The Woman Was Being Sent To Marry A Much Older Man, A Cowboy Said “You Don’t Look Happy About That”

…

“Sorry, Nate,” the wagon driver responded with a wave.

Thea couldn’t help but stare.

The horseman Nate sat tall in his saddle, broadshouldered and lean.

His face was partially shadowed by his hat, but she could see a strong jaw darkened by stubble.

He couldn’t have been more than 30.

As if sensing her gaze, he turned his head in her direction, and for a brief moment their eyes met.

Thea quickly looked away, remembering her place and purpose in Deadwood.

She had no business admiring strange men on horseback when she was promised to another.

With a heavy sigh, she climbed the steps to the hotel, only to pause when she realized she dropped her glove in the street.

She turned back, but the glove was already being retrieved by the horsemen, who had dismounted and was now approaching her, the delicate white fabric looking strange in his sun hand.

This belonged to you, miss?” he asked, his voice lower and gentler up close.

“Yes, thank you,” Thea replied, accepting the glove and avoiding his gaze.

“You just arrive in Deadwood,” he asked, removing his hat to reveal thick dark hair that curled slightly at the ends.

His eyes, she now saw, were a startling shade of blue, the color of the summer sky back home in Massachusetts.

Yes, just now, she answered, feeling an unexpected flutter in her chest.

You don’t look too happy to be here, he observed, studying her face with a directness that would have been considered improper in Boston society, but seemed perfectly natural coming from him.

Thea was takenback by his perception.

I I’m just tired from the journey.

No offense intended, miss, but that ain’t just travel weariness, I see, he said with a slight smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes.

You look like someone being sent to her own funeral.

The accuracy of his assessment nearly brought tears to her eyes.

“I’m to be married tomorrow,” she said, the words escaping before she could stop them.

His eyebrows rose slightly.

“To who, if you don’t mind my asking, Mr. Bartholomew Wilks.

The name felt like ashes on her tongue.

The man’s expression changed, a brief shadow crossing his features before he carefully composed himself.

I see.

Well, congratulations are in order then.

Something in his tone made her look up.

You know him.

Everyone in Deadwood knows Bart Wilks, he said neutrally.

He owns half the mining claims in the hills.

and is he? Thea hesitated, realizing the impropriety of asking a stranger about her future husband.

A good man, the cowboy finished for her.

He seemed to consider his words carefully.

He’s a successful businessman.

Which wasn’t an answer at all, Thea noted.

I’m Nathan Drake, he said, extending his hand before seeming to remember himself and withdrawing it with a sheepish smile.

Folks, call me Nate.

Theodora Adams, she replied.

Most people call me Thea.

Well, Miss Thea, you don’t look happy about that arrangement with Wilks.

The words were spoken quietly, meant only for her ears.

Pardon my forwardness, but I found life’s too short for unhappy arrangements.

Before she could respond, the hotel clerk called from the doorway.

Miss Adams, we’ve been expecting you.

Mr. Wilks sent word to have your room prepared.

Thea nodded to the clerk before turning back to Nate.

Thank you for returning my glove, Mr. Drake.

My pleasure.

He placed his hat back on his head.

Welcome to Deadwood, Miss Adams.

As she followed the clerk into the hotel, Thea couldn’t help but glance back.

Nathan Drake was still watching her, a thoughtful expression on his face.

For the first time since leaving Boston, she felt something other than dread a small, dangerous spark of possibility.

The Dakota Hotel was modest by Eastern standards, but clearly one of the finer establishments in Deadwood.

The clerk, a thin man with spectacles perched on his nose, led Thea to a small but clean room on the second floor.

“Mr. Wilks arranged for your supper to be brought up,” the clerk informed her.

“He thought you might prefer privacy after your journey, or perhaps he didn’t want his bride to be seen before he could present her,” Thea thought cynically.

“Thank you,” she said aloud.

“That’s very considerate.

” “Once alone, Thea sat heavily on the bed, the reality of her situation crashing down upon her.

Tomorrow she would meet and marry a man nearly 40 years her senior, a man she had never seen or spoken to.

Her uncle had arranged it all, eager to be free of the burden of an orphaned niece, and no doubt handsomely compensated by Mr. Wils for his troubles.

A knock at the door announced the arrival of her supper, along with a small note on expensive stationery.

My dear Miss Adams,” it read in an elegant, if slightly shaky hand, “I trust your journey was comfortable.

I look forward to our meeting tomorrow at 11:00.

I have arranged for the finest dress in Deadwood to be delivered in the morning.

” With anticipation, Bartholomew Wilks, Thea set the note aside, her appetite gone.

She moved to the window, looking out at the busy street below.

Night was falling, but Deadwood seemed to be coming alive rather than settling down.

Men moved between saloons.

Laughter and music drifted up from below, and somewhere a woman sang a melancholy tune in the fading light.

She spotted a familiar figure across the street.

Nathan Drake was emerging from a building whose sign proclaimed it to be Drake’s freighting and supply.

He stopped to speak with another man, laughed at something said, then glanced up toward her window.

Thea stepped back quickly, her heart racing inexplicably.

Sleep eluded her that night.

She lay awake, contemplating her limited options.

She had no money of her own, her uncle had seen to that, controlling her small inheritance completely.

She knew no one in this wild territory.

To refuse the marriage would mean destitution at best, starvation at worst.

