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Mary didn’t ask what her relationship with Jericho was, even though Cara could see the curiosity in her tired, pain-filled eyes. Cara noticed when she went to lift the cup of coffee that her fingers trembled.
“Here, let me.” Cara took the cup and thanked her. “You have a beautiful home.”
“Thank you. I know it’s a bit flowery, but Edward puts up with it.”
Cara smiled. “Have you been married for a long time?”
Mary laughed. “Thirty-six years.” Her voice sounded proud of their accomplishment before it saddened. “We wanted to hit the forty year mark, but I don’t think we’re going to make it.”
“I’m sorry.” No, they weren’t going to make it to their forty-year anniversary. Cara doubted if the woman realized just how close to death she was. She had seen the woman’s beautiful soul as soon as she had walked toward her on the front porch, and it was fading. “And your husband?”
“Edward is as healthy as a horse. Thank goodness he is still a young man.” Mary gave Cara a wicked smile. “Even after thirty-six years of marriage, he makes my heart beat faster. Hopefully, he’ll find someone new to share his life with. I don’t want him to be alone. They say that men who’ve had a happy marriage tend to remarry. Do you think that is true?”
Cara looked into the woman’s troubled eyes and tried to hold back her tears. Mary did not want or need her tears; she needed reassurance.
“I believe so. I’m sure he will find someone when the time is right.”
Mary gave her a smile, changing the subject. “Have you known Jericho long?”
“No. Only a couple of days. I’m afraid I am imposing on him. The weather is keeping him from getting rid of me.”
“I doubt your staying with him is much of a hardship for him.” Mary looked at the beautiful young woman. For some reason, her presence comforted her, as if her body ached less, and the dread and fear that was much worse than the pain ever could be eased. She didn’t feel as alone or as afraid. Mary couldn’t explain it, didn’t try; she merely accepted it with thankfulness.
“Jericho has lived on this mountain for ten years, and I’ve never known him to let a woman in his home. He hires Edward to keep it clean for him while he’s away on his jobs. I was surprised he moved up here, but when the Indian council offered him the property, he accepted and built his own cabin.”
“Indian council?”
Mary nodded, leaning forward to pour herself another cup of coffee. “Yes, this mountain, plus twelve thousand surrounding acres and the town, are Indian owned. There are provisions that, if individuals could prove their Indian heritage, then they were given a select amount of land to build their own home. Everything at one time belonged to one family, but it was turned over to the council with certain provisions, such as the one that gave the land.”
“So Jericho is Native American?”
“Yes, Jericho’s father was a Comanche. It was what led him to this mountain in the first place, trying to find his father.”
“His father was no longer here?”
Mary sadly shook her head. ”No, he had died before Jericho’s birth. It’s a sad story really, and the day is dreary enough, don’t you think?” Cara admired the subtle way Mary changed the subject.
The women heard the men coming.
“I guess they’re finished.”
“Can you stay for a cup of coffee, Jericho?” Mary questioned as they entered the room.
“No, thanks. We better get going before the roads get worse.”
Cara didn’t see how much worse they could get, but stood up to leave while Jericho waited impatiently for her to say her good-byes. Cara wasn’t going to be rushed, though.
She hugged a surprised Mary good-bye. “It was an honor to meet you.”
As she passed Edward, she took his hand. “It was also nice to meet you.”
“It was nice to meet you, too. Please come back and visit. Mary could use the company.”
“I would like that.”
Cara meant to leave without another word—she really did. After all, she had been trained since birth not to interfere. The consequences were always known, and Cara and her sisters had never once disobeyed. However, those consequences no longer applied. She was mortal; the worst that could happen to her had already happened. Surely, just this once, the rules could be bent, if not broken.
Cara tightened her hand around Edward’s and lowered her voice so Mary, who was gathering the dishes, could not hear. “You must not do what you are planning.”
