"We haven't won yet."
"I know."
"Charles still has a chance to answer."
"I know that, too."
Nathan rubbed his thumb once across her hand.
"And after this is settled..."
He stopped.
Emily waited.
Nathan looked almost uncomfortable now.
The man who had faced a crowded room without blinking suddenly found something interesting about the floorboards.
"Our agreement."
Emily understood the original promise.
Her own room.
Security.
Freedom to leave.
When Lucy's guardianship was settled, Nathan had just told an entire town he would choose her without Double Pine. Yet he was still prepared to keep the promise he'd made before sunrise.
Emily looked toward Lucy, then back at him.
"When Judge Briggs gives his decision, we'll talk."
Something uncertain passed across Nathan's face, but he nodded.
"All right."
Outside, the clouds were breaking over Red Willow.
A thin blade of sunlight fell across the muddy street.
Emily walked downstairs beside Nathan.
When they entered the Copper Star, conversation stopped.
George Miller stood behind the bar polishing a glass.
The drover who had mocked Emily on the night of Nathan's proposal sat near the stove.
He saw her, then quietly removed his hat.
Emily did not need his apology.
She didn't need anyone in that room to tell her what she was worth.
She walked through the same saloon where laughter had once followed her across the floor.
This time, Nathan's hand rested warm around hers.
And the only decision that frightened her now wasn't Judge Briggs.
It was what she would tell Nathan Reed when there was no longer a court order, a frightened child, or a deadline before dawn giving either of them a reason to remain married.
Judge Briggs gave his ruling the following afternoon.
The upstairs parlor of the Willow House was quieter than it had been the day before.
Charles sat beside Edward Walsh without looking toward Lucy.
The disputed affidavit lay inside the judge's portfolio along with the land notice and copies of the boarding house entries.
Briggs spoke plainly.
Lucy's permanent guardianship would remain with Nathan.
The questionable documents and Charles's attempt to arrange control of the North Creek rights would be referred for further investigation.
Charles's face tightened.
Nathan didn't smile.
He simply lowered his head for a moment.
Beside Helen, Lucy whispered, "Does that mean I can go home?"
Nathan looked at her.
"Yes."
Lucy ran to him.
Nathan dropped to one knee and caught her against his chest.
The wooden horse pressed between them.
Emily watched his eyes close just for a second.
That was all.
When Nathan stood again, Lucy remained attached to his arm.
Judge Briggs gathered his papers.
"Mr. Reed."
Nathan looked over.
"Don't mistake a legal ruling for what that child needs most."
"I won't."
Briggs glanced toward Emily.
"I don't believe you will."
By sundown, the Double Pine wagon was rolling west.
The mountains stood dark against a copper sky.
Meltwater ran beside the road, cutting narrow channels through old snow.
Lucy talked nearly the entire way home.
She wanted to tell Henry, then Robert, then Samuel.
She wanted to tell the horses, though Emily pointed out that the horses probably had no opinion concerning territorial guardianship.
"They might."
Nathan glanced toward Emily.
"She's got you there."
Emily smiled, but as the miles passed, she grew quiet.
Nathan noticed.
He always noticed now.
He didn't ask until the Double Pine gate came into view.
"You're thinking about leaving."
Emily turned toward him.
Lucy had fallen asleep beneath the blanket.
Nathan kept his eyes on the horses.
"I didn't say that."
"You didn't have to."
His voice was steady, but his grip had shifted on the reins.
Emily looked at the ranch ahead.
Home.
The word came without effort now.
Smoke rose from the bunkhouse chimney.
Cattle moved dark against the remaining snow.
Someone had hung a lantern beside the barn doors.
Henry saw the wagon first.
The men came running.
Lucy woke to shouting.
"We won."
She nearly climbed over Nathan getting down.
"We won. I get to stay."
Henry swept her off the wagon step.
Samuel whooped loudly enough to startle the horses.
Robert shook Nathan's hand.
Even Jack's absence seemed to hang somewhere at the edge of the celebration.
A reminder that not everything broken during winter had been repaired.
Emily climbed down last.
Nathan offered his hand.
She took it, but this time he let go quickly.
That night, the men stayed at the supper table longer than usual.
Coffee was poured twice.
Lucy retold the hearing with considerable improvements, including a version in which Judge Briggs had apparently threatened Charles with immediate imprisonment.
"He didn't," Emily said.
"He looked like he wanted to."
Nathan coughed into his coffee.
Emily caught the smile he was hiding.
Later, when the house finally settled, she found Nathan alone in the kitchen.
Her document case sat on the table.
Beside it lay the original marriage agreement.
Emily had placed it there.
Nathan stared at the paper.
"You found it."
"I never lost it."
He pulled out a chair but didn't sit.
Emily did.
For a while, the clock on the shelf did all the talking.
Nathan finally said, "The case is over."
"Yes."
"You've kept your part."
Emily looked at him.
"That sounds like you're dismissing a hired hand."
His face tightened.
"That's not what I meant."
"I know."
He moved to the window.
Outside, moonlight caught the wet roof of the barn.
"I promised you freedom when this was done."
"You did."
"I intend to keep that promise."
Emily watched the broad back of the coat she'd made him.
The shoulders fit perfectly.
Still, Nathan swallowed.
"If you want money for the trip, I'll see you have enough."
Emily almost smiled.
"Where am I going?"
He turned.