Ethan looked toward the road.
Rusk had left six men behind.
“We can.”
Serena stepped beside him.
“No.”
Ethan looked at her.
“We're not taking you.”
She smiled.
“You're forgetting something.”
“What?”
“This is my home too.”
The Road to Helena
They left before dawn.
Ethan, Serena, Chief Keona's two warriors, and Samuel Grant.
The road to Helena was dangerous.
Rusk knew where they were going.
By noon, they saw smoke behind them.
“They're coming,” Grant said.
Ethan looked back.
“How many?”
“Seven.”
Serena checked her rifle.
“Eight.”
Ethan frowned.
She pointed toward the ridge.
A ninth rider appeared.
Rusk himself.
“Of course,” Ethan muttered.
They pushed forward.
At dusk they reached an old trading station.
It had been abandoned for years.
They stopped there.
Ethan built a fire.
Serena sat beside him.
“You're worried.”
“Yes.”
“About the trial?”
“About losing.”
She looked at him.
“You always tell me fear doesn't mean running.”
“I'm beginning to regret saying that.”
She smiled.
Then she became serious.
“If we reach Helena, what happens?”
“Your father keeps his land.”
“And you?”
“I go home.”
“Alone?”
“Probably.”
She stared into the fire.
“You've already decided.”
“No.”
“You're lying.”
Ethan sighed.
“I don't know how to stay without becoming another man who decides your life.”
Serena turned toward him.
“You think loving me means owning me?”
“No.”
“Then stop running from it.”
Ethan looked at her.
She leaned closer.
“You gave me a choice when everyone else wanted to make one for me.”
Her voice trembled.
“I choose you.”
Ethan closed his eyes.
For a moment, he simply breathed.
Then he touched her cheek.
“Are you certain?”
“Yes.”
He kissed her.
It was gentle.
Brief.
Nothing like the desperate romance people told stories about.
But when they separated, Serena smiled.
“I chose you.”
Ethan smiled back.
“And I choose you.”
Behind them, a horse screamed.
Gunfire erupted.
The attack had begun.
The Ambush
The trading station exploded into chaos.
Bullets tore through the wooden walls.
Ethan pushed Serena behind a stone foundation.
“Stay here!”
“No!”
“Serena!”
She fired over the wall.
A rider fell.
Ethan stared at her.
“You know, someday I'd like to give you an order you actually follow.”
“Try harder.”
He laughed despite himself.
Samuel Grant crawled beside them.
“There are too many.”
Ethan counted.
Eight men.
Maybe nine.
They had only four rifles.
Then Chief Keona's warriors disappeared into the darkness.
Minutes later, two attackers fell.
The remaining men pulled back.
Ethan knew it wasn't over.
“Where is Rusk?”
No answer.
Then Serena looked toward the road.
“He's gone.”
“Where?”
She pointed.
“Toward Helena.”
Ethan understood.
Rusk wasn't trying to kill them anymore.
He was trying to reach the court first.
They rode through the night.
By sunrise, Serena's horse was exhausted.
Ethan slowed.
“We stop.”
“No.”
“You'll kill the horse.”
“Then we walk.”
They dismounted.
For three miles, they walked.
Then a wagon appeared.
A family traveling west.
The driver recognized Samuel Grant.
“Get in.”
They climbed aboard.
For the first time in days, Serena rested her head against Ethan's shoulder.
He looked down.
She was asleep.
He smiled.
Grant watched them.
“You love her.”
Ethan nodded.
“I do.”
“You know what that means?”
“Yes.”
“You'll have to fight for her.”
Ethan looked at Serena.
“No.”
Grant frowned.
“I already did.”
He glanced toward the road.
“Now I have to fight beside her.”
The Courtroom
They reached Helena two days later.
The territorial court was crowded.
Rusk arrived first.
He stood with lawyers.
Chief Keona entered with Serena.
Ethan walked beside her.
People whispered.
Rusk smiled.
“You actually made it.”
Ethan ignored him.
The judge entered.
The hearing began.
Rusk's attorney argued that the treaty was invalid.
Samuel Grant testified.
Then the older surveyor testified.
Then Chief Keona spoke.
Finally, Serena took the stand.
Rusk's lawyer approached.
“You are the chief's daughter?”
“Yes.”
“You have been living among these people your entire life?”
“Yes.”
“You expect this court to believe a document hidden for decades?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Serena looked at him.
“Because it is true.”
The lawyer smiled.
“You understand that if this land is transferred, you could receive money?”
“I don't want money.”
“You could have a comfortable life elsewhere.”
“I don't want elsewhere.”
“You could marry a wealthy man.”
The courtroom became quiet.
Serena looked toward Ethan.
Then back at the lawyer.
“I already chose the man I want.”
Ethan's heart stopped.
The lawyer frowned.
“And who is that?”
Serena smiled.
“Ethan Vale.”
Rusk's expression darkened.
The judge ordered the treaty entered into evidence.
But before the court could rule, the doors burst open.
A deputy ran inside.
“Judge!”
“What is it?”
“Rusk's men have taken the federal records office.”
The courtroom erupted.
Rusk stood.
“This hearing is finished.”
He turned to leave.
Ethan stepped into his path.
“No.”
Rusk's hand moved toward his pistol.
Ethan's did too.
The judge shouted.