Mourning came too quickly.

As promised, a dress was delivered a confection of ivory silk and lace that must have cost more than most miners earned in a year.

Mr. Wilks had it sent from Denver special.

The maid who delivered it explained, clearly impressed.

Nothing like it in all of Deadwood.

Thea fingered the expensive fabric, wondering what kind of man spent such money on a bride he’d never met.

Was it generosity or simply the flaunting of wealth? She’d soon find out.

With the maid’s help, she dressed and arranged her honey brown hair in a modest style.

The face that looked back at her from the small mirror seemed like that of a stranger, pale, with wide green eyes that couldn’t hide their apprehension.

At precisely 11:00, there was a knock at her door.

Thea took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and opened it to find not Mr. Wils, but a young man in a smart suit.

Miss Adams.

I’m Thomas, Mr. Wils’s assistant.

He awaits you in the hotel parlor.

Thea followed him downstairs, each step feeling heavier than the last.

The parlor was empty save for one man who stood with his back to her looking out the window.

He turned as she entered and Thea had to work to keep her expression neutral.

Bartholomew Wilks was tall and straightbacked despite his age.

His hair and beard were silver white, his face deeply lined but dignified.

He was dressed in an expensive suit that emphasized his still broad shoulders.

But it was his eyes that Thea noticed most sharp and assessing like a man evaluating a horse before purchase.

“Miss Adams,” he said, his voice deep and cultured.

“A pleasure to finally meet you.

Your uncle’s descriptions did not do you justice.

” “Mr. Wilks,” Thea replied with a small curtsy.

“Thank you for your kind welcome.

I trust your accommodations were satisfactory.

” “Yes, thank you.

” Excellent,” he gestured to a chair.

“Please sit.

We have much to discuss before the ceremony this afternoon.

” Thea sat, her back rigid, hands folded in her lap.

“I understand this arrangement may seem unconventional to a young lady of your upbringing,” Wilks began, remaining standing.

“But I assure you, you will want for nothing as my wife.

I have the largest house in Deadwood, three stories, with proper furnishings brought in from Chicago.

I employ a full staff, including a Chinese cook who once served in the governor’s mansion in San Francisco.

That sounds very comfortable, Thea managed to say.

Indeed, and while Deadwood may seem rough now, it is growing rapidly.

We already have plans for an opera house by next year.

He paced as he spoke, hands clasped behind his back.

Your primary duties will be to oversee the household and act as hostess when I entertain business associates.

In time, of course, there will be the matter of an heir.

Thea felt her cheeks burn at the implication.

I’m not a young man, Wilks continued matterof factly, but I am in excellent health.

My first wife, God rest her soul, gave me no children before she passed.

I expect you will be more fortunate.

The coldness with which he discussed their future intimate relations made Thea’s stomach turn.

This wasn’t a marriage.

It was a business transaction with her body and future as the commodity being traded.

I see, she said quietly.

You’ll find I’m not an unreasonable man, Miss Adams.

I expect loyalty and obedience, of course, but in return, you’ll enjoy privileges few women in the territory can claim.

He finally sat across from her.

Now, do you have any questions before we proceed to the reverend’s home? A thousand questions raced through Thea’s mind.

Did he love her? Could he ever? Did that even matter to him? Instead, she asked, “May I have some time to freshen up before the ceremony, Mr. Wilks, the journey was quite tiring.

He checked his pocket watch.

Very well.

The ceremony is at 2:00.

Thomas will escort you.

With that, he stood and gave her a stiff bow.

Until then, Miss Adams.

Back in her room, Thea paced anxiously.

The meeting had done nothing to ease her concerns.

Quite the opposite.

Mr. Wilk seemed to view her as little more than an ornament for his home and a vessel for his children.

The thought of sharing his bed made her physically ill.

In a moment of desperation, she considered fleeing just walking out of the hotel and disappearing into the hills.

But reason quickly prevailed.

Where would she go? How would she survive? Women alone in frontier towns had few respectable options for employment.

A knock at her door startled her.

Miss Adams.

A male voice called softly.

Not Thomas or Mr. Wilks.

Cautiously, Thea opened the door a crack to find Nathan Drake standing in the hallway, looking decidedly uncomfortable in the hotel corridor.

“Mr. Drake, what are you doing here?” “I apologize for the intrusion,” he said, glancing down the empty hallway.

But I needed to speak with you before.

He hesitated before this afternoon.

Thea knew she should close the door immediately.

Speaking privately with a man not her fiance was scandalous enough in Boston here on her wedding day.

It was unthinkable.

Yet she found herself opening the door wider.

“Come in quickly,” she said, her heart racing at her own boldness.

Once inside, Nathan removed his hat, running a hand through his dark hair.

Up close, in the daylight filtering through her window, she could see the fine lines around his eyes signs of a man who spent much of his life outdoors.

“I shouldn’t be here,” he began.

“And I know it’s not my place to interfere, but I couldn’t just.

” He took a deep breath.

“Miss Adams, do you know what kind of man Bartholomew Wilks is?” He seems proper enough, Thea replied carefully.

Proper, maybe.

He’s certainly rich.

But there’s things you should know.

Nathan’s blue eyes were intense with concern.

His first wife didn’t just pass away like he tells people.

There were rumors, Mr. Drake, Thea interrupted, suddenly afraid of what he might say.

