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The Wyoming Rancher Married a Woman From the Border to Save His Land — On Their First Night, She Asked, “What Do You Want Me to Do?”

Chapter 15

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"Frank, I’m not looking to get involved in human trafficking or a fake immigration scam—""It’s not a scam, Cole. It’s a transaction," Frank insisted. "You need a wife on paper to satisfy the state homestead law and keep your land. She needs legal residence and stability in the United States to survive. You marry her, bring her here, provide her a safe place to live, and in exchange, she saves your ranch. No lies to the government—you’ll be legally married. You keep your distance, live under the same roof, and help each other out."Cole stared down at his rough hands. The thought of bringing a stranger into his quiet, lonely world made his stomach turn. But then he pictured the bank’s sign planted at his gate. He pictured bulldozers leveling his father’s barn."Call her," Cole said, his voice barely a whisper. "Set it up."

The wind was howling when Cole waited at the small bus depot in Casper, two hours south of the ranch. The bus arrived thirty minutes late, its yellow headlights cutting through the descending dusk.A handful of passengers stepped off. Cole recognized her instantly.She stood beside a battered vinyl suitcase, wrapping a worn knitted shawl tight around her shoulders against the biting Wyoming chill. She looked small against the vast expanse of the parking lot, but there was no slouch in her posture. Her hair was thick, dark brown, pulled back into a neat braid, and her eyes—dark, watchful, and intensely sharp—scanned the platform until they landed on him.Cole walked over, pulling his hat down slightly. "Elena?""Cole?" Her English was quiet, framed by a soft, melodic accent, but clear and deliberate.
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The Wyoming Rancher Married a Woman From the Border to Save His Land — On Their First Night, She Asked, “What Do You Want Me to Do?”

15 Part