Spring arrived slowly.
Snow retreated from the lower slopes.
Creeks began moving beneath thinning ice.
For the first time in months, Josie could see patches of brown earth.
With spring came visitors.
O’Malley arrived first.
He brought mail, sugar, news, and a pair of boots Josie had ordered with money earned sewing gloves for trappers passing through town.
The money mattered.
It was hers.
Judson had refused to take any payment for food or lodging.
“If you want to work, work for yourself,” he had said.
O’Malley drank coffee at the table.
Then his expression became serious.
“They found Amos.”
Josie stopped.
“Where?”
“Abandoned cabin south of Casper.”
“Alive?”
“Yes.”
Relief hit before she could prevent it.
Then caution followed.
“What happened?”
“Those men caught him.”
Judson’s face hardened.
O’Malley continued.
“Beat him pretty bad. Sheriff arrested two after somebody reported the debt operation.”
“Who reported it?” Josie asked.
O’Malley glanced at Judson.
Judson looked at the ceiling.
Josie stared.
“You?”
Judson shrugged.
“When?”
“After they came here.”
“You rode to town?”
“Sent Tommy.”
Josie shook her head.
Of course he had.
“Where’s Pa now?”
“Jail.”
She blinked.
“Why?”
“Forgery. Theft. Apparently your father’s gambling debts weren’t his only problem.”
Pain moved through her.
“Can I see him?”
Judson looked concerned but said nothing.
O’Malley nodded.
“If you want.”
The phrase mattered.
If you want.
Nobody was deciding for her anymore.
Two days later, Josie rode into town with Judson.
It was the first time she had returned since the day Amos traded her.
People stared.
Some whispered.
Josie expected shame.
Instead she lifted her chin.
She wore the blue wool dress.
Her repaired boots.
Her mother’s old shawl.
Judson walked beside her but never touched her unless she chose to take his arm.
The jail consisted of two cells behind the sheriff’s office.
Amos sat on a narrow cot.
He looked older.
Much older.
His face was bruised.
His left arm rested in a sling.
When he saw Josie, tears filled his eyes.
“You came.”
She stood outside the bars.
“Yes.”
Judson remained near the doorway.
Amos glanced toward him.
Then back to his daughter.
“You look like your mother.”
Josie almost broke.
He had not mentioned her mother since the funeral.
“Don’t.”
“I mean it.”
“Why now?”
Amos lowered his head.
“I remember what she told me before she died.”
Josie waited.
“She said take care of our girl.”
His voice cracked.
“I promised.”
Silence.
“And I failed.”
Josie’s throat tightened.
Amos looked at his hands.
“I kept telling myself hunger made me do it.”
Josie closed her eyes briefly.
“Then whiskey.”
He swallowed.
“Then grief.”
He looked at her.
“But none of that made me point at you in that trading post.”
Josie stared.
“I did that.”
A tear rolled through his beard.
“I did it.”
Part of her wanted to run into the cell.
Another part remembered the terror on the mountain road.
Both feelings were real.
“I’m sorry,” Amos whispered.
Josie breathed slowly.
“I believe you.”
Hope appeared in his face.
“But believing you’re sorry doesn’t erase it.”
His shoulders fell.
“I know.”
“I love you.”
That hurt more than anger.
“You’re still my father.”
Amos nodded.
“But I won’t go back to being responsible for you.”
His eyes closed.
“I understand.”
“You have to fix yourself.”
“I will.”
“For you. Not so I’ll come home.”
Amos looked at her again.
“There ain’t a home anymore.”
Josie realized he was right.
The old cabin had been seized.
Their family, as it had existed, was gone.
“What will happen?”
“Sheriff says maybe six months. Maybe more.”
Josie nodded.
Amos looked toward Judson.
“You good to her?”
Judson’s expression became cold.
“That’s her question to answer.”
Josie almost smiled.
Amos seemed to understand something.
He looked back at his daughter.
“Is he?”
Josie nodded.
“Yes.”
Amos lowered his head.
“Then he’s better than I was.”
Judson spoke for the first time.
“Being better than your worst season ain’t difficult.”
Amos looked up.
Judson continued.
“But it don’t mean your story’s finished.”
Josie stared at him.
Even now, after everything Amos had done, Judson had left a door open.
Not for Josie to return.
For Amos to become someone else.
They left the jail an hour later.
Outside, sunlight warmed the boardwalk.
Josie breathed deeply.
Judson watched her.
“You all right?”
“No.”
He nodded.
“But I think I will be.”
They walked toward O’Malley’s.
Halfway there, the scar-faced creditor stepped from an alley.
Josie froze.
Judson moved instantly between them.
The man raised both hands.
“Easy.”
The sheriff appeared behind him.
Scar-Face wore handcuffs.
“I’m being transferred,” he said.
Judson stared.
Scar-Face looked toward Josie.
“Your daddy gave us your name.”
“I know.”
“He told us you’d come willingly.”
“I didn’t.”
“I know that now.”
The sheriff shoved him forward.
“Keep moving.”
Scar-Face smiled bitterly at Judson.
“Still think you saved her?”
Judson said nothing.
Josie stepped beside him.
“He didn’t save me.”
Scar-Face smirked.
Then Josie finished.
“He reminded me I could save myself.”
The smirk vanished.
The sheriff led him away.
Judson looked at her.
“That sounded practiced.”
“It was.”
“You expected him?”
“No.”
“Then who’d you practice it for?”
Josie smiled.
“Myself.”
They rode home that afternoon.
The snow line had moved farther up Black Ridge.
Birds returned to the trees.
Near the cabin, Josie dismounted.
Judson took the reins.
“You ever think about leaving?”
The question surprised her.
“Leaving where?”
“Here.”
She studied his face.
“Do you want me to?”
“No.”
The answer came too quickly.
Josie smiled.
“Then why ask?”
“Spring roads open soon.”
He looked toward the valley.
“You can go anywhere.”
“Town.”
“Yes.”
“Cheyenne?”
“If you want.”
“Back east?”
“If you want.”
Josie crossed her arms.
“What if I want to stay?”
Judson looked at her.
“Then stay.”
“As what?”
The question hung between them.
Judson swallowed.
“As whatever you choose.”
Josie stepped closer.
“What do you want?”
He seemed genuinely afraid of the question.
For a man who had faced armed riders without blinking, that amazed her.
“Josie.”
“No. You always say my choices matter.”
“They do.”
“Yours do too.”
Judson looked toward the cabin.
Then back at her.
“I want you here.”
Her heart beat faster.
“For how long?”
He exhaled slowly.
“As long as you want to be.”
Josie smiled.
It was not quite a proposal.
Not quite a confession.
But it was enough for that day.
She took his hand.
Judson stared at their joined fingers.
Josie squeezed gently.
Then together they walked toward the cabin where fear had first brought her and freedom had unexpectedly taught her to stay.