“Why are you telling me this?” Because yesterday when I saw you step down from that stage coach, I saw a woman headed for a cage, not a marriage.

His voice softened, and I couldn’t stand by and say nothing.

“What would you have me do?” Thea asked, her own voice barely above a whisper.

“I have nowhere else to go, no means to support myself.

” “You could?” Nathan hesitated, then seemed to make up his mind about something.

I have a proposition for you, Miss Adams.

Not the kind you’re thinking, he added quickly, seeing her expression.

I own the freighting business here in Deadwood.

I deliver supplies to the mining camps, bring mail in and out of town.

It’s honest work, and it pays well.

What does that have to do with me? I need someone to manage the office, keep the books.

My previous clerk left for the gold fields last month, and I’ve been struggling to keep up with the paperwork while still making the runs.

He paused.

The job comes with room and board above the office.

It’s small, but it’s clean and safe.

Thea stared at him in disbelief.

You’re offering me employment.

A woman you just met.

I’m offering you a choice, he corrected.

One you didn’t have before.

Why? she asked, studying his face for any sign of deception.

Why would you do this for a stranger? Nathan looked away for a moment.

Let’s just say I’ve seen what happens to people trapped in arrangements they never wanted.

It rarely ends well for anyone involved.

Thea moved to the window, her mind racing.

The offer was unexpected, almost miraculous, but also terrifying.

To refuse, Mr. Wilks would create a scandal.

Her uncle would disown her completely.

She would be alone in this wild town, dependent on the kindness of a man she barely knew.

And yet the ceremony is at 2:00, she said softly.

My office is across from the hotel if you decide.

Nathan placed his hat back on his head.

The offer stands until then.

After he left, Thea sat on the edge of the bed, trembling slightly.

For the first time since her parents’ death, she had a real choice before her.

A difficult, dangerous choice, but a choice nonetheless.

At 1, Thomas knocked on her door to escort her to the ceremony.

Thea opened it, still dressed in her traveling clothes rather than the wedding gown.

Miss Adams, aren’t you ready? Mr. Wilks is waiting.

I’m afraid I’m feeling unwell, she said, the lie coming easily to her lips.

Please inform Mr. Wilks that I need to postpone the ceremony until tomorrow.

Thomas looked alarmed.

He won’t be pleased, miss.

He has business associates coming for the wedding supper.

I understand, but I can hardly stand at the moment.

She feigned a slight wobble.

Perhaps you could ask the hotel to send up some tea.

Of course, miss.

I’ll inform Mr. Wilks immediately.

Once Thomas departed, Thea moved quickly.

She changed into her simplest dress, packed her few belongings in her carpet bag, and scribbled a brief note to Mr. Wilks, apologizing for the deception, but explaining that she could not, in good conscience, enter a marriage without affection.

With her heart pounding so loudly she was sure it could be heard throughout the hotel, Thea slipped down the back stairs and out into the alley behind the building.

She made her way around to the main street, keeping her head down as she crossed to Drake’s freighting and supply.

The bell above the door jingled as she entered.

Nathan looked up from a ledger, surprise and then understanding crossing his face as he took in her traveling clothes and carpet bag.

You’ve made your decision,” he stated simply.

“I have,” Thea confirmed, her voice steadier than she expected.

“I accept your offer of employment, Mr. Drake.

” He nodded once, his expression unreadable.

“You should know that this won’t be easy.

Wilks isn’t a man who takes kindly to being refused, and this town talks.

I understand the risks.

” “Then welcome to Drake’s freighting and supply, Miss Adams.

” He extended his hand, and this time Thea took it without hesitation.

His grip was warm and firm, calloused from work yet gentle with her fingers.

“Let me show you to your quarters.

” As they climbed the narrow stairs to the rooms above the office, Thea felt a curious mixture of terror and exhilaration.

For the first time in years, her future was entirely her own, uncertain, perhaps even dangerous, but hers to shape as she chose.

And that, she decided, was worth whatever consequences might follow.

The room above Drake’s freighting and supply was indeed small, but as Nathan had promised, it was clean and comfortable.

A narrow bed stood against one wall, a small writing desk beneath the window, and a wash stand in the corner.

A faded but cheerful quilt covered the bed, and curtains of simple muslin framed the window that overlooked the bustling main street of Deadwood.

“It’s not much compared to what Wilks could offer,” Nathan said, watching her reaction carefully.

“It’s perfect,” Thea replied and meant it.

The room might be modest, but it represented something priceless independence.

The washroom is at the end of the hall, he explained.

You’ll share it with Mr.s.

Gunderson.

She rents the other room upstairs.

She’s a widow.

Works at the hotel laundry.

Good woman.

Keeps to herself mostly.

Thea set her carpet bag on the bed.

When would you like me to begin work? Tomorrow morning will be soon enough.

Nathan leaned against the door frame.

You should rest tonight.

I imagine you’ve had quite a day already.

As if on cue, the sound of raised voices came from the street below.

Thea moved to the window to see Thomas, Mr. Wils’s assistant, speaking with a storekeeper across the way, gesturing animatedly.

“They’re looking for you,” Nathan observed, coming to stand beside her.

“Won’t take them long to check here.

” Thea felt a flutter of panic.

What will happen when they find me? Wils can’t force you to marry him, Nathan assured her.

But he can make things difficult.

Are you sure about this, Miss Adams? There’s still time to change your mind.

