Chapter 12 - The Home Elias Never Planned
By summer, Elias owned something again.
Land.
Not much.
Twenty acres adjoining the settlement with legal approval secured through Caldwell.
He built a small house.
Aayoka watched construction for several weeks before asking the obvious question.
“Who is it for?”
Elias looked at the frame.
“I don't know.”
“That's an expensive house for nobody.”
He smiled.
“Maybe I'm hoping somebody will tell me.”
She understood.
But Elias wanted to ask properly.
Not because tradition demanded it.
Because choice mattered.
He took Aayoka to the creek.
“I can't promise nothing bad will happen.”
“Good beginning.”
“I can't promise I'll always know what to do.”
“Improving.”
He smiled nervously.
“But I can promise I won't leave because I'm afraid of losing what we have.”
Aayoka's expression softened.
Elias held out a simple silver ring.
“Will you build the rest of this with me?”
She looked at the ring.
Then him.
May you like
“Yes.”
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