Chapter 26 - Mara's Decision

Mara had never intended to remain at Torne Ranch.

Corvin learned that only when he saw her packing.

"Where are you going?"

"East."

"For how long?"

"I do not know."

He hated how much the answer affected him.

"Why?"

"My work here is finished."

"That's convenient."

She looked at him.

"Convenient?"

"You arrive with three hundred riders, destroy everything I think I know, help rebuild half of it, then leave."

"I did not destroy it."

"You know what I mean."

"Then say what you mean."

Corvin stared at her.

He was better with rifles, cattle, debt, even federal investigators than direct emotion.

"I don't want you to go."

Mara waited.

"That is different."

"From what?"

"From asking me to stay."

Corvin sighed.

"Stay."

"Why?"

He laughed helplessly.

"You make everything difficult."

"Good things survive questions."

He thought of water.

Land.

Family.

Love.

Promises.

All the things his relatives had tried to protect by avoiding questions.

"Because I trust you."

Mara's expression softened.

"Not enough."

"Because I miss you when you're gone."

"Better."

"Because every time something happens, I look for you before I decide what I think."

She smiled.

"That may be unhealthy."

"I'm struggling here."

"I can see."

Corvin took a breath.

"Because I love you."

Silence.

Mara looked down.

For the first time since he met her, she seemed uncertain.

Corvin did not demand an answer.

That mattered.

Finally she said, "I am still going east."

His heart sank.

"For how long?"

"Six weeks."

He blinked.

"What?"

"My aunt is ill."

"You could have started with that."

"You could have asked before becoming dramatic."

Corvin stared.

Then laughed so hard he had to sit down.

Mara laughed too.

She left the next morning.

Corvin gave her the same wooden ladle he had used the day they met.

"For the journey."

"This is impractical."

"Sentimental."

"Worse."

She took it anyway.

Six weeks later she returned.

The ladle hung from her saddle.

Corvin noticed before anything else.

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Neither mentioned it.

Some things did not require legal documents.