She turned to face him, struck again by the intensity of his blue eyes.

I’m certain, Mr. Drake.

A loud knock on the door downstairs interrupted them.

Nathan grimaced.

That didn’t take long.

Stay here.

I’ll handle this.

Thea remained by the window, listening to the muffled conversation below.

Though she couldn’t make out the exact words, the tone was clear enough demands from Thomas, followed by Nathan’s calmer but firm responses.

After several minutes, the bell at the door jingled again, and silence fell.

When Nathan returned, his expression was grim.

Wils knows you’re here.

Thomas delivered a message.

You’re to return to the hotel immediately or face the consequences.

What consequences could there possibly be? Thea asked, trying to sound braver than she felt.

In a town like Deadwood, plenty.

Nathan ran a hand through his hair.

Wilks owns the bank, has investments in most of the businesses here.

He’s not a man used to being denied what he wants.

Are you suggesting I should go back? No, he said quickly.

I’m just making sure you understand what you’re up against.

He hesitated.

There’s something else you should know.

Wils’s first wife, she didn’t die of illness like he claims.

The rumors say she took her own life after years of his controlling behavior.

Thea sank onto the bed, the confirmation of her fears leaving her cold.

You tried to tell me earlier.

I didn’t want to frighten you, but now that you’ve made your choice, you deserve to know the truth.

” Nathan’s voice softened.

“For what it’s worth, I think you’ve made the right decision.

A brave one.

Not brave,” Thea corrected.

“Desperate, perhaps, but I couldn’t.

” She trailed off, unable to put into words the revulsion she’d felt at the thought of being Wilks’s wife.

“Either way, you’re not alone in this,” Nathan assured her.

I meant what I said about the job.

You’ll earn your keep, and no one can say otherwise.

A second knock, louder and more insistent than the first, thundered from downstairs.

“That’ll be Wilks himself,” Nathan said grimly.

“Stay here.

Lock the door behind me.

This time, Thea crept to the top of the stairs where she could hear the conversation more clearly.

” “Where is she, Drake?” Bartholomew Wilks’s cultured voice had an edge of cold fury that made Thea shiver.

“Miss Adams has accepted a position as my clerk,” Nathan replied evenly.

“She’s made her decision clear.

This is absurd.

The woman is my fiance.

We have an agreement.

” “With her uncle, perhaps, not with her.

” “I don’t know what game you’re playing, Drake, but it ends now.

” Wils’s voice hardened further.

That woman represents a significant investment.

I paid good money to bring her here, bought her trouso, arranged everything.

People aren’t investments, Wilks.

They’re not property to be bought and sold.

Don’t lecture me on business, boy.

You forget who holds the note on this building.

There was a pause, and Thea held her breath.

Is that a threat? Nathan asked quietly.

Call it a reminder of reality.

I want Miss Adams back at the hotel within the hour, or you’ll find your little freighting operation without a home by the end of the week.

The door slammed so hard that the building seemed to shake.

Thea retreated to her room, closing and locking the door as Nathan had instructed.

Her hands trembled as she sank onto the bed.

She had known there would be consequences for her decision, but she hadn’t expected them to fall on Nathan rather than herself.

A gentle knock came at her door a few minutes later.

“Miss Adams, it’s me.

” She opened the door to find Nathan looking troubled but resolute.

“I heard everything,” she said before he could speak.

“He’s threatening your business because of me.

” Don’t worry about that, he said, though the tightness around his eyes betrayed his concern.

But I am worried.

I can’t allow you to lose your livelihood on my account.

You heard what kind of man he is? Nathan countered.

Would you really go back to that? Thea wrapped her arms around herself, trying to think clearly.

There must be another solution.

There might be.

Nathan hesitated, then plunged ahead.

I have a delivery to make to the mining camp at Lead Tomorrow’s Supplies and Mail.

It’s about 10 miles from here over Rough Country.

If you came with me, it would get you away from Deadwood until things cool down.

And then what? And then he shrugged.

One step at a time.

The stage to Cheyenne stops in lead twice a week.

If you decided to move on, you could do so from there.

Thea considered the offer.

It would give her time to think, to plan her next move, and the thought of remaining in Deadwood with Wilk searching for her was unsettling at best.

“All right,” she agreed.

“When do we leave? First light tomorrow.

Pack only what you need.

The trails too rough for anything but essentials.

” That night, Thea slept fitfully, waking at every creek and footstep from the street below.

Despite her exhaustion, her mind raced with doubts and questions.

Had she made a terrible mistake? Would Wilks make good on his threat to Nathan? And what awaited her in lead or beyond? Before dawn, a soft knock roused her from a shallow sleep.

She dressed quickly in her simplest gown, then reconsidered and changed into the clothes she’d found laid out for her a split riding skirt and sturdy blouse that must have belonged to Nathan’s former clerk.

Practical attire for the journey ahead.

Nathan was waiting for her downstairs, loading the last of the supplies into a wagon.

He wore his trail clothes denim trousers, a chamber shirt, and a leather vest with a pistol holstered at his hip.

“Ready?” he asked when he saw her, his expression softening at the sight of her in the borrowed clothes.

“As I’ll ever be,” Thea replied, fighting down her nervousness.

“Mr.s.

Gunderson will watch the office while we’re gone,” he explained, helping her up onto the wagon seat.

I’ve told her we’re making a delivery run to lead, nothing more.

