Chapter 27
How Elias's threats frightened her.
How she ran.
How she later discovered the truth.
How she chose silence again and again because each new lie made the next confession harder.
Matilda listened.
Sometimes she cried.
Sometimes she shouted.
Sometimes she left the room.
Jedodiah never interfered.
At midnight, Matilda stepped outside.
He sat on the porch rail.
“You staying?”
“I don't know.”
“That's fair.”
“She loved me.”
“Yes.”
“She hurt me.”
“Yes.”
“Both can be true?”
Jedodiah looked at the stars.
“Usually are.”
Matilda sat beside him.
“Were your parents complicated?”
“My father wasn't.”
“What was he?”
“A bastard.”
She laughed despite herself.
He smiled.
“Mother was complicated.”
Matilda leaned against the post.
“What do I do with all of this?”
“Whatever you want.”
“That's unhelpful.”
“It's the truth.”
She looked at him.
“What would you do?”
Jedodiah considered.
“I'd make stew.”
She stared.
He shrugged.
“You think better while cooking.”
She laughed.
Then something softened between them.
Jedodiah looked at her differently.
Matilda noticed.
Her heart stumbled.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You keep saying that.”
“I keep meaning something.”
She waited.
He looked suddenly nervous.
This enormous man who could face blizzards and mountain lions could barely meet her eyes.
“Matilda.”
“Yes?”
“I was serious.”
“About what?”
“The biscuits.”
She blinked.
Then remembered.
I was considering marrying you.
Her face warmed.
“Jedodiah Boon…”
“I ain't good with speeches.”
“I noticed.”
“I have a cabin.”
“I've seen it.”
“Two chairs.”
“Impressive.”
“Could build more.”
She smiled.
He swallowed.
“I don't care about Black Ridge.”
“I know.”
“I don't care what you inherited.”
“I know.”
“I cared when you had one dress and six dollars.”
Her eyes filled.
“I know.”
He finally looked at her.
“And I care now.”
Matilda whispered, “Is this your proposal?”
“No.”
She stared.
He added quickly, “Not yet.”
She laughed.
“I want to ask when you aren't grieving, hiding, fighting, inheriting mountains, finding d/e/@/d fathers, finding living mothers, or being sh/o/t at.”
“That seems reasonable.”
“So I'll wait.”
Her smile softened.
“Don't wait too long.”
Jedodiah's expression changed.
“How long?”
Matilda leaned over and kissed his cheek.
“Figure it out.”
For the first time since she met him, the terrifying mountain trapper looked completely helpless.
Three days later, Margaret agreed to return to Colorado.
Not to resume her marriage.
Not to reclaim a past that no longer existed.
To testify.
That mattered more.
Federal investigators arrived in Leadville in March.