Ayana looked toward the mountains.
“My father buried it.”
“Where?”
She whispered the name of a place.
“Black Pine Ridge.”
Jacob's expression changed.
That was less than ten miles away.
And it was directly behind his ranch.
The ranch he had inherited from his father.
The ranch he had always believed was worthless except for its pasture.
Jacob suddenly understood why men had been watching his land.
The gold story had never been entirely about Ayana.
It was about what her father had hidden.
And perhaps Jacob's father had known more than anyone realized.
By noon, they had reached an abandoned line shack.
Silas's wound was serious but not fatal.
Jacob cleaned it while Ayana boiled water.
Silas watched them quietly.
“You two shouldn't be here.”
Jacob looked up.
“Neither should you.”
Silas smiled weakly.
“Fair enough.”
Ayana sat across from him.
“Tell me what happened to my father.”
Silas closed his eyes.
“I owe you the truth.”
“You owe him.”
Silas nodded.
“Your father discovered that the gold wasn't stolen by ordinary outlaws.”
“What does that mean?”
“The robbery was an inside job.”
“Military?”
Silas nodded.
“Some officers were involved. Some businessmen. Men who had money enough to buy silence.”
Jacob leaned closer.
“How much gold?”
“More than the outlaws could carry.”
“Where did it come from?”
Silas looked at Ayana.
“Government shipments.”
Jacob's expression hardened.
“And your father found out?”
“Yes.”
“He knew where the money was hidden?”
“No.”
“Then why did they kill him?”
“Because he knew who was involved.”
Ayana closed her eyes.
“My father never told me.”
“He wanted to protect you.”
“He failed.”
Silas shook his head.
“No. He succeeded for a long time.”
Jacob glanced at Ayana.
She looked exhausted.
“We need to leave,” he said.
Silas nodded.
“Not yet.”
Jacob frowned.
“Why?”
“Because Vane won't stop.”
“I know.”
“No.”
Silas's voice became serious.
“You don't understand the kind of man Elias Vane is.”
“Then explain.”
“He doesn't want the gold anymore.”
Jacob stared.
“What?”
“The gold was never the real prize.”
Silas leaned closer.
“He wants the ledger.”
“What ledger?”
“A book containing the names of everyone involved.”
Ayana went still.
Silas continued.
“Your father stole it before he died.”
“And hid it.”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
Silas looked at the wooden eagle in Jacob's hand.
“Your father trusted only one person.”
Ayana whispered, “My father?”
“No.”
Silas looked at Jacob.
“Your father.”
Jacob stopped breathing for a moment.
“My father?”
Silas nodded.
“Elias believes your father inherited the ledger.”
Jacob looked down at the eagle.
Suddenly the carving felt heavier.
“Why would my father never tell me?”
“Because he believed you were safer not knowing.”
Jacob laughed bitterly.
“Apparently everyone was wrong about that.”
Silas smiled.
“Perhaps.”
Outside, a horse whinnied.
Everyone froze.
Jacob moved toward the window.
A rider was visible in the distance.
Then another.
Then another.
“They found us.”
Ayana picked up the rifle.
Silas tried to stand.
Jacob stopped him.
“You stay here.”
“No.”
“You're bleeding.”
“I can still shoot.”
Jacob looked at Ayana.
“Can you ride?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
She frowned.
“What are you planning?”
Jacob pointed toward the rear door.
“We leave through the ravine.”
Silas shook his head.
“They'll expect that.”
“Then they'll expect us to do something stupid.”
Ayana looked at him.
“And what are you going to do?”
Jacob smiled.
“Something they won't expect.”
Jacob left the line shack alone.
He rode west.
Straight toward the men.
He wanted them to see him.
He wanted them to believe Ayana was no longer with him.
Three riders followed.
Then five.
Then seven.
Jacob led them toward the old cattle trail.
He rode hard.
Behind him, the riders shouted.
“Carter!”
Jacob didn't turn.
A rifle cracked.
The bullet struck the ground near his horse.
Jacob kept riding.
The trail narrowed.
The mountains closed around him.
He knew every turn.
Every rock.
Every hidden ditch.
He had ridden these hills since childhood.
The men behind him had no idea where they were.
That was his advantage.
At the top of the ridge, Jacob abruptly pulled the horse sideways.
The riders continued.
He waited.
Then fired.
The first man fell.
The second jumped from his horse.
Jacob fired again.
The remaining riders scattered.
Jacob rode away.
He had bought Ayana time.
But only a little.
When he returned to the line shack, it was empty.
His heart dropped.
“Ayana?”
Silas was gone too.
On the table was another note.
Jacob picked it up.
Three words.
BLACK PINE RIDGE.
He stared at the paper.
Then smiled.
She had understood.
They were going to find the ledger.
Black Pine Ridge was covered in snow by late afternoon.
Ayana and Silas had reached it first.
They found the tree marked with the eagle symbol.
Beneath it was a stone.
Ayana moved it.
Underneath was a metal box.
Her hands trembled as she opened it.
Inside was a small book wrapped in oilskin.
The ledger.
Silas whispered, “We need to destroy it.”
“No.”
Ayana looked at him.
“My father died protecting this.”
“Which is why Vane will kill you for it.”
“He already tried.”
“He'll try again.”
Ayana held the ledger against her chest.
“We take it to the sheriff.”
Silas shook his head.
“The sheriff may be involved.”
“Then the army.”
“Some officers are involved.”
“Then who?”
Silas looked at her.
“Someone who can't be bought.”
Ayana frowned.
“Who?”
“Jacob.”
She looked toward the horizon.
She realized something.
Jacob hadn't been trying to save her from danger.
He had been trying to give her a choice.
That was the difference.
For years, men had told Ayana what to do.
Her father.
Her relatives.
The outlaws.
People who claimed to protect her.
Even fear had become another person giving orders.
Jacob was different.
He would fight for her.
But he would not own her.
That was why she loved him.
And that was why she had to return.
Jacob reached Black Pine Ridge after sunset.
He found the tree.
Then the empty stone.
He followed fresh footprints.
He found Ayana near a cave.
She turned.
“Jacob.”
He walked toward her.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Silas?”
“Inside.”
Jacob exhaled.
“You scared me.”
“I know.”
“You left me again.”
“I know.”
“You keep doing that.”
“I know.”
He looked at her.
Then he laughed.
Ayana frowned.
“What?”
“I spent the whole day trying to rescue you.”
“And?”
“And now I realize you never needed rescuing.”
She smiled.
“Not from everything.”
Jacob nodded.
“What did you find?”
She showed him the ledger.
His face changed.
“We need to get this to the authorities.”
“Yes.”
“Tonight.”
She nodded.
Then a voice echoed from the darkness.
“You won't make it.”
Jacob turned.
Elias Vane stepped into the moonlight.
He was older than Jacob expected.
Late fifties.
Tall.
Gray beard.
Black coat.
Calm eyes.
Behind him stood twelve armed men.