Silas appeared from the cave entrance.
His face was pale.
“Vane.”
Elias smiled.
“Silas.”
Ayana stepped forward.
“You killed my father.”
Vane looked at her.
“I did.”
Jacob's hand tightened around his rifle.
Vane continued.
“Your father was a stubborn man.”
“He died protecting me.”
“He died protecting a book.”
“No.”
Ayana held the ledger up.
“He died protecting the truth.”
Vane laughed.
“The truth is whatever survives.”
Jacob stepped beside her.
“You've got a problem.”
Vane looked at him.
“Do I?”
“You came for one woman.”
“I came for a book.”
“You're leaving with neither.”
Vane smiled.
“I admire courage.”
“I don't care.”
“You should.”
Vane raised his hand.
The men behind him lifted their rifles.
Ayana whispered, “Jacob.”
“I know.”
Vane spoke calmly.
“Put down your weapons.”
Jacob looked at Ayana.
She looked back.
They both knew there was no safe way out.
Then Silas shouted.
“Run!”
He fired.
The mountain exploded with gunfire.
Jacob grabbed Ayana.
They dove behind the rocks.
Bullets struck stone.
Vane's men spread out.
Jacob fired twice.
One man fell.
Another dropped behind a tree.
Ayana crawled toward Silas.
He was wounded again.
“Go,” he told her.
“No.”
“Take the book.”
“I won't leave you.”
“You have to.”
Jacob appeared beside them.
“We're not leaving anyone.”
Silas smiled.
“That sounds like your father.”
Jacob looked at him.
“What?”
“Your father said the same thing.”
Another gunshot.
Jacob ducked.
“We'll discuss my father later.”
They moved into the cave.
Vane's men followed.
The cave narrowed.
Jacob remembered an old mining tunnel connected to the other side of the ridge.
He had discovered it as a boy.
“There's another exit.”
Ayana followed.
Silas struggled behind them.
The tunnel became darker.
They reached a wooden barrier.
Jacob kicked it.
Nothing.
Again.
The wood broke.
Cold air rushed in.
They emerged on the opposite side of the mountain.
But Vane was already there.
Jacob froze.
Elias Vane stood beside the horses.
“You really thought I didn't know about the tunnel?”
Jacob raised his rifle.
Vane shook his head.
“Don't.”
Jacob aimed.
Vane pointed toward Ayana.
Two men held her at gunpoint.
Jacob slowly lowered the rifle.
“Let her go.”
Vane smiled.
“Give me the ledger.”
Jacob looked at Ayana.
She shook her head.
He understood.
She wanted him to destroy it.
But the ledger was bigger than both of them.
It contained names.
Evidence.
History.
If destroyed, the men responsible would escape forever.
Jacob had to find another way.
He looked at the mountains.
Then at the horses.
Then at Vane.
A plan formed.
Jacob smiled.
Vane frowned.
“What?”
“You're standing in the wrong place.”
Vane looked around.
“What does that mean?”
Jacob pointed behind him.
“Ask your men.”
Vane turned.
A herd of wild horses was coming down the slope.
Hundreds of them.
The gunfire had frightened them.
They thundered toward the valley.
Vane's men panicked.
Horses reared.
Men shouted.
The entire formation broke.
Jacob grabbed Ayana.
They ran.
Silas followed.
They disappeared into the trees.
By dawn, they had reached Jacob's ranch.
The cabin was damaged.
The barn had been searched.
The corral gate was broken.
But the house still stood.
Ayana looked at it.
“You came back.”
Jacob nodded.
“So did you.”
She looked at him.
“I thought you would hate me.”
“I tried.”
“Did it work?”
“No.”
She smiled.
They entered the cabin.
The coffee cup was still on the table.
Her note was still beneath it.
Jacob picked it up.
He folded it carefully.
Then placed it inside his coat.
Ayana watched him.
“You kept it.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because it reminds me how terrible your handwriting is.”
She laughed.
Then Jacob became serious.
“What do you want to do now?”
She stared at him.
“I don't know.”
“That is the first honest answer you've given me.”
She nodded.
“I have spent my whole life running.”
“You don't have to anymore.”
“They will keep coming.”
“Then we'll stop them.”
“How?”
Jacob placed the wooden eagle on the table.
“Your father trusted mine.”
Ayana nodded.
“The ledger proves it.”
“But there is something else.”
“What?”
Jacob walked to an old wooden chest.
He opened it.
Inside were his father's belongings.
Letters.
Maps.
Receipts.
A revolver.
And an envelope.
Jacob pulled it out.
It had never been opened.
On the front were two words.
For Jacob.
His father had written it shortly before his death.
Jacob stared at it.
He had never seen it before.
His hands shook as he opened the envelope.
Inside was a letter.
Son,
If you are reading this, then I was wrong about having more time.
There are things I should have told you.
The land you live on is worth more than cattle.
A man named Elias Vane may come looking for something.
If he does, trust no one who asks for the ledger.
Except the woman carrying the eagle.
She knows why.
Jacob read the last line twice.
Except the woman carrying the eagle.
He looked at Ayana.
She was crying.
“My father knew yours.”
Jacob nodded.
“More than that.”
He handed her the letter.
She read it.
Then she looked at him.
“They planned this.”
“Maybe.”
“For years.”
“Maybe.”
“What happened to your father?”
“I don't know.”
Silas, sitting near the window, finally spoke.
“I do.”
Both turned.
Silas looked toward them.
“Your father wasn't killed by an accident.”
Jacob froze.
“What?”
“He was murdered.”
Ayana closed her eyes.
Silas continued.
“Vane ordered it.”
Jacob stood.
“Why?”
“Because your father refused to reveal where the ledger was.”
“And he never told me.”
“He was protecting you.”
Jacob laughed bitterly.
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
Silas looked at him.
“Because it's true.”
Outside, horses approached.
Everyone went still.
Silas reached for his rifle.
Jacob moved toward the window.
Three riders.
Then two more.
But this time they carried white cloth.
A man dismounted.
Sheriff Hayes.
Jacob opened the door.
“Sheriff.”
Hayes looked exhausted.
“Jacob Carter?”
“Yes.”
“I've been looking for you.”
“Why?”
Hayes glanced at Ayana.
“Because Elias Vane has been telling everyone you're harboring a dangerous fugitive.”
Jacob smiled.
“Is that so?”
Hayes nodded.
“He also says you're in possession of stolen government property.”
Jacob's expression hardened.
“Then you came to arrest us.”
“No.”
Hayes reached into his coat.
He pulled out a folded document.
“I came because Vane's story is falling apart.”
Jacob frowned.
“Why?”
Hayes looked at Ayana.
“Because someone found the bodies.”