She Had No Husband, No Name, and No Place to Go — Until a Feared Man Took Her Without Asking

Chapter 2

Caleb didn’t lead her through town; he led her around it, down a trail no one used, past the dry creek bed and into the foothills where the land turned harsh and silent. His horse walked slow, like it understood the woman behind the saddle hadn’t eaten properly in days. She didn’t speak. Neither did he. The only sound was the wind catching dry grass and the distant cry of hawks overhead.

When they arrived, the cabin looked like it had grown out of the mountain itself — low, weathered, half-covered in climbing vines. Smoke rose from the chimney. There was no welcome sign, no lantern to greet her. Caleb dismounted, tied the horse, and opened the door without a word. He glanced back once. She hesitated, then stepped inside.

The inside smelled of cedar and tobacco. A stone fireplace glowed low. There were two rooms, one with a cot, the other with a large, sturdy bed. Caleb pointed to the cot and set a basin of water on the table. Bread and beans were already out, still warm.

“Why are you helping me?” she whispered.