She glanced at Taza. Someone did. Her stepfather became angry. But Clara no longer feared his anger. She turned away.
Taza followed. Outside. Clara stopped. She looked back at the town one last time. I thought coming here would make me afraid.
Are you a little? Taza nodded. That is enough. She smiled. I'm not afraid enough to go back.
They rode home before sunset. That evening, Clara returned to the cottonwood tree where everything had begun. She sat beneath it. Taza joined her. For a while, they watched the sky turn gold.
Clara finally spoke. Do you remember the first thing I said to you? Taza thought. You said you couldn't stand. She smiled.
I was ashamed. Why? Because I thought needing help meant I was weak. Taza shook his head. You were hurt.
Clara looked at him. You lifted me. Yes. And you told me something. Taza smiled faintly.
You'll stand with me. Clara's eyes filled with tears. I thought you meant you would carry me. I meant I would stand beside you until you could stand yourself. She looked down at her hands.
You did. Taza reached for her hand. Clara held it. But I want you to understand something. He waited.
I don't need you to carry me anymore. I know I can walk. I know I can make my own decisions. She smiled. But I still choose you.
Taza looked into her eyes. You're certain? Clara nodded. For the first time in my life, I'm certain about something. He gently touched her hand.
There was no need for grand promises. No need for the town to approve. No need for anyone else to understand. Clara had spent years being told what she was worth. Now she knew she was worth kindness.
She was worth freedom. She was worth love. And she had learned those things not because Taza had rescued her and made every decision for her, but because he had given her the space to discover them herself. As the evening wind moved through the cottonwoods, Clara stood. Taza stood beside her.
She looked toward the ranch, their home. Then she took his hand. Together, they walked back. The woman who had once been carried because she could no longer stand was now walking under her own strength.
And she wasn't walking away from Taza. She was walking beside him. Not because she had nowhere else to go. Because finally she had somewhere she wanted to