He looked at her for a long moment.
"You knew yesterday."
"Knew what?"
"That I wouldn't leave."
Selene shook her head.
"I hoped."
Daniel looked away.
"You don't know me."
"I know enough."
"From one afternoon?"
"From one decision."
"What decision?"
"You could have reached for your gun when my people surrounded you."
Daniel frowned.
"That would have been stupid."
"It would have been natural."
"Not to me."
Selene smiled.
"Exactly."
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Daniel said:
"Why did you choose me yesterday?"
Selene's expression became thoughtful.
"Because everyone who came before you wanted to be seen."
"And I didn't."
"You were the first man who entered our village and immediately tried to disappear."
Daniel laughed softly.
"That's not exactly a romantic quality."
"It is to me."
He looked at her.
Something changed in the air.
Neither of them said anything.
Then a rifle cracked in the distance.
Both turned.
A horse collapsed near the southern ridge.
Daniel's hand went to his revolver.
Selene reached for her bow.
"They're here."
Marcus Vale arrived with forty-three men.
Daniel counted them from a high ridge.
Most carried repeating rifles.
Several had dynamite.
Two wagons carried barrels.
Daniel watched the barrels being unloaded.
"Oil."
Selene nodded.
"They intend to burn the village."
Daniel looked toward the canyon.
"We need to move everyone."
"We cannot."
"Why?"
"The northern passage is blocked."
Daniel studied the terrain.
Then he smiled.
"What?"
"There is another way."
Selene followed his gaze.
"Through the ravine?"
"Yes."
"It's too narrow."
"Exactly."
She looked at him.
"You have a plan."
"I have half a plan."
"What is the other half?"
"Your people."
Selene smiled.
"Then perhaps we have enough."
The plan was simple.
The village would be evacuated through an old limestone tunnel.
The warriors would remain behind.
Daniel would lead Vale's men toward the western gorge.
The gorge was narrow.
Too narrow for a large group to fight effectively.
If they could trap the attackers inside, the advantage of repeating rifles would disappear.
But there was one problem.
Someone had to lure Vale into the gorge.
Daniel volunteered.
Selene immediately objected.
"No."
Daniel looked at her.
"Why?"
"Because you know what he wants."
"What?"
"You."
Daniel was silent.
She stepped closer.
"He needs you alive long enough to blame you."
Daniel looked at her.
"And that's why I'm useful."
"You could die."
"So could you."
"I am not going."
"Neither am I."
Selene stared at him.
"You cannot stop me."
Daniel smiled.
"I wasn't trying."
For the first time, she laughed.
Then she became serious.
"If you do this, you come back."
Daniel looked into her eyes.
"I will."
"Promise."
"I promise."
She removed the turquoise pendant from her neck.
She placed it in his hand.
"My mother gave this to me."
Daniel looked at it.
"Why give it to me?"
"So you remember where you are supposed to return."
He closed his fingers around it.
"I won't lose it."
"You better not."
By noon, the valley had become a battlefield.
Vale's men entered from the east.
Smoke rose behind them.