Chapter 5 - The Fire That Was Meant to Break Her
Ellie watched eight years of her life burn.
Her medicine.
Her books.
Her certificates.
The small photograph of her mother.
Everything.
People formed a bucket line, but the winter wind carried flames through the roof.
Jasper stood beside Ellie, pale from blood loss.
“This is because of me.”
“No.”
“They threatened you.”
“They chose to burn it.”
“Because you helped me.”
Ellie turned toward him.
“Then don’t insult me by making my choices yours.”
Jasper fell silent.
By morning, the clinic was blackened timber.
Sheriff Harlan found kerosene behind the building.
Arson.
Nobody doubted Boone was responsible.
But proving it was another matter.
The ledger was evidence of older crimes.
Not the fire.
Harlan surprised Ellie.
“I owe you an apology.”
She looked at him.
“For which part?”
His face reddened.
“Several.”
“That narrows it down.”
Jasper almost smiled.
Harlan removed his hat.
“I treated you unfairly.”
“Yes.”
“I let what people said influence my judgment.”
“Yes.”
“You could make this easier.”
“No.”
For the first time, Harlan laughed.
“I suppose I earned that.”
“You did.”
He looked at the ruins.
“I’ll help rebuild.”
Ellie stared at him.
“Why?”
“Because my boy walks because of you.”
It wasn’t enough to erase what he had done.
But it was a beginning.
The town began changing in equally small ways.
Mrs. Whitcomb brought blankets.
The ranch hands who had once laughed at Ellie hauled lumber.
Mr. Barnes offered the empty rooms above his store as a temporary clinic.
Not everyone apologized.
Some simply arrived carrying nails.
Ellie accepted that.
Jasper’s condition worsened from reopening his wound.
She ordered him back to bed.
He refused.
“I can hammer.”
“You can hemorrhage.”
“That too.”
“Bed.”
He obeyed.
Rose watched them with growing amusement.
“You love her.”
Jasper nearly choked.
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“She saved my life.”
“That isn’t what I said.”
Jasper looked through the window toward Ellie.
“She deserves better.”
Rose’s expression hardened.
“Better than what?”
“Me.”
“A man cleared of murder?”
“Not yet.”
“A man who spent years searching for his sister?”
“Rose.”
“A man who nearly died protecting strangers?”
“Stop.”
Rose leaned forward.
“Father taught you something poisonous.”
Jasper stared at her.
“That love is earned by being useful. That if you fail someone once, you don’t deserve another chance.”
He looked away.
“He was wrong.”
That evening Ellie entered.
Rose immediately left.
Ellie narrowed her eyes.
“What was that about?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re a terrible liar.”
“So I’ve been told.”
She changed his bandage.
Jasper watched her hands.
“Ellie?”
“Yes?”
“When the clinic is rebuilt, what then?”
“I work.”
“And after?”
“After what?”
“After Copper Falls.”
She paused.
“I don’t understand.”
“You ever want something besides nursing?”
Ellie laughed softly.
“Women like me learn not to make elaborate plans.”
His expression sharpened.
“What does that mean?”
“It means I have work. A roof when I’m fortunate. People who occasionally respect me.”
“And love?”
Her hands stopped.
“That’s an elaborate plan.”
“Why?”
She looked at him.
“You know why.”
“No. I know what cruel people taught you. That’s different.”
Ellie’s throat tightened.
“Jasper—”
“I’ve spent days trying not to say this.”
“Then perhaps continue.”
“I can’t.”
He reached for her hand.
“When you walked into my cabin, I thought I was dying.”
“You were.”
“Helpful.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I remember your face.”
His thumb moved gently over her knuckles.
“I remember thinking I’d never seen anyone look so determined to drag a stranger back from death.”
Ellie couldn’t breathe normally.
“I was doing my job.”
“Then why did you cry when my fever broke?”
She looked away.
Jasper gently turned her face back.
“I’m not asking you for anything.”
“Good.”
“I’m just telling you.”
“Telling me what?”
“That when I asked you not to leave, I thought I meant that night.”
His eyes held hers.
“I don’t anymore.”
A knock shattered the moment.
Sheriff Harlan entered.
His expression was urgent.
“Boone’s gone.”
Jasper stood too quickly.
“What?”
“His house is empty. Horses gone.”
“Then arrest his men.”
“We’re trying.”
Harlan looked at Rose.
“There’s something else.”
He handed her a telegram.
Rose read it.
Her face whitened.
“What?”
Jasper took it.
The territorial judge who could formally clear Jasper was traveling toward Copper Falls.
His train was expected in two days.
And Boone knew it.
Jasper looked toward the dark mountains.
“He’ll stop that judge from getting here.”
Harlan nodded.
May you like
“Unless we stop him first.”
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