She Was Forced to Marry a Poor Rancher — Not Knowing He Owned Half the Valley
Chapter 13
Summer came.
The valley turned green.
Margaret began managing the western farms.
Thomas taught her how to read cattle brands.
She learned quickly.
Soon the workers joked that she knew more about livestock than her husband.
Thomas pretended to be offended.
“You’ve stolen my business.”
“You had too much.”
“I owned half the valley.”
“Exactly.”
They laughed.
Their marriage became something neither had expected.
Not an arrangement.
Not a debt.
A partnership.
They disagreed often.
Margaret wanted better houses for workers.
Thomas worried about cost.
Thomas wanted to expand the herd.
Margaret wanted to build a school.
Eventually they did both.
A small schoolhouse was built near the river.
Thomas paid for it.
Margaret chose the teacher.
Children from every family attended.
One evening, Thomas stood beside the new building.
“You’ve changed this place.”
Margaret shook her head.
“We did.”
He smiled.
“You always say that.”
“Because it’s true.”
He looked at her.
“Do you regret anything?”
She thought.
“No.”
“Not even being forced into this marriage?”
She looked at him.
“I regret that I wasn’t allowed to choose.”
Then she smiled.
“But I am grateful that when I finally could choose, I chose you.”
