The Mountain Cowboy Appeared Once Every Winter—Until One Woman Followed Him Home
Chapter 4
They reached the cabin after dark.
It stood in a narrow valley surrounded by cliffs.
Smoke rose from a stone chimney.
The cabin was small but well built.
Inside were shelves of dried meat, sacks of grain, bundles of herbs, saddles, bridles, tools, and several carefully stacked blankets.
There was no luxury.
But everything had its place.
Anna helped Elias remove his coat.
The wound was deep but clean.
A bullet had grazed his shoulder.
“Who shot you?”
“Mercer’s men.”
“How do you know?”
“I recognized one.”
Anna cleaned the wound.
Elias clenched his jaw.
“You don’t complain.”
“I’ve had worse.”
“From the mountain?”
He looked at her.
“Yes.”
Anna smiled despite herself.
“You really don’t like answering questions.”
“No.”
“Good.”
“Why?”
“Because I ask too many.”
For the first time, Elias laughed.
It was quiet.
Almost unfamiliar.
Anna looked around.
On the wall hung several rifles.
All were old flintlock pieces.
Beside them were powder horns and shot pouches.
There were no pistols except the one lying beside Elias’s bed.
On another wall hung maps.
Anna stepped closer.
The maps showed the mountains.
But there were marks on them.
Red circles.
Black crosses.
Several parcels of land.
“What are these?”
Elias stood behind her.
“Land.”
“Whose?”
“People in Bellmere.”
Anna turned.
“What does that have to do with you?”
Elias said nothing.
She looked at him.
“You said my father knew too much.”
“He discovered Mercer was buying land illegally.”
Anna’s breath caught.
“My father?”
“Your father was helping families keep their land.”
“How?”
“By keeping records.”
She thought of the account book.
“That’s why someone stole it.”
Elias nodded.
“Your father found proof.”
“Proof of what?”
“Mercer wasn’t merely buying land.”
He walked toward the fireplace.
“He was forcing people to sell it.”
“How?”
“Debt. Threats. Forged agreements.”
Anna felt cold despite the fire.
“My father knew?”
“He knew.”
“Why didn’t he tell me?”
“Because he thought knowing would put you in danger.”
Anna’s eyes filled.
“You knew all this?”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me?”
Elias looked at her.
“Because your father made me promise.”
“What promise?”
“That I would keep you alive.”
Silence filled the cabin.
Anna stared at him.
“That was seven years ago.”
“I know.”
“You’ve been watching me?”
“From a distance.”
“Every winter?”
“Every winter.”
Her voice softened.
“Why?”
Elias looked toward the window.
“Because promises matter.”
