Ethan handed her the revolver.
“Then tonight you're going to prove it.”
The Riders in the Snow
The riders stopped outside the cabin.
Five men.
Ethan watched them through a narrow gap in the barn wall.
At the front sat Silas Crowe.
He was exactly as Ethan remembered him.
Tall.
Broad-shouldered.
Gray beard.
Black hat.
Eyes like frozen water.
Crowe dismounted.
The others followed.
One carried a lantern.
Another carried a rifle.
Crowe walked toward the cabin.
He knocked.
Clara's father opened the door.
Ethan couldn't hear everything, but he saw Crowe smile.
Then the old man slammed the door.
Crowe laughed.
He turned toward his men.
“Burn the barn.”
Ethan's jaw tightened.
He looked at Copper.
Then at Clara.
She was holding the bow.
“Can you hit the lantern?”
“From here?”
“Can you?”
Clara nodded.
Ethan pointed.
“Wait until I say.”
One of Crowe's men poured oil onto the barn wall.
Ethan watched.
Ten feet.
Eight.
Six.
“Now.”
Clara released.
The arrow struck the man's shoulder.
He screamed.
The lantern fell into the snow.
Ethan fired.
His bullet hit another rider's rifle.
The weapon flew from the man's hands.
“Move!”
Ethan kicked open the barn door.
He and Clara ran toward the cabin.
Crowe shouted.
Gunfire exploded across the property.
Bullets tore through wooden walls.
Ethan reached the cabin first.
He pushed Clara inside.
Her father was already firing from a window.
“Five men!” the old man shouted.
“I counted six,” Ethan replied.
The old man stared.
“You saw the sixth?”
“No.”
“Then you didn't count six.”
Ethan smiled.
“I saw his tracks.”
A bullet shattered the window.
Clara ducked.
“There's a cellar,” she said.
“Where?”
“Kitchen.”
“Go.”
“I can fight.”
“You can fight from the cellar.”
Clara looked offended.
Ethan looked at her.
“I'm not insulting you.”
“Sounds like it.”
“I'm trying to keep you alive.”
She hesitated.
Then she disappeared through the kitchen.
Ethan moved toward the window.
Crowe's men were spreading out.
Smart.
They weren't rushing.
They were surrounding the cabin.
Ethan recognized the tactic.
They intended to wait.
Make the defenders run out of ammunition.
Then enter.
He had seen it before.
Crowe's voice carried across the snow.
“Ethan Vale!”
Ethan froze.
Clara's father looked at him.
“You know him?”
Ethan nodded.
Crowe shouted again.
“You're making a mistake!”
Ethan opened the window slightly.
“You're the one making it.”
Crowe laughed.
“I heard you were passing through.”
“How?”
“People talk.”
“What do you want?”
“You.”
Ethan frowned.
“Why?”
“You've been asking questions about Samuel Whitmore.”
The room became silent.
Ethan looked at Clara's father.
Crowe continued.
“You're not a hero, Vale.”
“No.”
“You're just a man with a gun.”
“That's enough tonight.”
Crowe laughed again.
“You don't understand.”
“Then explain.”
“Samuel isn't missing.”
Clara appeared behind Ethan.
“What did he say?”
Crowe heard her.
“He came with us.”
Clara stepped forward.
“You're lying!”
Crowe smiled.
“Ask your father.”
Clara turned.
Her father lowered his shotgun.
Ethan looked between them.
“What does he know?”
The old man's face had gone pale.
Clara whispered:
“Father?”
He closed his eyes.
Then he said:
“Samuel left willingly.”
Clara stared at him.
“No.”
“He believed Crowe had proof that our land was stolen.”
“What?”
“Your brother thought he could get it back.”
Clara's eyes filled with tears.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I knew you'd follow him.”
“You let me believe he was dead!”
“I wanted you alive.”
Crowe shouted from outside.
“Samuel is at the mine!”
Ethan's expression changed.
“The old Silver Creek mine?”
Crowe nodded.
“Come there alone, Vale.”
“And if I don't?”
“Then tomorrow morning, we burn this cabin.”
Ethan looked at the walls.
Then at Clara.
Then at the snow outside.
He knew what Crowe expected.
Fear.
Panic.
A reckless charge.
Instead, Ethan smiled.
“Tell Samuel I'll come.”
Crowe turned his horse.
Then he stopped.
“One more thing.”
“What?”
“You won't be leaving this valley.”
The riders disappeared into the snow.
Ethan lowered his gun.
Clara stared at him.
“You're going after my brother.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Ethan looked at the empty trail.
“Because someone should.”
Her father stepped forward.
“No.”
Ethan turned.
“You're staying here.”
“My daughter—”
“Needs her father.”
Clara shook her head.
“I won't let you go alone.”
Ethan looked at her.
“You're coming?”
“Yes.”
“No.”
She crossed her arms.
“You said my brother is alive.”
“I said Crowe claims he's alive.”
“You're going anyway.”
“Yes.”
“Then I'm going too.”
Ethan sighed.
“You're stubborn.”
“So I've been told.”
The old man sat heavily in a chair.
For the first time, he looked defeated.
“There is a trail behind the mine,” he said.
Ethan turned.
“What trail?”
“A narrow pass.”
“Where does it lead?”
“To Crowe's camp.”
Clara looked at her father.
“You knew?”
“I suspected.”
Ethan walked toward the door.
“Then we have a place to start.”
Outside, the storm grew stronger.
And somewhere beyond the mountains, a missing man waited.