We're here to take you home. Clara stood straight. No. He looked at Taza. You've been spending time with him?
That is my decision. Her brother laughed. You think this man can give you a future? Taza stepped forward. But Clara raised her hand.
She wanted to answer herself. He gives me something you never did. Her brother's smile disappeared. What? Respect.
The word hung in the air. Her brother became angry. You're throwing away your family for an Apache? Clara's voice remained steady. No.
I'm refusing to throw away myself. Taza watched her. He realized she didn't need him to speak for her. She had found her own voice. Her relatives eventually rode away.
But the encounter changed things. Rumors spread through Red Hollow. People began talking. Some claimed Clara had lost her mind. Others said Taza had somehow convinced her to leave ordinary society.
A few laughed openly. Taza heard the rumors. He didn't care what they said about him. But he cared about Clara. He approached her one evening.
You should leave. Clara stared at him. What? You should go somewhere else. No.
People are talking because of me. It will get worse. Clara crossed her arms. You're trying to push me away again. Yes.
At least you're honest. Taza almost smiled. But Clara wasn't finished. You think sending me away will protect me? Yes.
It won't. Why? Because then I'll spend the rest of my life wondering what could have happened. Taza went silent. Clara continued.
You've spent years choosing loneliness because you were afraid of losing someone again. She stepped closer. You don't get to choose loneliness for me. Those words struck him deeply. Taza had spent his life believing protection meant carrying every burden himself.
But Clara was teaching him something different. Sometimes protection meant trusting someone enough to let them choose. Over the following weeks, their relationship became more visible. Taza around his property. She planted vegetables near the cabin.
Taza built her a small wooden table. They worked together without discussing marriage. But the possibility was always there. Then trouble arrived. One morning, Taza rode into town and found several men gathered outside the sheriff's office.
They were discussing land near the mountains. A wealthy ranch owner named Elias Mercer had claimed ownership of a large section of the valley. That valley included the homes of several families. Taza's cabin was inside the disputed area. Elias had purchased old documents from a land speculator and claimed the property belonged to him.