“You really are difficult.”
“So I've been told.”
The riders appeared.
Gunfire cracked through the canyon.
Caleb returned fire.
Evelyn drew her pistol.
She shot one rider.
Caleb looked at her.
“Better than most men.”
“I told you.”
They escaped through a narrow passage.
By sunset, they reached an abandoned mining camp.
They built no fire.
They ate cold beans.
Evelyn sat across from Caleb.
“You never asked about my husband.”
Caleb looked at her.
“Would you tell me?”
“Yes.”
“Then tell me.”
She stared into the darkness.
“Thomas was a good man.”
Caleb waited.
“He wasn't perfect.”
“No one is.”
“He could be stubborn.”
“So can I.”
“He trusted people too easily.”
“That's dangerous.”
“Yes.”
She looked down.
“He trusted the sheriff.”
Caleb said nothing.
“That was his mistake.”
“What happened?”
Evelyn's voice became quieter.
“He went into town to meet Vane.”
“Why?”
“Vane offered him money.”
“And Thomas refused.”
“Yes.”
“Then?”
“He never came home.”
Caleb looked at her.
“Did you see his body?”
“Yes.”
“Where was he shot?”
“In the back.”
Caleb's jaw tightened.
“Cowards.”
Evelyn looked at him.
“I used to think revenge would make me feel better.”
“And now?”
“Now I don't care about feeling better.”
“What do you care about?”
She looked toward the dark mountains.
“Making sure they never do this to anyone else.”
Caleb nodded.
“That I understand.”
The next morning, they reached Redstone.
The territorial judge was scheduled to arrive at noon.
They entered the courthouse.
But before they could reach the judge, Deputy Samuel Pike stepped through the doorway.
His hand rested on his pistol.
“Mrs. Mercer.”
Evelyn stopped.
“Deputy.”
Pike looked at Caleb.
“Mr. Rourke.”
Caleb smiled.
“Been a while.”
Pike's expression tightened.
“You should have stayed away.”
“I hear that a lot.”
Pike stepped closer.
“You have something that belongs to Mr. Vane.”
Caleb looked at Evelyn.
Then back at Pike.
“No.”
Pike frowned.
“You're making a mistake.”
“No.”
Caleb's voice became cold.
“You already made yours.”
Pike reached for his gun.
Caleb was faster.
The courthouse erupted in chaos.
Pike fired.
The bullet struck the wall.
Caleb knocked the pistol away.
Evelyn grabbed the ledger.
“Judge!” she shouted.
The territorial judge appeared from his office.
“What is happening?”
Evelyn placed the ledger on his desk.
“Read it.”
He opened the first page.
Then the second.
His expression changed.
By the time he reached the final page, his face was pale.
“This is enough to indict half the county.”
“Then do it.”
The judge looked at Caleb.
“Where did you get this?”
“From the Mercer ranch.”
“Who else knows?”
“Vane.”
The judge closed the ledger.
“Then you need protection.”
Caleb shook his head.
“No.”
The judge frowned.
“Why?”
“Because Vane won't attack the courthouse.”
“Why not?”
“He wants the ledger.”
Evelyn understood.
“He'll attack the ranch.”
Caleb nodded.
“And that's where we want him.”
They returned to Blackwater.
Word spread quickly.
By nightfall, ranchers from across the county had gathered at the Mercer property.
They had seen what Vane had done.
They had lived under his control for years.
Now they had evidence.
And for the first time, they had someone willing to stand against him.
Caleb prepared the defenses.
Evelyn checked every rifle.
She was no longer the grieving widow who had stood on a hotel balcony.
She had become something else.
Something harder.
Something stronger.
The attack came at midnight.
Vane arrived with thirty men.
Caleb waited behind the barn.
Evelyn stood on the roof.