Chapter 16 - Mara Walks Back Into Red Mesa
Three months later, Mara returned to her land.
The burned cabin had been cleared.
The spring still flowed.
For several days she lived in a tent.
Then wagons arrived.
Samuel brought lumber.
Nathan brought tools.
Abigail brought food.
Ben brought enthusiasm and almost no useful construction ability.
Elias arrived last.
Mara folded her arms.
“You're late.”
“Was considering riding away.”
Her smile disappeared.
He smiled.
“Then Samson refused.”
She looked at the horse.
“Smart horse.”
They rebuilt.
Not the old cabin.
Mara didn't want that.
The new house faced east.
Two windows.
A wider porch.
A small stable.
Mara chose every detail.
Elias obeyed instructions with varying degrees of competence.
They argued about roof angles.
They argued about doors.
They argued about whether Elias knew how to build shelves.
He did not.
Mara kept the crooked shelves anyway.
One evening, they sat on the unfinished porch.
The sunset turned the desert copper.
Mara said, “I received notice today.”
“Trial date?”
“Yes.”
Creed, Boone, and Harlan would be tried in the county seat.
“You going?”
“Yes.”
“Nervous?”
“Terrified.”
Elias nodded.
She looked at him.
“You aren't going to tell me everything will be fine?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I don't know that.”
Mara leaned against the porch post.
“That may be the thing I like most about you.”
“Low standards.”
She laughed.
Then her expression softened.
“I want you there.”
Elias looked at her.
“At the trial?”
“Yes.”
He nodded.
“I'll be there.”
May you like
It was the first promise about the future he had made in years.
And he intended to keep it.
