Sheriff Collier survived his wound and testified against Bell.

Cyrus Bell received twenty-two years in prison.

Gideon’s charges were eventually dismissed.

And Maylin learned something extraordinary about the underground spring.

Daniel had been right.

Its water supply was enormous.

By summer, several ranchers and agricultural settlements were paying Maylin for legal access to it.

The widow who had gone without breakfast on Christmas morning would never again wonder whether her daughters would have enough food.

But money was not the greatest gift that winter brought.

Gideon stayed.

At first, because his shoulder needed healing.

Then because the barn needed repairing.

Then because Shaw said the ranch needed another horse.

Then because Faun insisted her Christmas doll needed a proper wooden bed.

One week became two.

Two became six.

Winter melted into spring.

Maylin discovered Gideon hated turnips.

He sang terribly.

He could calm nearly any frightened horse.

And although he pretended not to enjoy children crawling over him, he somehow always sat exactly where Shaw and Faun could reach him.

Some evenings, Maylin and Gideon sat silently on the porch.

Neither tried to erase Daniel.

That was important.

Gideon never acted as though Maylin’s past needed to disappear for her future to exist.

One June evening, he finally said:

“I should probably leave.”

Something tightened inside Maylin.

“Why?”

“My record is clear.”

“That doesn’t answer the question.”

He smiled.

“You make simple conversations difficult.”

“I learned from Daniel.”

Gideon looked toward the valley.

“I spent most of my life leaving before anyone could ask me to stay.”

Maylin waited.

“I’m not sure I know how to do anything else.”

She quietly placed her hand over his.

“Then stay tomorrow.”

He looked at her.

“And after tomorrow?”

“Ask again.”

So he did.

Again.

And again.

Until Christmas returned.

One Year Later, the Cowboy Knocked Again

Snow fell softly outside the cabin.

This Christmas looked completely different.

There was a tree decorated with pinecones and red cloth.

Food covered the table.

Coffee boiled over the fire.

Shaw wore new boots.

Faun had lost a front tooth.

Then someone knocked.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Maylin opened the door.

Gideon stood outside.

She laughed.

“You live here.”

“I know.”

“Then why are you knocking?”

“Tradition.”

Behind Maylin, Shaw began giggling.

Faun shouted:

“Ask her!”

Gideon groaned.

“You two had one job.”

Maylin looked at him.

“What is happening?”

Gideon lowered himself onto one knee.

He held Daniel’s wedding ring.

Maylin’s breath caught.

“Gideon…”

“I can use another ring.”

She shook her head.

“No.”

His face fell.

Maylin quickly knelt beside him.

“No. I mean I don’t want you using Daniel’s.”

He stared at her.

“That ring belongs to the life I had.”