Thank you, Thea said softly, for all of this.

Nathan just nodded, then clicked to the team of horses, and they set off down the still dark street, away from the Dakota Hotel, away from Bartholomew Wilks, and into an uncertain future that somehow felt more hopeful than the one that had awaited her just a day before.

The road to lead, if it could be called a road, at all wounded through the densely forested hills outside of Deadwood.

The wagon jolted and swayed over the rough terrain, forcing Thea to grip the seat to keep from being thrown off.

Dawn was breaking over the eastern horizon, painting the sky in streaks of pink and gold that filtered through the pine trees.

Sorry about the rough ride, Nathan said after a particularly jarring bump.

Trails washed out in places from the spring rains.

“It’s quite all right,” Thea assured him, though her knuckles were white from holding on.

“I’ve never seen country so wild before.

The Black Hills are something special,” he agreed, his expression softening as he looked at the landscape around them.

First time I saw them, I knew I’d found home.

How long have you been in Dakota territory? Going on 5 years now.

He guided the horses around a fallen tree.

Came out after the war, looking for something new.

Tried my hand at prospecting for a while, but turned out I was better at hauling supplies than finding gold.

The war.

Thea glanced at him with new understanding.

He would have been just a boy when the Civil War began, but old enough to fight by its end.

Nathan nodded, his eyes fixed on the trail ahead.

Enlisted in ‘ 64 when I was 17.

Served with the Michigan volunteers until Aptox.

He didn’t elaborate, and something in his manner told Thea not to press for more.

“And your family?” she asked instead.

Lost my paw in ‘ 62 at Antiettm.

Ma passed while I was serving.

No siblings.

He said it matterof factly without self-pity.

What about you? Besides the uncle who shipped you out here.

Thea explained about her parents her father a professor of literature at Harvard.

Her mother, a gentle woman who had taught Thea to play piano and speak French.

Both had died in a fairy accident three years earlier, leaving her in the care of her father’s brother.

He never wanted the responsibility, she concluded.

I was just another mouth to feed, a burden on his household.

When Mr. Wilks wrote asking for a wife, my uncle saw an opportunity to be rid of me.

Some people don’t deserve to be called family, Nathan said quietly.

They fell into companionable silence as the wagon climbed higher into the hills.

Occasionally, Nathan would point out a landmark or share a brief story about his deliveries to the various mining camps scattered throughout the area.

Thea found herself relaxing despite the circumstances, drawn to his easy manner and evident knowledge of the territory.

Around midday, they stopped beside a clear stream to rest the horses and eat a simple meal of jerky, biscuits, and coffee that Nathan prepared over a small fire.

“We’re making good time,” he told her as they sat on a fallen log eating.

“Should reach lead by late afternoon.

” “And then,” Thea asked, voicing the question that had been on her mind all morning.

Nathan stared into his coffee cup.

That depends on you.

The stage to Cheyenne leaves tomorrow morning if that’s what you’re thinking.

I don’t know what I’m thinking, she admitted.

Everything’s happened so quickly.

Yesterday morning I was resigned to marrying Mr. Wilks.

And now you’re on the run with a man you barely know, heading to a mining camp even rougher than Deadwood.

He finished with a rise smile.

Not exactly what a Boston lady expects from life, I’d wager.

Despite everything, Thea found herself smiling back.

No, certainly not.

But then, I’ve never been a typical Boston lady.

Nathan’s eyes met hers, and something passed between them, a moment of understanding, perhaps, or the beginning of something deeper.

Then he cleared his throat and stood.

We should get moving.

still have a few hours on the trail ahead of us.

As they continued their journey, the terrain grew steeper and the forest thicker.

Nathan explained that they were following an old game trail that cut through to lead faster than the main road, though it was more challenging for the wagon.

Only locals know this route, he told her.

Anyone following would take the main road.

You think someone is following? Thea asked, alarmed by the implication.

Just being cautious, he replied, though his eyes scan the trees more frequently now.

Wils isn’t a man who gives up easily.

They were descending a particularly steep section of trail when the crack of a rifle shot echoed through the trees.

Nathan reacted instantly, pulling Thea down from the seat and into the bed of the wagon.

Stay down,” he ordered, drawing his pistol as another shot splintered the wood near their heads.

“What’s happening?” Thea gasped, heart pounding in her chest.

“Ambush,” Nathan said grimly.

“Could be road agents or Wils’s men.

” He peered carefully over the side of the wagon, then ducked back as another shot rang out.

“Two of them, I think, up on that ridge.

” He gestured with his pistol toward a rocky outcropping about a hundred yards up the hillside.

The horses danced nervously, threatening to bolt with the wagon.

Nathan kept a tight grip on the res with one hand, his pistol ready in the other.

I need to get the horses moving before they panic, he said.

When I say go, I want you to keep your head down and hold on tight.

Understand? Thea nodded, too frightened to speak.

“Go!” Nathan shouted, snapping the res and firing two shots toward the ridge to provide cover.

The wagon lurched forward, gaining speed as it continued down the steep incline.

Thea clung to the side, her knuckles white as the vehicle bounced violently over rocks and ruts.

More shots followed them, but the increasing distance and the cover of trees made accurate aim impossible for their attackers.

When they finally reached the bottom of the hill and rounded a bend that put solid rock between them and their pursuers, Nathan slowed the horses to a stop, breathing hard.

