The Mountain Cowboy Appeared Once Every Winter—Until One Woman Followed Him Home
Chapter 12
Their courtship lasted through spring.
Elias visited Bellmere.
People stared.
Children followed him.
Thomas teased him mercilessly.
The man who had once arrived every winter like a shadow now sat in Anna’s father’s old chair drinking coffee.
He was awkward at first.
He brought Anna flowers from the mountains.
She pretended not to like them.
He repaired the store roof.
She told him that was not courting.
He brought her a carved wooden box.
Inside was a silver comb.
“My mother owned it,” he said.
Anna touched it carefully.
“Why give it to me?”
“Because I want you to have something that belonged to someone who knew me before I became this man.”
Anna looked at him.
“Who were you before?”
“A boy who thought mountains were enough.”
“And now?”
He smiled.
“Now I know better.”
In summer, Anna visited the cabin again.
She discovered that Elias had built a small garden.
Tomatoes.
Beans.
Herbs.
“You made this?”
“Yes.”
“For yourself?”
“No.”
She smiled.
“For us?”
“If you want.”
She stepped closer.
“I want.”
