She signed.
Why?
Gideon took the notebook.
Because tomorrow I want to ask properly.
Rosalie’s heart stumbled.
He turned to a clean page.
His pencil moved carefully.
Rosalie Eleanor Ashford.
He crossed out Ashford.
Rosalie’s throat tightened.
He started again.
Rosalie.
You arrived here because men made decisions about your life without asking you.
Rosalie blinked hard.
Gideon continued.
Your father decided.
Your brother decided.
I agreed to a marriage before asking you.
He looked at her.
Then wrote:
Even if I believed I was helping, I also decided.
Rosalie felt tears gathering.
Gideon turned the page.
I will not do that again.
Then:
You are free.
Rosalie stopped breathing.
Gideon wrote beneath it.
If you want Helena, I will take you.
If you want Oregon, I will buy your ticket.
If you want this ranch, half is yours.
If you want an annulment, I will sign.
His pencil paused.
