She shook her head. Her people had been scattered after army campaigns burned settlements farther south. She had come north hoping for work.<\/p>\n
He weighed the risk. Bringing her to town would invite questions. Leaving her alone meant certain danger.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can stay here awhile,\u201d he said finally. \u201cTill it\u2019s safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her eyes sharpened with suspicion. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I don\u2019t let folks starve on my doorstep.\u201d<\/p>\n
That was enough.<\/p>\n
Over the next few days, Nia insisted on helping. She limped beside him along the fence line, carrying tools despite her blistered feet. She sewed better than he did, mending shirts with quick, practiced hands. She swept the porch, hauled water, and refused to sit idle.<\/p>\n
She kept her back to walls. She flinched at sudden sounds. At the creek, she washed carefully, always keeping one eye on the trees.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t have to keep looking over your shoulder here,\u201d Cole told her.<\/p>\n
\u201cI keep watch for myself,\u201d she answered.<\/p>\n
He respected that.<\/p>\n
But he also kept his rifle close.<\/p>\n
On the third morning, Cole saddled up before dawn. \u201cI\u2019m riding into town,\u201d he told her. \u201cNeed to see who\u2019s talking.\u201d<\/p>\n
She stiffened. \u201cClay.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBetter I find out than wait for him to show up here.\u201d<\/p>\n
He left her with the rifle propped behind the table and instructions to bar the door.<\/p>\n
Town was waking slowly when he arrived. Wagons creaked along the dirt street. The saloon doors were already open. Cole stepped inside and ordered coffee, taking a seat where he could see the entrance.<\/p>\n
It didn\u2019t take long.<\/p>\n
Clay and another boy stumbled in, laughing too loud. Clay\u2019s hat sat crooked over greasy hair, and the smirk on his face hadn\u2019t changed since Cole last saw him years back.<\/p>\n
Their laughter faded when they noticed him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell now,\u201d Clay drawled. \u201cHeard you picked up a stray.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cole didn\u2019t blink. \u201cYou got something to say, say it plain.\u201d<\/p>\n
Clay leaned back in his chair, grin widening. \u201cJust heard there\u2019s an Apache girl hiding up at your place. Folks talk.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cole stood slowly. The room went quiet.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou and your friends were near the north creek two days back,\u201d he said evenly. \u201cYou took something that wasn\u2019t yours.\u201d<\/p>\n
Clay\u2019s smirk faltered for half a second. Then it returned. \u201cCareful, Merrick. You making accusations?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m making a warning.\u201d<\/p>\n
The bartender shifted nervously. Other men stared into their cups.<\/p>\n
Clay rose to his feet, trying to match Cole\u2019s height. \u201cYou think you can tell me what to do?\u201d<\/p>\n
Cole stepped closer, voice low enough that only Clay could hear. \u201cYou come near my land again, you won\u2019t leave it walking.\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence pressed heavy in the room.<\/p>\n
Clay searched his face for doubt and found none.<\/p>\n
Cole turned and walked out without another word.<\/p>\n
By the time he reached the ranch, dust clung to his coat. Nia was on the porch, eyes fixed on the road. Relief flickered across her face when she saw him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey know you\u2019re here,\u201d he said plainly. \u201cBut they won\u2019t come.\u201d<\/p>\n
She studied him. \u201cHow you know?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I made it clear.\u201d<\/p>\n
That night they ate quietly by the fire. The tension in her shoulders had eased, just slightly. She no longer flinched at every snap of wood in the stove. When he rolled out his bedroll on the floor again, she didn\u2019t protest, but she watched him with something different in her eyes\u2014less fear, more trust.<\/p>\n
Days passed. No one came.<\/p>\n
Nia\u2019s laughter surfaced once when the horse nudged her for grain. It was quick and surprised, as if she hadn\u2019t meant to let it escape. Cole caught himself smiling at the sound.<\/p>\n
The ranch felt less empty.<\/p>\n
One evening, as the sun dipped low again over the pasture where he had first seen her, Nia stood beside him watching the sky turn gold.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t have to stay,\u201d he told her quietly. \u201cWhen you\u2019re ready.\u201d<\/p>\n
She considered that for a long moment. \u201cMaybe I stay,\u201d she said finally. \u201cFor now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cole nodded. He didn\u2019t ask for more.<\/p>\n
He had lived too long in silence and grief to mistake this for something simple. Trust grew slowly, like fence posts set deep in hard ground. But the fear that once shadowed her eyes was fading.<\/p>\n
And if the men ever came back, they would find more than a frightened girl by the creek.<\/p>\n
They would find Cole Merrick waiting.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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