“Are you hurt?” he asked Thea, his eyes scanning her for injuries.

No, she managed, though her hands were trembling uncontrollably.

Are you? I’m fine.

He holstered his pistol and took the res properly in both hands.

We need to keep moving.

They might try to catch up.

Who were they? Don’t know for certain, Nathan replied, urging the horses back into motion.

But the timing suspicious.

Not many know I was heading to lead today.

Wilks, Thea whispered, the reality of the situation hitting her a new.

He sent men to stop us possibly.

Nathan’s jaw tightened.

Or to bring you back, and you? What would they have done to you? His silence was answer enough.

They pushed on through the afternoon, taking a different route than Nathan had originally planned, a longer way around that added nearly 2 hours to their journey, but kept them off the main trails.

By the time the mining camp of Leed came into view, the sun was low in the western sky, bathing the rough collection of buildings in golden light.

Leaded was smaller than Deadwood, but no less bustling.

The constant thump and grind of stamp mills crushing ore provided a backdrop to the usual frontier town of men’s voices, horses, and the occasional burst of piano music from a saloon.

We’ll stay at the miner’s rest, Nathan decided as they drove into town.

It’s not fancy, but the owners are good people.

We can figure out our next steps there.

The miner’s rest was a two-story building with a small saloon on the first floor and rooms for rent above.

The owner, a burly man with a thick beard named Frank Holloway, greeted Nathan like an old friend.

Drake wasn’t expecting you till tomorrow.

He pumped Nathan’s hand enthusiastically before turning curious eyes on Thea.

And who might this be? Theodora Adams.

Nathan introduced her.

My new clerk.

She’s helping me with deliveries for a few days, learning the routes.

If Holloway found this explanation odd, he didn’t show it.

Pleasure to meet you, Miss Adams.

Any friend of Drakes is welcome here.

“Thank you, Mr. Holloway,” Thea replied, trying to look more confident than she felt in her borrowed clothes and dusty from the trail.

“We need two rooms,” Frank, Nathan said.

“And if anyone comes asking after us, you ain’t here,” Holloway finished with a knowing wink.

“Gotcha! Trouble following you, Drake.

” Something like that.

I’ll explain later.

Holloway nodded.

Rooms three and four are open, connected by a shared balcony if that helps.

Suppers in an hour.

In the small, plain room that was to be hers for the night, Thea washed away the dust of the trail as best she could, and changed back into her simplest dress.

Her mind was racing with the events of the day the ambush, the headlong flight through the hills, and the growing certainty that Bartholomew Wilks was not a man to cross lightly.

A soft knock came at the connecting door to the balcony.

She opened it to find Nathan standing there, his hair damp from his own washing, wearing a clean shirt.

“Are you all right?” he asked, studying her face with concern.

I’m not sure, Thea admitted.

I never imagined he would go to such length sending armed men after us.

Men like Wilks are used to taking what they want, Nathan said grimly.

But we’re safe for now.

Lead is outside his usual territory, and Holloway is discreet.

“What happens tomorrow?” Nathan leaned against the balcony railing.

“That’s what I came to ask you.

The stage to Cheyenne leaves at 9.

If you want to be on it, I’ll buy you a ticket.

And go where? Do what? Thea’s voice betrayed her frustration.

I have no money, no connections beyond Dakota territory.

You could go to Denver, perhaps.

It’s a growing city.

More opportunities for a woman with education.

Thea considered this, trying to imagine herself alone in a strange city, seeking employment with no references or experience.

The prospect was daunting.

What if? She began hesitantly.

What if I stayed? Worked for you as we discussed.

Nathan’s expression was unreadable.

Deadwood wouldn’t be safe for you.

Not with Wilks there.

But you said his influence doesn’t extend to lead.

Could we? Could your business operate from here? He looked surprised by the suggestion.

It’s possible.

There’s plenty of freight coming in and out of the mines here, but Thea, it was the first time he’d used her given name, and it sent an unexpected warmth through her.

Are you sure that’s what you want? I don’t know what I want, she confessed.

Except that I don’t want to keep running, and I She hesitated, then forged ahead.

I trust you, Nathan.

I know that’s foolish after only a day, but I do.

Something shifted in his blue eyes, a softening, a warming.

Not foolish, he said quietly.

Just unexpected for both of us.

The moment stretched between them, full of unspoken possibilities.

Then from below, Holloway’s voice bellowed up that supper was ready.

Nathan straightened.

We should go down.

We can talk more after we eat.

As they descended the stairs to the small dining room where Holloway’s wife was laying out a hearty meal, Thea realized that for the first time since leaving Boston, she was looking forward to what tomorrow might bring rather than dreading it.

Supper at the Miner’s Rest was simple but abundant beef stew, fresh bread, and apple pie for dessert.

Mr.s.

Holloway, a cheerful woman with rosy cheeks, fussed over Thea like a mother hen.

You’re far too thin, dear,” she declared, serving Thea a second helping of stew.

Despite her protests, a woman needs her strength out here in the territory.

The Holloway’s dining room was shared by a few other guests, a geologist from the mining company, a drummer selling equipment to the mines, and an elderly prospector who ate in silence, his eyes occasionally drifting to Thea with undisguised curiosity.

Female faces were still rare enough in lead to draw attention.

After the meal, Nathan drew Frank Holloway aside for a private conversation, while Mr.s.

