She did not know whether she could ever love Gideon Rook.
But she slept more peacefully than she had in years.
The first days of their marriage settled into a quiet routine.
Gideon rose before sunrise to feed the cattle, check the fences, and repair whatever the winter weather had damaged. Rosalie cooked, washed clothes, swept the cabin, and learned where he kept everything.
They communicated through their notebooks.
The flour is in the second cupboard.
The north fence needs repairing.
The storm may bring more snow tonight.
Sometimes Gideon drew little pictures when words were inconvenient. When Rosalie accidentally burned the first batch of biscuits, he sketched a blackened biscuit with a mournful face.
She laughed so suddenly that she covered her mouth.
Gideon looked up from his notebook.
He could not hear her laughter, but he saw the way her eyes brightened.
He smiled.
It was the first time Rosalie had seen him smile.
