It had called the man a widower. Said his six sons needed tending. Said the ranch was struggling but the marriage would provide her shelter, a household to run, and a name that would keep her safe in a way wages could not. It had been written in careful, measured language — the kind men used when they wanted to appear reasonable while asking for something unreasonable.
Elara had accepted because the alternative was smaller than the offer. She had accepted before she knew the stagecoach driver…