The attack came two nights later.
Cora woke to smoke.
For one confused moment she thought the fireplace damper had failed.
Then she heard Wyatt shout.
"Everybody up!"
She ran into the hallway.
Orange light flashed outside.
The barn was burning.
"Caleb! Seth!"
Their doors opened.
Wyatt was already pulling on boots.
"Take them toward the creek."
"What about you?"
"Horses."
"I'm helping."
"No."
"Wyatt—"
"Cora!"
The command stopped her.
Then his expression softened.
"Please."
She understood.
He could not fight a fire while wondering whether his family was safe.
Cora grabbed blankets and led the boys away.
Snowmelt had turned the creek banks muddy.
They waited.
Then Caleb suddenly shouted.
"Pa's not outside."
Cora looked toward the barn.
The roof was beginning to collapse.
Wyatt had gone inside.
Cora ran back.
"Stay here!"
She reached the yard as Wyatt staggered through smoke leading two terrified horses.
A beam crashed behind him.
"Cora!"
She grabbed one horse's halter.
Together they pulled the animals clear.
Wyatt coughed violently.
"The barn's gone."
"Let it go."
Something moved near the trees.
Caleb saw it first.
"Someone's there!"
A man ran.
Wyatt started after him.
Cora caught his arm.
"No."
"He set this."
"You don't know if he's alone."
Wyatt stopped.
By morning, half the barn had burned.
Sheriff Dawson arrived from Pine Hollow.
Tracks led toward an abandoned mining road.
Evidence eventually pointed to representatives working illegally for a Denver land speculator named Amos Crane.
Crane had been quietly buying mountain claims.
Wyatt's land blocked access to a promising silver deposit.
The sabotage had been intended to scare him into selling.
Instead, the fire produced witnesses, evidence, and outrage.
Several men were arrested.
Crane's scheme collapsed.
For the first time in weeks, the family breathed again.
The greater change came afterward.
Pine Hollow learned what had happened.
Councilman Price arrived personally with supplies.
So did families Cora had once taught.
They brought timber.
Hay.
Nails.
Food.
More than thirty people climbed the mountain to rebuild Wyatt's barn.
Cora watched neighbors work beside the man many of them had once described as an antisocial mountain giant.
Seth passed water.
Caleb carried nails.
Wyatt stood beside Cora.
"Didn't know people liked us."
"They like me."
Wyatt looked offended.
Cora smiled.
"You're tolerated."
He pulled her against his side.
In full view of everyone.
Seth made a disgusted sound.
"They're doing it again."
Caleb sighed.
"They're married."
"They weren't like this before."
"They were stupid before."
Cora looked toward them.
"I heard that."
Caleb grinned.
Spring transformed the mountain.
Flowers emerged where snow had been.
Creeks swelled.
Birdsong returned.
The schoolhouse reopened in Pine Hollow.
Cora made a decision.
She would teach there.
But she would not move.
Instead, Pine Hollow agreed to hold lessons four days each week, allowing her to ride down from the Mercer ranch and return home before evening.
Caleb and Seth attended her class.
Seth complained that having one's mother as a teacher was unfair.
The first time he said the word mother, everyone went silent.
Seth didn't notice immediately.
Then his eyes widened.
Cora slowly lowered the chalk.
"Did you just call me—"
"No."
"You did."
"No."
Caleb grinned.
"Definitely did."
Seth turned red.
Cora knelt in front of him.
"You don't have to call me that."
He looked down.
"What if I want to?"
Her eyes filled.
"Then I'd be honored."
Seth hugged her.
Caleb stood awkwardly nearby.
Cora opened one arm.
He hesitated.
Then joined them.
Wyatt watched from the doorway.
His eyes were wet.
Cora pretended not to notice.
That evening, Wyatt took her to the split pine.
The snow was gone now.
Wildflowers grew near the place Seth had fallen.
"I hate this spot," Cora said.
"I know."
Wyatt reached into his pocket.
He held something small.
A ring.
Not expensive.
Silver, with a simple blue stone.
Cora stared.
"We're already married."
"I know."
"Then what are you doing?"
"Trying again."
Her throat tightened.
Wyatt took her hand.
"First time, I offered you food and a roof."
"A very compelling romance."
"I was an idiot."
"True."
"This time I'm offering everything else."
He looked nervous.
"I love you, Cora."
She had waited months to hear those words.
"I love how you fight with me. I love how you teach my sons. I love that you ran into the snow without shoes because Seth screamed."
His voice roughened.
"I love that you made this place a home again."
Cora smiled through tears.
"So, Mrs. Mercer… would you marry me?"
She laughed.
"Again?"
"Properly."
"Will there be edible cornbread?"
"Can't promise miracles."
She kissed him.
"Then yes."