By February, Seth walked without assistance.
By March, Caleb could read entire chapters aloud.
By April, the snow began melting from the lower slopes.
Spring was approaching.
So was the end of Cora's original agreement.
Neither she nor Wyatt mentioned it.
Then Pine Hollow sent a visitor.
Councilman Edgar Price arrived on horseback with two other men.
Cora recognized him immediately.
He was the same councilman who had dismissed her after the schoolhouse burned.
Wyatt met them outside.
Cora stood on the porch.
"Mrs. Mercer," Price said.
"Councilman."
"We've come with news."
He smiled as though they were old friends.
"The schoolhouse is being rebuilt."
Cora felt something stir.
Teaching had been her entire life before Wyatt.
"We'll reopen next month."
"I'm glad."
Price removed his hat.
"The council wants you back."
Cora looked at him.
Wyatt's expression remained unreadable.
"Why?"
"Because you're the best teacher we've had."
"Interesting."
Price shifted.
"Meaning?"
"You didn't seem terribly concerned about losing me in October."
"That was financial necessity."
"You dismissed me before the ashes cooled."
"Perhaps we handled matters poorly."
Cora almost laughed.
Price continued.
"Your former room is available. Salary's been increased."
Wyatt looked toward her.
He said nothing.
Cora suddenly understood what the offer meant.
Freedom.
Her own wages.
Her own room.
Her own life.
Everything she had thought she wanted.
Price smiled.
"Come home, Miss—Mrs. Mercer."
Home.
The word landed strangely.
Cora glanced behind her.
Through the window, Seth and Caleb were pretending not to listen.
That evening, supper was uncomfortable.
Seth finally asked, "You're leaving?"
Cora's fork stopped.
"I haven't decided anything."
"But you can go."
"Yes."
Caleb stood.
"Course she's going."
"Caleb."
"It's spring."
He looked at Cora with an expression she had not seen since her arrival.
The old wall had returned.
"That was the deal."
He left the table.
Cora followed him outside.
"Caleb."
"Don't."
"You think I'm leaving because the agreement ended."
"Everyone leaves."
"Your father hasn't."
"Mama did."
The words stopped her.
Caleb's face crumpled.
"I know she didn't mean to. But she did."
Cora approached carefully.
"And you think if you don't care about people, losing them won't hurt."
"I don't care."
"You're a terrible liar."
He turned away.
Cora placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I haven't decided to leave."
"Why wouldn't you?"
Because I love you.
The words came into Cora's mind so clearly that they frightened her.
Not only Caleb.
Seth.
Wyatt.
The ridiculous house.
The burnt bread.
The mountain.
All of it.
Before she could speak, Wyatt appeared in the doorway.
"Caleb. Inside."
The boy left.
Wyatt looked at Cora.
"You should take the job if you want it."
She stared.
"Is that what you want?"
"Doesn't matter."
"It matters to me."
His jaw tightened.
"I promised you could leave."
"I know what you promised."
"I won't trap you."
"Wanting me to stay is not trapping me."
Wyatt looked away.
"Cora."
"Say it."
His silence hurt more than anger.
"Tell me you want me here."
"You know I do."
"I want to hear it."
Wyatt's eyes finally met hers.
"I want you here so badly I don't trust myself to ask."
Cora's breath caught.
"Why?"
"Because if I ask and you stay, I'll always wonder if you gave up your life for us."
"This is my life."
He froze.
Cora stepped closer.
"It became my life while none of us were paying attention."
Wyatt stared.
"Are you saying—"
A gunshot cracked from the lower pasture.
Wyatt spun.
Another shot.
Horses screamed.
The conversation ended.
They ran.
Someone had cut the south fence.
Several horses were loose.
One lay wounded.
Wyatt followed tracks and discovered something worse.
The damage wasn't accidental.
Someone had deliberately driven animals through the fence.
Over the next week, more trouble came.
Feed disappeared.
A shed caught fire.
Then Cora found a threatening note nailed to the door.
LEAVE THE MOUNTAIN.
Wyatt recognized the handwriting style, though not the writer.
Years earlier, he had refused to sell a section of his property to mining speculators.
Now silver had been discovered near the western ridge.
The land had become valuable.
Cora realized their peaceful mountain home was being targeted.
Wyatt wanted her and the boys sent to Pine Hollow.
She refused.
"I'm not running."
"This isn't pride."
"Neither is this."
"Cora—"
"This is my home too."
Wyatt went silent.
She had said it.
My home.
That night, he kissed her.
It wasn't planned.
It happened after hours of fear and argument.
He reached for her.
Then stopped.
"Can I?"
Cora answered by pulling him closer.
The kiss was gentle.
Almost uncertain.
Nothing about Wyatt was usually uncertain.
When they separated, Cora smiled.
"You looked less frightened fighting a bear."
"I knew what the bear wanted."
"And you don't know what I want?"
"No."
She touched his face.
"You."
That was the moment their practical marriage ceased being practical.
But danger remained.
And someone on the mountain was determined to make sure the Mercer family never saw another peaceful spring.