The Mountain Cowboy Appeared Once Every Winter—Until One Woman Followed Him Home
Chapter 7
Anna and Elias began copying every record they had.
They worked by candlelight.
The original documents were hidden in three places.
Some beneath floorboards.
Some inside a hollow tree.
Others buried beneath stones near the mountain trail.
Elias taught Anna how to read survey marks.
She taught him how to organize accounts.
For weeks, they worked together.
Winter deepened.
Their hands often touched.
Neither mentioned it.
One evening, snow covered the cabin roof.
Anna sat near the fire repairing a torn sleeve.
Elias was cleaning his rifle.
“You’ve never married,” Anna said.
“No.”
“Why?”
He looked at her.
“No one asked.”
“That’s difficult to believe.”
“Why?”
“You are less unpleasant than you appear.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Silence.
Then Elias asked:
“And you?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“No one ever stayed long enough.”
“That’s unfortunate.”
“Is it?”
He looked at her.
“Yes.”
Anna lowered her eyes.
For several moments, only the fire moved.
Then Elias said:
“If you return to Bellmere, I want you to marry someone.”
She looked up sharply.
“What?”
“Someone who can protect you.”
“I can protect myself.”
“I know.”
“Then why say it?”
“Because I don’t know if I can.”
Anna stared.
“You have protected me for seven years.”
“I promised your father.”
“Not me.”
Elias’s expression changed.
“That’s the problem.”
“What problem?”
He looked away.
“I no longer know where the promise ends.”
Anna’s heart beat harder.
Before she could answer, a gunshot sounded outside.
Elias was on his feet instantly.
The cabin door burst open.
A bullet struck the wall.
Elias pulled Anna behind the stone hearth.
Three men approached through the snow.
He fired once.
One fell.
The others retreated.
Anna’s hands shook.
Elias checked her.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
He touched her cheek.
“You’re sure?”
She nodded.
His hand remained there.
Then he pulled away.
“Stay here.”
Anna caught his wrist.
“No.”
He looked at her.
“I’m coming.”
For once, Elias did not argue.
