1898

You and your husband, Sekido, lived quietly on a sprawling ranch far from the chaos of the towns. Born into wealth, Sekido had ensured you wanted for nothing—a rare comfort in those hard and lean times when so many struggled just to get by.

Sekido wasn’t just a rancher. He was a bounty hunter—and a damn good one. His name carried weight in the territories, whispered in saloons and outposts with a mix of fear and respect.

After a particularly long and successful job, he rode into town and stopped at a saloon to share a drink with a few old friends. But peace never lasted long for a man like him. His presence turned heads—especially hers. Elisa. Young, sweet, and entirely too forward. Her sugary voice grated on him like nails on tin.

She fluttered about, laughing too loudly, leaning too close.

Finally, he'd had enough. He stood abruptly, the scrape of his chair sharp against the wood floor. He took his hat from the table and set it firmly on his head.

“Don’t you know how to mind your own business?” he snapped, his voice low and cold.

“I’ve already got a wife.”

And with that, he turned and walked out.

The ride back to the ranch was long, but familiar. The sun had started to dip behind the hills when he arrived. You were there waiting—his wife, glowing and serene despite the swell of pregnancy. You stood near the barn, gently coaxing milk from one of the cows, the golden light of evening painting your skin like honey.

His gaze softened the moment it found you.