Chapter 5 - Sunday at Dry Creek
Church bells rang beneath a cloudless sky.
Elias rode into town beside Naelli.
People stared.
Some with suspicion.
Others with something different now.
Respect.
Sarah Whitmore stood outside the church with the boy Naelli had saved.
The child ran forward.
“Naelli!”
He hugged her.
Naelli froze in surprise before gently touching his shoulder.
That single gesture changed the street.
People who had previously seen only an outsider now saw the woman who had descended into a collapsing well for one of their children.
Mercer saw it too.
He emerged from the saloon.
“Carver.”
“Mercer.”
“I hear you've been spreading accusations.”
“I haven't started yet.”
Mercer's smile vanished.
Sheriff Burke stepped onto the street.
“We need to talk, Silas.”
“About?”
“Murder.”
The town went silent.
Mercer laughed.
“You have evidence?”
Elias raised the ledger.
Mercer's eyes betrayed him.
Only for a second.
But Elias saw.
So did Naelli.
Mercer recovered.
“Old bookkeeping proves nothing.”
Naelli held up the documents from Cottonwood Creek.
“These do.”
Mercer stared.
Then smiled again.
“You really believe these people will choose you?”
Naelli said nothing.
Mercer addressed the crowd.
“You know what happens if we let outsiders dictate our laws?”
Elias stepped forward.
“This isn't about outsiders.”
He held up the deed.
“It’s about thieves.”
Murmurs spread.
Mercer’s face darkened.
Then a rifle shot cracked from a rooftop.
Elias pulled Naelli down.
Burke fired upward.
Panic exploded.
Mercer ran.
“Stop him!”
Elias chased him through the alley.
Mercer reached a horse.
Naelli appeared from the opposite side.
Mercer drew a pistol.
“Move.”
She didn't.
“You ruined everything.”
“No,” Naelli said. “You did.”
Mercer aimed.
Elias tackled him.
The gun fired harmlessly into the sky.
They fought in the dust until Burke arrived and put a shotgun against Mercer's back.
“Enough.”
Mercer slowly raised his hands.
For a moment, it seemed finished.
Then smoke rose beyond town.
Elias turned.
His ranch.
Someone had set it on fire.
Naelli whispered, “The papers.”
They were hidden inside.
Elias ran for his horse.
Naelli followed.
Behind them, Mercer began laughing.
May you like
Because even in handcuffs, he believed he had already won.
---
