"Why?"
"Because you're putting yourself in danger."
"You're not denying it."
Collins looked at him.
"No."
That single word told Jonah everything.
The sheriff was afraid.
Jonah left.
Outside, he found Pike waiting.
He stood beside a black carriage.
Two men stood behind him.
Pike smiled.
"I heard you bought yourself a woman."
Jonah's expression remained cold.
"I didn't buy anyone."
Pike laughed.
"That's not what I heard."
Jonah stepped closer.
"Where are the women?"
Pike's smile disappeared.
"You should be careful."
"I am."
"You're making enemies."
"I've had worse."
Pike looked around.
"People in this town know better than to cross me."
Jonah stared at him.
"Then maybe it's time they learned."
Pike leaned close.
"That woman will get you killed."
Jonah's eyes narrowed.
"Maybe."
He stepped back.
"But if that's what it takes to stop you, I'll take my chances."
Pike walked away.
Jonah watched him leave.
He knew the warning was real.
He also knew the sheriff would not help.
That evening, when he returned to the ranch, he found Ayanna sitting beside the fire.
She looked at him.
"What happened?"
"Nothing."
She smiled.
"You've been lying badly all day."
Jonah sat down.
"Pike knows you're here."
She became still.
"Then I should leave."
"No."
"You said I could."
"You can."
She looked at him.
"But?"
"But you don't have to run because he's angry."
Ayanna stared into the fire.
"What if staying here puts you in danger?"
Jonah shrugged.
"Already does."
"Why?"
"Because I care what happens to you."
She looked up.
Neither spoke.
Jonah realized he had said too much.
Ayanna's voice softened.
"Why?"
He looked away.
"I don't know."
That was the first lie he told her.
Because he did know.
He simply wasn't ready to say it.
The attack came two nights later.
Jonah woke to the sound of horses.
He reached for his revolver.
Then came the window breaking.
Ayanna screamed.
Jonah jumped from bed.
Three men entered through the front door.
Another came through the kitchen.
Jonah fired.
The room exploded with noise.
Ayanna grabbed a lamp and threw it at one of them.
The man fell.
Jonah tackled another.
A rifle butt struck his shoulder.
He stumbled.
Then Ayanna struck the attacker with a wooden chair.
"Get up!"
Jonah grabbed his gun.
The remaining men fled.
Outside, horses thundered into the darkness.
Jonah ran to the porch.
He fired once.
Then silence.
He turned.
Ayanna was standing in the doorway.
Blood covered her hand.
Jonah rushed toward her.
"You're hurt."
"Not mine."
She pointed toward the floor.
One of the attackers lay unconscious.
Jonah stared.
"You did that?"
She nodded.
"You told me I wasn't helpless."
He smiled.
"I remember."
Then he noticed something.
A piece of paper had fallen from the man's coat.
Jonah picked it up.
It contained a list of names.
Five women.
Two locations.
One date.
And at the bottom:
Move them before the hearing.
Jonah's expression hardened.
"There is going to be a hearing."
Ayanna stepped closer.
"What kind?"
"I don't know."
He looked at the list.
"But somebody inside the system is planning to move those women before anyone can find them."
Ayanna looked toward the darkness.
"Then we don't have much time."
Jonah folded the paper.