He needed air.
Elena followed.
"You hate me now?"
He turned.
"No."
"You should."
"I don't."
"Why?"
"Because none of this is your fault."
She smiled sadly.
"I was afraid you would say I was a liar."
"You were."
"About my name."
"Yes."
"Not about anything else."
Caleb nodded.
Then he asked:
"Why did you marry me?"
She looked at him.
"Because I needed someone I could trust."
"Why me?"
"Because Daniel trusted you."
Caleb remembered his brother.
"You knew Daniel well."
"Yes."
"What happened to him?"
Elena looked toward the mountains.
"He discovered the mine."
"What mine?"
"The one Samuel Vane wants."
She pointed toward the cliffs.
"There is silver beneath the mountain."
Caleb understood.
"And Daniel had proof."
"Yes."
"Where is it?"
Elena touched the pendant.
"Inside."
Caleb frowned.
She opened it.
A tiny piece of paper was hidden inside the metal.
Coordinates.
Names.
Payments.
Evidence.
Caleb looked at her.
"Your mother kept this?"
"Daniel gave it to me."
"Why?"
"He knew he was going to die."
Caleb's fists tightened.
"Vane killed him."
"Yes."
"Then we're going to make him pay."
Elena shook her head.
"Not with bullets."
"Why not?"
"Because Vane wants a war."
Caleb looked at her.
"If we kill him, he becomes a martyr to his men."
"What do you suggest?"
"Evidence."
Caleb smiled.
"You're more dangerous than you look."
Elena smiled back.
"You haven't seen half of what I can do."
Neither noticed the rider watching from the ridge.
He turned his horse north.
Samuel Vane needed to know.
The girl was alive.
And Caleb Mercer was no longer his enemy alone.
He was now part of the family Vane had spent twenty years trying to destroy.
The Ambush at Red Rock
They left before noon.
Caleb, Elena, and two Apache riders.
Their destination was Red Rock Station.
There they would find a former army clerk who had worked with Vane.
His name was Thomas Reed.
He had copies of the mining contracts.
If they could convince him to testify, Vane could be exposed.
They traveled for two days.
On the third morning, Elena noticed the silence.
"No birds."
Caleb looked around.
"You're right."
She reached for her rifle.
"Ambush."
The first shot came from the rocks.
Caleb fired back.
The horses scattered.
One Apache rider fell.
Elena jumped from her horse.
"Caleb!"
"I'm here!"
They took cover behind a boulder.
At least twelve men surrounded them.
Caleb recognized the voice of the man commanding them.
Samuel Vane.
"Mercer!"
Caleb shouted:
"Vane!"
"You have something that belongs to me."
"You mean the truth?"
"I mean the girl."
Elena whispered:
"He knows."
Caleb nodded.
Vane continued:
"Give her to me."
Caleb laughed.
"No."
"Then you die."
Caleb looked at Elena.
"Ready?"
"Always."
They waited until the attackers moved closer.
Then Elena fired.
Two men dropped.
Caleb fired from the opposite side.
The Apache riders attacked from the rear.
The ambush collapsed.
Vane fled.
Caleb chased him.
They rode through the canyon.
Vane fired backward.
Caleb ducked.
Then Vane's horse stumbled.
The man fell.
Caleb dismounted.
Vane reached for his pistol.
Caleb kicked it away.
"You killed my brother."
Vane laughed.
"He was weak."
Caleb punched him.
Vane fell.
"You killed my family."
"He was going to expose me."
Caleb raised his revolver.
Vane smiled.
"Go ahead."
Caleb aimed.
Then Elena arrived.
"Don't."
Caleb looked at her.
"He deserves it."
"Maybe."
She stepped closer.
"But if you kill him, the evidence dies with him."
Vane laughed.
"You think paper can destroy me?"
Elena held up the pendant.
"This can."
Vane's smile disappeared.
She continued.
"Every payment."
"Every murder."
"Every stolen acre."
Vane stared at her.