken six words since breakfast.”
“I often speak fewer.”
“You thought I was leaving.”
Cole said nothing.
Anna stopped Daisy.
Cole continued several yards before realizing.
He turned Jasper.
“What?”
“Come here.”
He rode back.
Anna looked at him.
“I want land in my name because nobody has ever let me own anything.”
Cole nodded.
“I understand.”
“I want a small house because someday another woman may need somewhere safe to sleep.”
His expression changed.
Anna continued.
“I don’t intend to live there.”
Cole stared.
“Where do you intend to live?”
She smiled.
“With the ugliest mountain man in Colorado.”
Cole exhaled.
“You’re cruel.”
“You love me.”
The words escaped before either could prepare for them.
Silence.
Anna’s smile faded slightly.
Cole looked toward the trees.
Then back at her.
“Yes.”
Her breath caught.
“Yes what?”
“You know.”
“I want to hear it.”
He sighed.
“I love you.”
Anna’s eyes filled.
Cole frowned.
“Again with the crying.”
She laughed.
“I love you too.”
Cole dismounted.
Anna slid from Daisy.
He approached slowly.
Always slowly.
Even now.
“Can I kiss you?”
Anna’s heart hurt in a way that felt beautiful.
Months earlier Jeb had dragged her through a saloon.
Men had discussed her price while she stood silent.
Now the strongest man she knew was asking permission to touch her.
“Yes.”
Cole kissed her.
Gentle.
Careful.
Anna placed both hands against his coat and kissed him back.
When they separated, Cole looked slightly dazed.
Anna smiled.
“You’re still terrible at talking.”
“I’m improving.”
“Slowly.”
They married in October.
Not because Anna needed protection.
Not because Cole had paid money.
Not because either owed the other anything.
They married because Anna chose him.
And Cole chose her.
Martha insisted on hosting.
Barrett traveled from Denver.
Even the Oakhaven bartender attended.
Anna wore a simple cream dress Martha helped sew.
Cole wore a dark coat he complained was uncomfortable.
Before the ceremony Anna pulled him aside.
“Cole?”
“Yes?”
“I need you to promise something.”
His expression became serious.
“What?”
“Never call me yours like I’m property.”
“I wouldn’t.”
“I know. Promise anyway.”
He took her hands.
“You’re not mine.”
Anna waited.
Cole smiled.
“You’re with me.”
She smiled back.
“And you’re with me.”
“That sounds fair.”
After the vows, Martha cried.
Barrett claimed dust entered his eye.
Cole believed neither explanation.
They returned home before the first heavy snow.
A new sign hung beside the cabin door.
Anna had carved it herself.
MERCER & REED.
Cole studied it.
“You didn’t take my name?”
“I did.”
“Then why Reed?”
“Because I’m still her too.”
He nodded.
“I like it.”
The small guest house in the south meadow was completed the following spring.
Anna named it Ruth House.
Cole stood beneath the sign for a long time.
“You didn’t have to.”
“I wanted to.”
The first woman arrived three months later.
Her name was Lucy.
She had escaped a violent employer in a mining settlement.
She stood at the doorway carrying one bag and asked the question Anna once had.
“How much do I owe?”
Anna smiled.
“Nothing.”
Lucy frowned.
“Then why would you help me?”
Anna glanced toward Cole, who was repairing a fence nearby.
“Someone taught me freedom needs somewhere safe to sleep.”