Chapter 14 - Beneath the Collapsed Mine
Before Silver Mountain was permanently sealed, Min requested one final visit.
Hilton went with her.
They stood where Jian had once entered for work.
Min placed red thread around one support beam.
“For luck?” Hilton asked.
“For memory.”
They walked to the recovered chamber.
Nothing remained except broken stone.
Min closed her eyes.
“I hate this place.”
“We can leave.”
“I need hate it once.”
Hilton understood.
She stood there for several minutes.
Then whispered goodbye.
Outside, sunlight covered the valley.
Min breathed deeply.
“Done.”
Hilton looked at her.
“Done?”
“No more mountain own him.”
She touched her heart.
“He here.”
They rode home.
Halfway to Crow Ridge, Min stopped beside the river.
“Hilton.”
“Yes?”
“If ask me marry now, I say no.”
Hilton nearly fell off his horse.
“I wasn't—”
She laughed.
“But maybe later.”
He stared.
“You enjoy doing that?”
“Yes.”
He shook his head.
Min rode ahead laughing.
Hilton followed.
May you like
For the first time in years, the road home felt too short.
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