Holloway insisted on showing Thea to a small sitting room where she could relax like a proper lady for the evening.

“It’s not often I get female company,” Mr.s.

Holloway confided as she poured Thea a cup of tea.

“Most women who pass through here are either wives of mining engineers, or well, not the sort one invites for tea.

” Thea smiled, grateful for the woman’s kindness.

It’s lovely to have a moment of civilization.

The journey from Deadwood was rather more exciting than I anticipated.

Mr.s.

Holloway’s eyes twinkled.

I imagined so, traveling with Nathan Drake.

Fine man, though, one of the few genuine gentlemen in these hills for all his rough appearance.

You’ve known him long since he first came through lead about four years ago.

Started with just one wagon delivering mail between the camps.

Built himself quite a business since then.

She leaned forward confidentially.

Half the unmarried women in the territory have set their caps for him, but he keeps to himself mostly.

Work and more work.

That’s Nathan.

Before Thea could respond to this intriguing information, the door opened and Nathan himself appeared, his expression serious.

Pardon the interruption, Mr.s.

Holloway, but I need to speak with Miss Adams.

Of course, of course.

The older woman rose with a knowing smile.

I’ll just see to the dishes.

Once they were alone, Nathan sat across from Thea, his manor grave.

Franks heard news from Deadwood.

Wilks has men watching the roads, and he’s offering a reward for information on your whereabouts.

Thea’s hand trembled, rattling the teacup in its saucer.

How much? $500.

A small fortune in the territory.

Thea set down her cup carefully.

The stage to Cheyenne suddenly seems more appealing.

It would be the safest option, Nathan agreed.

But there’s a complication.

Wilks has men in Cheyenne, two business partners who’d recognize you from his description.

“So, I can’t stay here and I can’t leave,” Thea said, fighting down a wave of panic.

“What am I to do?” Nathan leaned forward, his voice low and intense.

“There’s another option, but it’s unconventional.

More unconventional than fleeing my wedding and being hunted across the territory?” Thea asked with a hint of gallows humor.

That earned a brief smile from Nathan before his expression turned serious again.

Frank knows a judge in Rapid City who’s arriving in Leed tomorrow to settle some mining claims.

He could marry us.

Thea stared at him, certain she had misheard.

“Marry us.

” “As my wife, you’d be legally beyond Wilks’s reach,” Nathan explained, his words coming faster now.

He could contest an employment arrangement, claim you’re still bound by your uncle’s agreement.

But marriage, that’s different.

Even Wilks wouldn’t challenge that, not openly.

You’re proposing marriage as as a legal protection, Thea clarified, her mind spinning.

“Yes,” Nathan said, then quickly added.

“It would be a name only, of course.

I’d never, that is, I wouldn’t expect.

” He ran a hand through his hair in frustration.

What I’m trying to say is I respect you, Thea.

This would be an arrangement of convenience, nothing more.

You would do that for me.

Bind yourself legally to a woman you barely know.

I know enough, he said simply.

I know you’re brave and determined.

I know you deserve better than being forced into marriage with a man like Wilks.

Thea rose from her chair and moved to the window, looking out at the darkening street as she tried to sort through her tumultuous thoughts.

Marriage to Nathan would solve her immediate problem, but it would create new complications.

What if she wanted to leave Dakota territory eventually? What if he met someone he truly wished to marry? And yet there was something about Nathan Drake that called to her, something in his steady blue gaze and quiet strength that made her wonder if an arrangement of convenience might in time become something more.

If I agreed, she said slowly, turning back to face him.

What would happen afterward? Would I still work for you? Where would we live? You’d still manage the books if you wanted to, he replied.

As for living arrangements, I have a small house outside Deadwood.

It’s nothing grand, but it’s private with enough room that you’d have your own space.

Or if you preferred to stay in lead, we could find a place here.

And in the future, if either of us wished to move on, Nathan’s expression was solemn.

Then we’d seek a divorce with no ill feelings.

Your freedom would always be yours, Thea.

That’s the whole point of what I’m offering.

Thea took a deep breath, weighing her limited options.

Return to Wilks.

Impossible.

Flee to another city with no resources, dangerous at best.

Continue running and hiding, exhausting and ultimately feudal.

When would this marriage take place? She asked at last.

Tomorrow afternoon, after the judge concludes his other business.

Frank’s already spoken to him.

The swiftness of it all was dizzying.

and you’re certain this is what you want to do?” Nathan rose and came to stand before her, his gaze direct and unflinching.

I’m certain I want to help you.

Beyond that, he shrugged slightly.

Life out here has taught me to take things as they come, day by day.

Thea studied his face, the strong line of his jaw, the small scar near his left eyebrow, the surprising gentleness in eyes that had seen war, and the harsh realities of frontier life.

Could she trust this man with her future? Did she have any better choice? Very well, she said quietly.

I accept your proposal, Mr. Drake.

A flicker of something relief, anticipation crossed his features before he nodded solemnly.

Then we’ll speak to the judge tomorrow.

As Thea prepared for bed that night in her small room at the miner’s rest, she wondered at the strange turns her life had taken.

A week ago, she had been in Boston, resigned to a loveless marriage arranged by her uncle.

Now she was in a mining town in Dakota territory, about to enter another marriage one of convenience rather than coercion, but a marriage nonetheless to a man she had known for all of two days.

Was she making another mistake? Or was this the first true choice she had made for herself in years? Sleep eluded her as she turned these questions over in her mind.

From the connecting balcony, she could hear Nathan moving about in his own room, his footsteps occasionally pausing as if he too were restless with the weight of their decision.

Morning came with a clarity that surprised Thea.

Whatever doubts had plagued her during the night had resolved into a calm determination.

This marriage to Nathan was a practical solution to an immediate problem.

It need not be more than that, but it was a choice she was making freely, and that made all the difference.

She dressed in her green traveling dress the best she had with her, and arranged her hair as neatly as possible with the limited resources available.

Mr.s.

Holloway knocked at her door around 9:00, bearing a simple breakfast tray, and to Thea’s surprise, a small bouquet of wild flowers.

Thought you might want these, dear,” the older woman said with a warm smile.

“A bride should have flowers, even for a hasty ceremony.

” So Nathan had told her of their plans.

“Thank you,” Thea said, accepting both the tray and the flowers.

“It’s very kind of you.

” Mr.s.

Holloway patted her hand.

“Marriage is a serious business, especially out here where life can be hard.

But I’ve known Nathan Drake for years, and you could do far worse for a husband.

It’s not a traditional marriage, Thea felt compelled to explain.

More of an arrangement for mutual benefit.

Most marriages start that way, Mr.s.

Holloway replied with surprising wisdom.

The feeling comes later if you’re lucky and work at it.

With that cryptic statement, she left Thea to her breakfast and thoughts.

The judge, a stern-faced man named Wilson, who nonetheless had kind eyes, arrived in lead shortly afternoon.

He conducted his mining claim business in the town hall, then came to the miner’s rest, where Nathan and Thea waited in the small sitting room, now arranged for a wedding ceremony with Frank and Mr.s.

Holloway as witnesses.

Mr. Holloway has explained your situation,” Judge Wilson told them after introductions were made.

“While I don’t usually condone hasty marriages, I understand the circumstances are pressing.

” “Yes, your honor,” Nathan replied respectfully.

The judge turned to Thea.

“Miss Adams, are you entering into this marriage of your own free will? No one is coercing you.

” No one is coercing me, Thea confirmed, meeting his gaze steadily.

This is my choice.

Judge Wilson studied her for a moment longer, then nodded, apparently satisfied.

Very well.

Let’s proceed.

The ceremony itself was brief and simple.

They stood before the judge, Nathan in his best shirt and vest, Thea in her green dress with Mr.s.

Holloway’s wild flowers clutched in her hands.

They exchanged the traditional vows, promising to love, honor, and cherish words that seemed both hollow and weighty given the circumstances of their arrangement.

“When it came time for the ring, Nathan surprised Thea by producing a simple gold band.

” “It was my mother’s,” he explained quietly as he slipped it onto her finger.

It was slightly too large, but it would serve.

By the authority vested in me by the territory of Dakota, I now pronounce you husband and wife, Judge Wilson declared.

You may kiss your bride, Mr. Drake.

A momentary awkwardness fell between them.

They hadn’t discussed this part of the ceremony.

Then Nathan leaned forward and placed a gentle chased kiss on Thea’s lips.

Brief but curiously affecting, sending an unexpected warmth through her.

“Congratulations!” Frank Holloway boomed, breaking the moment.

Mr.s.

Holloway wiped a tear from her eye, and even Judge Wilson unbent enough to offer a smile.

“The marriage certificate will be filed with the territorial office,” he told them as he gathered his papers.

It becomes official immediately.

And just like that, Theodora Adams became Theodora Drake.

Mr.s.

Holloway had prepared a small wedding supper, complete with a cake she must have been baking since early morning.

They ate in the dining room, the atmosphere oddly festive despite the pragmatic nature of the union being celebrated.

“What happens now?” Thea asked Nathan quietly while the hallways were occupied with serving dessert.

“We’ll stay here tonight,” he replied.

“Tomorrow, I need to complete my deliveries in Leed.

Then we can decide return to Deadwood and face Wilks directly, or establish a new base of operations here in Leed.

Wouldn’t it be safer to stay away from Deadwood entirely, perhaps, but running forever isn’t practical? Sooner or later, we’ll have to deal with Wilks.

Nathan’s expression hardened.

I won’t let him threaten us indefinitely.

The US didn’t escape Thea’s notice.

In the space of a day, they had become a unit, their futures now intertwined by more than just an employment arrangement.

After supper, they retired to their separate rooms, the awkwardness of their new situation palpable as they bid each other good night in the hallway.

Sleep well, Mr.s.

Drake,” Nathan said formally.

“And you, Mr. Drake,” Thea replied, the new name Strange on her tongue.

Alone in her room, Thea removed her mother’s wedding ring from her finger, the only piece of jewelry she had brought from Boston, and placed it alongside Nathan’s mother’s ring, on the small bedside table.

Two rings, two marriages, one that never happened, and one that existed only on paper.

The symbolism wasn’t lost on her.

She was just preparing for bed when a knock came at her door.

Opening it, she found Nathan standing there, his expression troubled.

“I just received word from a freighter who arrived from Deadwood,” he said without preamble.

“Wils nose were in lead.

” “His men will be here by tomorrow morning.

Thea’s heart sank.

How did he find out? Someone at the stage office must have talked.

$500 is a powerful motivator.

Nathan ran a hand through his hair.

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